As the world of wedding planning continues to evolve, it's essential to find inspiration from those who understand the significance of the day better than most. Vivian Grimes, the visionary creator and owner of Henri Noël Fine Jewelry, recently celebrated her own wedding, offering us a glimpse into her world of elegance, creativity, and the fine art of saying "I do." Nestled in the heart of South Florida, Vivian's company has swiftly risen to national recognition, embodying her commitment to ethically sourced, high-quality materials, while celebrating the legacy of her father, Henri. It's a brand where every piece of jewelry tells a story, and their signature look, layering rings, has become a fashion statement of its own. Her focus has always been to create jewelry that reflects the person wearing it and more importantly, mesh the idea of fine jewelry with everyday wear. Today, we delve into her wedding planning experience, from color choices to creating an unforgettable atmosphere.
As couples embark on the journey to create their perfect day, the choices can seem overwhelming. Where do you start? How do you find a dress? How do you pick colors, a venue, a theme? And what about the guest list!? Vivian provides an illuminating peek into how she started the process and what helped her along the way.
Ok, first and foremost, the standard question, how did you guys meet?
We actually met in college, we knew each other for a while before we decided to dive into a relationship and the rest is history!
So where does one start!? How did you figure out step one?
I began with selecting a theme, settling on a ‘simple, modern, whimsical coastal garden party’ concept. The inspiration was to blend a little English style with my vision. I wanted it to be a beautiful and classy garden party on the beach. We wanted a theme that felt like a natural extension of who we are. It was all about finding that perfect balance between tradition and personality.
Paying homage to her husband's British heritage, Vivian accomplished just that. From the photos on Instagram, anyone would envy the ability to envision something and transform it into the reality they did. The result was a unique and captivating atmosphere that encapsulated their love story.
Guys never usually want to participate in the process, what was your experience?
Well yeah, don’t have them trying to pick napkin colors and centerpieces. We did the fun stuff like cake tasting and made big decisions together. It was actually a lot of fun and we both had a great time with it. Just focus on each of your strengths and use that to your advantage in the planning process.
How did you choose your colors and bridesmaid dresses? I feel like that’s been different at every wedding I’ve been to.
I think it’s actually a really important part. As a bride of course you want to feel beautiful, but more importantly, you want your guests to enjoy themselves and feel great too. I tried to make my decisions based on that. I gave my friends the freedom to choose whatever dresses they wanted, as long as it fit my color scheme, which was a variety of blues. And they definitely came through! I decided to do the different bridesmaid dresses before that was really even a thing. No one had done that or was doing that at the time. The result was everyone feeling their most beautiful selves. It contributed to the overall energy and feel of the wedding.
Little did she know that this forward-thinking approach would go viral, captivating the hearts of many after watching her wedding video with thousands of others. Now everyone is implementing a variety when it comes to bridesmaid dresses. Dare we say Vivian started this trend? Based on my short conversation with the trendsetter, I have no doubt.
In regards to what truly matters when planning a wedding, most can agree that it’s usually the food and music. Vivian adds that the venue is actually essential and really, who you invite as well.
Everyone says food and music make a wedding, what are your thoughts on that?
Honestly, the venue and the people are probably the most important I think. The venue was actually really difficult because it’s tough to find a place in Naples, FL for 200 guests. And parking for all those guests…and hotels….like, it becomes quite a task. And the people. That was the best part. Everyone had such a great time, the entire wedding had this amazing energy. It’s hard to put into words, but you could feel the love.
In her case, finding a large enough venue in Naples posed the most challenging, but it was essential in creating the ambiance they desired. And as for the guest list, family was the overarching theme. It was an intimate affair where everyone was family and you could feel the love; it seemed to be tangible.
Piggy-backing off of that, how did you choose the guest list?
Everyone that was there, I talked to all the time. Everyone present has been very present in my life. We are a giant family, truly. The sense of togetherness was unmistakable. 200 sounds like a lot of people, but really, it didn’t feel that way. Each table was oriented around the dance floor, so it was a tight circle. Every table was different, shaped differently, and everyone just got along.
Creating a positive vibe was a crucial element for Vivian. Her approach was simple yet effective -cultivating an energy where everyone felt free to be themselves and have fun. The focus was on dancing and enjoying each other's company, with no undue emphasis on drinking.
She credits her wedding planner for playing a significant role in every aspect, but also ensuring the celebration wasn't centered around alcohol. The setup, music, and the arrangement of tables contributed to the intimacy; every guest felt cherished. The planner's meticulously crafted schedule left no room for downtime between transitions, ensuring the joyous energy remained constant throughout the night.
How did you pick your dress and ring? I feel like there are so many options nowadays, it would be tough to narrow down. It seems daunting!
For me, it was actually really easy because I already knew what designer and dress I wanted. The designer shares my philosophy in that what you wear is a reflection of the unique person you are.
For the ring, I mean, I have been designing rings for so many lovely couples that you would think it would help me narrow choices down, but I found myself, like many soon-to-be-brides, overwhelmed with choice. For my engagement ring, my husband worked with my dad -who is also a jeweler -to create. They knew I wanted an oval-cut diamond for my engagement ring because I have always been drawn to the natural brilliance and fire of this diamond shape. For my wedding band, I found this to be a fun process because I was able to create a piece so special and representative of our special wedding day. I always say your rings are actually the one thing after your wedding day that you get to actually keep that has such symbolism. My husband and I worked together creating both of our bands. My wedding band features emerald-cut diamonds and marquise-cut diamonds separated and set in a way that you can see each stone’s diamonds faceting. This is really important to me. I wanted each diamond to be seen and have its own moment. My husband’s band is what we call a Trinity Band. We decided on two bands attached by a jump ring. The larger yellow gold band represents him, the white gold band represents me, and the jump ring holding them together represents our union -and our dachshund, Pippa. On the inside of the wider band, there’s a Union Jack because Max is from England, along with the words, ‘Today and Always.’
Who couldn’t fall in love with that!? The wedding dress designer hopes every bride that wears her dresses, wears them from beginning to end. She isn’t satisfied with the versatility and the comfort of the dress unless it’s dirty and the bride never felt the need to remove it. As for the rings, it’s no surprise that Vivian had the most eloquent and thought-out response. Being her specialty, I would expect nothing less.
Before concluding our conversation, we asked Vivian for some advice for future couples. Her response was heartwarming and definitely worth considering:
After everyone left for the after-party, the band stayed and played another song just for us. We had our last dance, just the two of us, and it was perfect. We were on a high from all the love in the room, and we soaked it all in. I think every couple should take a moment or some time to themselves during or after, where they can just step back, embrace the moment and enjoy one another.
Vivian's insights remind us that a wedding isn’t just about the dress or food or location, but rather, our loved ones coming together in a warm and inviting atmosphere. It’s more than just the food, it’s who we share the food with. It’s more than the DJ or band, it’s who has chosen to dance next to us on our big day. The love and energy trumps it all.
In our time together, it was easy to see and feel Vivian’s energy, it was truly contagious! I can understand how she makes each of her clients in the jewelry industry feel like family, ensuring the experience is very personal. If you are interested in looking at her latest collection (I am obsessed!) check out the link below:
@henrinoeljewelry
Wedding planner: Kehrin Hassan–Jetset Weddings
Dress: Monique Lhuillier
Venue: on the beach in downtown Naples (Cutlass Cove Beach Club)