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We've all seen Say Yes To The Dress where brides who are dropping $50,000 on one dress burst into happy tears as they "say yes" and everyone cheers. There is a lot of stigma about wedding dress shopping, a lot of expectations, a lot of happy little cliches that we may or may not have spent a considerable amount of time dreaming about. Whether we want it to or not a lot of pressure can build on this special moment. Years of planning, movie watching, and daydreaming have led up to this moment where you will first find your perfect Prince Charming, and then find your most perfect gown. But what if you don't cry? What if you're not so overcome with emotion and choked up at the idea of how incredibly beautiful you are and how incredibly special this amazing dress is? Does that mean it's not "the one?" You might be surprised to learn that approximately 70-80% of our brides who have said "yes to the dress" didn't cry during this special moment. What? No that can't be right...
Yes. Your wedding dress is special, it should be the most special dress you'll ever wear. If it feels right, then it feels right. The heavens probably won't open up and shower you with rays of glorious light, and that's okay. If you feel beautiful, and you can picture yourself marrying your most special sweetheart in this gown, then you might have found your wedding dress. No need to overthink. No need to make sure all 15 members of your bridal party agree. No need to make sure that grandma is crying at your beauty. If it's right, it's right. Slay queens.
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Looking at Lauren's wedding photos you can see that her smile lit up the room when she married her high school sweetheart! She sparkled in the Celestia gown! Where did you and your fiancé meet? High School! How did he propose? He recreated our first date, a drive in movie. Describe your wedding in 4 words: A dream come true. Why did you choose to wear a modest wedding dress for your big day? Because I felt the best in it and I wanted to feel beautiful on my wedding day. What was your favorite part of the day? Just being with my husband and all the people I love so much. What did you splurge or save on? Splurged on the venue, saved on photographers Credit your vendors: Gown: Celestia gown by @elizabethcooperdesign Photographer- @annieeyring.photo Videographer- @Madisonjanefilms Florist- @lillygrasscreations Cake- Cakes by Alessandra @cake.ut Venue- @eldredgemanor Hair- @lexilocks_hair Additional comments or advice for other brides: Don’t get lost in the chaos of the day. It will all work out! Have fun. Mckenzie's wedding gown is an ECD custom combo. With the delicate lace bodice and flowing skirt she was simply adorable! Custom combos are created by selecting your favorite ECD bodice and combining it with your favorite ECD skirt to make your own look! Where did you and your fiancé meet? Back in 5th grade! How did he propose? He took me up the mountains to an old bridge that he had all lit up lights and with rose petals everywhere. Describe your wedding in 4 words: Full of laughs & fun Why did you choose to wear a modest wedding dress for your big day? For a temple marriage! What was your favorite part of the day? The ceremony What did you splurge or save on? Splurged on pressing my bouquet and saved on a dj. Credit your vendors: Gown: Custom combo by Elizabeth Cooper Design Alexa Dotson photography Darlene Stevens floral Additional comments or advice for other brides: Make YOUR wedding totally YOU! Rachel chose a classic wedding gown and was stunning in it! The Alana gown is made of crisp dupioni, creating a look that is fit for a queen! Where did you and your fiancé meet? We met when we were 10 years old at his family’s dance studio. We grew up together, and then finally started dating in college. How did he propose? He sent me on an elaborate scavenger hunt that took me to different locations that held significance in our relationship. When I followed the clue that finally led me to him, he sang a song to me and popped the question! Describe your wedding in 4 words: Classic, Elegant, Sweet, Party!! Why did you choose to wear a modest wedding dress for your big day? I always try to choose to dress modestly, so I didn’t want my big day to be the exception. I wanted to feel elegant and comfortable and my dress made me feel amazing! What was your favorite part of the day? My favorite part of the day was hearing my husband’s vows and having a huge dance party!! What did you splurge or save on? It felt awesome to be able to save money on my dress and on the venue. We got great deals. We definitely splurged on the Disneyland themed food, but it was worth it. Credit your vendors: Gown: Alana by Elizabeth Cooper Design Venue: Provo Library Photography: Bailee Morris Videography: Emma Wadsworth Additional comments or advice for other brides: My advice for other brides is don’t sweat the small stuff. Especially on your big day, take time to relax and truly celebrate! Stacey chose our Fern gown. Made of soft chantilly lace it was perfect for her romantic wedding. We customized the wedding gown for Stacey with a cap sleeve and a sweetheart neckline. She was lovely! Where did you and your fiancé meet? At church in our small village of 200 people How did he propose? Overlooking the river on a snowy evening walk, he got down on one knee and said "You will make a wonderful wife and we will glorify God together, will you marry me?" Why did you choose to wear a modest wedding dress for your big day? I wanted to respect our morals and present myself as a beautiful bride in front of God and my husband What was your favorite part of the day? Reading a letter to my fiancé before taking our vows What did you splurge or save on? I splurged on my photographer and flowers. I saved on food and decorations Credit your vendors: Dress: Fern gown by Elizabeth Cooper Design (with modified sleeves and neckline) Flowers: Bagoy's Florist Photography: Christal Houghtelling Additional comments or advice for other brides: Plan as detailed as possible, be confident in asking for what you'd like, and be flexible on the big day remember what the main goal is. Sabrina was simply elegant in her Margaret wedding gown! The sweeping organza skirt and the crepe bodice were perfect for her wedding day! Where did you and your fiancé meet? High school show choir How did he propose? We had a picnic lunch, then he proposed on the Mt. Timpanogos temple grounds. Describe your wedding in 4 words: Elegant, intimate, long-awaited, family-centered Why did you choose to wear a modest wedding dress for your big day? Wearing a modest wedding dress allowed me to feel comfortable and beautiful on my wedding day. What was your favorite part of the day? My favorite part was being sealed for eternity to my husband! It’s so special! Our guests were also limited to to COVID-19 precautions. We were initially really sad about that, but it ended up making the day really special and intimate because we got to spend quality time with the people that mean the most to us on our special day. What did you splurge or save on? We saved on flowers (I wanted to do my own personal flowers, and our venue provided centerpieces and other decor! This meant I was able to splurge a little more on my dress! Credit your vendors: Dress: Margaret gown by Elizabeth Cooper Design Venue: White Willow Reception Center; Provo, UT Photography: Alex Elise Weddings (Alex Trujillo) Cake: Sam’s Club (lol), decorated by us Catering: Apple Spice Additional comments or advice for other brides: I was so set on getting one style of dress before trying anything on, but I tried a ton of styles and ended up choosing the exact opposite of what I thought I would like! Explore your options and have fun with it! When planning your wedding, decide with your fiancé what your priorities are. For us, a big party sounded fun, but it wasn’t at the top of our list. We had a small ceremony and luncheon with a bit of dancing, and that was perfect for us! You don’t have to follow the traditional sequence of events; make your day about you and your fiancé. Have fun and celebrate your love! Sarah was enchanting in a Pandora gown and cape, proving that modest wedding gowns are anything but boring! Where did you and your fiancé meet? Volunteering How did he propose? At the end of a hike, overlooking the valley and the Bountiful Temple. He'd brought a backpack with him and I was sure he was going to propose but then, at the end, he pulled out his scriptures (it was a Sunday) and said, "I thought we could have a hike and a study together." I sighed a little bit internally but I was still happy. What a special idea. He opened to 1 Corinthians 13 and read the verses to me. He talked about what he thought love really was and all the things we'd learned together, difficult and fun. He then turned to, what I thought would be another scripture along the same lines, where actually the ring was tied in to the scriptures. He talked about how meaningful our relationship was and how much joy and growth it brought to his life and then he asked me to be his wife. Describe your wedding in 4 words: Special, joyful, memorable and peace-filled Why did you choose to wear a modest wedding dress for your big day? I have struggled with body image my whole life. I had been through some traumatic events as a child and had never felt comfortable in my own skin. Over the years, I improved and healed a little bit at a time but still struggled. I felt so gross and disgusting in my body for so long and didn't want anyone to see or notice it... but then I began to realize what a sacred and special thing it really was. It enables me to walk, to run, to hike and to dance. My body enables me to hug loved ones, to hold others' hands. My body enables me to sing and laugh and cry and feel so many things. My body is a very valuable thing, I realized, and I want to treat it with respect and dignity. Over the past year I had begun feeling like I wanted to treat my body with the same respect I treat the earth or God's other creatures. I began telling my body how grateful I am for it and how much I love it. I began thinking often of what I'm happy my body CAN do and it filled me with joy. Above all -- my body has the ability to heal and that is what it has done over the past several years. I was afraid to get married because I was afraid of being the center of attention... but in this modest and beautiful dress, I felt respected, I felt dignified and I felt safe. I chose a modest dress as a sign of respect for my body and a sign of gratitude to God for giving it to me. What was your favorite part of the day? The temple. I didn't get to wear my ECD dress in the temple, I got to change into it after, but even that was meaningful. I had been an ordinance worker in the Bountiful Temple for over a year and to get married in the dress I had volunteered in for so long was very meaningful to me. I love God -- we tried to dedicate the day to Him in ways that were significant to us and how we felt He had led and directed us to each other. We tried to highlight the ways in which he'd been generous to us... so, the temple (the religious place we were married) was the most special part for us as it was all about the creator and us and the sentiment that: with Him and in His hands, all things are possible. God is good and while we felt that all day, that feeling was strongest in the temple. What did you splurge or save on? I saved money on hair and makeup -- I did my makeup myself and a friend did my hair. My aunt is a hairstylist and did my hair for engagement photos but the day of, she was out of town, so I found a simple hairdo that a friend helped me put together. Truly, it enabled me to enjoy the day more. I splurged on things that would have caused contention between family members and that enabled everyone to focus on the day. Flowers, the gown, decoration -- all were delegated to other people to figure out so that no opinions or hurt feelings became the focal point. Credit your vendors: Gown: Pandora gown by Elizabeth Cooper Design The Manor at Eldredge Square 564 W 400 N, Bountiful, UT 84010, United States +1 801 292 5501 Willow Specialty Florist 371 N 200 W, Bountiful, UT 84010, United States +1 801 397 0536 Megan Snell Photography https://www.instagram.com/megansnellphoto/ +1 801 891 4826 Additional comments or advice for other brides: If you want your day to be peaceful rather than frenzied -- DELEGATE what you care less about to family and friends and delegate to professionals what you care more about. It is worth the money to be able to feel the joy and peace of your wedding day. The marriage is the most important part, the wedding only lasts a day, but it IS a special day that you wouldn't want to miss by being worried about a detail that you will forget. Splurge on things you will hold onto and pass down and let go of the things that will only last the day. You will be glad you did. I am already. Claire chose a fun and flirty wedding dress and looked fabulous in it! With it's sweeping train and lace bodice the Holly gown was perfect on her! Where did you and your fiancé meet? College and started dating when we studied abroad in Italy! How did he propose? He asked in the same place he asked me to date Describe your wedding in 4 words: Beautiful, Spunky, Playful, Party, Why did you choose to wear a modest wedding dress for your big day? I love cap sleeves and I wanted a dress that would make me beautiful in every way What was your favorite part of the day? Walking down the aisle after our ceremony as husband and wife, also smooshing cake in my husbands face. What did you splurge or save on? My husband loves Oreos so he had Oreos and School sized milk cartons for people to dunk them in. The milk company loved it so much they gave us all the milk! Credit your vendors: Gown: Holly by Elizabeth Cooper Design The Woodlands - venue in Morrison,CO Frontrange Florals Joshua Applegate Photographer The Tartan Company- Blankets Additional comments or advice for other brides: Choose your top 5 things you want to ensure happen at your wedding. Make sure those happen for you and let everything else go. Laura was absolutely beautiful in the sophisticated Margaret gown! Like many ECD brides Laura choose to customize the sleeves on her wedding gown. Her choice of full length sleeves with pearl buttons at the cuff was lovely! Where did you and your fiancé meet? How did he propose? He decorated a beautiful gazebo with lights and photos of us dating. Walking up to the gazebo, he played our song “Stand by Me”. Once we got to the gazebo, he played me a song he wrote and then asked to marry me. Describe your wedding in 4 words: Blessed, beautiful, elegant, simple Why did you choose to wear a modest wedding dress for your big day? My love for God. I want to give God glory through holiness. I am Apostolic Pentecostal. What was your favorite part of the day? The moment I met eyes with him while walking down the aisle and he was waiting for me at the alter. Also when he cried as he said his vows. What did you splurge or save on? We splurged on my wedding dress, his groom’s suit and the venue. We saved on food. Credit your vendors: Gown: Margaret gown by Elizabeth Cooper Design Photographer: @pfulbrightphoto (Paige Fulbright) Finding a modest wedding dress in the Midwest is a challenge! Like so many ECD brides Alyvia let social media come to the rescue! With Pinterest and Instagram sending modest brides from all over the world to ECD, its becoming much easier for brides everywhere to find modest wedding gowns in many styles, Alyvia purchased her dress online from ECD and expected some alterations would be needed, but thanks to the elegant corset back, the wedding gown fit her perfectly right out of the box! Learn more about her wedding and see her wedding pictures below. Her beautiful horse was even in on the celebration :) Where did you and your fiancé meet? Playing ultimate frisbee when we were around 13 years old! How did he propose? Noah took me to my favorite small town and proposed directly under an American flag which he knew would mean so much to me Describe your wedding in 4 words: Fairytale, rustic, unforgettable and perfect Why did you choose to wear a modest wedding dress for your big day? I didn’t want to worry about my dress or feeling uncomfortable in it at any point during the day What was your favorite part of the day? When Noah and I saw each other for the first time. All my nervousness melted away! Also, being able to take pictures with my horse What did you splurge or save on? The most important things to me were my dress and my photos! I was willing to put my money into both of those. Vendors: Photographer: Amanda Joy Images Wedding Gown: The Fern by ECD Advice for other brides: Your wedding day is one of the best and most memorable days of your life. Make sure it’s what you and your future husband want to remember for the rest of your life. Name Sarah chose a classic look for her big day! Like so many other 2020 brides, she had to adapt to the circumstances, but she still created a sweet and memorial day as she and her new husband made promises to one another and spent time with their friends and loved ones! Where did you and your fiancé meet? BYU-Idaho How did he propose? We painted the sunset together while eating Peach-Os! When we got to the last Peach-O, I insisted he take it because they’re his favorite candies — but he refused and *insisted* I eat it. By now I was a little suspicious, so I tentatively took a bite and the ring was in the Peach-O! I giggled and took it out, he got on one knee and popped the question, and after a little bit of a good freak out I said yes! Describe your wedding in 4 words: Simple, Elegant, Modern, Intimate Why did you choose to wear a modest wedding dress for your big day? I chose a modest wedding dress because of the covenants I made in the temple! What was your favorite part of the day? Every part of the day was my favorite, but other than being sealed, I loved spending the day with my closest family and friends! What did you splurge or save on? Splurged on a dress, alterations, and venue! Saved on a veil — I got mine at Amazon for less than $20! Credit your vendors: GOWN: Margaret by Elizabeth Cooper Design VENUE: The Gather Estate @gatherestate PHOTO: Carly Demke @carlymdemke VIDEO: JoyFilmz @joyfilmz MAKEUP: Kelsea Jones @kelseajonesmakeup HAIR: Taylor Sherwood @hairbytays FLORIST: Bella Dolce & Flora @belladolceandflora CATERING: Kelly Schaub @catering.by.kelly CAKE: Kristen Waldie @batternbake RING CEREMONY ARCH: Wood n Crate @woodncrate Additional comments or advice for other brides: Get your dress from ECD! I also highly recommend a rose petal exit for summertime if you’re leaving before the sun sets! So magical Romance and nostalgia all played a part in Moriah's wedding and her ECD Victoria wedding dress along with a vintage car and a quaint barn added to the magic! Where did you and your fiancé meet? In Georgia at church fellowship meeting. How did he propose? Took me riding in his old car to very romantic spot and ask me to marry him! Describe your wedding in 4 words: The Best Day EVER! Why did you choose to wear a modest wedding dress for your big day? I was always taught to be modest. It was very important to me. What was your favorite part of the day? I don’t know that I have a favorite part. The whole day was amazing !!! What did you splurge or save on? My parents let me get the dress of my dreams!! I tried to be careful on decorations, but nowadays a wedding is just expensive!! Credit your vendors: Gown: Victoria by Elizabeth Cooper Design I had an amazing photographer. LeighAnn Cole from GA. She didn’t mind the frigid weather and got some fabulous pics!!!!!! My aunt, Gail Choate, from Oklahoma, and cousin, Amanda Hughes, were amazing with the flowers and decorating. Also Signature Smokehouse (Dewayne & Michelle Cottrell) for the wonderful meal they prepared for the reception!! There was lots of others that played a part into making it a wonderful day for me and I am so thankful for each and everyone that did! Where did you and your fiancé meet? We met on Mutual! How did he propose? I was on a trip with my family in St. George and he was in Salt Lake (or so I thought). That afternoon my family went to one of our favorite parks with a large pond. As we were walking around the pond, I noticed hearts leading down the path. My first thought was that someone was getting proposed to, but I had no idea it was me. I was certain that he was four hours away. I kept walking along the path and all of the sudden I saw him standing next to the pond with flowers and a small, red box. Best surprise ever! Describe your wedding in 4 words: Beautiful, Elegant, Relaxed, Lovely Why did you choose to wear a modest wedding dress for your big day? I always knew I wanted a modest wedding dress that I could feel beautiful and confident in. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and we planned on getting married in the temple. I was grateful that I was able to find my dream dress that was beautiful and modest. What was your favorite part of the day? I loved our ceremony and dancing with my husband at the end of the reception. What did you splurge or save on? I splurged on the dress and venue. We saved by doing some of our own décor at the reception. Credit your vendors: Gown: Holly by Elizabeth Cooper Design Photographer: Carys Haslam Photo and Film Florals: Blooms by Lou Cake: Schmidt's Pastry Cottage Ring: Wilson Diamonds Venue: Eldredge Manor Additional comments or advice for other brides: Advice: Soak up and enjoy every minute of your big day! Take some time just to talk with your husband, family, and close friends who are there to support you! The day goes by so fast and it’s nice to take a couple of minutes to relax, breathe and savor the moment. Additional Comments: Planning a wedding during the Covid pandemic came with many challenges. I went to several dress shops and they told me that due to shipments being stopped I would have to buy a dress off of the rack. I had a particular style in mind and felt devastated that I couldn’t find what I wanted. I came across Elizabeth Cooper’s website and immediately fell in love with several of their dresses. When I called, they said they had multiple sizes in stock of each of their dresses that I would be able to choose from. I tried on the Holly dress and immediately knew it was the one. I also loved that it came with a lace up back so that I didn’t need any alterations done to it. In addition, I got the most beautiful veil from Elizabeth Cooper. I am so grateful that I was able to have the dress of my dreams, despite having to make a lot of other changes to our big day. Where did you and your fiancé meet? He served his mission in my parents' ward! We have been friends for almost 7 years. How did he propose? We were on our way to the Salt Flats to take pictures with my sister, and we decided we were tired of waiting for the ring. We stopped at the mall and picked up a $5 fake ring and he proposed on the Salt Flats! My sister was there with her nice camera so we got some good pictures. When the real ring came, he took me on a hike right before sunset and re-proposed overlooking a river and the setting sun. :) Why did you choose to wear a modest wedding dress for your big day? I wanted something that would be beautiful and timeless while still covering my temple garments. I have worn garments for years, and the covenants they represent are a big part of who I am. I was not willing to sacrifice that representation for my wedding dress - especially when we got married in the temple! What was your favorite part of the day? Getting to be the only people in the entire temple. Or getting to see so many loved ones at our reception! What did you splurge or save on? We splurged on photography - we wanted to make sure our photos were excellent, and they were! We saved on most everything else and did a lot of work to make sure everything was still beautiful and special while sticking to our budget. Credit your vendors: Gown: Cypress by Elizabeth Cooper Design Photography: Sarah Rogers Photography (@sarahrachel_photography) Florist: Foxglove Flowers & Gifts Cake: The Chocolate Venue: Draper Day Barn Food: Hruska's Kolaches Earrings: Olive & Piper Videography: Scott Cook Hair & Makeup: Kim Perkins Nails: Emily Whitney (@nailsby.emilymae) Shopping for a wedding gown should be an enjoyable experience. However, sometimes the enthusiasm about sharing the experience with friends and family can lead to a lot of unnecessary frustration! Here are a couple of tips to help you make sure your shopping experience is pleasant and productive. Tip #1: Don’t over do it! Trying on wedding dresses, especially modest wedding dresses with sleeves, can take a little extra time to get in and out of which can be exhausting, and trying on too many gowns can bring an already-stressed-out bride and her mother to tears! Do some careful research beforehand, find out what appeals to you and pick 2 or 3 bridal shops that carry wedding gowns in the styles that you love. By carefully researching the options in advance, you will leave yourself more time to focus on the details of each modest wedding dress that you try on. Taking this approach will help you avoid rushing through the experience as quickly as you can, in order to try on as many wedding dresses as possible, before you need to rush to your next bridal appointment. You want shopping for your wedding gown to be special, don’t burn yourself out. Tip #2: Do not bring a lot of people to your bridal appointment. Keep it small, too many opinions can create confusion and frustration. Taking 6 sisters shopping may be fun in some circumstances, but it rarely leads to a positive experience when shopping for a wedding gown. Instead of bringing every woman that you love to your appointments, involve several of them in other aspects of the wedding planning. If your grandmother or your future mother-in-law are avid gardeners or decorators, take them with you when you go to the florist to select bridal flowers, and take a friend or two when you are searching for bridesmaid dresses. Ask your sisters to research wedding caters or wedding photography options for you. Take advantage of the many ways that your friends and loved ones can be involved in the planning experience. If your 6 sisters absolutely must be involved in the wedding gown shopping experience, include them via Facetime or Zoom, which will make it easier to set some boundaries. When choosing who to invite to your bridal appointments, pick someone supportive who understands and appreciates your style. Someone you trust to help you make a good decision. If you intend to purchase a modest wedding gown, bring someone who appreciates modesty. Wedding gowns come in many varieties, so if you love ballgowns, but the roommate you bring to your bridal appointment is strong willed and loves sheath gowns, you could end up feeling pressured to purchase a wedding dress that does not make you happy. When all is said and done, it is you that will remember your wedding day for the rest of your life, no one (including your husband!) will remember the details of your wedding gown as well as you will. Choose what you love, and don’t worry if your cousin thinks it is too simple or grandpa thinks it is too garish!  Pro-tip: Wedding gowns are not like t-shirts. In fact the are unlike most of your regular clothing. They are not designed to be worn right off the rack! Wedding dresses are special and intimate- they are meant to be tweaked and altered by a capable seamstress to achieve that perfect, “for you” fit for your perfect day. Modest wedding gowns may need a few more adjustments than their strapless counterparts. Everyone's arms are different, so if you want a wedding dress with sleeves, they may need to be adjusted a bit in order to fit your arms perfectly. Modest wedding dresses may also need to be adjusted through the shoulders or at the neckline to ensure that everything lays smoothly. If you fall in love with a gown that needs a few minor adjustments do not worry, it is a common occurrence and most bridal stores will have a capable seamstress who can take care of any tweaks for you. We work with an incredible seamstress who has made hundreds of these minor and very commonly needed alterations, for brides who have purchased an Elizabeth Cooper Design gown. She will even work with our brides who purchase their modest wedding gowns from ECD online! Pro-tip: Come prepared for your appointment! |
