Our Instagram is chalked full of our brides’ beautiful wedding photos & the #AnnaliseRealBride hashtag, but just what is the wedding process like from the perspective of one of our real brides? Is it as carefree as it seems to be in all the pictures we post? We decided that it might be a good idea to interview some past brides & let them tell their wedding story. What their favorite parts were, the stressors, & any advice that they’d pass down to our soon-to-be brides.
Claire’s first appointment at our boutique was full of friends & laughter. Claire is contagiously funny & with each appointment we could always expect to be entertained! Not only is Claire a comedian, she also has a killer sense of style. She wore an amazing Anne Barge gown on her big day and changed into a chic jumpsuit half way through her reception. When asked about just how she navigated the sometimes-tricky route of being true to your personal style while still feeling like a bride she stated, “My bridal style felt very true to my everyday style. I love classic pieces with interest and a little flair and I knew I wanted to feel like the best version of myself on my wedding day”. We always tell our brides comfort is key; it was clear in all of Claire’s photos just how happy & comfortable she was!
Some of you may be questioning just how a big ball gown can be comfortable. Sure, a wedding dress isn’t going to be sweatpants comfy, but it should feel like you. Claire knows that “there is nothing worse than wearing something that is so not you and feeling self-conscious all night”. Make sure you not only love the dress, but it is also an outfit you can spend hours in!
Before changing into that gorgeous jumpsuit, Claire did spend hours in her gown. Perhaps our favorite part of her bridal look was a topper she had custom made for the dress. The lace for this special topper came from her mother’s wedding dress. “I knew going into dress shopping that I wanted to incorporate my mom’s wedding dress in some way as my ‘something old’ Claire proudly stated. “I was so thankful to have a part of her with me on my big day as she passed away when I was little. I’m forever grateful to Claudia for her help in making this happen and to Lindsey for her encouragement and ideas along the way.” In the gallery below you’ll find stunning shots of how her bridal look came together & a side-by-side snapshot taken of Claire’s mom in her wedding dress & how Claire channeled her mother’s bridal style for her wedding day!
Now that we’ve gotten all the good fashion gab out of the way, there’s one more important aspect that we really want to talk about… enjoying the wedding! We find that brides can get so wrapped up in the moment that they forget this is their moment to enjoy with their loved ones. Claire agreed that it is difficult to not stress, but enjoying is really the best thing you can do. “It’s easy to get caught up in the little details but I think that the most important thing to do is to enjoy the time with your new spouse and loved ones. It’s such an incredible blessing to have all of your favorite people together to celebrate. I spent the majority of the night on the dance floor with friends and family and am so glad that I did”.
Before you begin to loose sleep over the seating chart or have stalked way to many wedding dress designer accounts. Step back & remember what this moment is all about. We’re here to help make the dress buying process as easy as it can be & we’re glad we have past brides who can give you words of wisdom on the rest of this big day!
Photographer – Stephanie Yonce
Venue – Farmington Country Club
Alterations – Seams Alerations
