Now, here’s a real bride story that’s extra close to my heart…It was a blessing to work closely with Taylor, who possesses a quintessential bohemian soul, and to get to know her immediate family. I’m so pleased that I was able to provide her with her dream dress and she tells me she loved wearing it so much that, to this day, she still puts it on from time to time, just to be in it.
Looking at one of the happiest wedding pics I’ve ever seen, of Alex giving Taylor a piggy-back ride, it’s a good thing Taylor chose D&L because a piggy-back ride is just not something which would have been physically possible had Taylor gone the traditional wedding dress route…that’s exactly why I do what I do.
Taylor always knew that she had no intention of being a traditional bride. Her bohemian heart beats to it’s own drum, as she says. In her own words…she never really got excited by the pouf and flounce of the run of the mill wedding dresses, she’s just not that kind of girl”.
Scouring the Internet’s wedding blogs for inspiration, she happened upon a pic of a laid-back boho bride in a long sleeve, vintage style wedding dress. Her hair and make up were beautifully simple and Taylor thought that her suede ankle boots were an edgy and cool addition to the ensemble. It was that particular blog which led Taylor to the Dreamers and Lover’s website, for which she is still so grateful.
Taylor decided to pay D&L a visit and as she tried on her second dress, Alice, everything just seemed to fall into place. After that she had no need to try on anything else, she found the dress to be a perfect balance of simplistic elegance and sultry low cut seductiveness at the back.
Taylor says that sitting in the salon, toasting champagne with her mother, her sister and her future mother in law in the most beautiful dress she’d ever worn was an amazing experience which left a perfect memory.
This romance is a story of young love, as mutual friends in high school introduced Alex and Taylor to each other. Eight years later, proud parents of an adopted furry child and living in their first house together, Alex brought Taylor a champagne breakfast in the bed he’d made for them and to Taylor’s surprise, he asked for her hand in marriage.
The wedding was to be intimate and non-traditional, with just 76 guests and a special friend who got ordained to perform the ceremony. He knew the couple and the guests so well that he was able to make everyone feel a part of it and completely at ease. Taylor’s advice to anyone planning a wedding is to remember that the day is about you as a couple and who you are. It doesn’t matter where or how you want to spend your day, whether it be in the mountains or in the mud, you should throw tradition out the window and fill the day with the things which are important to you as a couple.
Taylor tried to keep in mind, whilst planning, that it wasn’t about the pomp and circumstance of ‘a wedding’ but about the love that her and Alex had for each other and the promise they would be making for posterity.
Alex, Taylor’s dad and her future brother-in-laws spent the evenings and weekends preceding the wedding building seven twelve foot long tables. The outcome was an 86-foot long table down the middle of two rows of trees in an orchard where Taylor and Alex and all the people they love could sit, eat, share stories and laugh under the stars. The table was Taylor’s favorite detail of the wedding. She felt happy to have found a wedding coordinator, Kiersten from LB events, who understood her vision and really connected with her, helping to make the vision a reality.
Taylor’s friend’s sister is a pastry chef and she created a small naked cake, covered in flowers, for the couple to cut and cupcakes, filled with fruit, for all the guests.
Taylor made the flower crowns for herself and her bridesmaids, whilst her mother-in-law did the rest of the arrangements. Taylor’s requests included wild and natural looking bouquets and a 90 foot eucalyptus garland for the center of the table, a fragrant detail which turned out better than Taylor had imagined.
Another reading, which was done on the day, really sums things up as far as love’s concerned; it’s definitely worth sharing…
“Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around.
You tell them things that you’ve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more.
You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you.
When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement.
They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself.
Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around.
You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are.
The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever.
Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it’s like being young again. Colors seem brighter and more brilliant.
Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn’t exist at all.
A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face.
In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, but you find you’re quite content in just having them nearby.
Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you.
You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon.
You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible.
You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you.
You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end.
Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile.
Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life.”
― Bob Marley
Taylor and Alex, we wish you a lifetime of laughing under the stars and feel truly honored to have gotten to know you.
VENDOR CREDITS
Photography: www.megan-hayes.com
