Teresa Dishes on Her Lavish Wedding and How She Handled That 3-Pound Hairdo

When planning her wedding with Luis “Louie” Ruelas, Teresa Giudice had a clear vision in mind: She wanted the ceremony to be elegant, timeless, and perhaps most important, sexy.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey mom shed more light on her special day in a recent cover story for New Jersey Bride magazine. The piece, which was published on May 18, came more than nine months after Teresa and Louie tied the knot at the Park Château Estate & Gardens, a 15-acre palatial property in East Brunswick, New Jersey. The mother of four told the outlet she enlisted event planner Jessica Rogers to help create a memorable experience — not only for her and Louie but also for their 250-plus guests.

“I wanted everybody to walk in and be wowed, like, ‘Oh my god, this is spectacular,’” she said of the event. “And that’s what they did when they walked in. They were wowed.”

As shown on Instagram, the wedding decor was anchored by lush white floral arrangements with touches of gold and crystal accents. The lavish setting, designed by Preston Bailey, paired perfectly with the bride’s custom blush mermaid gown by Mark Zunino Atelier. The designer previously took to Instagram to share original sketches of the gorgeous dress, confirming that it “featured over 300 yards of hand-draped English netting.” Teresa complimented the gown with sheer beaded opera gloves and diamond accessories, including a bejeweled tiara that sat atop her extravagant hairdo, which reportedly weighed three pounds.

“I got used to it,” she said about her coiffure.

But perhaps more over-the-top than Teresa’s hairstyle was her selection of entertainment. According to New Jersey Bride, The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip alum treated guests to a 16-piece band, a DJ, and musical performances by saxophonist Art Crichlow and drummer Tito Puente Jr. Her team also hired a sword swallower, stilt walkers, aerialists, and burlesque dancers who “stripped down to nearly nothing.”

“I wanted the dancers to have as little clothes as possible,” Teresa said with a laugh. “Yes, I’m all about sexiness, I wanted that sexy vibe.”

Teresa’s wedding guests included many familiar faces within the Bravo universe, such as RHONJ’s Jennifer Aydin, Dolores Catania, Margaret Josephs, and Jackie Goldschneider; The Real Housewives of New York City’s Dorinda Medley and Jill Zarin; The Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Kenya Moore, Phaedra Parks, and Cynthia Bailey; and The Real Housewives of Miami’s Alexia Nepola. Teresa’s brother and sister-in-law, Joe and Melissa Gorga, did not attend the event.

“It’s about you and the person you’re marrying. Make it about the two of you,” Teresa said when asked about the Gorgas’ absence. “Don’t let any outside noise affect you. That’s what Louie and I did. We just focused on us. Especially when you have children, then you focus on your children — and your family and friends that are there for you. And just have the best time ever.”

Fans will get a closer look at the wedding on May 23, when Bravo airs the RHONJ special Teresa Gets Married.