Are you ready for a dash of patriotism and a wedding full of sentimental touches?  We certainly are!  Our latest Bride of the Month, Melissa, was married last Spring to the love of her life, Jesse.  Jesse, a military man, wore his dress blues for the wedding, and – dare we say it – looked just dashing!  We enjoyed working with Melissa on her wedding dress journey – and even though we had only known Melissa for the length of her first appointment at TWD, Bridal store, it was almost like her dress chose her – the dress just seemed to fit her personality!)  And of course, every time she wore her gown, she just glowed!  So, without further ado, let’s showcase this lovely wedding!  (All photos below were taken by Anderson Studios.)

{Meet Melissa.}

So, let’s begin!  Why did you want to be a TWD Bride of the Month?

I wanted to be a TWD Bride of the Month because I would like my relationship with Kristy and the TWD staff to continue!  I had such a wonderful experience at TWD and I think everyone deserves that – so I want to help spread the fabulous reputation of TWD  so other brides can enjoy the same experience that I had!  I want every bride to have that awesome experience from head to toe, start to finish!

{Love this photo with the flag!}

{Hearts in remembrance of Grandpa…with a personal and sentimental background story!}

{The gown.}

{Showcasing a beautiful – and comfortable! – headpiece.}

{Getting help with the corset.}

So, how did you know that your “white dress” was the one?

EVERYONE (family and friends), including Meg, my TWD Bridal Style Expert, said my face lit up when we threw back the curtain and I walked out in my gown.  So inevitably, it became my white dress!

{The bride and her mom.}

We always love this question.  What advice would you give to future brides?

My advice to future brides is to enjoy every second of the day! Smile. Laugh. Make the centerpieces easy to set up and take down. Be sure to take lots of pictures and videos of the bridal party while getting ready and in the limo. Also, try to plan way ahead of time so the last month can be spent relaxing and spending time with out-of-town family and friends. Don’t sweat the small things, because everything will work out!

 

{The flower girl…what a cutie!}

{…and here is the groom.}

{The four precious flower girls and the groom.}

{Ceremony program.}

{What a gorgeous setting!}

{Some of the bridal party walk down the aisle.}

{The adorable little helpers signal the bride’s entrance.  Love the signs!}

{Here comes the bride!}

What was the most memorable moment of your wedding day?

After I gave my dad a hug and a kiss at the end of the aisle at the beginning of the ceremony… my dad handed me off to Jesse after shaking his hand and gave him a hug.  Jesse and I held hands then he looked at me and said, ‘You look beautiful’.  Jesse is not usually one for emotions, so it was extra special to share this moment.

{The ceremony begins.}

 

{The bridal party awaits.}

{Love this photo!}

{Beautiful photos of the exchange of vows!}

{You may kiss the bride.}

{Too much adorableness!}

{The bridal party in its entirety.}

{Happily ever after has begun!}

{Lovely artistic photo.}

{Sharing some time together!}

{Is there anything better than wind blowing a bride’s veil?  We love!}

{Hugs from a bridesmaid!}

{Bridal party fun!}

{Model moment!}

What was your favorite part of wedding planning?

My absolute favorite part of wedding planning was shopping for the dresses! My dress AND the bridesmaids dresses. I truly enjoyed getting to see all of the different styles and being treated like a princess!!! (What can we say? We LOVE to pamper our brides!)

{Lets celebrate!!}

{Melissa’s lovely ladies}

Did you do any DIY projects for your wedding? If so, what was your favorite?

I found ideas for my centerpieces and my gift table layout on Pinterest.  I took three clear vases, all different heights, and filled them with water and floating flowers. Then I placed candles on all of the tables. It looked amazing and fit my vision perfectly!

{Lets cut the cake!}

 

{Introducing Mr. & Mrs Reed!}

{Oh how we love a good sparkly cake topper!}

{The bride and her father share a dance.}

{Reception fun!}

What was the most difficult part of wedding planning?

I definitely struggled with making a decision on the reception venue.  The fact that our families lived so far apart made deciding on one that worked well for everyone super difficult!

{Dancing the night away!}

If you could relive your day again, what would you do differently?

I would have rented a larger limo or even a party bus so I could have moved a little more and been able to enjoy our entire bridal party rather than just the guys and girls that were within talking distance. However, I made it work by speaking louder and moving throughout the space so I could talk with the other half of the limo.  (Great tip Melissa!)

{Congratulations to Melissa and Jesse!}

 Closing Credits

• Photography: Anderson Photography – Brighton, MI
• Ceremony and Reception Venue: Crystal Gardens – Howell, MI
• Wedding Dress: {Gwen} by Allure Bridals from The White Dress – Brighton, MI
• Floral Design: Delta Flowers – Lansing, MI
• Hair and Make-up: Hair and Body Elements – East Lansing, MI
• Cake: Crystal Gardens – Howell, MI
• Musical Entertainment: Mobile Rhythm – Howell, MI