Julia Wearing The Bree Dress
So tell us, how did you meet the love of your life?
We met at an open mic at a bar in Newmarket, NH supporting a mutual friends' band! I (Julia) made the first move and introduced myself to Noah, although I felt like I had no chance with him. I noticed he kept glancing at me all night and we started talking the next day. He's very shy and later told me he'd liked me since he first saw me 9 months prior to that at our church, but I had no idea he existed!
When did you know they were the one?
I'm not sure that there was one defining moment that I knew Noah was the one, but there were little moments that confirmed in me that he was the one I was meant to be with. Aside from the obvious attraction, we made a great team and he always pushed me to be the best version of myself, while always accepting and loving the bad parts that came with it. He's my best friend! On a funnier note, before work, he always drove to the coffee shop I worked at to buy coffee from me, even though there was one closer and the baristas gave him free drinks because he was cute.
Tell us the story of the proposal!
Noah and I had flown out to the Rocky Mountains so he could meet some of my extended family. We did a 10-mile hike up to Odessa Lake in the mountains and sat down to have a snack and enjoy the beautiful view. We've never been a formal couple, so he proposed to me sitting on a rock next to me, both of us sweaty and gross from the hike. I didn't need him down on one knee; I loved being eye to eye with him as he read old letters he'd written when he decided he was going to marry me, years before that moment in the Rockies. It was a beautiful moment with just us in nature and I wouldn't have it any other way!
How long was your engagement? What went into deciding your wedding's date and location?
We were engaged in August 2019 and had originally planned on a June 2020 wedding. Obviously, things got crazy with Covid-19 and we had to cancel our original venue. One evening in April after our state started closing down, we talked with our parents and officiant and decided that we wanted to elope. We're both pretty laid back and introverted people, so neither of us wanted a big wedding anyways. I contacted a few of my vendors and they were ecstatic to help us pull this off. In one week, we gathered the people most important to us and made it happen! We were married on a very cold afternoon in April, surrounded by those we loved in a family friend's field in NH.
How would you describe your personal style? What was most important to you when you were planning your bridal look?
I love flowy, simple, and easy. Beading was NOT what I was looking for. I wanted to feel comfortable in my dress. Something uncomplicated and beautiful.
How did you find Wear Your Love?
I actually found them on pinterest years before I was engaged and even thinking about getting married! I looked into others, but I always knew I wanted to order my dress from this company.
When did you know you had found your perfect dress?
I had my eye on a few different dresses, but there was one day when I saw the Bree and fell deeply in love with the simplicity of it. I loved the low back and the body-hugging lace.
Which dress did you choose, and did you request any custom aspects?
I ended up ordering the Bree & the Kenna veil. I didn't request any custom aspects, but I was confident that if I needed it, they would make it happen!
What went through your mind when the Wear Your Love box arrived at your doorstep and you tried on your dress for the first time?
I was SO excited. I ran to my room and carefully pulled it on and just stared at myself in the mirror; it didn't feel real. That moment was when I truly felt like a bride.
Did your wedding have a theme or style?
Minimalistic & romantic!
How involved was your partner in the wedding planning? Did your families help? Did you hire a coordinator, planner, or event stylist?
Noah wasn't too involved, but I knew he didn't have many preferences about the details! Both sides of the family helped tremendously and we couldn't have done it without them. We didn't hire a planner; thankfully the original plan for June was small enough where I could comfortably do it myself.
Let's show your wedding venue some love! What is the name of your venue, and why did you choose it for your special day?
Our ceremony venue was the beautiful scenery of seacoast NH and we eventually did have a backyard reception that took place on Noah's parents property once Covid-19 settled down a bit.
Tell us about your wedding playlist! What song did you walk down the aisle to? Did you have a first dance song that was meaningful to you?
I personally created the playlists for both the ceremony and reception when we were going to have a bigger wedding, but when we eloped, I had to totally nix it! At our backyard reception later on, I was able to put my playlist to good use. We danced to "Let's Stay Home Tonight" by Needtobreathe.
What was your favorite moment of the day?
One of my absolute favorite moments from our elopement happened by surprise. I had asked our officiant to read a passage called "The Blessing of the Hands" in place of a unity ceremony. Instead, he surprised us both by asking our mothers to come up and read parts, while placing their hands on ours. It was so special; we are close with our families and they are close with each other, so it was just so special that our officiant did that.
Who was involved in your special day? We would love to shout out your photographer, favorite vendors, and anyone else who made your day magical.
I definitely want to shout out our friend-turned-photographer Danielle Towle (@danielletowlephotography). The day we decided to elope, I texted her and she was ecstatic to help make this happen. She was so flexible, professional, and gave me so much encouragement during such a weird time! I also want to thank our florist Laurie Burdwood (@lauriebarkerburdwood); my sweet sister-in-law and talented hairstylist, Brianna; my lovely friend and talented make-up artist, Gabby; my amazing high school best friend and maid-of-honor, Angela; and finally our extremely supportive friends and family who helped make this day magical. So much love for everyone!
Do you have any advice or helpful tips for others planning a wedding?
Obviously, things would have been a bit different if Covid-19 hadn't happened. We probably would've had our bigger wedding! But in the end, I had always wanted to have a small elopement and am thankful that that is what ended up happening for us. Simple, sweet, intimate. Make sure your wedding day is about you and no one else. Maybe some hills aren't worth dying on between you and your family when it comes to the planning and specifics, but make sure the day overall is what YOU want.
What has been the best part so far about being married?
People have asked me how the first year of marriage has been, and honestly? Easy. Noah is my best friend; the one I want to be with when things are amazing, and the one I want to be with when life gets tough. Find someone who brings out the best in you, but loves the most difficult parts too.
Julia is wearing The Bree with natural lining and a full 28 inch train paired with The Kenna veil.