How They Met
Hiram and I met at the one place my mom told me I would never find a good guy, a club. The name of the club was Tribeca in Fort Lee, N.J. We've been together for five years now. I knew he was the one from the beginning, and I found the things I liked about him most got better as the years passed.
The Proposal
Hiram proposed to me in the living room of my apartment. I had no idea. It was completely unexpected.
About the Ring
My ring is the most beautiful piece of jewelry I have. It is a princess-cut diamond with side baguettes. We went ring shopping together, and I showed him the stone I liked. He went to our friend Neil and designed my ring himself. It is beyond words and much more than I ever imagined.
The Date
Monica and Hiram were married on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2003.
About the Dress
My dress ... I went to every shop in New York City. I could not find what I wanted. My aunt/godmother is a hairstylist on 77th and First Avenue in Manhattan, and one day she was telling a new client about the wedding and all our planning. Of course the big question, "What about the dress?," came up. My aunt told the client of our lavish late night, early morning, shop-till-you-drop trips to every bridal shop in the New York/New York City/New Jersey area. The woman told her about the boutique of this up-and-coming Latin designer named Marcos Carrazana, on 74th between First and York Avenue.
My aunt went window-shopping the minute the woman left her salon, ran back to her shop and immediately called me that afternoon. I then called for an appointment. From the moment I walked in I loved what I saw. Marcos had just what I wanted. He is classy, modern, friendly, warm, sincere and kind, and his dresses represent that. My first appointment lasted 2 1/2 hours. They asked me what I wanted, I told them. Marcos talked to me, listened to me, studied me and knew me in just two hours. I tried on three different dresses. I liked one part of one dress, another part of a different dress, and so on. Marcos told me, "Give me a few days. I am going to sketch you three different dresses and then we go forward from there."
My dress was beyond my imagination. It was everything I'd ever dreamt of and wanted for my wedding. The style was Spanish. I had a lace mantilla (very dramatic veil) and all the touchings of a beautiful Spanish-style gown. I did not walk into the boutique with lace in mind at all. My dress is scoop neck, has a long waistline and a full silk organza skirt, and is made of the most beautiful taffeta, which gives the dress its very feminine twist along the neckline. It also has an outer lining of the lace flowing around the skirt of my dress. This was a complete "MONICA GOWN."
