Real Hazen Bride: Christen Rischard February 15 , 2023 , 1 comment

Christen McDonough and Nicholas Rischard wed on July 17, 2021 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Dallas, TX.

In three words, describe your wedding style?

Classic, Southern & Elegant

What provided the most inspiration for your wedding?

I drew inspiration from the places that are special to my husband and me. I wanted to reflect them in our design, food and music choices wherever possible. I also would have been lost without the guidance of each of our incredible wedding vendors who made planning so much fun. 

What aspect of wedding planning was most exciting to you?

I love storytelling. I hoped that our wedding would be a chance to show our guests who are as a couple and the families we come from. I enjoyed choosing small details to include along the way to tell that story. Our welcome boxes contained Kentucky bourbon, a Catholic prayer card, and saltwater taffy to recall our first meeting over mint juleps at the Derby, our shared college experience at the University of Notre Dame, and our engagement along the beach on a family vacation to 30A. In lieu of place cards, the head table at our rehearsal dinner had a single Southern magnolia leaf on each plate painted with the guest’s name in calligraphy, included as a nod to a favorite from my childhood, a beautiful tree in my Virginia backyard. Our guests received a parting gift of Bomboniere, a tradition celebrated by my husband’s Italian family – five Jordan almonds signifying five wishes for the new couple. 

What made you decide on Hazen for your big day?

I discovered Hazen when I moved to Dallas, and I quickly fell in love with the brand and the way it makes you feel. When choosing pieces to wear on some of the most important days of my life, I wanted to make sure that I found something that felt like a natural fit for my style and personality. For me, that is pearls. Pearls are my staple – I am always wearing some sort of pearl jewelry, no matter if it’s on my wedding day or just while running weekend errands. I think their classic look complements any outfit. Hazen has such unique, elegant pearl pieces in the Bridal collection that I knew would make me feel special, and it was fun to honor the city we live in now by wearing jewelry from a local designer. I ended up choosing the Ruth Earrings and Minnie Bracelet in white pearl for my rehearsal dinner at Marie Gabrielle, and they have become favorite pieces that I reach for again and again.