Olivia and Julian at Cross & Orange

How did you meet?
Julian and I met through my sister actually—she was the mastermind behind our meeting. Once we exchanged numbers, it was instant chemistry. The first time we hung out he actually proposed to me with a gum wrapper. The rest was history!

How did you get engaged?
Yet again, my sister was a big part of the plan. She is a photographer and asked me to be a last-minute model in her winter shoot, and Julian then surprised me by walking up behind me and half scaring me to death! My sister captured the whole moment!

Details of the day!
My day was an absolute dream! I have to say, planning wasn’t my favorite thing. I had a vision in my mind and just went with that the whole time. I just kept envisioning a dimly lit, romantic night! I used candles with darker accents as my inspiration. I thrifted almost all of my décor: glass votives, candlestick holders, a beautiful gold mirror. That was actually a lot of fun for me. I used local thrift shops, Goodwill, estate sales and Facebook Marketplace, along with Etsy for the cigar labels and matchboxes.

Why did you choose your venue?
We chose Cross & Orange because it was something different! We both knew we wanted to change it up from your typical, sit-down wedding. It was really important for us to make it more of a relaxed feel, kind of like a night out for everyone. C&O was the perfect fit. Not to mention they have amazing food options, and everything is so fresh. We truly couldn’t have asked for a better venue to host our wedding.

What was on your menu?
We had scallops with pesto sauce, filet mignon with an onion jam, grilled shrimp tacos, fried chicken sliders, cheeseburger sliders, fig stuffed with ricotta, pesto pasta, Bolognese, a grazing table, Caesar salad and a chopped wedge salad. Our cake was a chocolate cake with Reese’s peanut-butter-cup filling. Amazing!

All about your gown!
My gown was an absolute dream! It was everything I was looking for. Classy, yet elegant and chic. It was just perfect. A WHOLE VISION, as my sister would say.

What was your favorite moment?
I wish I could say the whole part! I truly loved the church ceremony; it meant a lot to both of us. We did have a Rolls-Royce as our ride for the day and I have to say, just us driving together after the ceremony was so special. A moment that was just us for a little bit.

One detail you couldn’t live without?
The vintage Rolls-Royce for sure! Made all my picture dreams come true, as well as a moment I’ll remember forever with my husband.

Did anything go wrong?
We did schedule black SUV Ubers to pick up half of our bridal party after the church, and they didn’t show up. This was kind of stressful, but thankfully we did have a backup option we were able to use.

First dance song?
“Say You Won’t Let Go,” by Matt Johnson, Jaclyn Davis

Any advice for future brides?
Very clichè, but just remember why you’re there. Remember what your wedding day means, and don’t let anyone change that. You won’t be able to personally talk to everyone, and that’s OK. Enjoy every moment.