Madison + Josh
(April 15, 2022 in Pacific City, OR)
It's always exciting to hear about the wedding experiences of others, and this bride's experience was no exception. From the cozy loft of Dearly to a magical day on the coast, her wedding was filled with special moments that she will cherish for a lifetime. In this blog post, she shares her experience with wedding dress shopping, wedding planning, and how her day turned out. Her advice to future brides is to make the day what they truly want it to be, and to prioritize what is most important to them.
Madison looked STUNNING in our Lindsey gown by L’Amour. This is an A-line gown with a beautifully full skirt, made of bold, floral sheet lace. Subtle sparkle throughout, a scoop neckline with notch detail, and dainty cap sleeves add the perfect amount of detail to this whimsical dress.
By our real bride, Madison:
How was wedding dress shopping and wedding planning for you? What was your vision?
Wedding dress shopping was a truly delightful experience thanks to Dearly. My group and I felt so welcome and cozy up in the Dearly loft, sipping delicious mimosas and surrounded by gorgeous dresses and lush velvet couches. We felt quite special and honestly, didn’t want to leave! My stylist was amazing and helped me find some absolutely beautiful dresses, including the one that ended up stealing my heart. It was, of course, immediate tears from everyone present.
Wedding planning was honestly a lot of fun. We had decided early on that we wanted a micro wedding with only our closest friends and immediate family present. Our incredible photographer helped with vendor recommendations and everything fell into place quite seamlessly. We chose Pacific City because it is incredibly special to both of us, and though we were technically doing a destination wedding, we wanted it to be as low-key as possible. Ultimately, we wanted to share one of our favorite places with all of our favorite people, and what better opportunity to do so than our wedding?
How did it go the day-of?
The wedding day was pure magic. We drove to Pacific City the day prior and made lots of fun stops along the way. Our rehearsal dinner was at Pelican Brewery, and we had a lovely view of the sunset while we ate and enjoyed each other’s company. The next morning, we baked scones that we had picked up on the way, and enjoyed a relaxing morning before things started to kick off.
The boys all got ready on the downstairs level of our vacation rental, while the girls got ready upstairs. My husband and his dad shot a few rounds of pool while we were getting our hair and makeup done by our amazing stylist. Everyone felt very relaxed and at-ease, there was no rushing, panicking, or turmoil. Our estimated timeline ended up being perfect, and everything moved along as expected, from first look, to couple’s photos, to the ceremony and reception.
We also had the most gorgeous spring day on the coast we could have asked for. On the drive down, we quite honestly drove through all four seasons (rain, snow, sun, and everything in-between) so we weren’t sure what to expect for the wedding day. Amazingly, it ended up being incredibly sunny, without a drop of rain or a gust of wind to be seen. A pod of whales and a few seals even stopped by while we were getting ready. It really felt as though everything came together harmoniously throughout the entire day.
What would be your advice to future brides?
Honestly, make your wedding day what you and your fiancé want. Try to let go of any expectations others have for what your day should look like. If it is what you both truly want, go for it, regardless of tradition or invitation lists, or anything else. This should be the most spectacular day that is all about celebrating your love, so do what you want! Determine what is most important to you both, and figure out ways to keep those things front and center throughout your planning.
Gown: Lindsey by L’Amour
Bracelet: Parker by Olive & Piper
Photographer: Rustic Bloom Photography
Hair & Makeup: Underwood Makeup
Catering: Niblack Events
Flowers: Pine and Petal Weddings
Cake: Petunia’s Pies and Pastries
Cake Topper: Light + Paper
