What began as two mutual friends being set up by family members, blossomed into a loving relationship between our beautiful LJM Real Bride Mariah, a Third Grade Teacher, Entrepreneur and Makeup Artist, and her now-husband Michael, a Pulmonology and Critical Care Doctor. Mariah shares that her uncle knew them individually and always shared that he wanted to get these two together. Finally, in October 2021, they connected on a deeper level via Instagram messages, and the rest is history!
Three years later, Mike planned a date night with Mariah to get dinner + go to the movies to see Wicked. “I was ecstatic to see the movie, it was all I could think about that day. When Mike picked me up, he was wearing a suit… I had a feeling we weren’t going to the movies anymore”. Instead of the date night Mike had originally shared with Mariah, he instead took her to his house, where he had endless candles placed, a violinist playing ‘A Whole New World’, and a bouquet of balloons where he ultimately popped the question! Mariah shares she had no idea the proposal was about to happen. We love a surprise YES!
As Mariah took on the title ‘fiancé’, it came time to find her wedding dress! She shares that she chose to shop with La Jeune Mariee because of our designer selection, specifically Netta BenShabu, and had heard great things about our team from friends who had shopped with us.
After shopping with us and working with our team of expert stylists, Mariah said yes to Netta BenShabu Anika: a stunning fit + flare gown with a trending basque waist and long sleeves, along with the Toni Federici Francesca veil: a cathedral length veil with lace trim. To accessorize her look further, Mariah chose custom hair pins from Maria Elena Headpieces.
As Mariah embarked on more wedding planning, she shares that she relied heavily on the help of the team at Joe Mineo Creative for vendor recommendations and to bring her vision to life for the wedding day. She shares that she wanted her day to feel like a romantic fairytale, and they accomplished her goal!
When the big day finally arrived, Mariah saw so many of the sentimental and personal details she had planned for come to life, including the dance with her dad, the new couple’s entrance to their reception to ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’, cutting their cake and making memories with family members on the dance floor.
Our gorgeous bride also shared that they added details to remember loved ones who had passed: “My favorite detail from my wedding day was my bouquet. My bouquet had charms attached to it with pictures of all my loved ones who were a part of my special day in heaven. I lost my brother when I was a little girl, and it meant a lot to me that I was able to take a photo with him and also have him as close to me as I could”. We absolutely love this personal detail that Mariah added to her wedding day.
When we asked if there are any additional vendors she’d like to shout out, Mariah shared that the team at Leo’s Ristorante went above and beyond to assist on their wedding day. “Chef Leo and Chef Ari crafted the most amazing dishes for us, and Lisa coordinated a way to serve 435 guests PERFECTLY”.
As Mariah reflects on her beautiful + heartfelt wedding day, she shared some advice to future brides planning their big day: “Live in the moment! It is truly the best day of your life. You get everyone you love in one room, and that is one of the most special parts of the celebration!”
We’re so honored to have been a part of Mariah + Mike’s beautiful Greek Orthodox wedding day! Keep scrolling for more photos from their celebration as well as their full list of vendors.
photography: The Cannons Photography
wedding dress: La Jeune Mariee | Netta BenShabu
florist: Joe Mineo Creative
videographer: Kunkel Videography
invitations: KMP Calligraphy
band: Spartan Sounds
catering: Leo’s Ristorante
cake: Das Dutch Haus
getting ready location: The Grand Resort
Ready to find your dream dress and join the LJM Real Bride Club? Tap the button below to view availability + secure your appointment. We can’t wait to meet you!