The couple wanted their wedding day to feel intimate, with a smaller group of people who’ve been part of their journey as a couple—and since they were asking guests to travel internationally, they kept the guest list for Paris tight. They also made a point of not getting caught up in typical wedding traditions or trends. “Instead of doing things a certain way just because we were ‘supposed to,’ we focused on personal details that felt right for us,” Nicole says. “Paris is such a magical place, and we wanted our guests to experience all the things we love about it—the food, the atmosphere, hidden treasures, and gardens. And, most of all, we wanted the wedding to feel deeply romantic—not just in the setting, but in the energy. It was important to us that our guests could really feel how much we love each other. And we hoped that by the end of it all, they’d leave Paris feeling just as in love with the city as we are.”
The couple worked with Angie Amzallag, Joanna Ascher, and Lisa Cohen at Social Studio Events to plan the weekend. “They immediately understood our vision,” Nicole says. “They brought such a fresh, creative approach that helped us build a day that felt original and totally our own.”
Nicole took a similar approach when it came to choosing looks for her wedding wardrobe. “What I wore was deeply personal,” she says. “Coming from a background in fashion, I had a clear vision of what I wanted—and I was lucky to have a good friend, stylist Eric McNeal, be by both my and Joe’s side to help bring it to life. Every look we chose told a story and held meaning.”
For the Friday night welcome party, the couple hosted a cruise on the Seine, where the dress code called for “summer cocktail.” To this, the bride wore an archival John Galliano for Christian Dior knit dress, sourced from Happy Isles in New York. “I’ve always admired that era of Galliano’s work—the detail, the romance,” Nicole says. “I paired it with my mom’s beaded purse from her own wedding day, Jimmy Choo sandals, and jewelry by Parisian designer Sylvia Toledano.”
Even though Nicole had a clear vision of what she wanted, finding her wedding dress wasn’t as easy as she’d hoped. After visiting several bridal salons in New York and feeling overwhelmed by the process, she went to Mark Ingram. “Supporting a Black-owned bridal atelier was important to me, and working with Mark and his incredible team made the experience even more meaningful,” she explains. “When they brought out the Isolde gown by Ines Di Santo, I knew instantly it was the one. It felt timeless, regal, and graceful.”
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