Emerald Bride, Sara Finney Gonzalez Rivera
We are beyond excited to share about our real Emerald Bride, Sara Gonzalez Rivera (Finney). It is an absolute dream of ours for simple encounters to turn into lifetime friendships. Sara’s entire appointment was a DREAM and the moment she said yes, we knew we had created a memory we wouldn’t soon forget. Sara has since helped us in multiple styled shoots, with hair and makeup for our branding video, and sent many of her own brides to find their dream dress with us!
You can find Sara in our beautiful, private designer gown, Madeline. A full sequined, mermaid dress, that’s just WAITING to be customized! Sara had custom, removable sleeves added to Madeline to make her one of a kind for a one of a kind bride. The corset back snatches and flatters like no other dress. She can be elegant, edgy, modern and timeless, Madeline is a head turning dress fit for the glam bride!
Want to know more about Sara’s wedding?
Continue reading for a love story fit for a fairytale and memories that will have you teary eyed:
Where did you get married at? Why did you choose this location?
We ran away to Winter Park, Colorado with 40 of our closest friends and family. 8 years ago I lost my dad & a few years back I took a trip to scatter his ashes in the mountains. It only felt right to get married where he could be there too. We both have amazing memories in the mountains & they feel like home to both of us.
Your favorite memory or funny story from your wedding?
OMG. I popped one of my rings on my corset during the ceremony & about lost it. I bent WAYYYYY to far over for our foot washing ceremony & POP // there she went! So the rest of the night I kept making sure the girls were staying in the dress! LOL
How did your fiance propose? And when?
He proposed May 29th, 2021 at Fortunata Winery in their chapel. On our one year anniversary, he whisked me away to have a private dance inside their wedding chapel. He spilled his guts and popped the question, just the two of us! Little did I know all of our friends were in the courtyard waiting to celebrate with us with wine, pizza, and live music. The perfect evening!
How did you and your now spouse meet?
We met dancing at Cowboy’s Red River in Dallas! He spun me around the dance floor for 45 minutes & it felt like we were the only ones on the entire room. Time stopped. Our connection was so quick…it felt like I’d known him my whole life!
Who said I love you first?
I did LOL I BLURTED it out after the most fun, crazy night ever. We had only known each other for 3 weeks, but 2 of those weeks Cesar had been asking (on repeat) “sooooo, do you love me yet?”
Being in the wedding industry yourself, what do you think would make the wedding planning process easier?
A written out timeline of WHEN & HOW to book vendors! Booking the right people for your day is so crucial!
Describe your experience at Emerald’s?
Warm, wonderful, & hope filled! I had tried on 30+ dresses by the time I came to Emerald & was worn out. I felt like I was getting further & further away from my dress with each one I put on. So when Sabina told me how they do things, I instantly took a deep breathe & relaxed. I just KNEW my dress was there! Sabina showed me about 15 dresses & of those, I liked about 5 enough to try on. My dress was the last one & funny enough, I didn’t even want to come out of the fitting in it! When I walked into the main area the air was sucked out of the room & we all knew it was my dress!!
