Anna-kay thomas's unconventional floral dreams come true
For her Palm Beach wedding at The Breakers, entertainment executive Anna-Kay Thomas wanted to eschew traditional bridal tropes. Instead, she would be the flower herself, donning a Monique Lhuillier gown adorned with red rose appliqués, a nod to her fiancé Ross Szabo's late father and their shared sentimental connection to the bloom.
A rose by any other name
The couple stripped their celebration down to its most essential, precious, and sentimental elements, with the ocean backdrop serving as the perfect canvas. This meant no flowers at the ceremony, save for those on the bride's dress and a lone calla lily in her hand. A symbol rich in meaning, as the calla lily holds a special place in Anna-Kay's heart, having grown wild in Ross's backyard since their dating days.
Anna-Kay's search for the perfect ceremony gown took her to Oscar de la Renta, where she discovered a show-stopping mini for dancing at the reception. However, it was a chance encounter with Monique Lhuillier's designs that truly stole the show. The rose appliqué dress was not at the store, but Anna-Kay was determined to try it on. The label flew the sample to California, and the rest, as they say, is history.
'I just wanted something bridal that didn't scream bridal,' Anna-Kay confesses to Vogue, echoing her Aquarian spirit. Putting on the gown and veil, she felt a sense of uniqueness and self-expression that perfectly captured her future, marriage, individuality, and the commitment to not losing herself in the process.
A second life for vera wang
Undeterred in her quest for Fashion expression, Anna-Kay booked an appointment at Vera Wang, where she found a stunning spring 2020 design that was the last in stock worldwide. So enamored, she decided to choose it for the reception, working with the brand to create custom floral elements and extend the train. 'I was so happy she got to live on,' Anna-Kay gushes, 'she was such an ethereal statement.' The bride plans to repurpose the Monique Lhuillier gown into a two-piece set and potentially give the Vera Wang gown a second life down the line.