Brian and Maddie

How did you meet the love of your life?

We both work in the natural food industry - we were colleagues and then good friends and then one coffee after the New Year in 2017 we were both single in the right place at the right time. Brian lived in Indiana and I lived in Colorado and so began the planes trains and automobiles of our courtship.

When did you know that this person had stolen your heart?

Brian had a huge yard and a passionate green thumb the spring of 2017. I was out Memorial Day weekend to dive into garden projects. He borrowed a neighbors tiller and we proceeded to till a 30 by 50-foot plot. The tiller almost ate me but seeing how passionate and dedicated Brian was to this project ..... I was tired, callused, sweaty and madly in love.

Tell us about the proposal?

We had a trip planned to Minneapolis New Years weekend of 2018 to look at office spaces for Brian's company and explore a new home for ourselves. Brian picked me up at Chicago Midway and we made the 7hr drive to the Twin Cities. I had a terrible cold. Every rest stop we pulled off to Brian gave me a small Christmas gift including pulling out some classic party poppers. We made it to our AirBnB in Minneapolis and exchanged the rest of our Christmas gifts. Brian told me he had one more gift and I had to do Simon Says for it - he is quit the jokester. It was all Simon Says stand on one foot and then next thing I knew Brian was down on one knee with the biggest smile and said: "Will you marry me?". I started sobbing as he put the beautiful ring he had totally secretly designed for me. I said yes! We were starving and got Pho Takeout put on our PJs and snuggled up. The next day we found an apartment in Minneapolis. One month later we finally put an end to the long distance and started our life together in a new state.

Explain to us how you found Wear Your Love?

Right after we got engaged I was home in CT with my Mom and we stayed up until 2 am looking at all these wedding magazines and websites. I stumbled across Wear Your Love and the Blue Indigo Dress and just never stopped thinking about it. 

When did you know you had found your perfect dress?

I never really did the traditional bridal shop experience - I just knew this was the dress and the kind of company I wanted to work with.

What went through your mind when the Wear Your Love box arrived at your doorstep, and you pulled out your dress for the first time?

How beautiful the lace was and how soft and comfortable the dress was. I didn't want any of those itchy sparkles or metal ribbing. This dress hugged me and fit to perfection. I felt so myself in it.

What was your wedding theme or style?

Community-sourced. We had friends and family involved in creating the whole day. A good friend did our music, another officiated, my sister in law made our wedding cake, my mom made our center pieces, etc..

Let's show your wedding venue some love! What is the name of the wedding venue you chose and why did you choose them for your special day?

Meadowbrook Barn in Gosehn Indiana. My husband grew up in Elkhart Indiana and we decided we wanted to get married in that area. It's an area with a lot of history and beautiful farmland. I had emailed Edible Michiana to research wedding venues. Meadowbrook Barn was a newly restored barn that had just started doing events. We toured and immediately fell in love with the barn and the family who owned it.

What was on your wedding soundtrack playlist, aisle, reception, and first dance?

I walked down the aisle to Canon D by Trace Bundy. Brian and I went to a magnificent show of his at Chautaqua in Boulder CO when we were dating. We LOVE his music. Our good friend and talented musician, Gene Martinez mastered our music. He played vinyl 45s that covered everything from Man-Eater to Queen to Ice Cube.

Tell us who was involved in making your special day perfect? 

Sam Adkins, an old friend of Brian's, was our wedding photographer.

Brian had a custom suit made at Top Shelf Suits in Minneapolis. I did my own hair and makeup. I had a lovely spa and mani-pedi at the lovely Spot Spa @SpotSpas in Minneapolis before the drive to Indiana. My flowers were a dried bouquets from TheBlaithinBlairShop who I discovered on Etsy. Rebekah was amazing to work with. She sent samples of everything and let me customize. They arrived perfectly packaged in a box and were totally intact on my wedding day. They smelled amazing and the best part is they were already preserved so I have them now in a vase at home. Our table arrangements alternated between lavender plants from my moms garden and vases of yellow billy buttons and pink globe amaranth My sister in law made our wedding cakes. She is an amazing baker and crafter the perfect Gluten Free Dairy Free Carrot Cakes and Gluten Free Cheesecakes for us. Another dear friend also made trays of gooey gluten-free brownies! Our food! Hats of and all the love to Jenny and Andy Weaver of The Moringa Tree @The_Moringa_Tree in Elkhart Indiana. Brian and the Weaver's were old friends and I immediately fell in love with them both. Jenny is Naturopathic Dr and combined her years of restaurant experience and health knowledge into The Moringa Tree. I have a lot of food allergies and so it was a no brainer t recruit Jenny + Andy for our Wedding Day dinner. We did a huge salad bar, Jenny's amazing veggie soup, roasted sweet potato medley, green beans with almonds and roasted chicken in her famous seasoning. Our good friend Nate volunteered to bartend for us. He helped coordinate ordering all our alcohol at wholesale with his bartending license. We did Prosecco for the toast, Chianti Classico Red Wine, Matua Sauviogn Blanc, Tequila Ricky's, Ginger Kombucha Moscow Mules and Gin and Tonic with Que Drinks Tonic. Brian and I are blessed to work with some amazing natural brands who contributed to our wedding with snacks, drink mixers, water and love, and support. We can't not name these wonderful brands as our wedding experience would not be complete without them @QuinnSnacks Amazing GF Pretzels @HealthAde Kombucha Growlers donated! @QMixers provided all the mixers and Non-Alcoholic bar drinks @BoxedWater keeping our guests hydrated @jilzcrackerz for our cheese boards @LifeAidBevCo for some late night and morning recovery @tonyschocolonely_nl for their amazing fair trade chocolate @primalkitchenfoods for your Avocado Oils and Salad Dressings @OrganicIndiaUSA for your teas! @compocompostables for all our compostable tableware @MapleCityMarket Coop in Goshen Indiana

Tell us your favorite moment from your wedding?

Right after our ceremony Brian and I went into this beautiful lit canopy he set up as a surprise. It was our "7 min in Heaven" a time for just us to be as husband and wife with no distractions. It was amazing.

Do you have any advice or words of wisdom for anyone planning a wedding?

Use the talents of the people around you - it will make everything that much more special. And let your partner help you! Brian had so many amazing ideas and is so creative our wedding day would not have come together without both of us working together.

How would you rate your overall experience with Wear Your Love?

5 out of 5 stars.

Congratulations on your wedding day and best wishes for a happy life together!

Maddie is wearing a custom Indigo Dress with a 6-in train, white lining, and 3/4 length sleeves.

Alisha Franco