The romance of Juliette and Jonathan is one made up of classic moments strung together to create the love of a lifetime. They met the old-fashioned way: through friends and fate, and their love grew exponentially each moment they spent together. When they finally went on their first date, it was perfection, and they have been inseparable ever since.
It was during a beautiful evening dinner under a canopy of fairy lights that Jonathan surprised Juliette by proposing to her. Off on a getaway to celebrate their three-year dating anniversary, though Juliette took note of the incredible ambiance set at the restaurant that evening, she was utterly surprised when Jonathan popped the question. “Of course I responded yes a thousand times,” says Juliette.
Juliette took on the majority of the planning herself. It was a daunting task but one she knew that with diligent work she would see through her vision. “I’ll be honest, it was tough getting all the appropriate vendors,” Juliette says, “Pinterest was a huge help.”
One of the most important details of their wedding was the very personal touch of incorporating a close family member to officiate their ceremony. Juliette explains, “We had Jonathan’s father ordained to marry us. It was a very special aspect to have someone who had seen our relationship grow from the beginning.” To know that their family embraced their love and wanted to be a part of their commitment to each other made the day all that much more special.
When it comes to planning your own wedding, Juliette says that it can be hard to let go of the urge to strive for perfection. She offers sage advice to newlyweds-to-be embarking on such a monumental task. “Make sure to take a step back from all of the craziness and truly enjoy this time you get planning your wedding with your significant other while also not letting it take over you. Make sure the day represents you and your significant other and don’t get carried away by everything.”
It seems that Juliette’s wisdom served her well, as what she remembers most about that day was not the details of décor she so painstakingly planned, but the swell in her heart knowing they had accomplished her goal of illustrating their true love. As the night unfolded and the guests enjoyed the festivities during the reception, she remembers the moment she and Jonathan stopped to take it all in. “We looked around and saw everyone we loved there supporting and celebrating us,” which Juliette says was the most important thing of all.
—Abigail Blank