Karena Dixon Photography
James and Niqui
James and Niqui were childhood friends, first meeting at age three on the pre-k playground. They started dating at 18, right before leaving for separate colleges, and stayed together despite the five-hour distance. And after 8 years together, James popped the question.
Sherwood Forest was the neighborhood where they met and first became friends, so getting married at the Sherwood Forest Club was an easy decision. Their October wedding featured a waterfront ceremony and a reception surrounded by lush forest greenery. Niqui and James incorporated elements of the surrounding forest and water into their wedding design with shades of blue, green, and white. Simple with natural elements, these childhood friends’ wedding was everything they imagined.
Karena Dixon Photography
Her Look
When it came to her wedding dress, Niqui knew she wanted it to be strapless. So, she tried on a variety of silhouettes. But when it came to her dress, she fell in love with the neckline; an elegant strapless with a V-shaped cut out and a ruched wrapped bodice. “It seemed both flattering and unique at the same time,” Niqui said of her dress.
Every bride is after the illusive comfortable pair of heels for her wedding day and Niqui was no exception. Since she’s on the shorter side, she knew she definitely wanted the little bit of extra height. “I had heard great things about Loeffler Randall . . . so I decided to pay a bit extra for the comfort.” She chose the iconic Camellia Fabric Bow sandals in a bridal white. Opting to keep it simple, she finished off her look with a sapphire and diamond bracelet borrowed from her mom, a pair of dangling crystal earrings, and wore her sister’s veil.
Karena Dixon Photography
His Look
Wanting to stand out from the guests, James wore a classic black tuxedo. Truly timeless, the look was complete with a crisp white button down, black suspenders, dress shoes, and bowtie. He accessorized with a black and silver watch from Tissot. His white rose boutonniere matched Niqui’s bouquet.
Her Second Look
Niqui had planned to change into a second look earlier in the night. However, after getting on the dance floor with friends and family, she didn’t want to leave. Towards the end of the reception, she changed into a simple white, strapless mini romper. She switched up her footwear with a pair of blue Dolce Vita kitten heels with a bow detail. “I [loved] leaving [the wedding] in a different, shorter dress.”
Their Entourage
For the bridesmaids, Niqui wanted her girls to wear the same dress, “but find one that would be flattering on all different body types.” Niqui ordered dresses in a variety of styles and colors from a few websites for her friends to try on. The winner was a one-shoulder matte satin dress in a beautiful sea glass green. The groomsmen wore tuxes that matched the groom with a minor change. Instead of the black bowtie, they wore sea glass green ones that matched the bridesmaids’ dresses. The entourage were a natural pop of color alongside the elegant couple.
Karena Dixon Photography
Details
Bride Gown: Alyne by Rita Vinieris; “Camila”, $3000 (designer), Garnish Boutique (shop) Veil: Borrowed from bride’s sister, Garnish Boutique Jewelry: Earrings, Anthropologie; bracelet: borrowed from bride’s mother Shoes: Loeffler Randal, Camellia Fabric Bow Ankle Strap Dress Sandal, $395 Reception Dress: Strapless Bethany Romper in Ivory by Amanda Uprichard X Revolve, Revolve, $238 Reception Shoes: Kayli Heels in Light Blue Satin, Dolce Vita, $130 Groom Suit: Notch Lapel Tuxedo, The Black Tux (designer and shop) Jewelry: Black leather watch, Tissot, $350 Shoes: Black dress shoes, The Black Tux Accessories: Black bow tie, The Black Tux Bridesmaids Dresses: Kira Dress in Sea Glass Green, $105, Birdy Grey (designer and shop) Jewelry: Various gold jewelry owned by the bridesmaids Shoes: Various nude heels owned by bridesmaids Other accessories: Permanent jewelry, In the Sand (pop up provider) Groomsmen Suit: Notch Lapel Tuxedo, The Black Tux (designer and shop) Jewelry: Various watches, personally owned Shoes: Black dress shoes, The Black Tux Accessories: Bowtie in Sea Glass Green, Birdy Grey, $22 (designer and shop) Other Style-Related Vendors: Photographer: Karena Dixon Photography Videographer: Andrew Gilford @filmandflourish Hair and makeup: Dorsey Beauty @dorseybeauty Florist: Blue Vanada Designs @bluevandadesigns
