"Once in a while, in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairytale."
Melissa Brown
I really never had in mind what kind of dress I wanted before the wedding. I knew I wanted it to be very white because I didn't want it to clash with Paul's summer whites. I did also know that I wanted my mother, sister, and mother-in-law there when I found it. It would be the first time our mothers had met and I couldn't think of a better way to also introduce them both to Richmond and specifically the sites Paul and I had chosen for our big day than to make a girls weekend.
We booked a weekend at Linden Row Inn, a few bridal shop appointments, a tasting at the rehearsal dinner restaurant, Bistro 27 and brunch at The Jefferson Hotel where we would have our reception.
Here trying on shoes, a veil, and a tiara. Very surreal to be putting any of these things on. My favorite part of this photo is my mother beaming in her seat.
After going to a few places and not finding anything at all, we landed at Tiffany's Bridal. My mother-in-law struck a conversation with one of the ladies on the floor. Her daughter had recently married a man from Charlotte (love those men) and she liked Barbara's shoes. She decided that the woman she was waiting for was running late so she would pass her to another colleague and that she wanted to work with us.
I'm trying a million dresses on and she was so knowledgable about everything I asked. Later, we came to find out she owned the boutique. We were *IN*!
So much beautiful...
Women at different times had told me that I would end up with the exact opposite of what I thought I would like. I went looking for lace and ended up falling for satin.
We found the dress!
Relieved we headed toward the restaurant for the tasting and ate all the delicious food William had prepared.
We then finally headed back to Linden Row. Our rooms were right next to each other and I surprised each of them with a box of goodies. Just to let them know how happy I was that we were all together and how much I loved each of them. Marriage to me has always meant Paul but it also meant that we would both be expanding our families. There's nothing that makes us happier.
Here is a picture of the box for my mother-in-law...
Linden Row Inn was beyond accommodating. We were so glad that most of our guests housed there.
Little delicious local chocolates attached didn't last for a picture...
We then headed to bed and got ready in the morning for Mass at the Cathedral and brunch at The Jefferson.
Never in any of the times I've been to Richmond guessed that the city would one day be so important to me!
Afterward, Mom, Sarah and I headed to the Greater Richmond Bridal Show and had a *little* fun...
We headed home happy and for the first time, I felt like this was really happening. I am getting married!
10 months later...
The dress was picked up and ready to be tailored. I closed the back, added buttons and made the front a high neck....
I felt so beautiful and so perfect that day. My mother gifted me with the most beautiful dress and I never wanted to take it off. At the end of the night I looked at the bottom of the my dress and it was so dirty! I knew it had all of Richmond on it. I wouldn't want it any other way.
Oh and big white ballgowns are perfect for dancing with your brand new husband...
Oh and big white ballgowns are perfect for dancing with your brand new husband...
At the end of the day, it's the bride who makes the dress, not the other way around." | Kang Chun Lin
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