Wedding outfit changes are becoming increasingly popular these days, so Nathalie was happy to create a second look for real NK Bride, Sara! Sara and her husband, Sean, had an elegant and cozy rooftop wedding surrounded by family and friends. Keep reading to see the sophisticated jumpsuit Nathalie made, get a peek into the design process, and view lovely photos from Chellise Michael Photography!

The NK Experience

The Inspiration

Sara’s wedding-look scouting started with extensive Google searches and reading through wedding forums to see where brides were shopping. She had a clear vision of what she was looking for, a jumpsuit with a tapered leg, but wasn’t finding what she wanted. That’s when Sara’s friend suggested going custom, starting the search that led her to NK Bride!

Although Sara struggled to find the style of jumpsuit she imagined, one Oscar de la Renta piece caught her eye. When she inquired about the design and was told it was no longer in production, Sara had even more of an incentive to go custom! Plus, with an off-the-rack item, there are bound to be aspects you don’t love. “With Nathalie, I was able to change the neckline, widen the belt, and do a different bow style.” Nothing’s half-hearted at NK Bride!

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The Process

The bride-to-be loved the process of seeing everything unfold and come together. From discussing her criteria and seeing the sketches to going through each fitting, “It was fun! I felt like I was truly creating something that was my own.” Having the fittings go from the drape mock-up to the actual fabric transformation was a highlight too. “They were trips to look forward to.” We don’t call it the NK experience for nothing!

Choosing the fabrics is yet another exciting and collaborative part of our process! Sara showed Nathalie some photos for inspiration, to which she pulled out three fabrics to choose from. Just enough to not be overwhelming. In the end, she went with an ultra-feminine floral motif centered with tiny pearls.

Working With Nathalie

“It’s hard enough to come up with the image of what you want in your head, let alone finding it in real life, but with Nathalie, I was able to create that image.” Instead of having to search far and wide for something that may not even exist, Sara was able to design everything she wanted, all without breaking the bank. “I would definitely recommend it to my friends.” You heard her, ladies, set up a consultation with Nathalie, and make your dream dress come to life!

“There were no snags in the process. It was great.” Sara appreciated Nathalie’s flexibility, even in making changes when the look was 80% done. “The whole process is unique and catered to you,” so the two worked together until the ensemble was “one with [her] body.” If it doesn’t fit like a glove, it’s not finished!

Why a Second Look?

Sara wanted to incorporate her everyday street style into her wedding outfit to make it more true to herself. Since she wears mostly jeans and jumpsuits anyway, she thought, why not an elevated jumpsuit? She also wanted to be able to dance the night away in comfort! Her main dress was fun while it lasted, but when it came to partying at the reception, the jumpsuit certainly did the trick!

Repurposing the Look

One perk of wearing a bridal outfit that matches your daily wardrobe is that you can wear it again! And that’s exactly what Sara plans on doing once she has the bow removed. It’ll certainly look great for a night out on the town. “That’s the great thing about it. I can even dress it down with a casual jacket and sandals.” Already planning outfits? A true fashionista!

How They Met

Sara and Sean met in college in 2011 when a mutual friend introduced them. It was more of a friends-at-first-sight type of thing in the beginning. “I thought, this is someone I like hanging out with. This is fun, but you’re not really an adult at 21.” It wasn’t until her senior year, when Sean had already graduated, that they threw caution to the wind and decided to give a relationship a go. “It wasn’t an on-and-off relationship that plagues you in your late teens or early college years. It was just effortless.” Who doesn’t love a good friends-to-lovers trope?

The Proposal

After eight years of dating, marriage wasn’t really at the couple’s forefront. Until the pandemic, that is! Due to the troubling state of the world, Sara and Sean realized that getting married was actually important to them.

They decided to rent a cabin with no internet service to truly have a moment to themselves. After eating the lovely outdoor dinner prepared by Chef Sean, he said, “It’s time,” the couple’s established cue to unwind and watch a movie. But when Sara tried to go inside, Sean blocked her path, leaving Sara confused until she saw him down on one knee! “I kinda blacked out the rest, but I said yes!” I mean, hey, that’s the most important part, right?

The Festivities

“It was out of the question for [the wedding] not to be in NYC because it’s always been home for us.” So, the pair got married at 74Wythe on a bright, sunny day. The stunning rooftop location was enclosed in glass, giving them the best of both worlds: indoors with an outdoor feel. Since the venue doesn’t provide any vendor services, Sara and Sean had the freedom to transform the place to their liking. “It was more work, but it was less constricting.” Sara wasn’t feeling the whole ballroom reception thing and found a simple solution to that. Reuse the ceremony space! During cocktail hour, the room was flipped and made to look brand new. How convenient is that? Now, that’s the kind of magic trick we like to see!

When it came to wedding planning, the couple didn’t have anything specific in mind for a theme, so they took inspo from the planner’s Pinterest Boards. They thought of their future wedding as one big party and were, therefore, drawn to “dark, moody restaurant vibes.” Elegance was a must, but nothing ostentatious. As Sara put it, “casual but elevated.” Sara and Sean were so chill about everything that they didn’t even know exactly what the decor was going to look like! “You don’t get a dry run of these things. You just have to trust the people you’re working with and hope for the best.” Clearly, they put their trust in the right people!

The Special Moment

Sometimes there’s that one moment during a wedding where it all feels surreal. The bride pinpointed her moment for us. “When Sean and I walked up from cocktail hour and saw the place flipped for the first time with all of our friends and family gathered together. You really can’t beat that feeling. It’s just unlike any other day.” Sara was also so glad that Sean encouraged them to write their own vows. Hearing how meaningful it felt to their guests to learn more about them as a couple was a beautiful sentiment too. The unifying power of a wedding is truly unmatched!