Wedding Week: Portraits

We had a pretty small bridal party so that helped allow for more time for hubby and I and a smoother transition between portraits. I remember telling Meredith about our small party and she told me a smaller bridal party is actually a relief because it's less people to manage and I'm glad it worked out that way. It was hard enough ensuring that our parents and siblings were on time let alone 16 friends! 

I didn't get as creative as I would've liked with our portraits but by the time the wedding rolled around thinking was the last thing I wanted to do and trying to make everything perfect was not a reality. I do wish I had some extra eyes directing people closer etc, but it's hindsight y'all! We did some typical portraits of the group but I really love some of the portraits of hubby and I. The lighting was great and the day was so beautiful y'all! Literally not a cloud in the sky and 70 degrees! Not a photographers perfect day, but anyone else's. :)

Here are some of the portraits of hubs and I on our campus at NC State:

I LOVED working with Indochino to create the perfect groom's tuxedo! It allowed for us to custom design the inside but also have it perfectly tailored and we could choose the pockets, lapels, buttons, collar, color and even monogram the inside! SO special!

I also LOVEEEEED my bouquet of peonies, ranunculus, garden roses, cabbage leaves, and greenery. It was the perfect soft silhouette that I wanted but was it ever heavy! Whew.

 Something about these black and white's that I absolutely LOVEEEEE! 

 

Aren't my little nieces adorable as flower girls?! I can't get enough of their cuteness! Squeal to the flower crown that they are wearing, I LOVED that! And they were SO good at walking down the aisle, I can't wait to show y'all how good they were and how much they love their uncle. 

 Love my main men.

 And some moma love!

 And lastly, GO PACK! (ps we beat wake forest that afternoon!!)

Well that's only some of the portraits but I think we did pretty good and got some variety with all the different family/friend dynamics included. That was probably the most stressful, worrying about who I've taken pictures with and whom I had not. I tried to type it all out before on the timeline but at that point, I wasn't really trying to keep track, I was just hoping someone else was!

Then it was off to the ceremony y'all!!

In case you missed it:
Bridal Luncheon
Rehearsal Dinner
Wedding Timeline
Getting Ready 
First Look

xoxo,
mrs. a. 

Photographer: Meredith Perdue / Videographer: Simile Productions / Flowers: Aldena Frye / Hair: Kari Berry via Marigold Parlour / Makeup Artist: Fiquet Bailey Swain via Luxe Apothecary / Bride’s Gown: “Lauren" by Amsale / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin from Coplon's / Bride’s Earrings: ED-1D-261 by Bounkit from Coplon's / Bride’s Veil: Veils of Art via Etsy / Wedding Invitation: Palm Papers / Bridesmaid Dresses: “ G558C" and "G660C" in Charcoal by Amsale / Groom’s Attire: Custom Tuxedo by Indochino / Groom Bowtie: Ralph Lauren / Groomsmen Tuxedo: Vera Wang from Men's Warehouse  / Groom’s Cufflinks: Nordstrom

Saying Yes to the Dress: Nitsa's

My journey to Nitsa's happened after all the experiences in Raleigh and feeling like I was coming up short. I felt like I had been listening to so many others opinions and neglecting my own so I decided to go to Nitsa's in Winston-Salem on my own while visiting our MIL in Greensboro. Nitsa's was the same salon my mom and I went to in Charlotte and tried my first ever Amsale gowns there so I knew I'd probably like something there!

I arrived there for my appointment and went around selecting some gowns and I was still pretty much considering any type of dress because I had not felt that anything looked better than the other. I tried some Vera, Monique, Alyne, Pronovias, Kenneth Poole and Amsale of course. For me the easiest process of dress shopping was saying NO. I could easily tell you I did not like something! 

I finally tried on a Pronovias gown that I was really interested in. It has some lace which mom liked and it had small sleeves, which I was really considering. It was very pretty and slimming but pretty heavy and needed a LOT of alterations which was a little off-putting to me, but I honestly really liked the gown! It was at the top of my list there!

Pronovias gown similar to the one I liked

After I tried this gown I went back out and looked at the racks. (Sorry I don't have a picture but for some reason the Nitsa's in Winston-Salem doesn't allow photos?!) Previously, mom had given me a budget and there was an Amsale gown that was a little over and I had faith that if it was wonderful we could maybe wiggle it out. I slipped it on and immediately knew there was something about this gown. It fit with my venue I had selected, a modern loft for that New York bride feel, and it was comfortable, different, unique and had pockets!!

I guess I should also preface the fact that Hubby wanted no lace, strapless, and my boobs to look good in a dress (I know right?!) and this dress had all those characteristics! Score one for me. I really liked the dress, I'm not sure if I LOVED it but I really liked it, I really lit up and felt comfortable in the dress. It also fit like a glove!! No alterations except a little hem, what could be more perfect?! All I had to do was get mom back to see the dress!!

I brought mom back a few weeks later and tried the two gowns that I ranked up there, the Pronovias and the Amsale, and the Pronovias was first and mom was not crazy about it. Then I tried the Amsale and I just knew deep down that was my dress. I wasn't overly emotional about it, but I just knew... I felt comfortable in it, it fit my venues, and more importantly it was unique and me!! I don't think my mom was ever over the moon about it, but I knew that this was the dress I was supposed to get married in!

Here it is... the Amsale Lauren I tried while at Nitsa's and when I finally said YES to THE dress!!

Like I said the sample fit pretty darn well so after we placed the order and waited 5 months I was pretty confident we wouldn't have to do much to the gown. We placed the order in August and it came in around January! It was exciting to get to try the gown on officially for the first time as mine though, and all that was left was a few minor length alterations to be had.

The above pictures were at my first official dress fitting! So exciting!! I loved the back and the simplicity and the gorgeous fabric. It was SO light weight!!

Final fitting and working on how we wanted to bustle the dress, after that she was mine to take home!

Well there you have it, my gown! Long story short though, I probably tried on 75ish dresses? Embarrassing, maybe a little? I just have to say that there are a lot of emotions and a lot of ideas of what someone may want for a dress, it may be perfect and what you had always imagined or it may be something completely different! I can't say that I never saw myself in a ballgown-esque dress but when I put it on it felt right! I did shed a tear or two when I said yes because I knew it was what I was going to get MARRIED in, but I didn't feel an overwhelming sense of joy in the dress. But after everything is said and done, I really did love the dress and Hubby loved the dress and that's all that matters too! No matter what the journey, frustrating, immediate, never ending, easy, it's all a process and it's all about what feels right to YOU and no one else too!! Don't ever forget that! So go for the dress that makes YOU happy and in the end you'll feel beautiful!!

xoxo,
mrs. a.