Our Wedding: Part One

I’m thrilled to share some of my favorite moments from our wedding day! I can’t look at these photos from Jenna Borst without a huge smile on my face because this will forever be one of the best days of my life. Today is actually one year since we got engaged, and it’s fun to come full circle and talk about our wedding day on the blog. I’m writing three posts about our wedding because let’s be honest there are too many photos to share in one post. So let’s start with my wedding dress, details on our invitations and getting ready for the big day.

My Wedding Dress

I’m going to be very honest here and say that wedding dress shopping was probably the hardest part of the wedding planning process for me. I had a specific idea of what my dress would look like, how it would feel trying it on and crying finding “the dress.” I’m sure dress shopping is a dreamy experience for many women, but it just wasn’t like that for me. So I’m not going to sugar coat this experience for you. I tried on many different wedding dresses, but at the end of the day kept thinking about this one.

This Wtoo by Watters dress is from Spring Sweet in Holland, MI. I can’t begin to thank Lyndsey enough for how helpful, patient and knowledgable she was. When I tried this dress on for the first time I knew this was it. My mom and sister needed some convincing. At the end of the day I wanted a classic silhouette, but with a twist. And, most importantly it had to be comfortable to wear all day outdoors. While I was trying this dress on at Spring Sweet at the beginning of winter a honey bee was randomly flying around the salon and landed on the bodice of the dress. We all started laughing that this dress was “meant to bee”.

What sold me on the dress (other than the bee) was the unique checkerboard/plaid design in the fabric and how easily the fabric moved. It worked so well for photos at Oval Beach and walking around all night. The dress was comfortable to wear, and the sleeves were a fun last minute accessory to have the option of wearing. This dress came with the sleeves which we all laughed about when I first tried on the dress. But, they added a whimsical and editorial element that I actually liked. Also, seeing Lady Gaga in this dress at the Golden Globes after I said yes to the dress was further confirmation to rock them. I’ve had countless people say “this dress is so you”

Invitations

We loved our wedding invitations from Minted. I loved the options that were available and how easy the invitations were to customize. We had this invitation along with a separate ceremony card and RSVP card that were sent to guests. The best part was Minted also offers free recipient addressing so it was seamless to send out the invitations. We also used this same suite of items to print our ceremony programs. It was great having everything coordinate together and this “Timeless” design really fit our style.

Getting Ready

The morning of the wedding I got hair and makeup done with my bridesmaids at Engedi Salon in Zeeland, MI. Since the salon was so close to our wedding venue it worked out really well to get ready here. The team was so easy to work with and understood my vision for hair and makeup.

I wanted my makeup to be as natural as possible for my wedding. I’m someone that doesn’t experiment with makeup a ton, so I wanted keep the makeup neutral. Heidi was a dream to work with and knew exactly how to achieve the look I was going for. We did some fake lashes to create an impact in photos, and airbrush makeup so it lasted all day. And let me tell you it lasted ALL DAY. I was so impressed with how well everything stayed put and how great the makeup looked in photos.

I debated if I should wear my hair down or in an effortless bun with my dress. I’m so glad I decided on the low bun because of how windy it was at the beach and towards the end of the night. This low bun worked great with the dress, and all the bobby pins really held everything in place throughout the wedding. A huge thank you to Engedi Salon for partnering with The GR Guide on my bridal hair & makeup services! I can’t recommend this salon enough if you’re getting married near Holland or Zeeland.