Valentine’s Day Love Story: Joanne and Zachary
What’s your favourite memory from your wedding day?
I don’t know if I have a single favourite memory from my wedding day... it was all a happy blur! Rather, there are different moments that remain distinct in my mind because of the gratitude I felt – for our family and friends who travelled across the world to be there, for the vendors who shared their wonderful talents, and for my new husband who would be sharing his life with me.
How did you feel wearing Grace Loves Lace on your wedding day? And what made you choose the Verdelle 2.0 gown?
I felt like a version of me that I don’t always allow myself to be – a little more daring and free. The Verdelle 2.0 was nothing like the 60+ dresses I had tried on, and it was just the right kind of “different” I didn’t know existed. From the front, the Verdelle 2.0 looks feminine and fun; it gives a peek of the wings draping over the shoulders and the center slit makes it a little more interesting. And then there’s the back, which I think is the real treat! The back of the Verdelle 2.0 is elegantly bare and gives the surprise of endless layered lace.
How do you celebrate love/ Valentine’s day now that you’re married?
My best girlfriend and I have an ongoing tradition of spending Valentine’s Day together, with our husbands, at a fast food restaurant. It’s nice because we can dress comfortably, the food is always tasty and inexpensive, and no planning or reservations are required. This will be our 8th Valentine’s double date celebrating over hamburgers, French fries, and milkshakes!
If you could re-live your wedding day, would you do anything different?
I really wouldn’t do anything differently. I think that might be because I remained fairly relaxed and just allowed myself to enjoy the day as it unfolded. I wasn’t so concerned about everything being perfect, so I felt like everything happened just as it was supposed to.
How do you keep the romance in your relationship alive day to day?
Our practice of romance isn’t necessarily what some might consider “romantic,” in that it doesn’t usually involve grand, passionate displays of love (the kind you might see in movies!). We just find opportunities to show thoughtfulness and reaffirm our partnership with one another. For example, when I recently returned home after having a really lousy day, I found flowers and a sweet message of support from Zac. Our kind of romance may not be flashy or anything extraordinary, but it’s a romance that is sustainable and meaningful for us.
What made you choose to have your wedding in Italy along the Amalfi Coast?
Zac and I knew from the beginning that we wanted to have an intimate wedding abroad. I had never been to Europe and this seemed like a good opportunity to explore a new place. I found photos online of our venue in the Amalfi Coast, and like the Verdelle 2.0, it was just the right kind of “different” I didn’t know existed. I arrived in Amalfi less than two days before the wedding and it was just as beautiful and charming in real life.
What is the most romantic thing Zac has ever done for you? Or visa versa?
The most romantic thing might have been when Zac proposed to me. He wrote me a poem and when I flipped through the journal, I found the ring in a hole he had carved out of the pages. We each wrote our personal vows in that same journal, so it’s a special keepsake.
What advice would you give to a young couple in their first year of marriage?
You’ll be happy you put in the hard work together. For me, the hard work involved a mental shift of understanding that my husband is my partner (even when the circumstances might make him feel like an adversary) and learning to communicate with kindness and clarity. I’m still working on it.
