Kate + Justin | Monique Lhuillier Wedding from Velvet Owl Photography

This wintery wedding tucked away up high on a mountain top is the epitome of cozy-cabin-chic.  Gorgeous floor to ceiling stone fireplace, exposed wood beams, warm glowing candles and a snow cat to shuttle wedding guests 7,000 feet up Mount Hood to their private overnight hideaway at Silcox Hut. What an adventure! Don’t miss this beautiful two-piece wedding gown called Estelle by Monique Lhuillier…silk white embellished strapless corset and matching faille trumpet with ruffled embroidered train skirt.  Paired with Kate’s plush fur stole, this look is perfectly polished and figure flattering.  Enjoy!

Kate + Justin | April 19th, 2014 | Silcox Hut, Mt Hood, Oregon | Dress Listing:  Monique Lhuillier, Estelle

The Ceremony
Our love of adventure, travel and the outdoors lead us to choose a unique wedding venue with a memorable experience for our guests…on the day of our wedding there was a blizzard. The guests arrived to the hut by snow cat from the lodge below. They entered into a room filled with candles and soft music, the fire crackling, and strung lights across the wood beams.  With the winds whistling outside, and snow pelting the frosted windows, we said our vows in front of 35 of our close friends and family.

Monique Lhuillier | PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com

The Reception
After the ceremony, the staff quickly reset the room, and guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres to the sounds of Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong.  Dinner was served shortly after, with a beautiful buffet of roasted vegetables, orzo salad, cedar plank salmon, prime rib, and plenty of wine and beer to go around. The u-shaped table layout created an intimate and warm setting for friends and family to enjoy each other’s company. Toasts were given, and champagne was had.  We cut the cake and got right to the dancing. Since we wanted to make the experience last as long as possible, we stayed up in the hut overnight with a handful of our party savvy friends.  The hut accommodates overnight guests in goose down covered bunks, and we awoke the next day to smells of waffles and coffee, sunny blue skies, and a beautifully snow-covered mountain.

Kate’s Dress Search
To be fair, this is my second wedding, and through the countless wedding dresses I had tried, I found my favorites were Vera Wang and Monique Lhuillier. This time, I knew what I wanted, and I only tried on two or three dresses before I found Monique Lhuillier’s Estelle corset and skirt.  It’s a beautifully elegant dress, and I couldn’t resist it’s pristine silk skirt and amazing beaded, shimmery corset top – perfect for our wintery themed wedding.

How Kate Felt in Her Wedding Dress
Chic, Classy, Elegant.

Why Kate Decided to Sell Her Wedding Dress
Let’s face it, Monique’s dresses are beautiful, but very pricey.  I didn’t have much time to decide on a dress since we planned our wedding in 6 months, so I had to make a decision on whether I wanted a new dress, or to look for one on Preowned.  I didn’t want to risk not finding something as amazing as the Estelle, so I went for it, knowing I would have to sell it after. It’s great that I got to have such a beautiful designer wedding gown, and that it can be enjoyed by other brides who love Monique’s timeless and elegant designs as well!

Wedding Dress:  Monique Lhuillier, Estelle | Photography: Heidi Haden of Velvet Owl Photography | Ceremony + Reception Venue: Silcox Hut, Mt Hood  | Floral Design: Cosmin Bisorca, Christopher David | Cake: Jacivas Bakery

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