Tell us about the dress and what inspired your look.

Going into Lovely Bride, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to wear for our wedding day, but I knew when I saw it that I would know.  Combing through the racks, I picked out a bunch of dresses of very different styles and materials, but there were none like the final dress I picked out.  I knew I had to try it on.

It was one of the last dresses I tried on and, as soon as I had my arms through the 3/4 length blush sleeves, I knew it was the one.  No others had or could compare to it.

My dress was just stunning — classic and elegant but completely full of personality.  It just fit me in every sense of the word.  The Anne Barge dress was blush colored (I knew I wanted something not too traditional) with sleeves (I just loved that) and pockets (amazing!), incredible sewn detailing and pleating throughout and the most amazing neckline.

I was inspired by my desire for something classic and timeless but me — I wanted to feel like the best version of myself in my wedding dress.  I knew I wanted a dress that worked well with The Foundry, our gorgeous venue with a very industrial feel, our flowers, which I had envisioned to be very French garden-inspired, and our slightly vintage theme.

What were the most important details to pulling off your dream wedding?

Our main goal when planning our wedding was for it to be an unforgettable evening for all of our closest friends and family — when do you ever have another opportunity to be surrounded by everyone in the world that means the most to you — and we wanted it to be simple and full of love.

I think I’d have to say the most important details for our wedding were the venue and music.  The space was just an incredible place to hold our wedding — it was so reflective of who we are as a couple and really allowed all of our friends and family to come together and celebrate.  And the music, by The Storytellers, was just phenomenal — they played the perfect mix of music throughout the evening — from the ceremony guitarist, to the cocktail jazz duo, to the dinner trio, to the full-on 10-piece band to round out the night — to set the mood and accompany what was happening around us.

One final detail that made our wedding truly perfect for us was the incorporation of our family into the ceremony.  My husband’s dad officiated the ceremony and the rest of our immediate family walked down the aisle and stood next to us as we were being married.  To us, our wedding was not just about joining as husband and wife but joining two families for the rest of our lives.  It was really incredible to share it with the people closest to us.

What was the most memorable moment?

The most memorable moment during the night was definitely following the cocktail hour when my husband and I walked into the outdoor courtyard where all of our guests had gathered for dinner.  Never in my life have I felt as much love as in that moment — it was truly overwhelming in the best way possible.  I was speechless looking around and realizing how lucky we were to be surrounded by so much love.

If you could give future brides any advice, what would it be?

Take a deep breath and focus on the reason you’re getting married.  Weddings bring up a lot for everyone, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the details of the planning and the emotions and to get lost in the family disagreements and budget constraints.  There will be some disappointments and last-minute changes and frustrating, emotional situations but, at the end of the day, everyone’s goal is the same: to celebrate the couple’s love.  And that’s what you should keep in the front of your mind at all times.

Photographer: Fiona Conrad // Dress: Lovely Bride, Anne Barge // Lovely Bride Location: New York City // Wedding Planner: Tzo Ai Ang of Ang Weddings and Events // Venue: The Foundry // Caterer: Michael Stuart // Florist: Poppies and Posies // Cake: Nine Cakes // Vintage Rentals: Patina Vintage Rentals // Band: The Storytellers // Videographer: Bayly and Moore