In this special episode of The Beauty Chat, Angela Trakoshis (Commerce Editor, Allure), Lexi Herrick (Senior Director Audience Development, Allure), and Erica Sloan (Senior Health Writer, SELF) open up about the emotional rollercoaster of getting ready to walk down the aisle. From figuring out the right veil length to last-minute skin-care experiments, they share the beauty choices, cultural traditions, and mindset shifts shaping their big days—and why looking like yourself, not a Pinterest board, is the ultimate goal.
Watch the interview above and scroll through the transcript to see engagement photos and inspo boards.
Wedding Themes
Kara: We are gathered here today to talk about weddings because all of you are in the process of planning your weddings, right? Yeah, none of you have gotten married yet. I guess as a way of like easing us into this, can you guys each describe your like wedding bride vibe in three words, let's say?
Ange: Yeah. I'll kick it off because I have it written down.
Kara: Wonderful.
Ange: So I'm getting married abroad. And I keep saying that my vibe is Greece meets Tulum. That's like what I keep saying. I want it to look very like Bohemian-esque Middle Eastern vibe since where I'm getting married is technically in the Middle East. So yeah, that's my vibe. That's what I'm going for, ideally. Yeah.
Kara: That sounds great.
Lexi: Yeah, it's an amazing vibe. I don't know if I have a catchphrase like that, but I can probably describe it pretty quickly. I like that, though. So I'm getting married in where I'm from, in the mountains near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The colors are black and white because it's actually in a valley that's surrounded by fall colors and foliage. So I wanted to keep it kind of simple, kind of classic, elegant.
I'm doing a lot of personalized details as well. I'm very cheesy. So I'm very into just trying to make sure that who we are is a couple of shines through. It's on a golf course. We both like to golf. We like to hike. It's, there's hiking trails around us. So we're definitely diving into those elements of it. So I'd say classic black and white, but also kind of outdoorsy since it's in the mountains.
Ange: Very Lexicore.
Erica: Oh my God. We're all so different. I love it. I am getting married in a kind of renovated villa, so an old place that now has a new vibe. And I feel like that kind of encapsulates a lot of what I'm going for for my wedding. I want to kind of nod to the fact that we're in this historic place. It's in a green kind of valley that's also a small vineyard. And there are these kind of historic touches to the home. But the inside is very maude, contemporary, fresh. Um, so my words for beauty are like glam, elegant, sleek, like something along those lines. Euro chic is something that I've been like playing with, um, as well.
Kara: I love it. Yeah. It's three very different fives. There's so many ways to have a wedding. So Lexi, you're getting married in the fall?
Lexi: Yes. October 18th.
Kara: And Angela, you are also getting married in the fall?
Ange: End of September, yeah.
Kara: And Erica, you are getting married not this year, correct?
Erica: Not this year, yeah. So I'm the furthest out and the least planned of this crew, but I am getting married next May. So spring vibes.
Kara: Okay, great. I mean, still within six months of these two. So yeah, exciting. Okay. And how big are each of your guest lists?
Lexi: Oh, like 130 for us.
Kara: Okay.
Ange: I'm upwards of like 200-250. I have a very interesting dynamic going here. It's a destination wedding, but my whole family's there. So there's about 100, I call them the Americans, everyone from America coming. And then there it's about 150 invited. So I estimate 200 coming.
Kara: Okay. Yeah. I feel like people usually have destination weddings, like specifically partially to keep it small, but you were like, no, no.
Ange: Yes. No, it wasn't even really an option with me. Um, I was always getting married there. Uh, it's really important to me to have my grandparents there and they can't travel to America. So, um, I made it very, very clear and saving a lot of money doing it away too, believe it or not.
Erica: So yeah, that is definitely true compared to — I don't know that would apply for like all of the U.S. but it definitely applies in New York. Like I think we're saving money by doing it in Barcelona. But yeah, I am doing a destination wedding to keep it small. So we're trying to be — I'm like putting this out into the universe that it's under 50 because of like the table set up that I envision. But yeah, that's my, that's my plan.
Kara: Wow. Under 50. When I, at one point was thinking that I wanted to have a wedding, I have since decided I do not want to have a wedding. I was trying to make a guest list and literally just putting like my family down. I was hitting over 50 and I got my partner to think about too. So I was like, you know what? Nevermind.
Erica: Yeah. I have a tiny i have a tiny family which is great because that was like a non-factor for me like super tiny family and my fiance has a tiny family and we both were like great so just immediate immediate family and then our friends that we've seen in the past like six months.
Wedding Dresses
Kara: So tell me all about your dresses. I feel like we need to set that scene before we can start talking about the beauty stuff, which is obviously what we're actually here for.
Ange: I'm going to incline to pass because my fiance is in the other room and I don't want him to hear. But I'll tell you guys as soon as he leaves for work.
Kara: Okay, great. Can you give it like a vibe?
Ange: The vibe is...Sexy chic.
Kara: Wow, very Angela.
Lexi: I do not know what my vibe would be for that either. It's pretty classic. I didn't want to have too much poof because I want to be able to be mobile. I want to be able to move around, take pictures without...an egregious amount of poof but there's still some it's a little bit of poof um. And I wanted it to feel like a wedding gown, like a gown that I wouldn't be able to wear for another occasion. I love a dress. I'll put on a dress for even the most casual of occasions so I wanted to make sure it felt a little ball gowny. So that's what I would say it is. It's pretty classic slight ball gowny. But ultimately, it fit really well and it was super comfortable and I felt like a bride in it so I was like: Done!
Ange: Just knowing Lexi, I like, it's exactly what I picture you in. Like just like knowing her and who she is. Like it's, I just, it's exactly, I wouldn't expect anything less.
Erica: I love that. I just went wedding dress shopping for the first time this weekend. So we like, I'm fresh, like legitimately just went to four different places in New York. Um, and I'm, I think I'm decided, but I like kind of needed to sleep on it. And now as I'm like thinking about it more over the past, like five hours of this morning, um, I think I'm leaning, I mean, the direction is going to be similar.
I'm kind of like straight, sleek, like fitted vibe, like a satiny silky material, like open back. I'm like a non-embellished kind of gal, so I feel like it'll be like I was choosing based on fabric like silkiness of the fabric and kind of sleekness of the feel. And so wanted to be comfortable um definitely mobile too. I like a puddle train, but not much more than that. I learned this term this weekend, like small puddle train. But yeah, so sleek, simple. That's my vibe.
Ange: Erica, I love that you slept on it because I did the same thing. I only went one day and went one day with the three stores. The store that I went to, it had every one of the stores had everything. So I was like, okay, this is like where I'm going to get it, cause like they have everything. Um, but I was overwhelmed, like with a bunch of people, a bunch of people with my mom, my dad and my future mother-in-law, but I was like overwhelmed. And then I like slept on it and like went back by myself. And that's when I like made the decision and like actually like fell in love with it because I was like, I need to like, just be me and Angelina was the girl who helped me. Like it just, just the two of us. And like, she didn't pressure me. She was very calm. And like, I think that's super important too, to have like the right salesperson. Um, yeah, so I did the same thing. So I get it. You have to like sleep on it. It's a big decision.
Erica: It's a big decision. I definitely got overwhelmed. Um, we went to four places and we did, yeah, two on Saturday and two on Sunday. And by the end I was like, oh my God, like, did I waste these people's time?
Ange: Right?! That's how I felt! I was like my parents traveled here and everyone came and I was like, I feel like I wasted everyone's time, but then went back and I like FaceTimed my mom and like, just had like a one-on-one and I was like, no, this is it. Like I need to just, yeah.
Erica: Yeah, I feel like that's in my future for maybe like later this week.
Ange: Right, right.
Lexi: That's an important step. There's so many decisions that you make, big decisions, small decisions. The small decisions are what have been driving me insane. But ultimately, when you open it up to so many opinions you can start to feel like pressure towards this way or like, you know, I want to meet this expectation. But you have to try to like stay true to yourself so that on that day, it feels like you, it's what you wanted. But it can be hard sometimes to make those decisions with so many other people involved in your wedding, you know?
Erica: Yeah, totally.
Wedding Makeup
Kara: So in terms of beauty, I feel like this is an area where your friends and family would probably, especially for Angela and Lexi, would let you make your own decisions because like you guys are the experts because you work in Allure and Erica too because you work itself. So can you tell me a little bit about how you, without giving too much away because you haven't gotten married yet, how did you pick your beauty look? Like is it pretty close to what you do day to day? Are you branching out and trying something new? Like what is the vibe?
Ange: I am a true believer in not doing anything different leading up to your wedding day, whether that's one of my, all my friends are getting married. One of my best friends gets married this month, and she was like, “I feel like I need to get facials.” And I was like, “You've never gotten a facial in your life.” You know what I mean? Like if you start now, it could really like screw up your skin because your skin's not used to it.
Don't do anything different. Just keep it really, really simple. So you don't have a breakout or anything that would upset you on the day of.
So that said, my beauty look will be very, Angela, just how I do. I went back and forth about doing my own makeup. If I'm being completely honest with you, because I feel like nobody knows my face better than me, but that said, my cousin's doing my makeup.
My cousin's a makeup artist in Cyprus, where I'm getting married, and we were there last May to go venue hopping and looking. And we did our engagement shoot there as well. And I had her do my makeup for our engagement shoot. And that was kind of like my trial because I'm not getting a real trial.
And I just brought her all the products that I wanted her to use but um and I was a little bit of a potential control freak, which I am most most of my life and days. So I just kept it super simple simple lash. I call it soft glam um that's kind of what I'm going for. I wouldn't put a red lip on because I don't wear a red lip day to day. So I'm like it's gonna be a nude lip, because I don't want to look back on photos and be like, Why did I do that? Like that doesn't even look like me. I don't do that day to day. So my persona is just keeping it core to who I am.
Lexi: I would agree, honestly. You're right. And that there's so much noise. There's so much noise on social media, which is probably why, you know, your friend felt the pressure, like, Oh my God, I gotta get facials.
Cause there's a million TikToks telling you that like the months leading up to your wedding, you have to get facials.
Ange: The beauty prep for like your wedding — and I'm like, that’s such bullshit.
Lexi: It is! It is. There's already enough pressure for that day. And you know it's expensive to make your wedding a perfect day. It's also expensive to have you know all of this beauty procedures done that you might not have normally done or thought about right leading up to it. So from my perspective I'm thinking the same thing. I'm trying to stay true to who I am.
I do wear a red lip often, despite my complexion. I live in denial of that. Seasonal coloring — whatever. But my issue is I'm trying to find a red lipstick that will not transfer in any way, because my friends have all gotten married. I've been there for those photos and the amount of times they're like, okay, kiss, okay, kiss. And my fiance is going to have a red mouth and we can't have that. So I'm trying to figure out how I can pull off a red lip without getting it everywhere. If I can't figure that out, I'll go with like a classic pink. But that's kind of my main debate. Other than that, I'm wearing my makeup kind of the way I always have.
I'd say the one thing that's changed a little bit is there's been certain things. Like, I'm a millennial. So rite of passage, I plucked the absolute crap out of my eyebrows, right They were gone. At one point, they were truly gone. And so I've been really working to grow them back. Because it's been something I've always wanted to do. And I'm like, all right, I want to have them looking good for my wedding. So that's one thing that I'm kind of changing a little bit, experimenting with my brows and trying to find the perfect red lip. But other than that, like you said, soft glam — just kind of look like me.
Kara: Wait, what has worked the best for you so far for regrowing your brows? I feel like that's something that our audience will be interested in, our millennial audience, regardless of their wedding plans.
Erica: Yeah, I need to know this too, actually.
Lexi: Okay, so first I tried rosemary oil, which is how I found out I'm allergic to rosemary oils. I went all in. I was like, perfect. Just slammed it on my face. I had this red mark down the center of my head. So be careful about that. But though I have heard people have had a lot of success using essential oils and I just tend to have an irritation to that. I have been using Revita Brow, which has helped as well as just learning how to fill in and style your eyebrows. There's a video, I think, of Sarah Kinonen doing a demonstration for me in the office with my eyebrows as well. So I think it's both of those things. It's testing various growth products at the area, but also learning better how to style them to fill them in.
Kara: Yeah, I have a friend who like, same, plucked her eyebrows to oblivion. And she was like, I hate them. I'll never have good eyebrows. And then like one day, maybe two years ago, she texted me and was like, Kara, turns out I just needed to brush my eyebrows. Like they actually are fine. I just didn't realize that that was a step that everybody else was taking. So Revita Brow, I also like re-upped a package recently and like my eyebrows went like sort of out of control. I was like, oh my God, I've never had to brush my eyebrows so much. So that stuff, works.
Lexi: That's the best thing I've tried. And I honestly, I will say that a lot of like hair growth products, I kind of like, you know, I'm not really trusting the truth of that marketing, but for Revita Brow, I'm trusting the truth. I really do think it works.
Erica: I love that. I like, I need that tip. I mean, for me, my other like big thing is my lashes. Like for some reason, I just don't have many good ones. So like mascara just doesn't really just just doing mascara like doesn't work like long term for me, like for me to if I really want like a lash look, I do need like a falsie situation of some sort because they either get clumpy or they kind of just like dip down.
So that's something I'm thinking about. But for me, I think different from Ange and Lexi, like I think I do need a little like extra oomph from what I typically do and like someone to dial it up because for me, I'm like, I don't like know a ton about like making up my face. My past experience with makeup has been like either stage makeup or like extreme, like as a dancer or extremely natural makeup. And I kind of need something like in between those two things. So I'm definitely going to lean on someone to kind of glam it up a little bit. Like I need like some cheek moment. I feel like I'm going to be like a little bit washed out and like potentially like the light and the dress that I'm wearing. So I need like a little extra oomph for me to kind of feel a little glam and a little like something special beyond my typical.
Lexi: Lashes can help with that, cause it gives you that extra, but I do — again, back to my allergies — cause I'm allergic to a lot of things apparently. I only found that out these last couple of years. The glue, the adhesive for those — I would definitely test them maybe even a few times before just to make sure that you don't feel any itchiness or swelling or anything like that from the glue. Cause I've learned that the past couple of years as well, that I'm allergic to the glue.
Erica: That's a great tip.
Kara: Definitely lash extensions over falsies if you can, because I feel like there's just more of a risk of like the falsie like peeling off halfway through. But I do feel like makeup artists who do wedding makeup — like that is so hard because you have to look like a regular person in real life for this huge event that you're having and but then also look good in photos. And typically those are two totally different types of makeup. So I have a lot of respect for people who do good wedding makeup. It is hard.
Wedding Hair
Kara: It sounds like you guys are pretty much sticking to your regular routine, but were there any surprising to you beauty related expenses that have come into play as you're ramping up to your wedding?
Ange: I'm getting hair extensions put in this weekend for my shower as kind of like a test trial if I want them for the wedding because my hair is another huge thing. I have no idea how I'm doing my hair, which is another thing people don't really talk about. I'll keep referencing my friend who's getting married this month, but she just did one of her final dress fittings and she completely changed her hair that she had told her hairdresser about — not completely, but she changed something about it because she was like, I saw the dress on and my original hair like doesn't work with this kind of dress.
Something that hairdressers do and makeup artists do that I don't really agree with — and I might get shamed for this — is that they make you decide what you want when you book.
And a lot of these places book a couple years in advance because you want to lock down prices because of inflation — everything's going up every year. And, like, she had locked in her hair, like, a year ago and, like, didn't even know what her dress was. And that is such a big thing, because how do you decide on something when you don't even know what your vibe is going to be? Like, that's like, that's crazy.
So, for me, I'm getting my hair extensions put in. And, I mean, I'm going to do my Botox, my filler, and all that kind of stuff. But that's like, that's routine for me. It's not anything like new. The hair extensions are definitely the only newer thing that I'll be experimenting with. I've had them before, but like new-ish.
Kara: Wait, for the hair, I've never heard of this: The hair that you like you have to decide when you book. Do you have to decide the literal look or do you just have to say like-
Ange: Just so like say so they could price you accordingly. Like if you want an updo, that's like different than having your hair down. So an updo might be, I don't know, but it might be more money than having your hair down. So then you're giving a deposit for something that like you don't really know that you want it. Then you get a dress and it's strapless and you actually do want your hair down or whatever it may be. And you're like, Wait, now I don't know. And then you're freaking out. Now you have 15 days till your wedding and you're like, What do I do? And it's like, you know, this whole thing. It's a big deal because if you're getting a veil, like you don't, you don't know. You don't know. I don't know. I still don't know what I'm doing with my hair.
Erica: Yeah, I'm like in this right now, because I also booked a hair and makeup artist. I didn't have to give like as specific of like-
Ange: I think it's an abroad thing Erica, like they don't care as much. Like I didn't have to give it either, but for my friends that are getting married between Jersey and New York, like there are these people — they want to know.
Erica: I tried on dresses this weekend and I kind of envision like hair down. Like, that's kind of my general vibe. And I tried on some dresses where they were like, Oh, put your hair back. Put your hair up. Like, you would do your hair up. Like, it's an open back. Like, put your hair back. And I'm like, Oh, no. Would I have to, like, change my whole, like, hair look for this?
And, of course, I'm with, like, a couple bridesmaids who are pretty, like, beauty inclined. And one of them was like, No, no, no. Like you could do like slick back in the front, like hair could still be down. And someone's like, Oh, half up, it's fine. And then I'm like, But what if I have this necktie situation or this thing down the back? Like, can my hair still be down? And everyone was kind of like, Oh, don't worry. But I'm like, Do I trust the sales associate on this? Like she's just trying to sell the dress. But now I'm like having a little bit of a crisis of like, if I do indeed need to put my hair up or back, if I'm doing like an open back dress situation. So anyway, I'm in this decision-making process.
Ange: I'm in the same limbo.
Lexi: Are you guys both doing trials? I assume, yes.
Ange: I can’t. I'm not going. Before I was going to go, and then I like, don't want to go. I don't know. My planner keeps telling me, You don't have to come. You don't have to come. You don't have to come. So, I'm like, all right, so I'm not going to waste money on a ticket to go half way across the world like right now.
But I'm also changing dresses, which is like another thing. I have a second look, and I like would love my hair in a different way. But I'm like, Angela, you're being a diva. Like, just stop. Like, your hair is going to be fine.
Erica: I was planning a hair change, too. I know.
Kara: Nothing crazy, but like if it's half up, maybe it goes all the way up for the party or like-
Ange: The whole thing was — he left now so I can speak — the whole thing is that I want my hair up for my ceremony and in my wedding dress, and then afterwards, I'd like it down. And that's a very hard thing to do. Because if you're slicking my hair back with gels and Got2B Glued extreme, God knows what, and then I'm asking you to do like soft waves after, I need to wash my hair. Like I need to, there's no way that happens. So that's like the one thing I keep going like back and forth in my head about, for sure.
Lexi: It's harder to go one way to that way.
Ange: It's a lot easier to go from down to up. But my planner is very adamant about me not having my hair down at the ceremony, because I’m on the ocean and the breeze.
Lexi: Yeah, that's a good point. And the veil staying secure, because I'm thinking I'm going to do like some up and in the veil for the ceremony and everything, but then I've been known historically to start pulling out bobby pins when I'm dancing. So I think it's going to come down at some point. Like every wedding I've ever been a bridesmaid and my hair is all pinned up, and then there's pictures of me on the dance floor is back down again. So I'm like, that's probably going to happen at this point as well.
Erica: That's so funny. I was planning on opposite. I was planning on like a down look. Because, for me, I do like generally feel like I look better with my hair down. And I'm like, okay, I want that for the photos and the ceremony. But I'm like a sweaty person. And so I know that on a dance floor, like it looks terrible, like it will look terrible by the end of the night. And I'm like, oh, perfect. Like a ponytail, like a party pony, slick it back, like put it up, do like a fun thing. And like, then I don't have to worry about it. I'm like, okay, I'll put it up. But now, if I have it up for the ceremony, I'm like, maybe it's just up. I don't know.
Ange: It is so crazy. As we talk about this, I sit here and I'm like, these are such first world problems.
Kara: Absolutely.
Lexi: That's what planning a wedding does to you. I said, I'm never going to be this girl. And then you get in it and you're like, ooooh, is that white or white?
Ange: I like needed a reality check every now and again. Like my fiance is constantly like, It's about like me and you. And I'm like, I know, but like-
Lexi: It’s about love!
Ange: -people are traveling and I'm like, I don't know. I just feel like I need to please everybody.
Erica: I totally- I like came back yesterday from the dress appointments and was like basically in tears. And of course my fiance is like, What are you- are you- it's finnneee. It’s a dress.
Ange: Meanwhile, we go for his suit and it was like 15 minutes, like in and out, like hem his pants. Like he's like, Yeah, it's fine. I'm like, You're suit arrived. It's at the store. And he's like, Alright, we'll get it. And I'm like, You don’t want to go right now? And he's like, Noooo. And I'm like, Okay.
Type of Veils
Kara: Wait, Lexi, because you mentioned a veil when we had our little pre-call. I know we want to talk about blusher veils, which is a term that I have just learned. So are you guys wearing that? That's the one that goes over your face, right?
Lexi: I thought about it at first, but I'm not getting married in a church, so I don't know. I think I probably won't. I think I'll just be face out, and go down- I have been debating the length of the veil too, because I don't want it to pool, and you know mess up my hair or fall out. Because where I'm getting married, since it's in a valley, it's still pretty windy kind of. Because we're on this like overlook, so I'm also afraid of it just straight up blowing away. So I adjusted my expectations. I think I'm going to go with a veil that is just going to be best for the conditions, whatever they they might be. What about you guys?
Ange: Ok, so last time we spoke, I brought up the blusher veil, and I was like, I'm not doing a blusher veil, because I don't want to mess up my makeup. And now I'm going back and forth about it. I am getting married in a church. It's got nothing to do with the church, specifically. I saw this girl on TikTok, man, and I was like, that looks so good. And I was just like, I swear to God, that's literally what happened. And I was like, that looks really good. Like, I like the way it looked. But I don't, I don't know.
But I’m on the opposite side of Lexi — my veil is very long. It's very cathedral. It goes longer than my dress train. That was very, very important to me. It's probably longer than the aisle, honestly, that I'm walking down. It's not a big- the church is outside. I'm not like going in the church. It's like a little tiny church. So it's all outside the church. But I really wanted like a very, very long veil. But I like live in this little fantasy land, because I think of these things and I see these things and I'm like, this isn't like realistic, because from the church, I'm getting on a boat to take me to my ceremony.
Lexi & Erica: Oh my God.
Ange: And I'm like, I need to get like, I'm like, this isn't like, who's, who's, who's holding all this? Like, I'm not. Like, he's not. Like, we're not. Like, it's just, I don't know. So I have a lot of thinking to do. It's three months away, but I’ve got a lot of thinking to do.
Kara: After you guys kiss, have him chop the veil off and you leave it there.
Ange: Cut it!
Lexi: New ceremony.
Erica: That is so funny. I like didn't even know if I was wearing a veil. I feel like I like had kind of a moment with that with the dresses. And then I kind of had like had thought back. My sister-in-law — when Jeremy's brother was getting married — I was with her right before she walked down the aisle, and she was like all ready. And the veil was the only thing. And she was like, I can't decide if I want to wear it. And I was like, Oh my god, like I'm I'm holding this veil. It's like you're getting married, of course let's put it in. Like why would you like not wear it? I have it like. It's your wedding day. When else are you gonna wear a veil?
And I was like so insistent that I like I popped it in like right before she like went down the aisle. And then I was like how could I possibly? I had that like moment come to mind yesterday. I was like, Of course I'm gonna wear a veil. But I don't think I'm gonna do a blusher veil.
I am also not getting married in a church and it did kind of feel church-like. It was funny. We were trying on some veils yesterday, and there was one that was pretty long, like definitely down to the floor and a little train, and then had a kind of like lace, kind of swirly like edge to it. And I was like, oh, because my dress is so not lace. And I was like, This is like an interesting, like soft, romantic complement. And everyone around me, like both my bridesmaids, were all just kind of were like… And I was like, What's, what's the problem? And they were like, It's kind of giving like…Catholic. And I immediately was like, Oh my God. And I'm Jewish.
We're not having a Jewish wedding. It's like not really a Jewish wedding at all. We'll do like a few little like nods to that, but it's like, certainly not a Catholic wedding. I was like, well, I don't know if I want to like nod to that, but it was just funny. I don't know. So I feel like maybe like a more simple or like modern kind of veil and long-ish to like add a little zhuzh, because the dress is probably going to be pretty simple, so I was like maybe I need something to dress it up.
Ange: It's so funny when you go dress shopping and they like throw a veil on you. And they gave me like this fake bouquet of flowers, and I was like- I don't know. I just like don't really carry much emotion about this whole thing. I don't know why. I just don't. It's just not who I am, I guess. But she put this veil on me and I like loved it with my dress. And I can say my dress is full lace. So when they put it on me, I was like, I love this veil. And my mom and I were talking in Greek the whole time, so like they didn't understand us. But my mom was like, Oh, how much is it? to the girl. She goes, $5,000. My mom goes, Take the veil off your head right now. I was like, What the hell is going on here? So I found this like little boutique on Long Island that my friend went to as well. And they like custom made me my veil. The same — looks exactly the same as the one I tried on for like pennies.
Erica: That's wild! Obviously, they like price everything out for you. And being told that the veil that they put on was like $500 or $700, and thinking like whoa whoa.
Ange: Like yeah, I was like, What is this made of? It's tulle. I could go to Michael's, and I can- Kara can make it! Kara knits. She can make it for me.
Kara: That would be so chic for your warm weather wedding.
Ange: But yeah, it's crazy. The only reason I'm going towards a blusher veil potentially — I'd say I'm 60 no, 40 yes — is for my parents, because they really want it. That was like the true thing, but I don't know. I’m going back and forth about it.
Kara: Erica, you just mentioned you have bridesmaids. Do all of you have a wedding party?
Everyone: [Nods]
Bridesmaids Beauty
Kara: Two questions: Are they gonna be getting ready with you morning of, and also do you have like a beauty dress code for them?
Lexi: Yes, yes, yes. Yeah, we're getting ready together and they're wearing black dresses.
Kara: What about beauty wise? Like, do you have guidelines? I've only been a bridesmaid once, and we got to do whatever we wanted with our hair and makeup. And like, I added a little color to my makeup look and like that was fine. But I could see some brides like not being chill with that.
Lexi: No, I've seen that a little bit on TikTok, like the brides kind of dictating exactly what makeup they want the bridesmaids to have. That isn't for me. I want my girls to feel good, look how they want to look, do their makeup how they want to do it, whether that's with the professional or not. Most of them elected to have the makeup artists do their makeup, but they also weren't pressured to do that. If they want to do their own makeup, they're plenty talented to do that. So that's kind of my take, you know, just look the best that they can. I've been in a lot of their weddings and they gave me the same privilege, so I'll extend that to them.
Kara: Nice.
Ange: I have two bridesmaids, one maid of honor, who are my three best friends since we were like children. And then I have what's called a Gumbara. It's my cousin. I'm getting married very traditionally Greek. So it's a lot of tradition here. My fiance will have no clue what's going on. He's not Greek. So he'll literally know nothing. She like marries us, and we have like a traditional ceremony of like exchanging crowns on our heads. It's like a whole thing.
But anyway, the four of them are all wearing the same color. It's like a blue. But in terms of beauty, no, because I don't have any guidelines, because I would- if like they all took the Beauty Editor Quiz and they all got me. So we're all very similar. So I'm not really worried. We're all like the same. We've been friends for so, so long that I like trust them. Even with the dresses, like they're not all wearing the same dress because they all have different body types and stuff like that. I didn't want like to be like, you all have to wear strapless when like, you know, if someone has like big boobs and like they can't wear that or don't want to wear that, not comfortable in it. But I like literally was like, do whatever you guys want. Like I literally, I trust you.
Which I think is really important, because some people have like these like crazy big bridal parties, like 15, 16 people. And like, you know, everyone's got different vibes and personalities. And I was like, I don’t know if I can do that. That's kind of crazy to me.
Erica: Yeah same kind of vibe. I have three bridesmaids. And I like kind of don't have a maid of honor. They're like kind of all like my maid of honor is kind of how I'm thinking of it. I kind of just didn't come to that naturally and was like, well, these are my three girls. I still need to like figure out my colors and like design vibe with my planner. So I'm a little further out on that.
But yeah, they will be in the same color, but not the same dress, probably. And then yeah, each of them has such like a different complexion, and like beauty vibe that I feel like I am like okay I trust you guys to pick. Like I imagine I think we're all just gonna use the same makeup artist who's coming to the villa like where we're all getting ready, since we're getting married and a small group of us are all staying at this one place, so it's just very natural that we'll just be in the same room. And yeah, so I think I think it'll be like all in the same vein of like soft glam vibes. But if anyone has like a strong objective objection to that, like no problem. Yeah, so.
Ange: I did the same thing, Erica. We rented a villa. It's like our gift to the bridal party. We're getting it for them to stay with us there. And like our welcome party's there. The wedding's not there, but the welcome party is. And so the night before, Matt will go stay with his mom, and my parents morning of are going to come to me and get ready with me with my bridesmaids as well.
Erica: Right. So nice.
Ange: I think it's so fun. I think that's, like, so special. Once you, like, I don't know, when was the last time I, like, got ready with my friends, like, all in one room? Like, I couldn't tell you. So I think that's so fun. And, like, I don't know. I just think it's going to be, like, a good time. Like, mimosas and, like, just hang in.
Lexi: I feel like one of the things I'm looking forward to most about the wedding is that it's just that. Like getting ready with my best friends, my sister, my mom, my mother-in-law — all together. There's something- beauty can be so built on connection in that way, right? Like I have so many memories of getting ready with my friends before prom and before their wedding, and you know, all together, we lived together in college, but playing music in different rooms and, you know, walking from room to room to get a different shade of lipstick. And your wedding day is like very much the epitome of that, you know? So I'm really excited for that part.
Ange: Yeah, me too. Me too.
Erica: Same.
Kara: We wish I had any friends who had any interest in getting married, but alas, they are all like me as well. Like started to plan a wedding and we're like, Wait a minute.
Ange: I wish I had that, Kara. Me and my friends all got engaged within six months of each other, and are all doing the same thing currently. It's very crazy. So…but it's fun. And I hope to only do it once. I say you only do it once, but you know, fingers crossed.
Kara: I feel like maybe three times max, like whatever.
Erica: Oh my God, this came up at my dress fitting yesterday. By the fourth place, which kind of ended up, I think, just being- that was not the place, basically. But I was like, Let's just like, you know, keep it going.
Ange: I had that same thing. I walked in, I was like, Oh, I'm not getting a dress here.
Erica: This is not it. But…at a certain point I was kind of like, getting a little flustered. The thing they love to tell you is like, You look good in everything. You can't make a wrong decision. Like everything is the right decision. And of course my mom's there. Of course she's like, Well, you actually do. Like this just flatters you. Like this is not helpful. And everyone could tell I was like not receiving that. And the woman was like, Well, there's always a “what if.” There's always like a what if for a different dress. You could have picked a different person. And I'm like, Alright, this went too far. I mean, What if you had kept dating? And I was like, Oh, what?
Lexi: Are you questioning all of my decisions now?
Erica: Woa woa woah! This has got like weirdly negative.
Ange: This is supposed to be exciting.
Erica: What happened here? But yeah anyway, there is always like a need for a reality check I think sometimes. I'd be like, Okay, we have our person. Our wedding is gonna happen and that's what matters.
Wedding Nails
Kara: Shame on me for not talking about nails yet. Like that's my whole thing. So what are you guys doing for your nails? Do you know, maybe Erica, maybe it's too far out, but maybe you have some sort of idea of what you're going to do?
Erica: Yeah, I mean, I've gotten into this, like- I probably should be doing this in like a healthier way. I feel like I keep seeing the like “builder in a bottle” (BIAB), like gel vibe that people are doing to like kind of build their nails out. But I have been doing the like gel extensions that I feel like I'm just so comfortable in, because they're like rock hard, like nothing will happen to them. And I can't bite them, which is like a thing I still kind of do sometimes if the gel is peeling off. So I feel like I will have some sort of like gel tip.
In terms of like what that will be, that is a great question. Like I do wanna do like a fun, nail art moment. I have been seeing that like modern French with like the kind of skinny tip. Like I always do kind of an almond shape. So like maybe something like that, like dainty and sweet. Cause I feel like the rest of my look is not really dainty. So maybe that can be my nail vibe. But yeah, there will be some sort of nail moment that I don't do myself essentially.
Kara: There's soooo much beautiful artwork and architecture in Barcelona. And your dress is like- This is what I would do if I was you. Don't take my advice.
Erica: Tell me!
Kara: Because your dress sounds like it's going to be so simple, you could do like fun, like Park Guell inspired nail art. Like even just like a little accent nail. I don't know. Do whatever you want.
Erica: But I could do an accent nail. And there's like a modern kind of vibe to this place. So, yeah, I like something structural or architectural would be fun. Yeah, we'll see.
Ange: I always- don't look at me now. I have an appointment on Thursday. I know this is crazy. I ripped them off. I like had this whole mental breakdown the other day. I'm getting a new set. I do gel X as well. I like always do nail art. Like I always have fun nails, like rhinestones, all things.
But I'm going classic French for my wedding, which is like super- that's the one different… Actually you know what? I take back what I said earlier. That's like the one different thing I'm doing. And the reason why is that it's a week away and I want my nails to match every outfit I have. That's truthfully the reason. That's really what it is. If it was like a one night kind of show, like a five hour traditional, you know, wedding in New York, then I would do something a little bit funner, but because it's, and we're going like right away on like a mini moon afterwards. I just want my nails to be like good for everything. Like I want the vibe to be like pretty consistent. So pretty boring.
Lexi: Mine is more boring, probably. Look, mine are bare. They have been for a little while. I play guitar. I'm outside a lot.
Ange: You're outdoorsy, Lexi.
Lexi: I've tried to be an acrylics girly and then I just go crazy, and I end up picking them off. So I can't do it. So I'm gonna probably keep them short. I'm either gonna go with a classic like French or a nude color or I might have it match my lipstick. So if I go with like a light pink lip, I might go light pin on my nails. If I go with a red lip, I might go red on my nails, so that's kind of where I'm at. But sure, probably gel for the wedding though I usually just paint them myself.
Kara: Oh, I love the idea of red for you. Like if you go with a red lip, that'd be fun.
Lexi: Because I love to match it. And many, many times in my life have I matched a red lip with a red nail.
My grandma says that you can do anything when you have a red lip, and I have stood by that firmly for my entire life. And she also likes a red nail too to compliment the red lip. So I'm leading as grandma has taught me.
Ange: My grandma does the same thing, Lexi. She's still wearing the red lip and red nails. And I'm like, yeah.
Lexi: Yeah, she said, “Instant confidence. Take on the world.” I'm like, you're right. Maybe that’s true.
Wedding Fragrance
Kara: I love that. What about wedding fragrances? Have you guys thought about that?
Ange: Oh yes. I just decided.
Kara: Let's hear it.
Ange: Tom Ford Soleil Neige
Lexi: I knew it was going to be Tom Ford.
Ange: Of course, I collect Tom Ford fragrances. Like I have a whole shelf of them. Yeah, so we sat here — me and Matt sat here — and like they're all unisex, so we both spritz. And I said, We both need Tom Ford, so figure out which one you want, because I want you to wear Tom Ford and me. I was between that and Lost Cherry, but Lost Cherry just goes a little too sweet for me, whereas I just feel like- I've loved it's the only one that I've hit bottle on, like I've emptied it twice and I love it. And it's like my special occasion one.
And I, like I said, I don't want to do anything different. Don't want to go to like a Sephora or a Nordstrom, and like spritz everything and like try to find something new. I want to smell like me. And I love that scent. And it's a white bottle. It's very chic and pretty. So it'll look good in like pictures.
Kara: What kind of scent? Like what are the notes?
Ange: It's very, how do I describe it? It's soft. Definitely soft. I don't really know the- there's probably like undertones of like, there's a little bit of oud, but there's a definite, it's more like a floral-y scent. If I had to put my finger on it, I would steer it in the floral family. It's not a gourmand. I would definitely steer it floral.
Kara: That's what it says. White floral.
Ange: Oh, thank God.
Lexi: Look at that. You're an expert.
Ange: I'm sweating for a second.
Kara: White flowers, orange blossom, jasmine, rose, Turkish rose, but then it's got a little like amber vanilla like undertone to sort of warm it.
Ange: Yes yes yes yeah that makes sense. That checks out. Yeah so that's mine. I just literally just decided it.
Kara: What's Matt doing? What did he decide?
Ange: He's doing Intense Oud. I said, Go on the shelf and just start sniffing, and figure out what you want. And he was like, I like this one. I was like, Great.
Kara: Perfect. I saw you grab a bottle, Lexi. You're up.
Lexi: I did. I'm testing them right now. So I'm sampling Jo Malone fragrances…
Kara: Oh, that's a good one.
Lexi: …to try to determine. I actually have a little bit of a different approach than Ange. So I'm trying to pick a scent for the day that is not a scent I normally use, and then exclusively use it for the day. For me, my senses- I don't know if this is the way for everybody, but it certainly is for me. Scent is so closely tied to memory for me and just like emotions. So I think that I want to isolate the day.
Like when we got engaged, I had a very specific scent that I haven't really worn since then. And when I smell it, it reminds me of when we got engaged. So I'm trying to do something similar as well for the wedding. So we're going to test all of these.We still haven't picked yet, but the idea is that it will be different. We won't wear it at any other time except for the wedding.
Ange: Oh, I do love that. That's really nice.
Kara: When I wrote that “How to find your wedding fragrance” story — I think maybe it was Jesa who wore like wore D.S. & Durga I Don't Know What, which was her favorite perfume beforehand, and then after the wedding, she was like, I feel like I can't wear this anymore. I think she's gotten out of that, like I think she got past it and nows she can wear it again. But I think yeah a lot of people feel like, Oh no, this is like my wedding scent, like I don't want to wear it.
Ange: Yeah, I think that's gonna happen to me with this one. I think I'll stop.
Kara: That's okay. You have plenty of others to choose from.
Ange: Sure, I got others to pick, but there was a former beauty editor at Allure, Paige, and she she did something that I thought was so cool. Everywhere she traveled, she bought a fragrance, and she associated a fragrance with that place — and I I think about that all the time. I love that. So, Lexi just reminded me of that, like you associate that fragrance with that day. So that's really special.
Lexi: That's a cool idea.
Erica: Yeah.
Lexi: Oooh I’m back in Spain or I'm, you know, back….
Ange: I know. Yeah.
Erica: Yeah, I think, we have not started this journey yet, but I do think because I haven't, I don't have such a strong, personal fragrance vibe that I do on a day-to-day. And Jeremy definitely doesn't. He just has like one random sample. I don't even know what it is that he'll just like spritz on if he's like going to a work event. But like we haven't really like kind of found something that I feel like for either of us is like a really strong personal scent, so that's like a separate journey I like kind of need to go on.
But for the wedding day, I feel like we will want to pick or choose to pick something that is special for that day — something that feels like of the setting, like Barcelona or you know the space. But yeah, so I think it'll be a journey we we still need to go on.
Kara: Are you guys scenting the space at all? Like I know that's a thing some people do, like they'll have candles or like more more often diffusers, because candles are dangerous I guess. Are you guys doing that at all?
Ange: We have the smell of the Mediterranean ocean. I don't know what to tell you.
Lexi: I thought bout spraying my wedding invites. But then I'm like, that's insane.
Ange: I swear to you, I swear to you, I almost did it. And Matt was like, I'm not helping. Because he was on like stamp and seal duty, and I was like on stuff duty. And he was like, If you start spraying paper, like that's where I draw the line. I was like, You know what? You're right. Like I'm gonna stop now. So we didn't.
Erica: No, no scenting of the space. I'm like, I have too many like hypoallergenic girlies like in my crew. Like I would be so worried someone's like allergic to something. Also, we're going to be like, like primarily outside. And it's like my setting has like a bunch of like, there's like an almond grove and like a dry flower garden and like the vineyard. So I feel like there will just be like nature.
Ange: Natural scents.
Lexi: Natural smells.
Erica: Yeah.
Wedding Visuals Continuity
Kara: And how about like as you're leading up the the you know the various events the bridal shower, the bachelorette party, the reception, rehearsal dinners. Like are you guys sort of teasing your wedding beauty look, like leading up to it and then like the wedding is the grand finale? Are you not really thinking about coordinating in that way? Do you have different vibes for the different events or like what's what's the plan?
Ange: I had a really big engagement party in New York. People thought I got married. It was over 200 people. It was a very, very big engagement party.
We did that because not everyone will be able to celebrate with us in Cyprus, which I was aware of. And for that, Erica, I actually did a silky backless high neck gown. But for that, I did like white roses and like very like elegant and like tall candles and just like clean kind of looking, very white, and that that was it. For my bridal shower, which was literally last Sunday, the whole vibe is Greece. It's gonna look blue and red and flowers and like very vibrant. My bachelorette is in Tulum, so that's just perfect. So that is just exactly what I'm going for for the whole wedding.
And then the wedding, I literally just met with my planner. We're doing like orange and yellow flowers, and I want it to be like colorful so to answer your question: I have extremely different vibes. l I feel like everything has just been like how I'm feeling in that moment. When I was planning the engagement party, I was like I really wanted elegant and like chic and like you know black and white, and like all just very simple.
And then for the wedding, I'm like calling my planner. I'm like, The dance floor needs to be hot pink. I'm like I just wanted to be like, You know what it is, too, though? It's a lot of it. I'm sure, Erica, you feel this way, but a lot of it has to do with the fact that people are traveling so far to come. Yes, I need to get married, but I also need to give you an experience. But Kara, my bachelor is literally a press trip. I've went full press trip: Goody bags. Themes.
I just picked the destination. I'm really not involved. My maid of honor kind of did everything, so I'm very grateful for that, but all different vibes. But Tulum, the girls that are coming to Tulum — I've extended it to like other friends, and that is like the pre to my wedding. Like I went to Tulum on a press trip and sat there and said, This is what my wedding- I wasn't even…was I engaged? I don't even know. I might have not been. I said, This is what my wedding needs to look like. I don't know if I was.
Erica: That is so funny. So I'm nowhere in terms of a bridal shower or bachelorette — that I I don't know. But in terms of wanting to give people an experience and feel like it's a designed like high-key kind of event because they're traveling- in terms of our rehearsal and our welcome party, I have been like grappling with this, because I think we might do beachier, like by the water in like basically a town outside of Barcelona that's on the coast, and like kind of a straight shot on the like to the coast from our venue. So a different vibe because the venue is like inland, vineyard, valley, mountain. And then the welcome party would be like beach, coastal.
So I gotta figure out like basically my planner knew that when I originally started looking for venues, I was like, I'd love a sea view. And that just didn't work out with like the type of place I was looking for, so we ended up in this like inland, mountain valley situation. And so she was like oh well we can do like coastal sea view for the day before, and then you give your guests like a range of an experience of having this like coastal fresh moment, and then like a mountain valley moment. And I never thought like, Is that not coherent? Now i'm thinking that. But maybe it's just two different fun- because I'm like I want to give them the range.
Ange: No, I agree Erica. I'm literally doing the same thing. Our welcome party's at the villa and it's like a pool party. Like I wanted it to be like really fun, and then the wedding is like sea view, looking at the ocean. And then I didn't do a brunch, but I'm doing a farewell dinner, because our wedding goes to like four o'clock in the morning. So I was like, I don't really feel like people should get up for brunch. I feel like that's kind of crazy. So it's a farewell dinner, and I'm having it in the village that I grew up in. And it's a little further. It's like half an hour away. It's not that far.
But I was like, You know what? You saw the beach, obviously a beach, it's an island, so you get all that, but like you need to see like, you know, like the little villages of like, you know, like of a Greek village, like, you know, where all the grandmas are outside, like hand washing their clothes. Like that's kind of what it looks like. And the cows wake you up in the morning and like all that. So that was super duper important to me. Cause I was like, are you going to come all the way over there to see a beach?
Erica: Right?
Ange: You need to see like real Cyprus. And that's like very like “farmhouse fresh” kind of vibes, like tablecloth- I'm all over the place pretty much. Lex, how about you?
Lexi: “Farmhouse Fresh,” I love that, first of all. I'm going to find a way to incorporate that into daily life. In terms of different looks, honestly, a lot of mine is seasonally driven, right? Because I'm having my bridal shower and my bachelorette in the summer, and I'm getting married in the fall, and, you know, mid-October. So I'd say I'm a little bit more summery in terms of my beauty and the dresses. The one thing- you have to get so many white dresses and…
Ange: So many.
Lexi: So many! And this has been driving me insane. I'm like, I can't look at another white dress. I can't. And also because I've been trying to make them be a little different, right? Like, and I've noticed like as I'm pinning a dress, I'm like, That one kind of looks like my wedding dress. I should wear something different than my wedding dress.
Ange: Yeah, that's exactly what I thought.
Lexi: So it's really been that. It's like trying to be able to like, Okay, whatever bridal looks I want to try. Here's my chance. How do I have looks that are versatile for each of the seasonal needs, but like also don't feel exactly the same? So it's a little bit of that I would say.
Advice for Future Brides
Kara: Well, as we come closer to the end of our time together, I would love to sort of close out on: Pick a piece or two pieces of advice to give to other people who are trying to plan their wedding? Like, what do you wish that you had known?
Lexi: That's a good one. I would say, fundamentally, when you embark on this journey, just remember what's really important. Right. And at the end of the day, a wedding is a celebration of love. It's about family. It's about culture. It's about friendship and community. You know, there's a lot of pressure for everything to be perfect, including you, for you to look perfect, the best you've ever looked on this one day — and that's a lot. That's a lot.
So I think, like, you're going to get a lot of information. The way that social media works now, it's worse than ever, right? You just get into an echo chamber. I have reset my ad settings or whatever on TikTok and Instagram like 40 times, and it's still always back to beauty about, you know, bridal stuff, and pressure about weddings, and the things you need to know, what you need to prep.
So ultimately, what I would say is: It matters that you feel beautiful, and feeling beautiful sometimes doesn't even have anything to do with how you look on the outside. It's how you feel on the inside about that day. It's going into it with confidence, you know, and being able to demonstrate who you are, and spend time with your family. So ultimately, what I would say is: Remember it's about love. Stay true to who you are. And try to not let the noise bring you down or make you too stressed.
Ange: I have two. 1) Don't put yourself in debt over a wedding.
Kara: Great advice!
Lexi: That too!
Ange: That's my big one. And then 2) Don't compare yourself to other brides — on the internet or in your friend group or anywhere, someone you meet at a bar. Don't compare yourself, because your weddings will be very different, even if they look visually exactly the same, because you're marrying different people.
Lexi: Yeah.
Erica: Yep. I love that. I was going to say something along the lines of comparison. Something that I think I've been like teaching myself right now is not getting caught up in trying to figure out a look — a beauty look or dress — that is so timeless, but also trendy and fresh. Like, how do you kind of grapple with these things? I'm like, I don't want to pick something that's so trendy that you're like, Ugh, like that was a 2026 wedding. I'm like, I can't do that basque waist. Like everyone is doing that. You know?
And then on the other side, you don't want to pick something boring that feels like it, you know, didn't have any character because you were so set on picking something like so timeless that it suddenly is devoid of like who you are in the moment that you live in. One of the salespeople at one of these bridal shops that I was at this weekend was like, Just remember you are in this moment. If it feels of this moment, like that's okay. When you look back, like it is going to still be in this moment. You got married in this year. So if it looks like it was that year, like to some extent, yeah. When you look back at like weddings from the eighties and they had the puffy cap sleeves, like, yeah, cause like, that's what was happening then, you know?
And so like, I think not getting caught up in like trying to make something so timeless that you like suck the life out of what this moment is or worrying about it being so trendy that you look back and you're like, oh, it was so like- the neck scarves were in then, and so I did that, you know? But like, it's okay, like they were in. It was cool, you know? So that's what I'm kind of grappling with.
Kara: Like, Oh no, someone's going to know I got married in the 2020s.
Erica: Right. That's what we're doing. There's no like way to get around that. Like we are getting married in this time. We're doing xyz things, so like you might do it. It's okay.
Lexi: It's like over analysis of it online and like an over-criticalness. Like it shouldn't be a millennial wedding or this is a Gen-Z wedding. Like just have a wedding and pick what you like, and like why are we all judging or trying to say like, That was firmly in 2022? My gosh.
Ange: I also feel like so often brides are just like, I can't wait till it's over. I can't wait till it's over. I can't wait just to be over. Like I'm so I'm over it. Like I just like want it done. And it's like, you're never going to get the moment back.
Erica: Yeah.
Ange: You're never going to get it back. So just like live in it. I feel like I'm- as Type A as I am, I'm not like stressed out at all by my wedding. I don't know if it's because it's in a different country, and it's kind of out of my control sort of thing. I wonder if it was in America or New York if I would feel that way, but I put like a really strong mental on like, Don't stress. Like it's gonna work out fine. And you know, live in the moment. Because I'll never get it back.
Because if I do get married again, I'm not doing this shit. I'm telling you that right now. I'm not. I'm going right to City Hall — call it a day.
So like, no one's doing this again.
Erica: Yeah, I agree. I am actually like already missing it. Like, I'm like, Oh my God, it's already like a year.
Ange: I know. I keep saying that. I'm like, it's three months away. I'm like my shower’/s this weekend, like my bachelorette's next month. I'm like, this is over. I'm like, it feels like it's, it's done, but like really just got to live in the moment. You got to do it.
Kara: I feel like we'll end on and I'm not doing this shit again. Is there anything else that I didn't ask about that you guys wanted to talk about or are we feeling good?
Ange: I feel good.
Erica: I think so.
Ange: I feel like you just made me like not want to work all day and just like go on my wedding tab, and just like-
Erica: Yeah, same.
Ange: That's where I'm at right now. That's where my head's at.
Kara: I've seen more people online — my opinion doesn't matter, I'm not getting married, but — like more people online being like, Don't tell me that my wedding is my most important day of my life. Like, I'm just, like, marrying some guy. Like, there better be more important days than this. Like, this can’t be what I am worth. This cannot be what I am living for.
Ange: You know what's so crazy, Kara? You know what other day I said was the best day of my life? My Sweet 16 — and that came and went real quick. So I'm just like...Okay. Listen, if it was up to me, I'd be eloping. I wanted to do Vegas, like go and like chapel and Elvis, but my fiance is groomzilla. He wanted a wedding.
Lexi: Groomzilla. [laughing]
Kara: He should be doing a lot of the work then, if he wanted it.
Ange: No, well, honestly, the good thing is we're not really doing anything.
Kara: That's great.
Ange: Cyprus doesn't even have Amazon, like I can't even like order things. Like I literally have zero- like it's like just a little island in the middle of the Middle East. Thank God I have family there, truthfully, because my godmother is really taking on the reins here, and I'm thankful for that, but it'll be it'll be great.
Lexi: One good day and a series of many good days.
Ange: Exactly!
Lexi: But I think that's a good point is like, yeah, that's the part, this has got to be the best day of your life. It's like, well, it can be a really good day, but I'm going to have a lot of good days. And honestly, maybe it'll be one of the best weekends of my life, cause my whole family, all my friends we're all staying together on site where I'm getting married. We're not going to be apart — just like the opportunity to be with all of those people in one place that you love from all different stages of life. Like that's going to be the moment. It's not going to be like just because of the day. It's the whole thing, you know?
Ange: I do have one more piece of advice that I can add that I've been thinking about a lot lately — and I will share it with the girls here as well, because I think this is really, really important. When you're ready and just about to leave the house to go to the ceremony or wherever, just lock yourself in the bathroom for five minutes and just breathe.
By yourself.
No one around.
Because as exciting as it is to get ready with all these people, it's a lot. You got a lot of energy, you got a lot of personalities in the room, there's a lot happening. TikTok gave me one good thing: Lock yourself in the bathroom for five minutes and just look at yourself in the mirror and be like, OK, like I need to lock this in quick, because it happens so, so fast that I feel like you forget that. Have that moment with yourself.
Because I don't know, when I was getting my dress, when I'm picking my makeup on, I don't care what Matt thinks. I care what I think about me. I need to look in the mirror and feel hot. And if I don't feel hot, then I got a problem. He's marrying me. You know, I don't look great going to bed at night. I wear a face mask. He knows what he's getting. So, if I feel good, it'll make him feel good. So I think that's really important.
Kara: And then you pop a beta blocker and then you walk down the aisle.
Erica: Yeah, I love that. I feel like my stomach is going to be like inside out and I'm going to need like a moment to breathe. When Jeremy and I got engaged, I was like in such a blur. I had asked him to make it be a surprise, and it was complete shock surprise. Like I had no idea it was happening that day. And I kind of was like already not processing as I realized it was happening.
And we were walking to um this restaurant where he had I kind of knew our friends would be somewhere, and he had planned this like little thing and we were right outside the door, and I was like, Whoa! We need to like take a minute. Yeah just take a second. Like I was like, Can we just breathe? And we just like stood there, and I could hear everyone like waiting for us. And I was like, Oh my god.
Ange: I know Erica. I had the same thing. He proposed Black Friday weekend. I'm a commerce editor, so yeah not good. But he did it on purpose to like really, really throw me off. And afterwards I was like, I have to — cause my parents weren't there — I was like, I have to FaceTime my mom.
Like they knew that I was getting engaged. I didn't know. And I didn't know because of my nail choice, but, um, I was like, I have to call my mom. And he like took my phone and was like, Take a second, a moment. And I was like, you know what You're, you're right. So, and like, we like decompress. And then I was like, Okay, now I have to call my mom. So, but totally, like just living in the moment.
I feel like we so often, especially with the Internet these days, we're so quick to just like, I got to post. I got to do this. I got to do that. It's like you really you really don't. I admire the people that like go on vacation and post it like a month later. Can't be me, but I admire it.
Lexi: We were in the Great Smoky National Park in the mountains in Tennessee, and we didn't tell people for a little while. And I think I liked that we did it for that reason. Right? Because when he actually asked me, I blacked out. I don't remember. The memory is out. But then after that, we were kind of able to sit with it. And I can see how that can happen for the wedding, too. Like you're there and you're just your adrenaline is high and you kind of like forget what happened. So I like that advice a lot — just like take a moment, decompress, regulate the nervous system and then remember what happens.
Ange: I'm also getting ready with like an entire, like there's this thing that the Greeks do. It's like you have a whole band like following you while you're getting ready and like, oh, it's a whole thing. And like there's ceremonies that my grandma has to do. It's like a whole thing. So I know I'm gonna be like overwhelmed, and like I really wanted it to be just me, my bridesmaids, my mom, and my grandma, and my godmother, like immediate immediate family. And my grandma like the other day was like, No like everyone comes to that. I was like, What? And she's like, No, like that's how it works. Like we have to get breakfast. Like everybody comes to that. And then like, they follow you to the church. And I was like, Okayyy. I'm doing a lot of things for her. I'm the first grandchild to get married. So a lot of it's for her. And I'm like, It's okay. Some things you just got to eat and like, let go and let God.
Kara: Wow! Well, thank you guys again so much for doing this.
Ange: Thanks for having us, Kara.
Lexi: Thank you, Kara.
Erica: So fun.
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