Alexandra Crutchfield, the director of global talent and influencer relations at Ralph Lauren, and Nick Jensen met during their junior year at the University of Tennessee through a mutual friend and future-groomsman. The pair dated for 11 years before he proposed on the dock at her family’s lake house in Virginia.
She had been working all summer planning the Ralph Lauren 50th Anniversary Celebration and had a break three weeks before the event, so she and Nick decided to meet her parents at their home. The two arrived at 1:00 a.m. and decided to have a night cap on the dock. “Just as I had finished my drink and was about to head up to the house, he asked me to dance with him,” Alexandra says. “This is something that he has done many times in the past, so I thought nothing of it, until he got down on one knee!”
Once engaged, the bride knew she wanted to get married in St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, where she grew up and where her parents wed, in Washington, D.C. And as soon as they walked into The St. Regis, they knew it was meant to be their reception venue. “It felt regal and stately but was also so warm and inviting,” Alexandra explains. “I kept my colors neutral, working with toffee, beige, taupe, cream, and mocha florals mixed with full greenery and infused gold, bronze, and black accents.” To help plan everything for their November wedding, Alexandra hired Lauryn Prattes, who was actually her sorority sister in college.
The dress search felt like a saga for Alexandra, who had been to “every bridal designer and bridal boutique in NYC over the course of many months.” She finally found a dress at Mark Zunino. It had detached glove-like, floor-length bell sleeves with scalloped edging that finally gave her the statement she was looking for.
Alexandra was also inspired by the pearl headpiece that Kaia Gerber had worn in a Givenchy couture show and chose two similar designs by Israeli designer Keren Wolf to incorporate into her cathedral-length, pearl and crystal veil. To finish her bridal look, she wore cluster starburst Elizabeth Bower earrings and satin nude heels from Stuart Weitzman.
On the day-of, Alexandra got ready with hairstylist Remona Soleimani and Michelle Obama’s makeup artist, Carl Ray, to perfect her beauty look. The bride’s sister and maid of honor complemented her well in a black, off-the-shoulder THEIACouture gown, and her mother looked beautiful in a black and champagne Alex Perry number. The groom wore Ralph Lauren Purple Label, of course, with gold and mother-of-pearl studs, matching cufflinks, and black velvet smoking slippers.
Once the sun set, the couple headed to their traditional Greek Orthodox service. “There are four major moments in the ceremony: the exchanging of rings, the crowning, the common cup, and the ceremonial walk,” Alexandra explains. “While all of these moments are special, the crowning and the ceremonial walk were most memorable to me.” As they were pronounced husband and wife, their guests broke into a roar of applause, and the newlyweds exited through a sea of sparklers, as the bells tolled, to their 1952 Bentley getaway car.
Guests headed to the St. Regis, where cocktail hour began in a tent with gold draped ceilings and chandeliers, connected to the ballroom. As they migrated for the three-course, seated, formal dinner, everyone was in awe of the 40-foot head table canopied by four arching 11-foot trees. Different fabrics were layered to create lush tabletops that accented a gorgeous table runner of roses, hydrangea, and magnolia by Holly Heider Chapple Flowers.
Following the cake cutting, the Free Spirit‘s horn section began a New Orleans-style second line parade from the dining room back to the tent for dancing. The new Mr. and Mrs. had their first dance to “This Will Be” by Natalie Cole to open the floor in an upbeat fashion. “We had so much fun during our first dance and were both laughing each time Nick would twirl me because my sleeves created such a fun effect,” the bride remarks. “We hadn’t practiced with the sleeves before!”
After the first dance, Alexandra changed into a crystal and pearl Alice and Olivia top and white ostrich feather mini skirt. The after-party kicked off as the band transitioned into a DJ, who spun tracks until the early hours.
Once their amazing day had come to a close, the pair jetted off to Turks & Caicos for a mini-moon in hopes of a longer honeymoon this summer. Unfortunately, their bigger trip has been postponed due to COVID-19, but the two are so thankful for their joyful wedding and little getaway that marked the start of their union.
