I’ve been with my husband, Nico, for nearly 17 years. We met when we were 14, started dating when we were 17, and were engaged at 27. He needed a decade of dating to really make sure I was “the one.” But here we are, five years after our big New Year’s Eve wedding and a few weeks since renewing our vows in Las Vegas’s Little White Wedding Chapel with Elvis.
Five years isn’t a long time in the grand scheme of marriage (if you’re lucky), but we’ve had a lot thrown our way. We’ve had family move across the country, witnessed a social justice movement, survived a global pandemic, remodeled our house—if that doesn’t test a relationship, I don’t know what will—and lived through a historic double strike that brought my husband’s work to a screeching halt for the majority of 2023. All of this was enough to rally some friends together and get our butts to Vegas to create a little bit of magic to end a year that had been pretty emotionally draining.
Photo:
@c__bellamy
I kept going back and forth about what to wear. I’d already worn a perfect-to-me white dress at my dream wedding, and I felt that Vegas required something a little more fun, a little unexpected, and yes, a little more colorful. Plus, it needed to look nice next to my husband’s outfit, which he picked out way before I did. (He has the most intentional style, but that’s a story for another time.) I spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to find this Anine Bing pink silk suit in my size, and I’m happy that my investigative skills paid off because it was everything I wanted. I’m a sucker for an oversize fit, and I felt chic and comfortable in it. I wore the diamond earrings I was gifted on my wedding day and styled a pair of pink Gucci sunglasses (because, Vegas), Amina Muaddi heels, and a sparkly purse I bought on Amazon a few days before—proof that a high-low mix never fails.
As far as beauty goes, I got a spray tan at Sugared + Bronzed before we left for Vegas and a blowout at DryBar, and I did my makeup in our hotel room. Instead of using my tinted moisturizer, I opted for foundation, and I actually wore eye makeup. I used my favorite Nudestix eye stick, my go-to Chanel eyeliner, and brown mascara—all products that would last hours.
Photo:
@c__bellamy
I hate playing favorites, but my favorite part of our wedding was definitely the ceremony. We had our close friend officiate, and we wrote the most thoughtful, special vows. Yeah, yeah—I might be biased, but people still tell us how memorable our vows were. My intention with our vow renewal was never to re-create what we already did, but I also didn’t want it to feel like a joke. The ceremony ended up being very us. Elvis sang three songs, and we exchanged very quick, personal vows, danced, laughed, and cried. It was all over in under 30 minutes. Afterward, a vintage white limo stocked with drinks picked us up, and we drove around dancing until it was time for dinner. Yes, some Kylie Minogue was involved, but I’ll spare you (or maybe me) the details. Feel free to use your imagination.
Photo:
@c__bellamy
The whole day was laid back, intimate, and fun—just the way we wanted it to be. We had a leisurely morning, got ready together while playing music, and embraced Vegas for everything that it is: lively, colorful, and a damn good time.
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