Meet Francesca: Glamorous and Chic In San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Photos by nathanielshannon.com

Looking at these pictures, one would think that Francesca and her husband are movie stars and that the Paparazzi tried desperately to get photos of their celebrity wedding. Wow! This bride couldn’t look more glamorous. She wore one of our Hayley Paige gowns called Carrie when she married Damien last October in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

We’re always curious about how a bride choses her gown. Here’s what Francesca told us:

The first time I tried on dresses, it was just a big ball of fun. I was with my sister, mother, aunt, and a best friend. I think that the first time was more about the experience with my family than anything else. However, after trying on about 8 dresses, I did notice how beautiful I felt in gowns by Haley Paige. We ran out of time, and hadn't even tried on the dress that I ended up getting. I went home, did some more research, and ended up making another appointment. I found a dress that caught my eye, and when I tried it on, it just felt right. I knew it was the one because it was the only gown that I thought Damien would love seeing me in. It was such an exciting feeling. I chose it because of how romantic it felt, and how perfect it would look in Spanish colonial Mexico. It was beautiful, delicate, and full of character and I could not wait for the love of my life to see me in it.

Francesca grew up in Flushing, MI and studied nursing at the University of Michigan, Flint. She is an ICU nurse at the University of Michigan Hospital. Damien was born in Amstelveen, Holland and grew up in Miami. According to Francesca, he spent more time seeing the world traveling in a punk rock band than he did studying! After obtaining an art studio degree in Miami, he started working in design. He currently works as a senior designer/brand strategist for Amcor in Manchester, MI.

Francesca met Damien by chance one evening while going out to a bar with her big brother and his friends. After they were introduced, Francesca asked her brother more about Damien but her brother didn’t give her much information because, as she said, brothers don’t like sisters dating their friends. Time passed and she ended up running into him again in a similar fashion. She said,

I was completely smitten. As the evening progressed, I had gained a bit of liquid courage, and ended up sitting by him at the bar. I said hello and proceeded to ask him why he hadn't asked me for my number yet. He smiled with that irresistible smile and promptly asked me for my number. After this, we were pretty much inseparable over the next few years.

On my wedding day, I had never felt more beautiful or happy in my entire life. Seeing the love and happiness on Damien's face when he saw me in my dress for the first time was priceless. I also got loving and breathless looks from my family and friends. I was so happy that I didn’t notice having a dress on after the ceremony. I simply felt beautiful and loved. So, I think it's safe to say that the dress did its job perfectly.

We couldn’t agree more, Francesca!