Hooks Brides: The Edition That Translates the Dream of Contemporary Brides

'BRIDES' COVER EDITION - MAY 2026 ISSUE

Wedding Planner: @cerimonialsandracolin / Photography: @amorenosfotografia / Production: @mariaconstanzanoivas / Dress: @villadelasnovias

The great star of the first printed edition of Hooks Brides is Karina. Before sharing her thoughts about her wedding, I wanted to explain why I chose to call her that in this edition’s title. Ever since her beautiful face first appeared on my profile, nine out of ten brides have sent me photos of her as inspiration for how they wanted their bridal look to be. In other words, she was already famous among brides — and now, nationally recognized, exactly as she deserves. Some people are simply born for the life of a model, don’t you think?

Karina and Gabriel have known each other since their school days. They started dating in college and, eight years later, officially said “I do” on November 3rd, 2023. Their journey together included the highs and lows of medical school, a long-distance relationship between Germany and Brazil, and shortly after, three demanding years of medical residency — all while planning their wedding at the same time.

In their own words, the two complement each other through their differences — something that became essential throughout the wedding planning process, which lasted a full year between the proposal and the big day. The groom admits that, if they could change one thing, it would be staying more faithful to what they had originally envisioned: a smaller and even “simpler” ceremony than the one they ultimately had. However, they ended up being carried along by the expectations and wishes of their families, who had been waiting for this next chapter for quite some time.

So here comes the couple’s very first piece of advice: plan a wedding that truly reflects who you are and what you want, but remain open to new experiences — like a choreographed first dance, for example, which ended up being something they both absolutely loved.

Another very important point highlighted by Karina is the importance of focusing on the process rather than only on the final destination. Tastings, budgeting meetings, dress fittings, and all the many appointments along the way, when fully appreciated, allow couples to enjoy the wedding day itself much more — a day that does not always unfold exactly as planned and passes by in just a few hours.

She shared that, as a bride, she holds beautiful memories from the entire planning journey, which helped her face the unexpected events of the big day with greater lightness — including the passing of her beloved grandmother in the early hours of that very day. Despite the family’s grief, the wedding was lived intensely until the very last moment and, in her words, became a celebration of both mourning and life.

They conclude the interview by opening up about their first days as a married couple, the adjustment to domestic life, and the wonderful surprises that come with choosing the right partner. Karina became emotional while describing their relationship as a true partnership and shared that she has been living “the best days of her life” since becoming husband and wife.

I must admit that, by this point, I was emotional too. This is one of the couples who has marked my journey as a wedding professional the most. I truly wish them all the happiness in the world — and I also love following Gabriel’s recipe stories on social media.

Two years have already passed since their wedding day, and I wish them a lifetime filled with love, partnership, hiking adventures, great food, and the friendship that sustains a relationship throughout the years.

To complement Gabriel and Karina’s story, I also invited their photographers for a conversation. Allison and Biatriz, from Amor e Nós Fotografia, believe that marriage is synonymous with life itself: the meaningful moment when two families — often completely different from one another — come together and share the experiences and stories that each person carries with them.

For them, photography on such an important day should capture the essence of what is real, without overly elaborate poses or scripted moments. They always prefer to arrive ahead of schedule, carefully study every corner of the getting-ready space, and understand the couple’s preferences so that all of this preparation results in spontaneous and authentic images.

Beyond that, they value capturing genuine reactions and the vulnerability of every person intentionally chosen by the couple to be part of the celebration. Applause, laughter, and tears during the ceremony never escape their lenses — and neither do the wild moments, the joy, and the unforgettable energy of the dance floor.

They were the ones responsible for capturing such a special record of Karina and Gabriel’s wedding, and I still remember our reaction as we watched Karina transform into a true top model right before our eyes during the photoshoot. There were hours filled with laughter, deep sighs as we saw her dressed as a bride, and an intense mixture of emotions shaped by the losses and blessings experienced within a single day.

This is a couple of photographers who truly love what they do and genuinely love love itself — something I personally experienced when they photographed my own pre-wedding shoot, which ended with both my fiancé and me in tears because of how emotional and meaningful the moment Allison created was.

I hope that every one of you who dreams of having a genuine and heartfelt perspective of your wedding day is accompanied by a team as unique and special as Amor e Nós.