Simple and comfortable. These were the two words at the forefront of Carly’s mind for her and John’s wedding weekend. Elegance and class were the unavoidable result.
all photos by Aislinn Kate
After 5 years together, through school, new jobs, and moves, Carly and John were ready to tie the knot. Shortly after a simple and comfortable dinner at home where John popped the question, presenting Carly with a ring he’d had made just for her from the stone of Carly’s beloved grandmother, Carly gave me a call. First, we squealed over their engagement, then we squealed when she asked me to be a bridesmaid, and finally we squealed when she asked me to design her wedding dress. A moment we’ve imagined since the 8th grade.
One image came to mind. The dress from The Parent Trap. You know the one. That scene when the girls’ mother adorns her wedding dress model with a hat that lifts her veil to a perfect length resulting in the most iconic fashion moment of every early 2000s girl’s childhood. Carly was to be this gorgeous effortless model, who laughed and danced through a fabulous photo shoot with young Lindsay Lohan, and I got to be the brilliant fashion designer to adorn her with a hat …
Well, not a hat per se, but now you can see where I got the inspiration for Carly’s dress. That and countless other special events I’ve had the privilege of attending with Carly. Homecomings, proms, Mardi Gras and debutante balls. Carly and I have been together for all the big events. This would be the pinnacle.
Louisiana was the first choice of destination, but Carly could only think of her family home as a place where she would feel the comfort and simplicity that she desired for her wedding day. Her parent’s felt differently about that comfort and simplicity of hosting such an event in their home, and so together they compromised on a sort of home away from home. It would be near the beach where Carly had spent holidays and vacations all her life, in Watercolor, Florida.
Once they'd chosen a location, they connected with a wedding planner, Nicole Pair of Elegant Pairings. She took the reins with Carly’s direction of, you guessed it, “simple and comfortable.” Nicole did a great job getting to know Carly and her family in the short time they worked together. She made decisions that reflected who they are and expressed their vision perfectly in every detail.
In this familiar place, full of memories, I joked with Carly that “it kinda felt like a normal beach weekend where you just happened to get married…” So, I asked her, did it all go to plan? Were you comfortable?
“Yeah! I was super comfortable and actually had more fun than I expected to. I don’t necessarily think it’s because things went all according to plan. I think it’s because I didn't set super stringent expectations. I just wanted to relax and enjoy it. Sometimes I think if you have too detailed of expectations, you're going to set yourself up for disappointment. So, I didn’t put myself in that box. I was able to relax and enjoy it. It was a beach weekend for my guest, but it was also a beach weekend for me. I spent a lot of time on the beach over that weekend… doing what I love to do, which is ‘hanging out on the beach, reading a book, and drinking a pina colada.’”
Arguably Carly’s favorite thing about her wedding day was spending it with her dog, June. June got ready with us. June took photos with the bride, and June led the way down the aisle. Carly’s furry best friend was a key level of comfort for the day. Carly was also sure to note that the crab cakes “were bomb.”
The band, Six Piece Suits, a little out of Carly’s normal taste was one of the best parts of the night. Carly reflects that their upbeat and energetic performance took some of the pressure off of her. They led the crowd, and again she was able to simply enjoy. When they had eaten, drunk, and danced to their heart's content, Carly and John snuck out without a goodbye. They packed steak and potatoes which they enjoyed late at night in their hotel. The next day, we met out on the beach for a proper end to the weekend.
Carly’s advice to future brides:
Don’t set yourself up with strict expectations…then you're less likely to be disappointed. Not to say don’t dream big! Maybe, just don’t dream so specifically… Keep it general.
And the bridesmaids dresses… it made the whole process so much easier than having to do that separately. You already knew the vibe I was going for… and it was one less thing on my to do list. You did a super good job. They came out great and they fit with my dress really well because it was all done by the same person!
