Choosing Your Reflection
Through weekly conversations with former brides and grooms, we unravel the significance of the perfect wedding day outfit and the stories of the relationships behind them.
About the show
Welcome to Choosing Your Reflection, a series of discussions about the allure and mystery of what to wear on your special day. Through conversations with our diverse group of former brides and grooms, we aim to unravel the unique significance of the perfect wedding day outfit and its meaning to our subjects’ pasts, presents, and futures.
Episodes
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'85 Cover Bride - Marcy Sutherland
October 21st, 2020 | 19 mins 20 secs
Marcy, a retired Western Pennsylvania native, shares the story of her whirlwind engagement to her best friend and the love of her life. When her mother surprised her with a stunning dress featured on the April 1985 Brides magazine cover, her Cinderella dream dress became a reality.
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One Dress, Two Receptions - Roz Sherman
October 14th, 2020 | 22 mins 25 secs
This week on Choosing your Reflection we talk with Roz. A “Central” Jersey resident and government employee, Roz recounts how she had both a destination wedding and a reception at home to make sure all of the important people were included in her celebration. With both a vision and a budget, Roz explains how she managed to find an outfit for herself and her party that was both beautiful and practical.
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Just a Girl in a Wedding Dress - Kristen - Castle Couture
October 7th, 2020 | 23 mins 18 secs
Welcome back to Choosing Your Reflection. This week we chat with Kristen, a bridal consultant at Castle Couture in Manalapan, New Jersey. Kristen talks to us not only about her own wedding dress experience, but also about how she guides each of her brides on their individual journey to find the most expressive self garment for their special day. Check out Castle Couture on social media at @castlecouture and @castlecouturebridal.
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Not That Same Girl - Angie Fisler
September 30th, 2020 | 23 mins 26 secs
On this week’s episode of Choosing your Reflection we have Angie. A marriage veteran of nearly three decades, Angie takes us back through her courtship with her husband from either side of a diner grille in classic Norman Rockwell Americana fashion. Constrained by their budget and the lack of inclusive designs for certain figures, Angie was saddled with a difficult task when it came to finding the “perfect” dress. Angie laments on the dress that almost was, but shows our audience that no matter what you wear, you can always feel beautiful on your wedding day.
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Blessed - Alyssa O'Brien
September 23rd, 2020 | 19 mins 16 secs
This week on Choosing Your Reflection we chat with Alyssa. A compliance trainer approaching the four year anniversary with her husband, Alyssa tells the story of her courtship in the earlier years of internet dating. With a childhood blueprint of the perfect dress and a beautiful gift from a departed relative, Alyssa shares with us how she found the dress with the glitter she embodies.
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Let it Roll - Samm Blake
September 16th, 2020 | 34 mins 21 secs
Born in Australia, New York-based photographer Samm Blake has been named as among the Top Ten Wedding Photographers in the World by American Photo Magazine and her work has been featured in Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Martha Stewart Weddings, C Magazine and more.
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Be True To Yourself - Emily vanSonnenberg
September 9th, 2020 | 25 mins 6 secs
Thank you for tuning in to a very special episode of Choosing Your Reflection. This week we sit down with psychologist and UCLA lecturer Emily vanSonnenberg for a dive into the science behind what we wear. Unpacking concepts like enclothed cognition, satisficing, and retrospective savoring, Emily helps us understand a little more about the mental side of the journey to finding an outfit, and explains subconscious concepts that may be making finding the “perfect” outfit a little more difficult. As Emily discusses the sartorial sciences, she takes time to share some happiness strategies not just for brides and grooms, but for everyone!
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Stepping Into My Freedom
September 2nd, 2020 | 26 mins
Welcome back to another episode of Choosing Your Reflection. This week we talk with Lexi, whose whirlwind courtship and engagement made finding the perfect dress a tall order to fill in a short time. Shopping online, Lexi managed to surprise herself with the perfect dress in the most unexpected of places. Emphasizing the need to be true to herself and the commitment she made to her husband, Lexi talks about stepping into her freedom in an outfit that had “just the right amount of classic and the right amount of whimsical.”
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Confidence - Nina Rodebaugh
August 26th, 2020 | 21 mins 45 secs
Tune in to this week’s Choosing your Reflection as we talk with Nina, who shares the story of how her traditional church wedding was complimented by a 1920s-esque reception in a former Philadelphia speakeasy. An alteration misstep meant that Nina was unable to see her dress until the night before her wedding, but ended happily in a grand reveal to her friends, family, and husband. With the help of a wonderful bridal shop and the support of her family and friends, Nina found her confidence knowing that she is equally beautiful inside and out.
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Four Things - Rebecca Christiansen
August 19th, 2020 | 18 mins 15 secs
In this week’s episode of Choosing your Reflection we talk to recently wed Rebecca. One part of a married pair of engineers, Rebecca didn't split hairs when it came to what was important for her on her special day. She surrounded herself with loving and supportive family and friends but made sure her voice was the clearest in the room. Knowing exactly what she wanted, Rebecca was able to take a dress she liked and add some “spice” to make it her perfect wedding day outfit.
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Keep it Light - Kevin Murphy
August 12th, 2020 | 24 mins 28 secs
On this week’s special episode of Choosing your Reflection, last week’s guest, Ashley, joins her husband Kevin as he recounts their wedding story. You’ll love listening to this charming couples' courtship in a way we haven’t had the chance to do yet here at CYR -- from both sides! A high school math teacher, Kevin explains how he brought his work with him to crunch the numbers and tried to de-stress planning their wedding. Ever the practical joker with his friends, Kevin even walks us through the prank they tried to pull on his best man, and the special monogrammed nicknames his party put into their suits that made the groom’s party outfit unforgettable.
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Meant To Be Yours - Ashley Liporace Murphy
August 4th, 2020 | 20 mins 7 secs
Welcome back to another discussion on Choosing your Reflection. This week we have the privilege of speaking with Ashley, a graphic artist and recent bride who explains how she used her background in design to plan her trip down the aisle. Ashley also describes how she discovered her perfect dress not once, but twice! Carrying the wise words her mother told her years ago, Ashley shares how she learned that “things shouldn't be hard to reach when they're meant for you”.
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Tradition and the Trailblazer - Zarah Zahir
July 29th, 2020 | 35 mins 24 secs
Join us as we travel to beautiful Pakistan to chat with Zarah on Choosing your Reflection. Ever the headstrong free spirit, Zarah explains the unique opportunity she was given to not only get married herself, but to also marry her trailblazing soul with the cultural traditions she holds close. Our guest recounts how she used her creative talents to incorporate love letters to her husband Ahmed and New York City directly into her ceremonial wedding outfit. You’ll laugh and learn along with us as Zarah takes us on a ride through the whirlwind of parties, ceremonies and, of course, special outfits that comprise Muslim marriage customs.
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Superstition
July 22nd, 2020 | 14 mins 42 secs
Thank you for joining us in our conversation with Maureen on Choosing your Reflection. Married 22 years, Maureen takes a journey that proves that sometimes when it comes to finding the perfect dress the second time’s the charm. With a helping of superstition and a dash of serendipity, you’ll fall in love along with Maureen as she recounts her trip to the altar.
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Sentimental Dress - Darrah Pilieri
July 15th, 2020 | 14 mins 48 secs
In this week’s episode of Choosing your Reflection, Darrah recounts the role that family played in the process of finding her perfect outfit. Her vision of the dream dress was clear, but her heart was open to beautiful surprises. Our guest shares the tenets of comfort and confidence she held close while on her journey, and describes a happy accident on her special day that created the perfect picture with her future husband.
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Royal Blue Celebration - Cooper Westbrook
July 8th, 2020 | 21 mins 47 secs
Welcome back to another episode of Choosing your Reflection. Today’s episode features Cooper sharing his story. A charming courtship starting with a choir and ending with wedding bells; Cooper reflects on perfect proposals, a less than perfect bus ride, and how he and his husband created all of the moments together that truly mattered.