We had the pleasure of interviewing real NK Bride, Natalie Lichtman, to tell us all about her wedding to husband, Josh. The couple combined time-honored family traditions with their love of fun times and travel to create the celebration of their dreams. Keep reading to see the part Nathalie played in giving Mrs. Lichtman the perfect dress!
Finding Her Prince
We’ve all heard plenty of dating app horror stories, so let’s take a look at a success story! Natalie and Josh met on Hinge at the beginning of the Covid lockdown. They had a bunch of dates over FaceTime before deciding to brave the pandemic and meet up in person. Their connection was so natural that they fell for each other very quickly. What greater reward for their risk than true love?
In the fall of 2021, Natalie and Josh took a trip together to the most romantic city in the world…Paris, of course! On a rooftop overlooking the Eiffel Tower with a plethora of roses, candles, and champagne and her favorite music playing in the background, Josh got down on one knee and popped the question! Not only is this the city of love but it also happens to be where Natalie studied abroad during college and became a place that means a lot to her. “I was really excited to have that memory with him there,” she told us. We hope you both continue to make the fondest memories there and everywhere you go!
The Wedding Look
The Inspiration: Fit for a Fairy Tale
Sleek, chic, and timeless are the qualities Natalie’s look was to exude. Although not a direct inspiration, Natalie imagined her wedding dress to be evocative of Kate Middleton’s in its classic silhouette but with an element of modernity. She wanted to look “distinctly bridal and romantic” with a sweetheart neckline and a slightly voluminous skirt. “Just something that felt elevated and special and will never go out of style.”
The NK Process
Natalie found her dress on a whim! During a visit to Chicago, she and her friend decided to go dress shopping, just to get some ideas, but one Italian-made gown stood out from the rest. It had the sophisticated look she was going for, plus a slit and pockets for that hint of edginess. “I ended up trying on [this] dress that I felt like was so me, and I just knew that it was the one.” Sometimes the best moments come from the most spontaneous adventures!
Even the perfect dress can use a little extra something! After she returned to New York, Natalie went on the hunt for someone who could alter her dress. With a strapless design and low-cut neckline, the bride wanted to add some sleeves for her more modest ceremony. Not wanting to settle for just any tailor, Natalie did her research and found NK Bride with its stellar reviews. She saw that Nathalie designed her own dresses and knew that she’d have a good eye. “Not to mention, we had the same name,” she laughed. She went into the boutique to chat with her name twin and felt like Nathalie had the vision and energy she sought.
Once the Nat(h)alies started working together, our NKB designer drew up “the most gorgeous sketches” to begin the process. Nathalie reassured the nervous bride-to-be that she’d redo the sketches as many times as it takes to get it just right. “I felt like she cared as much as I did about it being perfect.” Yup, sounds like Nathalie!
When it came to the modesty addition, Natalie decided to go with a regal lace. After looking through an assortment of fabric photos and videos from Nathalie, she chose a gorgeous French lace. Dress from Italy and fabric from France? Okay, fashionista! It was important to the bride that the sleeves looked like a natural part of the dress, and Nathalie ensured that they did.
Along with the long-sleeve addition, Natalie wanted to create spaghetti straps using a belt she bought in Chicago. Nathalie was happy to accommodate, attaching hooks to the dress and straps to make them removable and allow Natalie to go strapless if she wanted to. “I go with the flow and act how I feel in the moment regarding what I wear, so I loved having the versatility,” Natalie told us. The designer also tacked the thigh-high slit for extra coverage. Nathalie was able to merge everything her client envisioned into a cohesive ensemble, and Natalie couldn’t be happier. Turning one dress into three new ones? Sounds like a dream!
The Veil
If Natalie’s veil looks familiar, then you know your NK products! Nathalie constructed a custom veil for her client using her finest tulle, matching the trim to the lace from the sleeves. “The pictures I have with it on are some of my favorites,” she beamed. “It goes with the dress so beautifully.” She hopes that one day her daughter will wear it too. Seems like the beginning of a wonderful tradition!
Looks like the veil has already taken part in a lovely custom! In Jewish culture, during a ceremony called the bedeken, the groom places the veil over his fiancé and then lifts it to ensure it’s actually her under there. I mean, he doesn’t want to end up marrying the wrong girl! But most importantly, this is the moment before the ceremony in which the bride is most holy, prayers are spoken, and blessings are exchanged. Happy we could contribute to such a spiritual occasion!
The Reception
When thinking about her wedding theme, Natalie wanted it to embody the two parts of herself: classic and old-school yet fun-loving and adventurous. Time for the fun-loving and adventurous side to shine! After the traditional ceremony, Natalie was ready for a reception where she and her guests could let loose. Inspired by her love of traveling, the new Mrs. Lichtman went with a Moroccan, Persian, and Israeli theme. “These are the best parties I’ve ever been to. They know how to party!” She wanted guests to feel “transported” to these destinations because what’s better than a vacation?
Who doesn’t love a little wedding favor? Especially one you can use at the wedding! As guests entered the reception area, they were each given their own shot glass that was then filled with the liquor or mocktail of their choice. Love the inclusivity! Such a fun transition and a spectacular way of bringing everyone together.
Speaking of bringing everyone together, Natalie opted for family-style cuisine with pita, hummus, olive oil, and herbs to match her Middle Eastern, Mediterranean theme. It fostered a community environment and gave everyone a chance to get to know one another. After all, nothing bonds us humans better than sharing a meal!
The Accessories
We just love the added bling that these accessories give off! Timeless is what Natalie wanted, and timeless is what she got with these elegant pearl earrings. I mean, you can’t go wrong with a matching jewelry set! And nobody could overlook these dazzling glass slippers. Cinderella who?
The Bridal Party
“What do you want to wear?” is how Natalie answered her bridesmaids when they inquired about their attire. She always knew she wanted to let them choose because “These are my friends and family,” she stated. “I didn’t want it to feel like I had backup dancers!” The ladies agreed on shades of blush and champagne to match everyone’s complexions and meld with the spring season. Natalie loved the palette and was thrilled knowing that everyone felt just as confident in their looks as she did. “I didn’t want anyone to take a backseat to me.” What a selfless attitude!
The First Look(s)
Some brides want their groom’s “first look” to happen down the aisle. Others prefer one private moment. Natalie had three separate “first looks” with the most important men in her life: her dad, her siblings, and her soulmate. Being the youngest and only girl with three older brothers, Natalie always knew that she’d want to have this special moment with them. “They were like three extra dads to me growing up. It meant so much to me to have them there,” she reminisced. Each moment was filled with emotion and will always hold a significant place in her heart.
The Venue & Ceremony
The couple chose the Seawane Club in Hewlett Harbor, New York, as their perfect wedding destination. With Natalie spending her summers at the beach nearby and Josh growing up in the area, it was only fitting for them to tie the knot somewhere that held memories from their youth. The ceremony was a mix of Jewish Orthodox and Jewish Conservative Reform observances to honor both of their families and the values of previous generations. It took place outdoors to respect everyone’s Covid comfortability and to soak in the lovely views!
A Family Affair
Even though the reception was all about embracing your wild side, the pair never lost sight of their Jewish traditions and the main goal of their celebration: making it a family affair. “We wanted to give everyone we love in our lives as much meaning and opportunities to be involved in the wedding as possible,” Natalie clarified. The couple used some religious and cultural rituals to do so. Both the mother of the bride and mother of the groom broke a plate together as a symbol of the serious bond their children were creating. Just as a shattered plate can never be the same again, neither can a broken relationship!
Josh’s brother was given the honor of saying a blessing over the challah bread before dinner was served and the party got underway. On a less serious note, Josh’s other brother’s speech couldn’t be beaten! He held up a Lego Transformers kit in reference to Josh’s childhood love of the building blocks in the hopes that the pair’s lives continue to “transform” as they take this next step together. How sweet is that? Men in appearance, kids at heart.
Jokes aside, we adore how family-oriented the Lichtmans are, and their guests couldn’t agree more. “They all felt the difference—the inclusion, honor, and recognition. They could feel the energy that everyone felt a part of it.” It really does take a village!
The Special Moment
We asked Natalie what her favorite part of the wedding was, and her response touched our hearts. The bride decided to walk down part of the extra long aisle by herself before being escorted by her parents. She used that surreal moment to reflect on a time-honored Jewish saying that seven generations of your family come down from Heaven to see you get married. Her grandparents, whom she was very close to but have sadly passed away, were at the forefront of her mind. “I’m glad I had that moment to connect with them and feel their energy with me.”
As she was standing there, a caterer came up to her and said, “A bride should never be alone on her wedding day.” Her response was a tear-jerker for sure. “I’m not alone,” she smiled. “I’m with my grandparents!” We can only imagine how proud they must be!
Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Lichtman! We wish you good health and all the best in your future together.
<3 NK Bride
For more lovely photos from the Lichtmans’ wedding, take a look at our Pinterest!
Cover Photo credits: Holtz Photography
The Dream Team
Photographer & Videographer: Holtz Photography | Venue: The Seawane Club | Dress: Valentini Spose | Lace Jacket & Veil: NK Bride | Makeup Artist: Sophia V Makeup | Florals: Birch Event Design | Caterer: Michael Scott Events | Cake: Sweet Dreams NY | Music: Elegant Music Group | Paper Goods: Emily Baird Design | Couple: Natalie Zises Lichtman & Josh Lichtman