Classic Wedding at Hotel Tivoli Mofarrej: Carol and Marcos
WEDDINGG – How did you meet, and how did the proposal happen?
Carol – "We met at work after the banks where we worked merged. We were in the same department but different teams. During the reorganization, he ended up reporting to a former boss of mine, with whom I was very close. My friendship with that boss brought me closer to his new team, but Marcos always kept his distance. I was always trying to start a conversation, though. Someone noticed I liked him and began campaigning for me. He didn't respond because he already had a girlfriend. One day we had to work together, and under the pretext of celebrating the project's completion, he invited me to happy hour. His previous relationship had ended. We kissed that day, but he didn't invite me out again until two months later, on Valentine's Day in Brazil. He never officially asked me to be his girlfriend, but we've been together ever since. Classic Wedding: Carol and Marcos at Hotel Tivoli Mofarrej
Exactly three years after our first kiss, he gave me more than a marriage proposal. He gave me a beautiful story in a city I love, a memory I'll always cherish. Two weeks before the trip, Marcos told me to keep a weekend in April free because we were traveling. It would be a surprise to make up for a birthday present he'd bought on the corner near my house just five minutes before seeing me. He isn't the type to plan surprises and can't lie, so I thought I'd easily discover our secret destination. But he didn't give anything away. It wasn't until after checking in at the airport that I learned we were going to New York for the weekend. New York! After brunch at one of my favorite cafés, we were sitting beside Bethesda Fountain in Central Park on a spring afternoon when he proposed. I was so distracted that I had to ask, 'Are you asking me to marry you?' I had no doubt, of course my answer was 'YES'!
WEDDINGG – What was it like planning the wedding, managing doubts and expectations, and choosing professionals?
Carol – "At first, organizing the wedding was difficult, mainly because neither of us had much time. Things became easier once we settled on the wedding style. Marcos was certain about the ceremony he wanted, traditional, and I was sure about the reception, relaxed and family-oriented. That helped us define the type of professionals we needed. Most of the suppliers we hired were the first ones we spoke to, because they understood the celebration we wanted. We also relied on referrals from suppliers themselves: they generally recommend people they trust and have worked with before, which is very valuable."
WEDDINGG – How did you feel before the wedding began, and what did you think when you heard your entrance music while the doors were closed?
Carol – "On the morning of our wedding I was very happy that the day had finally arrived. We'd faced a few unexpected setbacks along the way, but knowing that our first major project together was becoming reality filled me with joy. As I stood at the church door getting ready to enter and the wedding march began, I remember hearing the sound of people rising from the pews. That sound is still vividly recorded in my memory. It reminded me that this wasn't only our moment and that I should smile at all our family and guests as I walked toward the altar."
WEDDINGG – What was the experience of getting married like for you?
Carol – "Without a doubt, it was the happiest day of our lives so far. It was very important to both of us to have a traditional Catholic wedding ceremony and a reception focused on our guests, with music, food and drinks suited to the people we had invited. We chose every detail together, and seeing our work come to life was wonderful. Being able to give our parents a formal rite of passage, and our family and friends a chance to celebrate it with us, was deeply rewarding."
WEDDINGG – What advice would you give another bride?
Carol – "Take care of yourself. The journey to the altar is long, and if you don't look after yourself along the way, you'll arrive exhausted and won't enjoy your day. If you have the chance, invest in a made-to-measure dress. There's no better experience than seeing your wedding dress move from a drawing on paper toward reality week by week.
Hire good professionals: the success of your ceremony and reception depends on your suppliers' quality. Listen to their advice and talk openly about what you expect on the day. They're the people who will help make your dream come true, so they need to understand your expectations. And on the big day, let your happiness overflow: even the photos are more beautiful when that happiness shows!"
Wedding Supplier Checklist
Church: Paróquia São José do Jardim Europa
Reception: Hotel Tivoli Mofarrej
Wedding Planning and RSVP: Vanessa Buck
Invitation: QStampa
Choir: Rapsódia
Catering: Hotel Tivoli Mofarrej
Photography: Danilo Siqueira
Band: DB2
Dance Floor: Iluminax
Ceremony Décor: Márcio e Celso Decorações
Reception Décor: Mariana Bassi
Sweets: Mariza Doces
Bem-Casados: Ana Cristina
Wedding Dress: Ateliê Luciana Collet
Accessories and Jewelry: Miguel Alcade
Wedding Rings: Tiffany
Shoes: Killa Calçados
Flower Girls and Page Boys: personal collection and Maximu's Rigor
Groom's Attire: Ermenegildo Zegna
Hair and Makeup: Carlos Carrasco - Um ponto oito
Honeymoon: wedding night at Tivoli Mofarrej; Paris, France, at Sofitel Arc du Triomphe; Mykonos, Greece, at Grand Hotel e Resort
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