Adina and Andrew are taking over this week’s Real NK Weddings spotlight! The A-Team tied the knot on the 1st of October surrounded by family, friends, foliage, and flowers. The mountainous region of Vermont served as the perfect backdrop to celebrate their love for each other. Read on to see how Nathalie rose to the occasion to create Adina’s perfect look!
Finding “The One”
Adina and Andrew are college sweethearts! Well, kinda. Actually, they were close friends throughout college and two years post-grad before they started dating, but we’d say it still counts! I’m sure you can imagine how excited but also nervous they were to start this new phase in their relationship. Although they didn’t vocalize it, they knew that this could either end in a broken friendship or a blessed marriage. We’re certainly glad it was the latter!
The Proposal
After choosing her own ring, Adina still wanted the proposal to be a surprise, but being the queen of surprises herself (you’ll see what we mean later), Andrew had his work cut out for him. Of course, he was up for the challenge and hatched a clever scheme. He waited for Adina to plan a getaway to their home in Vermont, so she wouldn’t suspect anything. Then, when it was time for a lovely evening stroll, Andrew went inside to “grab his jacket” (*wink wink*) and popped the question at the end of the night. So, was she surprised? Yes! Way to go, Andrew, you stumped the queen this time!
The Dress
The Inspiration
Sorry, Cinderella, not all brides want to look like you! Adina stayed away from the poofy ball gowns, glitter, and sequins and envisioned a soft, lightweight skirt and lace instead. She also wanted a delicate balance between modesty and drama with long sleeves and an open back to complete her ideal look.
The NK Process
As they say, when it comes to finding your soulmate, "When you know, you know.” The same goes for your wedding dress. Though Adina tried on a dress that she loved and could picture herself getting married in, something just didn’t feel right. That’s when she turned to good old Google to search for custom dresses and found NK Bride. She shared her dilemma with Nathalie who was nothing but helpful. Our designer accompanied Adina to the boutique to see the dress on her and could tell that it was the one, so she devised a plan to make it perfect. “That’s what I liked the most about Nathalie,” Adina said. “She wasn’t trying to sell me on a custom dress. She just wanted to make it work for me.” Did you know Nathalie has a BFA? A “Bride First Always” mentality!
In order to do the proper alterations, Nathalie instructed Adina to purchase the dress a size up, “something I wouldn’t have known without her!” she pointed out. Nathalie spruced up the dress by hemming it, adding boning, sewing buttons down the arms, and attaching an extra special detail: a piece of lace from the headpiece Adina’s grandmother wore at her wedding! The fabric was sewn onto her ribcage, keeping Grandma close to her heart.
The Veil
The Inspiration
“I wish there was a cool personal story behind it because it ended up being so epic,” Adina laughed. That’s okay, we’d like to think the veil speaks for itself! Adina wasn’t sure what she was looking for in a veil, so she tried some on in Nathalie’s studio to test out silhouettes. Still unsure, she called it a day. The morning before her next alteration appointment, it hit her as if the angels started singing from Above. A vision of a colorful, flower-clad veil! She posed the idea to Nathalie, who was happy to make the vision a reality. If you know Nathalie, you know she loves her florals!
The NK Process
After looking at inspiration photos, our designer and her client agreed that bright colors would look best against the green Vermont grass. Adina chose the most beautiful set of fall-inspired flowers from Nathalie’s photo selection and went to see them in person before they were sewn on. She even picked out a few to pin in her hair for “continuity” and a pop of color after removing the veil.
The Impact
Speaking of removing her veil, “I was so sad I couldn’t wear it the whole day. I didn’t want to take it off!” Adina beamed. The floral masterpiece was the talk of the town after the ceremony. Family, friends, even the photographer and videographer just couldn’t get enough of it. That’s certainly music to our ears!
The Venue
No matter what, the couple knew that they wanted to have a fall wedding in Vermont, a state home to their favorite outdoor activities: skiing, hiking, and camping. Not to mention the insanely picturesque foliage! It holds a special place in their lives, so naturally, they wanted it to have a special place in their wedding too.
Adina booked the perfect venue to fit the “elegant but a little bit rustic” vibe she was going for. And she found it at someone’s house! The homeowners decided to fill their indoor pool and transform the area into a reception hall so that their son could get married there a few years back. The wedding brought so much happiness to the family that they decided to open their home to the public to spread more wedding joy! They named the location Four Peaks, an ode to the four ski mountains you can admire from the yard. Another nod to Adina and Andrew’s favorite activity to bring everything full circle!
You’re “oohing” and “aahing” at the mesmerizing decor, aren’t you? Well, you’re not alone. We are too! Adina told us that she wanted the setting to be “tasteful and have a wow factor but not be too over the top.” The center table and use of greenery really gave the place the “cozy” feeling of togetherness the couple was looking for. Goals definitely achieved!
The First Look
Not having a first look was never an option for Adina, and these sweet photos prove why. It took place in the backyard of their home before transitioning to the venue, making it all the more sacred. The best part about it was that leading up to the ceremony, the bride was feeling anxious, but “Once I saw Andrew, I felt less stressed,” she reminisced. And all the worries were washed away. When looking at your partner brings you peace, you know you’ve made the right choice!
Looks like we have a special guest here! Meet Ruby, the couple's beloved Labradoodle. After spending the day getting ready with Adina, she wanted to get in on the first look too. Though she didn’t attend the wedding, her adorable “Dog of Honor” bandana made her a distinguished participant nonetheless!
The Ceremonies: A Jewish Tradition
Prior to the ceremony, Adina and Andrew had a ketubah, the signing of the Jewish marriage contract. The document is usually surrounded by beautiful artwork, and this one was no exception! Adina’s sister, a talented artist, painted the scenic fall portrait.
At the ceremony, displayed beside the chuppah was another piece of artwork that matched the ketubah and decorative flowers. This lovely stitchwork (Yes, that’s Ruby on there!) was created by Andrew’s mom, who happens to be an avid quilter. At the end of the ceremony, which was performed by Adina’s childhood rabbi (aww), the couple was wrapped in a tallit, a special prayer shawl that Andrew has had since his bar mitzvah (aww x2). As the shawl covered the pair, the rabbi covered them in blessings, and just like that, they were pronounced husband and wife. Mazel tov!
The Reception (With a B-day Celebration!)
You know how receptions go. Dancing, eating, speeches, and…flash mobs? Well, when your husband’s birthday is the day after your wedding, you have to do something different! Adina got all of her friends in on the plan, sending out the choreography in advance, so everyone would be prepared. When the big moment came, and everyone burst into dance, Andrew was so surprised, and sneaky Adina pretended to be too! At the end of the performance, Adina made her way to the mic, asking whoever did this to please come forward. That was her friends’ cue to pop out of the crowd with posters reading, “Surprise,” “It was your wife,” and “Happy birthday, Andrew.” The groom was elated and super impressed with his wife’s planning skills. See, we told you she’s the queen of surprises!
Adina’s Favorite Part
Adina knew what her favorite part of the wedding would be before it even happened. Wow, she’s a psychic too? What can’t she do?! “It was having everybody that I know and love in one spot. That’s the best part…other than marrying Andrew!” she added with a laugh. “Also, how beautiful it turned out.” She commended all of the vendors and her wedding planner for completely blowing her expectations out of the water. Although she wasn’t surprised at the outcome, she never could’ve imagined how truly amazing it would be.
Congratulations, Adina and Andrew! The NK Bride team wishes you a lifetime of good health and joy.
<3
For more lovely photos from Adina and Andrew’s wedding, take a look at our Pinterest!
Cover Photo credit: Bruce Plotkin Photography
The Dream Team
Photographer: Bruce Plotkin Photography | Venue: Four Peaks | Dress Designer: Anna Kara | Dress Alterations & Veil: NK Bride | Dress Boutique: Lovely Bride NYC | Florals: Jasper and Prudence | Caterer: Cloud 9 Caterers | Event Planner: Janie Haas Events | Event Design: Tyger Productions | Ceremony Tent/Rentals: Peak Event Services | Entertainment: Wilson Stevens (Groovin’ You) | Videographer: Latimer Studios | Couple: Adina & Andrew