For Claire, she knew she had that “bride-like feeling” in her Vera Wang gown called Ethel when she felt, “A full heart, happiness, jitters, teary-eyed, overwhelmed with joy, thankfulness”. I really love that. But truly, what’s not to love about Claire + Tim’s big day at the Brooklyn Arts Center in Wilmington, North Carolina? Charming groom adorned in his traditional Hawaiian lei, really elegant floor length gowns for the bridesmaids, woodland themed decor and Claire, who looks stunning in ‘Ethel’…made of Mikado silk, with a flange style skirt complete with hand-cut swirling tissue organza. Enjoy!
Claire + Tim | April 6, 2013 | Brooklyn Arts Center at St. Andrew’s, Wilmington, North Carolina
The Ceremony
The weather could not have been more fantastic for our outdoor ceremony, held in a quaint, rustic-like courtyard. Guests sitting on white benches facing large, over-hanging trees with candle-lit lanterns dangling, I walked down a staircase to my almost-husband wearing his traditional Hawaiian lei. I couldn’t get to him fast enough.
The Reception
Post-ceremony, the guests walked right next door into the Brooklyn Arts Center for cocktail hour. The venue was splashed with woodlands themed decor, and Edison lights hanging over the entire room. Even though cliché, romantic would be a perfect way of describing it. Everyone ate, drank and we definitely celebrated getting married. The dance party didn’t end until 11:30pm! We even danced out of the building, into our old-fashioned ride.
Claire’s Dress Search
I was never the girl that envisioned her wedding dress. I have always obsessed over how gorgeous everyone always looks on their wedding day, but never what I would look like on mine. When I started the search I was thinking corset top, big skirt. Well, that didn’t work out because I went with a form-fitting, mermaid style gown. To me, it’s all about the girl and the dress together at that moment. This dress brought on the butterflies. I tried on many different styles of dresses, including dresses that were not in the white/ivory family. I truly felt like a bride in this dress. I felt that years from now, even on my 50th anniversary, that I would look back and still get that bride-like feeling. What is a bride-like feeling? A full heart, happiness, jitters, teary-eyed, overwhelmed with joy, thankfulness…I could go on and on.
How Claire Felt in Her Wedding Dress
Beautiful, Classic, Joy
Why Claire Decided to Sell Her Wedding Dress
I wanted to sell my wedding dress because I couldn’t stomach the thought of it just sitting in my closet for the rest of its life (yes, my wedding dress has a life). Why not share it with someone else, and make someone else feel like I did on my wedding day? Getting to wear your dream dress makes your wedding day that much more amazing, including viewing the pictures afterwards. That part is SO fun!
