Photography: Sheena Shahangian Photography LLC
Jared and I met as toddlers. Growing up in a small town our families knew each other before either of us were even born. Our story begins with play dates and birthday parties when we were little and grew into a close friendship as we got older. Our friendship grew and lasted through middle school, high school, college, and moved to opposite sides of the country. After seven years of Jared living in Dallas, and me living in New York, some big life changes brought the two of us face to face again and we realized we wanted to be together.
Jared proposed in our hometown, Ludington, MI, on December 28, 2019. He asked me to join him outside his parent’s house for a surprise, and when we walked through the woods there were photos of us together from when we were kids all the way through our thirties scattered along the path and strung up throughout the pine trees. When we arrived at the end of the photos, he proposed. Little did I know, he had a photographer hiding in the bushes to capture the whole thing.
Another Amsale dress with a similar back initially caught my eye and was a front-runner in my dress search. While I was still deciding what to do, I went shopping with my mom and spotted the Audrey gown at Nordstrom, Dallas, TX. It was the only one available, and it was in my size. I tried it on just to show her what the back of the other dress would look like, and I ended up loving this dress even more. I was so lucky to have found this dress, as our wedding was only a month away. It was perfect.
Our wedding was at Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. We decided to get married in Colorado because not only is it stunningly beautiful, but it is also one of few states that offers the option to legally marry with only the two of us present. We loved the idea of a small intimate ceremony where we could focus entirely on our commitment to each other. Jared and I also love an adventure and hiking to our wedding in the dunes surrounded by the mountains offered us just that.
My advice to future brides/grooms is to plan the wedding that feels right for you and your partner. Get creative with it, and whether you have a traditional wedding with a ton of people, or you hike up a sand dune in a wedding dress with just the two of you, make sure your day represents your relationship and what is important to both of you.
How did your wedding plans change due to COVID-19?
We didn’t start planning our wedding until the summer of 2020, so we knew going into it we would need to get creative. We always liked the idea of a small wedding, so a Colorado elopement was a perfect fit for us. Due to COVID, we decided to have a private ceremony without any guests, and we hope to plan a celebration of some sort in the future with our family and friends.
Photography: Lindsay Hite Photography
Chris and I met our junior year of high school where we were both on the cross country team and in the same history class. That same year we shared our first kiss on New Year’s Eve and here we are now!
Chris proposed at Larz Anderson Park, where we used to have our cross country races back in high school. There’s an area with a grove of trees leading up to a stone structure where he had stringed lights and a small table with the ring and a slice of cheesecake, alluding to our first date when we were 16 at the Cheesecake Factory. Afterwards, we went back home to a surprise party he had planned with all our close friends.
I had seen the “Elona” online while doing some research and it was the first dress I picked out at L’elite Bridal. It was exactly what I was looking for - modern and simple yet stunning.
Our wedding was at Hotel Commonwealth which is located pretty much in the heart of Boston in Kenmore Square. The hotel has a special meaning for the two of us because it overlooks the Boston University campus, where we both attended the undergraduate program and our respective graduate programs. At that point, 9 out of the 11 years of our relationship had been centered around BU. It was during this time that we were able to grow up together, from high school sweethearts to professionals and our constant support for one another really strengthened our relationship as a couple. When we also found out that the food at the hotel would be from its affiliated restaurants Eastern Standard and Island Creek (our two of our favorite restaurants in Boston,) it was a no brainer.
Throughout the wedding we integrated elements of my family’s Korean heritage. During cocktail hour Chris and I changed into traditional Korean attire for celebrations, known as Hanbok. My mom wore hers throughout the day. Every guest had a place card with a pair of Korean geese which in weddings symbolize mates for life.
Photography: Brandi Rollins Photography
It all began on September 16, 2017. We were both guests at a friend's party in San Francisco. Alec was telling a story to a group of friends and his big happy laugh naturally caught my attention. I was alone at the party and thought to myself, "Go talk to that guy, he seems to be having a good time." Sure enough, the good times began. After two months of friendship, we were inseparable and our romance developed. After many date nights, dance parties, long hikes, home cooked meals, dinner parties for friends, trips to visit our families in our hometowns of Port Huron, Michigan and Miami and many travels across the world - we knew we were meant to be partners forever.
On August 16, 2019, about two years after we met, Alec popped the question while we were watching the most beautiful sunrise on vacation in Koh Samui, Thailand.
Our original wedding date was 7/31/2020 in my hometown of Port Huron, Michigan. I booked an appointment at Amsale’s NYC salon on 12/3/2019 and fell in love with the Marjory dress from the new collection. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, our big wedding had to be postponed. However, we were ready to get married and did not want to let the pandemic get in our way! We decided to have a smaller, micro wedding in Sonoma wine country on 7/24/2020 (just north of where we live in San Francisco) with 10 of our closest friends. Because it was a smaller, more casual celebration - I wanted to get a different dress. I was so excited when I learned that Amsale had a “Little White Dress” collection as well as a new virtual try-on tool. This allowed me to try on several dresses in the LWD collection right from my home! I fell in love with the Crepe Flared Dress - it was simple and elegant with a beautiful sheer back and an exposed zipper. The dress arrived a few weeks before the wedding and was the perfect fit!
Due to COVID-19, all wedding dress boutiques were closed. Thankfully, Amsale was offering this new virtual try-on tool and it was extremely user-friendly. Using the tool, I “virtually” tried on about 10 dresses from the comfort of my own home. The Crepe Flared Dress was my favorite and I hoped that it would look just as good in person as it did using the virtual try-on tool! (And it did!)
The official wedding took place at the Sonoma County City Clerk’s office and then we had a ceremony and reception at my friend Sarah’s beautiful home in Sonoma wine country which is on 3 acres of vineyards. We live in San Francisco and the Sonoma & Napa wine region is very special to us - we are wine club members and frequent the region with friends. The landscape is filled with beautiful rolling hills and vineyards and it makes for a perfect wedding location. It was my dream to get married in wine country but with the size of our wedding - it made more sense to get married in Michigan. However, when COVID-19 changed our original plans and we were now looking to do a smaller micro-wedding, it made it possible to have a wedding in Sonoma. Our dear friend Sarah offered her home as the location and Sonoma County City Clerk’s office had an appointment the same exact time/day that we wanted to get married. It was meant to be!
The entire day was special. But below are some of my favorite moments.
Unfortunately due to COVID19, our family members and closet friends could not make it to the wedding in person. However, thanks to technology we had all of them there on a Zoom conference call. This was us waving to them right after we said “I Do” and saying hi to them after our ceremony.
My Dad passed away in August 2019, but we could feel his presence right there with us. And had a photo of him at our dinner table.
What tip or piece of advice would you give brides-to-be?
Go with the flow and be flexible and open! Some things are out of our control and plans will change. All you can do is pivot when you hit obstacles, do your best to embrace it and trust the process. It will all work out - sometimes even better than you had planned! The most important part about getting married is that you’ve found your partner and you’re deeply in love. All of the other details will fall into place.
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Photography: A Heart String Photography
Ben and I met on April 18, 2015. The story of how we met has been told by each of us successfully and unsuccessfully, but basically it revolves around our mutual friend Jamie Freedman, who I used to work with. She had recently started dating my other friend, Ariel, and he had asked me to accompany him to her birthday party since he hadn't met most of her friends yet. She had invited me to her party in years past, but I'd never quite made it there. Thank goodness for Ariel. I almost didn't show, but he managed to persuade me. When I got there, Ben was talking to Jamie. They grew up together and had been friends since elementary school. She introduced us, and he quickly said something that I thought was a bit brash, so I definitely didn't think that we'd be talking for much longer, but somehow he managed to find me, and keep the conversation going. Before we knew it, we were pretty much exclusively talking to one another the entire night. Little did I know that Jamie had sneakily cornered Ben, suggested that he and I would get along really well, and he had told her he was "way ahead of her." She had said similar things to me, and though I was skeptical, she clearly knew what she was talking about, because throughout the night he won me over, we went on our first date the following day, and I guess the rest is history.
I had moved from my beloved apartment in Fort Greene to Ben’s apartment on the Upper East Side the previous day, and as excited as I was to finally be living together, I was also somewhat sad to have left a neighborhood I loved so much. To make the transition easier, Ben had planned for us to spend all day Sunday walking around the UES and doing fun things to get me excited about my new hood. We went to the Conservatory Garden in Central Park, and then to the Guggenheim. After that, Ben suggested going to the Cooper Hewitt, which is where we had our first date, and is a very special place to us; for a moment I thought he might propose, but I had eyed his pants pockets and didn’t see a ring box (as if he would have put the entire BOX in his pocket...), so I convinced myself it wasn’t happening. We went to the museum and then headed home, but on the way home I told Ben that I was exhausted from the move and walking around all day, so wanted solo time when we got home - aka - “don’t talk to me” time. The entire walk back home Ben asked me if I was having a good day, and if I was happy, which wasn’t unusual, but in retrospect, more insistent than normal. Once we got back, Ben asked once more whether I was having a good day, and walked out of the kitchen with a fancy bottle of Cristal that we had decided to save for a special occasion. At that point, I was just kind of exasperated and said “YES, I’m having a good day but you really don’t have to keep trying to make me feel better about leaving Brooklyn, we don’t need to drink the fancy champagne!” At that point, he started saying all the nice things, and got down on one knee, and I realized exactly what was happening, among my unpacked boxes and my desire for solo screen time. I cried a lot, and said yes (obviously!). And it turns out he did have the ring in his pocket the whole time!
I purchased the gown from Saks Fifth Avenue Bridal Salon, NYC. I went into dress shopping thinking I definitely did not want a “ball gown.” I am a woman of extremes, I wanted something super non-traditional and over the top or something super minimal (which was always going to be a hard sell with my mother). After a lot of shopping around, I thought I had decided on a skirt/top combo, but when I tried it on, I didn’t feel fully confident that it was the one. Just to make sure that I was sure, my mom suggested we do our last appointment at Saks. The Amsale caught my eye early on, and I tried on a couple dresses, but as soon as I put on the Amsale, I didn’t want to take it off. It was a dress that felt as though it would be timeless, but at the same time it was so clean and modern, and also unexpected with the pleating that just felt so romantic. At the end of the day, I realized that I wanted the day to be about me and Ben and not some crazy dress. I felt like the Amsale dress was beautiful and unique and the perfect complement to the overall day; it was stunning.
We felt pretty strongly that we wanted to get married in the city, as it’s where we met and fell in love. We’d looked at a lot of places, and the first place in Brooklyn I thought we would choose never got back to me, but my friend told me about this new venue in Bushwick that her friend was starting that hadn’t opened yet. She made the connection and I went down one day after work just to check it out, and as soon as I saw it I knew it was the place we had to get married. At the time, the courtyard was a lot filled with dumpsters, and it was in the midst of construction, but the team seemed so accommodating, the vision so exciting, and the space (its windows!) was a beautiful, rare oasis that I hadn’t seen anything quite like, so I called Ben, and after a few discussions with my parents, we took the risk in booking it, believing that it would all work out. Luckily it did!
Technically, Ben and I got to have two different ceremony spaces (somewhat unplanned), because as soon as we finished the processional through the courtyard, and my dad had dropped me off under the Chuppah, it started pouring rain. In retrospect, it really was fortuitous (the weather was much colder than expected for mid-May, and ultimately, moving indoors made the whole wedding feel that much more intimate). The original space in the courtyard was decorated beautifully, with giant green palms lining the tree-filled entry area, and then some larger plants in beautiful terracotta pots flanking the chuppah, which was decorated with our favorite Kente Cloth (which my parents had gifted to us during our traditional Ghanaian engagement ceremony in Accra, which was held in January) and Ben’s tallit that his Grandma Edith had made him many years ago. Once we moved indoors, we kept the plants and the chuppah, but added three large, beautiful hanging floral pieces that Taylor’s team at Fox Fodder Farm had rigged in the middle of the room, above the dance floor/ceremony spot. That, plus the warm glow of the tables, which by that point had already been set up in anticipation of dinner (and thinking that the ceremony would be outside!). Family and friends were seated at as many chairs as we could move back into the main room between tables, and the rest stood or sat at tables. Though we lost the “reveal” of the room, everyone was genuinely really happy (probably because of the pre-ceremony cocktails they had while the room was being re-set up) and the love was palpable. Surprisingly, most people said the late-breaking rain change made the wedding that much more fun!
What tip or piece of advice would you give brides-to-be?
Having the time and space post-wedding to really get to be married has illuminated that although it was one of the best, most memorable days, our wedding was about so much more than one day. Try to enjoy it and remember the big picture; the life you’re building is so much bigger than a table setting or floral arrangement. And though I’m a meticulous planner who cares deeply for all that stuff, it’s important to remember that if there’s love and it’s palpable, that’s really all everyone else will remember, so don’t sweat the small stuff.
Photography: Vasaturo Still and Motion
We had planned for a whole weekend of nuptial celebrations in Avalon, New Jersey. However, due to COVID-19, we improvised for a small ceremony at our Church (Sacred Heart Church in Havertown, PA) followed by a drive-by reception in our front yard!
John and I spent several months fixing up our first home. The night before Thanksgiving, we had a housewarming party -- or so I thought! Right before guests were expected to arrive, John got down on one knee in our kitchen and I said yes to living this life forever with him. We were just so happy! Soon after, our home filled up with family and friends (who were in on it the whole time, by the way!) and we partied the night away!
I was originally planning to wear the Nouvelle Amsale “Blakely” gown, however, I was unable to get my dress from the seamstress due to the stay-at-home order. In a pinch, I reached out to the Amsale design team to see if there was anything they could do. Our wedding was only four weeks away, so they asked me for my size and what kind of styles I liked as they checked their stock. The next morning, a beautiful package arrived on my doorstep with this stunning Little White Dress, and a sweet note from the Amsale Design team. I actually cried, I was blown away! In a time of so much sadness and uncertainty, their kindness and generosity was overwhelming. I am so grateful to the Amsale team for taking some of the COVID bridal stress off, and for making me feel beautiful in my dress on our unconventional day. I look forward to wearing my “Blakely” gown next year at our One Year Anniversary Bash!
Sadly, my Pop Pop had passed away just a few weeks before our wedding. A good friend told me that he just wanted a front-row seat as John and I said our vows, and I think that is absolutely true. I carried his Penn State Class ring tied into my bouquet, which one of my friends made for me. It was so special to me, and I really felt his presence celebrating with us all day.
My advice for brides-to-be is just go with the flow! Don’t lose sight of what is important, which is your love and the life you are beginning as a new family. Your wedding plans can be canceled due to a global pandemic, it can be unusually cold and rain cats and dogs, and your dream honeymoon could be exchanged for your own backyard, yet you can still feel like the happiest girl in the world.
Photography: Betsy John Photography
We met by chance on the website, Reddit. I saw that Mackenzie commented on a photo of a store from my hometown, and I decided to message her about it. The rest is history! Later, we realized that we grew up only 10 minutes from each other! Small world.
There is a bridge in Dallas that overlooks the entire skyline and is pretty impressive at night. I took Lauren there when we first started dating. The night we got engaged, Lauren asked if we could go to the bridge to take some photos of the skyline. She set up her camera and tripod, took some shots, and then asked if I wanted to try. While I was distracted trying to take photos, Lauren pulled out the ring and proposed! I was shocked, and now we have a picture of the Dallas skyline the night we got engaged!
Picking two wedding dresses that went well together, without the other bride seeing, was complicated! We were lucky that Amsale was having a trunk show at our local Nordstrom, and we both fell in love with the first dress we tried on. Making sure the dresses coordinated well together was important. We brought blindfolds, and our mothers and the Nordstrom sales team stood us next to each other to make sure both dresses complimented the other. We still have the picture someone took of us blindfolded, in the sample dresses, at the Nordstrom Wedding Suite!
We got married at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain. This is where we spent our first Christmas and first vacation together. We fell in love with the scenery and everything about the hotel and location. Being from Texas, we wanted a unique setting for our wedding photos, and the mountains and saguaros made for a perfect backdrop! Everything about it was perfect.
We couldn’t believe how nice and supportive everyone was about our wedding! We were a little nervous because we weren’t sure how some people would react to seeing two brides getting married but everyone, including random strangers staying at the Ritz-Carlton, was so nice! We had multiple strangers come up to congratulate us. One woman even bought us a bottle of champagne! It was so nice to feel supported.
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I wore a beautifully fitted Amsale dress and floral veil, with pearl earrings, and my bridesmaids wore mix-and-match crinkle chiffon. Jaime wore a tuxedo from Indochino, and a kippah that a friend of his brought him from Israel (it’s hard to find a small, knit version in the US).
Our wedding venue already had a beautiful pergola that we used for the chuppah (traditional Jewish wedding canopy), and we had white cloth made in Kenya that we draped in the pergola to create the chuppah canopy.
I am Kenyan (my parents are Gikuyu, which is a Kenyan tribe) and my husband is Jewish. The Gikuyu and Jewish marriage ceremonials are deeply communal. Even beyond the uniting of two families, the wedding represents an event for the entire community. For the ceremony, in both of our cultures, there are traditions of having important elders speak during the ceremony. In both the Kenyan and Jewish traditions, the first stage of the marriage is a betrothal that is sanctified over wine - so we included Gikuyu and a Hebrew blessing over this first cup of wine, and drank it from a traditional Gikuyu drinking horn we brought back from Kenya.
In the Jewish tradition, the final stage of marriage is also sanctified over a cup of wine. These final blessings are at the heart of the Jewish ceremony and speak to the joy and jubilation that a marriage brings both to the bride and to the groom, as well as to their extended families and communities. They reference the “cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem” and we added the “lands of the Gikuyu and the surroundings of Mount Kenya” into the blessing to encompass both of our culture's’ central holy sites in the final wedding blessing.
We also wanted to continue to incorporate both of our cultures in the reception as well. We were so lucky that two of our best friends since childhood are now in a band together. My friend, Rachel Brown is the bandleader, and Jaime’s friend Marcus Miller plays saxophone. They were able to adapt traditional Jewish wedding songs, and we kicked off the dinner portion of the evening with circle dancing - and of course, we were both lifted up on chairs - and then surprised both of our mothers by also lifting them up on chairs. Then after dinner, the dancing continued with our amazing DJ - DJ OP! - who incorporated Kenyan music into the evening
My favorite part of our wedding was the dancing! We loved dancing to the band's rendition of "For the Love of You" for our first dance, and having that transition into joyful circle dancing with our friends and family. So much fun.
Vendors:
Bride’s Dress: Amsale (similar styles: “Heather” and “Demi”)
Bridesmaids Dresses: Mix-and-match crinkle silk chiffon
Purchased at: Amsale Flagship Salon
Photography: Nicole Lev
Venue: The Garrison
Flowers: Flowers by April
Band: Rachel Brown
DJ: OP!
Photography: Yours Truly Media
Joey and I met right after college graduation when we started our careers at the same company. While we didn’t work together directly, our friends from home were dating and suggested we meet!
The night he proposed, we were at my grandmother’s house on Cape Cod with my family. We were sitting out back having a drink when he asked me to come stand by the water with him. After some convincing, I finally got up and he got down on one knee and proposed! He walked me down the stairs to find champagne and we took a walk down the beach. When we got back to the house, I was surprised to see BOTH our families ready to celebrate. The surprises didn’t stop as my friends trickled in throughout the weekend. We celebrated all weekend long; it was truly a dream come true!
I had a dress drawn up in my head all along and went to a couple bridal shops searching for it. Amsale posted “Bryce” on Instagram and it was exactly what I was looking for – I needed to try it. My family was planning on being in the area on an upcoming weekend and I called A Little Something White in Darien, CT to see if they had it. At that point, the dress was so new that the only one available was one that had been used in a photoshoot. The bridal shop had it shipped in just in time for me to try it on. The decision was made immediately!
Our wedding was in Newport, Rhode Island. I went to school in RI and always loved going to Newport and we visited a few times as a couple. We wanted a fun place our guests would enjoy and use as a mini vacation. Most of our guests were coming from Massachusetts and New Jersey, so it was the perfect location!
It’s so hard to pick a favorite photo, I love them all. If I had to choose, it would be the following because I can feel the happiness through them and really feel like a bride!
Everything was just perfect.Joelle, Sydney, Sloan, Taryn, Reyna, Caterina, Blair by Amsale Bridesmaids in Vintage Ice
Vendors:
Bride’s Dress: “Bryce” by Nouvelle Amsale
Purchased At: A Little Something White
Bridesmaid's Dresses: Joelle, Sydney, Sloan, Taryn, Reyna, Caterina, Blair byAmsale Bridesmaids in Vintage Ice crepe
Photography: Yours Truly Media
Venue: Longwood Venues (Belle Mer)
Band: Soul Estate Band
Hair & Makeup: Lyndsay Simon Beauty
Florist: Bowler & Jones
Bride’s Dress: “Ryder” by Amsale
Photography: Rebecca Love Photography
We met in high school and were close friends before starting to date.
Sam proposed in Woodstock, VT, where we have spent a lot of time together in our, at the time, 10 years of dating. He proposed in the morning by the fire, after burning the breakfast he tried to bring to me in bed.
Years ago I had saved a photo of a dress off of Instagram that I had loved - the silhouette was so classic and beautiful, but I had no idea where it was from. My maid of honor ended up finding out that it was an Amsale gown. I booked my first fitting there and fell in love with the first two dresses I tried on. Ultimately, I ended up choosing the dress I had always envisioned myself wearing; it was simple and elegant. I added an additional foot to the train, satin buttons down the back, and a very delicate belt to make it my own. And then the cathedral length, lace veil was the perfect finishing touch!
The wedding was on Nantucket, where both my husband and I grew up. We got married on the bluff at Sankaty Beach Club, with the reception at the Golf Club.
I was SO in love with my veil, and the wind was not cooperating that day. I was so disappointed that during the ceremony I had to hold my veil out of the wind, and it couldn't be as on display as I would have liked. So having the photo of the veil blowing in the wind is very, very special.
The entire day was wonderful, but I think my favorite part was that we wrote our own vows. I think it just made the day so much more our own.
Vendors:
Bride’s Dress: “Ryder” by Amsale
Planner: Milly and Grace Weddings
Florals: Soiree Floral
Invitations: Parchment Nantucket
Cake: 45 Surfside
Tent: Nantucket Tents
Venue: Sankaty Head Golf Club
Transportation: Cranberry Transportation
Band: Soul Estate Band
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Photography: Jayne Lindsay Photography
We met when we were both in the same scientific laboratory studying for our PhDs in Alzheimer's disease.
Adam proposed on Horseshoe Bay Beach in Bermuda.
My mum and two sisters flew to Boston to help me go dress shopping and we found “Emeline” on our second day!
We got married in a small church on the Castle Leslie Estate in Co. Monaghan, Ireland. We are both from Ireland and knew we wanted to get married back home. We toured some venues and as we drove into Castle Leslie we both had a gut feeling that this would be our venue of choice!
The photos captured the happiness of the day; the confetti photos are especially fun!
Photography: Joseph Rogero
Our wedding was a true culmination of a long-time love affair. We first met while in high school, but were apart until finally reconnecting one summer in Georgia. At that time, Jared wrote me a love letter in response to news I was seeing someone and was no longer “on the market.” Jared said, “If you and I were ever meant to be, then the laws of nature will see to it that it is so.” Two years later, I responded with my own love letter, once I realized that he was the man that I was meant to spend my life with.
On the morning of our wedding, Jared unwrapped a framed gift; I had the exact letters reproduced in a calligraphed version as a sweet keepsake. We had the inside of my engagement ring engraved to read, “the laws of nature have made it so."
Jared and I traveled to Nova Scotia last summer for a golf retreat that Jared participated in with Golf Rater, which is a part of Golfweek. I tagged along to take in the beautiful sights. We stayed in Cape Breton for the week, and Jared proposed on our first day there! I was not expecting the proposal during this trip, and especially not on our first night there. I ended up messing his proposal plans up because I took us off course and got us lost on the way to the hotel room. Instead of the sunset hike and dinner he had planned, Jared pulled off at sunset to a small pier and got down on one knee. We finished off the night with champagne and strawberries in our hotel room. It was perfect!
I found my dress in New York with my girlfriends while Jared was away at a friend’s bachelor party. I wanted to have the “New York bridal experience,” since Jared had been a resident there for over 13 years. It was a dream to shop at Amsale New York – it sits a few stories up overlooking Madison Avenue, and as you arrive, you are greeted with champagne as you begin looking through dresses that have just been worn by the models for NY Bridal Fashion Week. You feel so special and attended to while in the salon, and I instantly fell in love with the classic simplicity of the brand. The dress I wore was initially overlooked – I almost didn’t try it on at all, but decided to last minute and loved that it was both a classic style with a modern twist with boning in the bodice and floral lace. I had a piece of my Amsale dress sewn onto Jared’s pocket square, as well.
Jared loves cars of all kinds, and I thought it was only fitting to find an old Ford to ride away in. My wedding planner helped me track down a vintage 1930 Model A Ford getaway car – and Jared’s parents helped to make it happen. We kept it a surprise from Jared until after the wedding ceremony. The locket around my bouquet was a pocket watch from the 1920s – an heirloom on my father’s side that I wanted to incorporate as my “something old.” I also had a first look with both my stepfather and biological father, both of whom walked me down the aisle to the ceremony
Vendors:
Bride’s Dress: “Christie” by Amsale
Purchased at: Amsale Flagship
Photographer: Joseph Rogero
Planner: Design Studio South
Florist: A to Zinnias
Bakery: Vanilla and The Bean
Hair/Make up: Amazing You Bridal Hair and Make-up
Invitations: Petit Penguin Productions
Rentals: Ooh! Events, Amazing Event Rentals
Videography: Savannah Wedding Films
Band: The Maxx
Photography: Just West, Stephanie & Rico Russo
Mark and I met through mutual friends shortly after I moved to New York. I’m a Kentucky basketball fan and we were watching March Madness games at a sports bar in the East Village. Mark hung around to watch the game go into double overtime and after Kentucky (luckily!) won, he asked for my phone number.
Mark proposed on a cold Tuesday night in February in our apartment. We were leaving for a ski trip in Colorado the next day and he decided it was too risky to travel with the ring. Instead, he set up a spread with a bottle of wine we had been saving from a trip to Italy and lots of candles. When I walked in after work, he was waiting in our living room with the ring.
I almost cancelled the appointment I had at Wedding Atelier where I ultimately found my dress! It was the last of several appointments I’d been on to try on dresses and I was getting tired and frustrated by the process. I decided to keep the appointment, and am glad that I did! I had no idea that an Amsale trunk show was happening until I arrived. The “Terri” dress was on display in the waiting area and as I started talking to my consultant, I knew I wanted to try it on, so asked her to pull it for me. As soon as I tried it on, I knew it was going to be the one - the details and uniqueness of the dress sold me!
The wedding was in Lexington, KY, where I grew up. We got ready on my mom’s farm, were married in a church in downtown Lexington and then had our reception at the former courthouse, Limestone Hall.
My favorite photos are those right after our first look when we’re standing under the trees at the farm. They bring back such good memories from our wedding day and how excited we were to see each other.
The whole day was such a whirlwind and so special. Having all of our family and friends from all aspects of our lives there to celebrate with us was so humbling - it was a truly amazing day!
Vendors:
Bride’s Dress: “Terri” by Amsale
Purchased at: Wedding Atelier
Photography: Just West, Stephanie & Rico Russo
Coordination: White Cat Weddings
Hair & Makeup: Blush & Glow
Invitations and Signage: Haley Michelle Designs
Reception Venue: Limestone Hall
Videographer: Cardboard Films
Florist: White Cat Weddings
Band: Jimmy Church Band
Caterer: DaRae & Friends
Cake: Martine’s Pastries
Photography: Geneoh Photography
I met Denver at a concert in Chicago. My friend’s band was opening for his band. We fell in love a month later while canoeing down the Wisconsin River in Spring Green, Wisconsin and the rest is history!
“Amanda” was actually the first and only dress I tried on. The second I walked out in front of the mirrors at White Dress Bridal, I knew it was the one. I love how much it resembled my mom’s wedding dress!
The wedding took place at my mom’s farmhouse. The ceremony was under the massive willow tree and reception took place in the barn. It was a no brainer for us to get married there – that house and big red barn will always be near and dear to my heart. Not to mention, the acoustics in the barn beg for the live music that filled our day, the string lights called for a night of dancing and the willow tree felt like it canopied over all of our guests and held in the love for the ceremony.
This shot was taken right after we were married and the sun was setting so perfectly, and it was just us standing in the path leading to the barn where the celebrations were just beginning. I know that even decades from now, I will be able to look at our faces in that photo and know exactly how I felt in that very moment.
Our entire day revolved around the music we love. Because Denver is a musician and because what I lack in talent, I make up for in appreciation – we incorporated the music we love throughout our entire day.
Denver’s old bandmate and singer-songwriter Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes) performed “First Day of My Life” and Tina Turner’s “Simply The Best” during the ceremony, local and loved Americana band Nickel&Rose had everyone swinging their dance partners around during cocktail hour, and Har Mar Superstar/Heart Bones warmed up the barn all night with their original songs and renditions of the Dirty Dancing soundtrack. While there is not one story in particular that made it special, it was the coming together of our people that made this day so, so unforgettable. Months later and we still cannot stop smiling.
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Bride’s Dress: “Auden” by Nouvelle Amsale
Photography: Inspired By Studio
The couple was introduced in the summer of 2016 by a mutual friend who hoped Aida, a native Californian, could help Reggie get oriented to the Bay Area after moving from New York. They connected immediately and quickly realized they had three things in common: their devotion to family, love of adventure and appreciation of laughter and fun.
We met at work. He was in the Finance Department and I was in Marketing.
He proposed on Henly Beach in Santa Barbara. Little did I know, my brother and mom were hiding in the public parking lot. Afterwards, they surprised me at Hotel Belmond El Encanto, where we ultimately wed.
I found the dress online and fell in love with it. I called Amsale asking where I could find it and immediately went to Saks in Beverley Hills as it was there! It was the first dress I tried on. After trying on 30 other options, I knew it was the one.
The wedding was at Belmond El Encanto in Santa Barbara. We chose it because we celebrated our engagement there and I spent many years at the hotel with my family growing up. It was also a special place for my late father, so it holds a very special place in our families’ hearts.
I love this photo because we had just finished cocktail hour with all of our friends and family and were about to walk into dinner when our photographer grabbed us for a couple of impromptu shots. We are just so happy here and knew the night was just beginning. It was the perfect moment.
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Photography: Jessie Casey Photography
My friend Brouck kept telling me that I had to meet her new boyfriend Kyle’s best friend. She insisted that we would be perfect for each other. We met at a bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and while I thought he was adorable and there was something different about him that made me a good kind of nervous, I had just gotten out of a relationship and wasn’t ready. According to Brouck, Nick kept asking about me... while he was busy dating plenty of other people at the time. Brouck and Kyle broke up, but I always thought about Nick. A year or so later I was on a date and turned a corner and ran into Nick also on a date. I broke up with the guy I was seeing within the week and that was that. I asked him to a movie; he asked if Elroy (my, now our) dog could join. We ate cheap tacos, drank Manhattans, and I knew that this was my guy.
Nick proposed in our apartment on our third dating anniversary so Elroy our dog could be present. Then we went for cocktails and gumbo at a neighborhood spot.
“Billie” was the first dress that I tried on! I went with my mother, my mother-in-law, and my uncle’s husband. I fell in love with the fit and simplicity of the dress right away. It was perfect for a summer wedding.
We got married at the Hasbrouck House in Stone Ridge. We knew we wanted to get married outside of the city and at a place that we could spend the whole weekend with family and friends. We drove past Hasbrouck House when going from one venue to another and did a U-turn in the road. We walked the grounds and fell in love with the style and kind staff immediately. And as an added bonus we found out that our friend Brouck who introduced us is a descendant of the Hasbroucks!
It was hot! Everyone was worried about the heat leading up to it, but the second the reception started, the sun went down, men took off their jackets, and it turned into a huge dance party. The highlight might be dancing to Frank Sinatra with my 94 year old Grandpa, who did not leave the dance floor till the absolute end of the night. It was just all a blast! We would do it again in a heartbeat.
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THEIR LOVE STORY
Mike and I met through mutual friends after I decided to crash the group’s Sunday night tradition of dinner followed by the TV show Game of Thrones. I was planning on leaving after dinner, but decided to stay and learn more about the show and the handsome guy in the room. Mike and I talked for a little bit that night but had an opportunity to get to know each other better when he arranged a group outing to the movies later that week. We exchanged text messages for about a week until he finally called (yes, called!) to ask me out on a date.
Mike asked me out on a second date, which was quickly followed by a third date. After that, we were pretty much inseparable. I can’t pinpoint the exact moment when I realized I loved Mike and wanted to spend my life with him, but it was a feeling that had been growing in my heart for quite some time. I finally got the courage to say “I love you” a few days after Mike surprised me with those three words on our first weekend getaway to the beach.
“Mike makes me feel secure, supported and loved. He has helped me find confidence in myself and for that am I forever grateful.”
I knew things were getting serious when Mike asked me to be his date to his friend’s wedding in Chile. We celebrated our first New Year’s Eve together in the town of Vina del Mar. We watched fireworks from the balcony of our hotel overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It was magical and in that moment I knew in my heart we had something special and my life would never be the same.
Mike has two children from his first marriage. As our relationship progressed, I was constantly asked by my friends when I would have the opportunity to meet Drew and Gabby. I waited patiently until Mike was ready to take the most important step in our relationship. Our first meeting was a casual dinner at a restaurant. I was really nervous to meet them. Possibly more nervous than my first date with Mike. Drew and Gabby bring such joy to my life and I love being their stepmom.
Mike is such a romantic. He’s always doing things to make me feel special. Every day, going back to our first date, I have been greeted with a “good morning” text message from Mike. I look forward to his sweet words to start my day. Mike has kept every single text message we ever exchanged – even the silly inside jokes only we can appreciate. He knows how to brighten my day!
Mike makes me feel secure, supported and loved. He has helped me find confidence in myself and for that am I forever grateful.
When I reflect back on our wedding day, I can’t help but think about all of the love and support we received from our family and friends and all of the fun we had dancing the night away.
Photographs by Jacqui Cole Photography
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]]>Tom and I met in the summer of 2006 at Sandy Island Family Camp on Lake Winnipesaukee. I was 18 at the time was there as a camper with my family; Tom, 17 at the time, was a lifeguard. My mom introduced us when she saw Tom was wearing a Villanova sweatshirt (I was headed there as a freshman in the fall). Tom ended up attending Villanova as well, and we stayed friends through college, but dated other people. We both ended long-term relationships in 2011 and reconnected at Santa Con in NYC, where Tom was living at the time. I moved from Boston to NYC after 2 years of long-distance and another 2 years later Tom proposed.
Tom popped the big question on our favorite date of the year. Each summer, we’d plan a night to go to our favorite restaurant, Lago, at the other end of the Lake. This time, after Tom picked me up, he took a detour past Sandy Island, where we’d met, and stopped the boat. I saw him take the ring box out of the boat closet and couldn’t stop smiling and laughing. He told me to wait to call my mom (of course that’s the first thing I wanted to do), and when we pulled up to the restaurant, both our families were there waiting to celebrate.
We had always talked about getting married on the lake and wanted our guests to experience everything we love about the lake. We chose a country club for the reception, which has a beautiful view of the water. Tom and I both have a traditional style, so when I found the Rowan, I immediately knew it was perfect and I knew Tom would love it. September 9 was the best day of our lives.
Photographs by Molly Anne’s Photos
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]]>THEIR LOVE STORY
The first weekend in November Charlie and I traveled to Asheville, North Carolina to celebrate his Aunt Patti’s 60th birthday with his immediate and extended family. His parents rented a mountain home to enjoy a fun filled weekend together. Little did I know it was also to celebrate our engagement!
Charlie and I headed to Asheville on Friday morning and got to the house before anyone else. We went inside and Charlie ask me to marry him on the porch overlooking the beautiful North Carolina mountains. After I got over the shock, I said yes!
“That night Charlie promised me no more surprises, but he had one more up his sleeve…”
That night Charlie promised me no more surprises, but he had one more up his sleeve! The next day my parents surprised me at the house for brunch. We wrapped up the perfect weekend with a candle light tour of the Biltmore and dinner at the Village Hotel.
The flowers were one of the most important details for me. I wanted lots of color and flower variety. Many of the flowers I choose were in season and fit perfectly with a fall themed wedding.
The Amsale bridesmaid dresses were one of the first items I decided on for our wedding. I fell in love with the periwinkle color and the natural movement of the tulle, which translated so well in the photographs.
I went to several stores to try on wedding dresses. I wanted a long sleeve dress, but had difficulty finding a large section of them. When I visited my fifth bridal store and slipped on “Tegan” I knew it was the one!
My mother handmade her wedding gown and saved several pieces of lace that she hand appliquéd to her dress. I used a piece to make a handkerchief and wrapped it around my bouquet. A perfect “something old” !
Photographs by Du Soleil Photographie
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]]>THEIR LOVE STORY
Jonathan and I married on the fourth of November two thousand seventeen in the Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina, and we’re so thankful to say that our day was every bit as memorable as we had hoped.
From the beginning, we envisioned an intimate event—so intimate that we continued to refer to the wedding reception as a ‘dinner party’ for our dearest family and friends. We knew we wanted the atmosphere to be both warm and elegant, while allowing the mountain scenery to speak for itself.
Jonathan and I met during graduate school at Duke University, so it was that much more meaningful for us to celebrate our wedding back in North Carolina during our favorite autumn season, intimately surrounded by those who had contributed to us growing both as individuals and as a couple.
We were in awe of how enthusiastically our family and friends traveled and embraced the winding roads up the mountains to the quaint town of Highlands to share endless love, fun and joy with us that weekend.
And, as we look back on our day, we will remain steadfast in our opinions that the fog, the sun, that passing rain cloud, and the brilliant rainbow all that visited us that day in Lonesome Valley, perfectly represent the richness we know lies ahead for us together in marriage.
Photographs by Almond Leaf Studio
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]]>How we met:
When people ask me where I’m from, it’s a bit of a complicated answer. Born in Detroit, Chicago 2 different times, Connecticut for high school, Pennsylvania for college (and this is without mentioning South Dakota for a year!). But my favorite slice of upbringing by far and away is Melbourne, Australia, where I lived with my family for 6 years as I was growing up. My very best friend in Australia, Ellen and I have kept our friendship alive through cross continent visits, face-timing and texts. I was even honored to stand by her side as she got married in 2013. In the summer of 2012 Ellen texted me saying that she had a friend, Chris, who was moving from Melbourne, Australia to NYC (where I had been based post-college since 2011) and that he didn’t really know anyone and it would be great if I wouldn’t mind meeting up with him for drinks.
I immediately answered yes (who doesn’t love an Aussie accent?!) and she said he would be friending me on Facebook. Chris and I chatted back and forth on Facebook messenger, exchanged numbers and agreed to meet when he arrived in NYC a few weeks later. The night I met Chris I had butterflies as I left my apartment, scouring the street corner we agreed to meet on for anyone who looked similar to his Facebook profile picture. Chris put me at ease the moment I met him and we caught up for a few hours over nachos and Coronas at Blockheads in Murray Hill. Chris and I had instant chemistry and we continued to see each other every moment we could. What started off as friendship quickly escalated into dating and the rest is history! (Chris spoke at our wedding & revealed that he didn’t believe in love at first site until it happened with me J ).
5 years after meeting, Chris took me to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia where we landed on Whitehaven Beach via helicopter for a champagne lunch. We were walking along the beach and I turned around to find him on one knee – my answer was YES, a million times over.
We decided to ‘split the difference’ between NYC and Australia and get married in Napa Valley. Good food, great wine & surrounded by our friends and family made our fairytale wedding the absolute best day of our lives. Chris is hands down, the best person I have ever met in my life. He is my best friend and the absolute love of my life – being his wife is truly my greatest honor.
Amsale:
I am not kidding when I say I probably tried on 60-70 dresses over the course of 4 months before I visited Amsale. Although there were a few top contenders, I went to sleep each night unsatisfied with my options. My mom and grandmother flew into NYC for a weekend as my grandmother’s gift to me was buying my wedding gown (side note: she has bought all of my prom, formal and big event dresses my whole life J ). I had an appointment booked at Amsale and as soon as we got there, we were so impressed by the gorgeous salon (& the champagne didn’t hurt either!!). I tried on a few dresses and when I came out in Alina, my grandmother and mom had tears in their eyes and my smile said it all – I had found THE ONE. I stopped my search then and there and we came back the next morning to buy it. The experience at Amsale, start to finish, was so wonderful and I recommend it to everyone! My dress was fitted to perfection and I was so comfortable all day. Honestly – if my dress wasn’t stored at my mom’s house, I think I would be wearing it around my apartment – I MISS IT!!
Photographs by: Lori Paladino Photography
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]]>How We Met:
Stephanie and Matt met at Dorrian’s Red Hand, a neighborhood bar on the Upper East Side in New York City. Stephanie had just graduated from college and moved to New York earlier that week and for their first weekend in the city Stephanie and her friends wanted to go out for a night of fun. Meanwhile Matt’s best friends were in town visiting and catching up after their first year out of college. Fate would have it both groups of friends headed to Dorrian’s that night. Very quickly Matt’s friends started talking to Stephanie’s and before long Stephanie and Matt started talking and hit it off. A week later Stephanie and Matt had their first date and have been together ever since.
The Proposal:
Stephanie was spending Easter weekend in Palm Beach with her parents while Matt had been invited to attend a bachelor party in Vegas. Early Friday morning Stephanie and her mom took their dogs, Penelope and Calypso, for their morning walk along the lake trail. As they turned a corner Matt was standing there waiting for Stephanie! Not only had Matt come to Palm Beach to surprise Stephanie for the weekend but he had a second surprise waiting for her in his pocket. Under a tree along the lake trail Matt asked Stephanie to marry him and she said yes.
The Wedding:
Stephanie & Matt’s wedding was a three day celebration in Palm Beach. Stephanie always knew she wanted to get married in Palm Beach and after showing Matt all of her favorite places and the beauty of the island he completely agreed. The ceremony was held at Bethesda by the Sea Episcopal Church and reception followed at The Flagler Museum.
The Dress:
Stephanie tried on at least 50 dresses before deciding on Amsale’s Troy. With countless options and a big decision to make Stephanie didn’t know what to do. Stephanie visited the Amsale Salon three times before making her decision. Her best friend and bridesmaid Laura was there for each visit, and kept saying Troy was The One because of how big Stephanie’s smile was each time she came out in it and no other dress made Stephanie as happy as Troy did. After the third time trying on Troy Stephanie finally knew it was the dress for her! Stephanie added a beaded belt for a touch of sparkle and also wore an Amsale veil with blush flower appliques.
Photos by: Shea Christine
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]]>I met my husband in the Summer of 2006, I was interning in NYC at a financial firm, Smith Barney, where my husband was working at the time. He would walk by my desk every day to strike up conversation and it was never anything more than hi/hello and small talk like where each of us were from and went to school. After that summer, I left to go back to school. Flash forward, 5 years later I am living and working in NYC when my sister invites me to an office happy hour at her new company, Morgan Stanley. I was at the bar across the street so I walked over to meet her and her new coworkers.
Before I could even find my sister at the bar, my husband (to be) spotted me and said I know you, you used to intern back when the firm was Smith Barney. The firms had since merged and my sister ended up working as my husband’s back up assistant! We spent the whole night chatting away and catching up and the rest is history!
I knew I wanted a classic and elegant NYC wedding. I always envisioned my look that day as a modern day Breakfast at Tiffany’s. I saw the Amsale “Jane” dress online and immediately booked an appointment at the boutique on Madison. I tried on one or two other dresses but I always knew that I would end up in the Jane. It was definitely meant to be and ever since the day of the wedding I have been told I looked just like Audrey 🙂
Photos by: The Glenmar Studios
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]]>John and I met in New York City. Our relationship evolved over coffee dates, long walks going nowhere, and adventures that only a city like New York has to offer. John proposed on a surprise birthday trip to the mountains and we spent the next year and a half planning our dream wedding. We wanted our wedding to be special – a true reflection of our personalities. With the help of our friends, families, and incredible vendors, the day came together in the most beautiful way possible.
The wedding was held at Bedell Cellars, a vineyard on the North Fork of Long Island. We exchanged vows under a 100-year-old maple tree, sipped cocktails while a jazz trio performed on the lawn overlooking the vineyard, and then danced the night away on the pavilion with the most beautiful sunset as our backdrop.
Amsale offered the perfect dress for our vineyard wedding. The Ingrid’s floral pattern, subtle texture, and, sweetheart neckline captured my bridal vision of unique yet classically feminine.
I could not have asked for a more beautiful dress or day.
Photographs by: Golden Hour Studios
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