WEDDING STORY OF HIBA AND MARCO

Dive into the Christmas fairytale of Hiba and Marco's civil wedding, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Manhattan skyline. Read on to discover the story of our newlyweds who hit all of the iconic places in NYC: beginning their day at the legendary Plaza Hotel, exchanging vows overlooking the St. Patrick's Cathedral, ending the celebration in a private garden oasis, nestled amidst the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle.

What was the main idea of your wedding?

We wanted to have our civil wedding in the heart of Manhattan during the Christmas season.

Our entire day revolved around Manhattan's exquisite locations and there is nothing more magical than being in New York during Christmas time surrounded by all these decorations and joyful lights. It almost felt like the city was preparing for our winter wedding and it turned out to be a fairytale December day.

Every aspect of our wedding was a dream come true: from getting ready at the iconic Plaza Hotel to our wedding ceremony overlooking St. Patrick's Cathedral on 5th Avenue, to our pre-selected dining at the Michelin-starred French restaurant Le CouCou, to ending the night with cake cutting and champagne sipping on the rooftop with unique views of the Manhattan skyline.

Please tell us a little bit about your location for the wedding. Why did you and your husband choose it?

The 620 Loft and Garden is located amid Manhattan's concrete jungle. It has a private garden overlooking one of the most famous streets in the world, 5th Avenue, which is truly astonishing and rare. But the main reason for our choice of venue is an opportunity to exchange vows in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral. 

Were there personal touches in the decor or ceremony? Perhaps you can recall some details that are important to you.

Yes! Having meaningful details on your wedding day makes it special and very personal. We followed the tradition of having something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. Such as our vows notebooks, where we printed our names and wedding dates on the first page and tied a blue ribbon around the notebooks titled His and Hers. It was a charming gesture to honor the tradition.

We wanted to have an elegant wedding, so all the details were chosen accordingly. For example, I emphasized my wedding dress with elegant accessories to contribute to the overall sophisticated vibe: lace gloves, an organza showstopper jacket, and a lace veil that perfectly matched my custom-made gown.

Fun fact: I had the same seamstress who fitted my mother's wedding dress more than 30 years ago. Having stories behind these details is what makes them so individual and, in a way, memorable.

What was the most memorable moment of your wedding day?

The most breathtaking moment was the minute we tied the knot and were married by our officiant. It was very emotional as he had this incredible voice that reached all over the 620 Garden and covered the noisy city. It touched us to the soul when he spoke out loud the words, "By the power vested in me by the State of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife," – at that moment our forever began. It still brings tears to my eyes when reminiscing about it.

What made your wedding special?

I believe having our family and friends join us for this occasion made our civil wedding special to us. We had our guests fly in from all over Europe as well as Canada and parts of the United States. Without them, it wouldn't have been as memorable as it turned out to be, and we thank them from the bottom of our hearts for their love and support.

Describe your wedding atmosphere in three words.

NYC vibes, pure elegance, monumental moments of love and laughter. 

Were there any unexpected challenges or surprises in the planning process or the wedding itself? How did you overcome them?

Dear brides-to-be, in my experience as a newlywed, no matter how well you plan, there will always be some surprises.

In my case it was an unexpected rain in the afternoon, but here is the good news – none of these challenges really matter; what counts is how you deal with them and where your main focus should be.

We for instance turned the events around and went outside in the pouring rain and took some amazing and romantic pictures. We even had our champagne tower on the rooftop during the rain, and we cheered to love and to life – nothing could spoil that moment of pure bliss.

Five tips for couples who are planning their wedding.

• Pick a day during the week to discuss your planning.

• Don't forget to have date nights.

• It's all about compromise, it is his wedding day too.

• Sometimes there are a lot of opinions, consider them, but if you're unsure, you don't have to follow them. After all, it is your day. 

• Even if it can be really stressful sometimes, try to enjoy it.

Five tips for brides-to-be. 

• Pick a theme and the rest will follow.

• Don't forget yourself, take a moment just for yourself once in a while.

• Have a person you trust to help you with your to-do list.

• Don't stress about unexpected surprises. 

Have fun! You will only be a bride once in your life.

Five biggest regrets on your wedding day.

I only have one: I wish I had built in more buffer time throughout the day to account for unforeseen delays. The day went by faster than you can imagine. I would recommend adding extra time for each scheduled stop to fully enjoy the day.

We will be happy to hear about your experience with Milla Nova. Where and under what circumstances did you find the jacket? Was it love at first sight?

When I saw the Snowden jacket from the recently launched Atelier Collection, it was love at first sight! I immediately reached out to Bridal Reflections – a retailer representing Milla Nova here in NYC. Luckily, they had a sample and I knew without trying or even seeing the jacket itself, I had to have it.

It is the most stunning accessory for a bride. I received so many compliments throughout the day. There was even a moment at the New York Public Library where people applauded as we walked down the stairs, taking pictures and congratulating us. The city was literally celebrating our big day!  I will forever be in love with my Milla Nova blazer.

The Vendors:

Photographer @lauramatzenphotography

Bride @hibs_celin

Venue Getting Ready @theplazahotel

Venue Ceremony @620loftgarden

Dress 1 @maggiesotterodesigns

Dress 2 @taylarmaderentals

Veil @kleinfeldbridal

Jacket @millanova via @bridalreflectionsny

Shoes @jimmychoo & @dior

Jewelry @chanelofficial

Wedding Band @cartier

Gloves @cornelia_james

HMUA @allbridesnewyork

Bouquet @pinkjasminedesigns

Cakes @thefancycakeclub @bcakeny

Video @patweds