Heather was the exception to most when it came to wedding dress shopping. She knew exactly what she wanted! Down to the number of buttons she wanted on her dress. So creating a custom Blue Willow by Anne Barge wedding dress was the perfect solution for her to have the dress of her dreams!
We asked Heather to describe the aesthetic of her wedding in a few words and she said, “Traditional, timeless, elegant, romantic, detailed, and fun!” and we think this was executed perfectly.
Timeless Wedding Featuring a Custom Blue Willow by Anne Barge Wedding Dress
Both Heather and her husband grew up Catholic. So they had a traditional Catholic Mass ceremony, which was held at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, where her guests raved about the stunning architecture.
Wedding Reception at The Estate At River Run
After the ceremony, the entire bridal party enjoyed a fun bus ride to the reception at The Estate At River Run.
As guests arrived they were greeted with white sangrias. Heather & Alex’s beautiful yet minimal wedding decor was also a focal point.
Heather said “The details were everything for me”! They were blessed with a beautiful day so “guests could enjoy the upper and lower terrace while the string quartet played during happy hour.”
Shopping for a Custom Blue Willow by Anne Barge Wedding Dress
When it came to finding her perfect dress, she was having a difficult time. Heather said “most places I visited were trying to fit me in something they had, rather than what I truly wanted.”
She kept being told that most brides end up with the opposite of what they thought they wanted, but Heather said, “deep down I knew this just wouldn’t be the case.”
Upon arriving at Annalise Bridal she was immediately surprised by how excited her consultant was at the opportunity to create something custom!
Heather was so happy that her consultant was “open to everything” and was so eager to hear what she wanted. This was such a change of pace from what she had experienced at other places. She was so thankful that we “never tried to diminish what I felt would be right for my wedding.”
Tips for Envisioning a Custom Wedding Dress
When it comes to piecing together the perfect dress, we have lots of tricks. We always do our best to help you visualize your custom wedding dress.
“At one point I had multiple dresses overlapped on each other at once to try and see my vision.” Now, this takes a person who can visualize, trust the process, and their consultant to bring their creation to life.
She ended up with a fully custom Blue Willow by Anne Barge dress.
It was a combination of a few different dresses and ended up being so beautiful!
A 3-quarter length crepe ballgown with a stunning boat neckline. The dress had a plunging back with just a few buttons to the waistline. Truly her perfect dress!
Heather said that “Looking back, I wasn’t scared at all. I felt so taken care of, and listened to, I was really excited. As I reflect, I recognize it may be scary for brides to commit to something before they have seen it. Honestly, take the risk!”
Customizing a Blue Willow by Anne Barge Wedding Dress
If you think that having a custom dress is for you then the biggest thing is to always give us feedback! Heather’s advice would be “Ask questions, look at fabrics, discuss sketches, etc. They will help you perfect every little detail!”
If you are thinking about customizing and know exactly what you want, maybe this is something to consider!
Heather says “It will absolutely wind up being your best decision ever!” Her dress was so perfect for her big day and in the end she knew customizing a dress was the right thing to do for her.
She had a wonderful time at Annalise Bridal and said “The shop itself was beautiful, and I truly had a magical experience.”
Blog Written By: Kennedy Williams
Bride: Heather Morely / Dress Designer: Blue Willow by Anne Barge / Photography: Renee Jean Photography / Videography: Cat McCarthy Creative / Planning & Florals: Starry Nights Events Tanya McGann Cornwell / Ceremony Venue: The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart / Reception Venue: The Estate at River Run / Hair & Makeup: Cam Carson & Co. and Amanda Bohannon / Spray Tan: Sugar Mist Tans / Earrings: SJ Bailey Co. / DJ: Will Gralley / Rentals: Rent-E-Quip RVA and Paisley & Jade / Photo Booth: Richmond Photobooth / Live Painting: Wed On Canvas / Stationery: K Buck Studios / Bridesmaids Dresses: Bella Bridesmaids RVA
