“I am a mood board queen,” explains Cristal of their first design meeting. “I came prepared.” The said mood board included an image of the dress the designer made for Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl performance. “I wanted something romantic, I wanted something elegant, I wanted something powerful, I wanted something that was me—but through his lens,” adds Cristal. Lopez came up with a sketch minutes later. “It was everything I dreamed of.”
After multiple fittings, the final result included a head scarf-inspired veil and a long silk dress with a corset, one-shoulder detailing, and lots of draping. “It was just incredible to see,” Cristal says about the experience. “I love it all.” For a final accessory, Lopez gave the bride a purse from his last collection with feather details. It was by her side the entire party.
Photo: Andy Martinez
For Juice’s wedding day wardrobe, the groom aimed to elevate his day-to-day fashion with a formal, all-black look. “My personal style is a Carhartt T-shirt, Issay Miyake pants, a Rolex, and a bucket hat,” he shares. “I wanted to feel regal, I wanted to feel like Luar, I wanted to feel special. I wanted Raul to elevate and push what I usually do.” Lopez took the challenge and pulled out a never-worn suit from the back originally designed for Solange. “He asked me my thoughts on a round collar,” remembers Juice. “In all honesty, I hesitated. Then he just looked at me and said, ‘You’re going to look chic.’” The groom put his trust in him and moved forward with the modern ensemble.
In a fitting the week before the wedding, Lopez thought something was missing from the look. “So he goes to the floor, finds a small black garbage bag, and pins it on the left-hand side of my chest,” describes Juice. “He’s like, I’m going to make you a brooch.” Days later, he sends Juice a photo of a piece with black and white feathers and crystals. The groom says he loved it.
Photo: Andy Martinez
