A Dream Romantic Fairy-Tale Wedding

When I put on the dress, the excitement and nervousness of the day began. It took about 15 minutes and 3 different people, but we made it happen with my grandmother and grandfather watching via Skype as they were unable to make it to the wedding. I saw myself in the mirror and the tears started to flow- our fairytale day was beginning!
Justin and I wanted some alone time before the wedding festivities, so we planned a first look that simulated our actual ceremony. I was shaking and sweating before coming out of the beautiful double doors at The Athletic Club and walking down the aisle to him. Immediately, all of the nerves started to flush away. We exchanged “vows” as we read our letters to each other aloud. And then we were off!
We met our bridal party downstairs and walked over to The Ohio Statehouse for photos with our amazingly talented photographer, Nicole Dixon. We laughed and joked and had a fantastic time with the whole group together. It was a magical feeling to have all of our favorite people in one place, looking magnificent and celebrating with us. Justin and I took some individual photos inside The Statehouse before heading back to The Club to see our family. We spent the next hour before the ceremony taking photos, drinking champagne, and laughing with our entire support system. At one point I looked around and just thought, “This life is a dream.”
In the meantime, the ACC team and our amazing floral team from Posy Florals were setting up the most gorgeous ceremony and reception spaces. The first time I saw our fireplace display, I screamed with excitement. And once the reception space was finished, we walked in and I immediately started to cry. Everything looked even more amazing than what we had imagined!
The ceremony was at 4:30. As guests were shuffled in and were seated, the bridal party lined up while our pianist and violist from The Conspiracy Band were playing “Tale as Old as Time” from Beauty and the Beast. I immediately got chills and tears in my eyes, ready for this new adventure. My brother was our officiant and made the entire ceremony extremely personal focused on us and our relationship. He kept everyone entertained and laughing the entire time while also focusing on the power of teamwork and love. It was absolutely perfect, just like every other part of our day.
Finally, the party started. We had a cocktail hour in the foyer with amazing hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. Then we moved into the absolutely breathtaking dining room for dinner- a duet of filet mignon and salmon with roasted potatoes, asparagus, and carrots. The father of the bride, maid of honor, and best men speeches left no eye dry in the room, whether it be from crying or laughing so hard. Finally, we got to cut our mini cookies ’n’ cream cake and serve the cupcakes before heading over to the dance floor- for the rest of the night!
Our first dance was choreographed to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra. We performed it seamlessly (with a few hiccups that made it that much more fun), and then The Conspiracy Band took the show. They kept everyone on the dance floor having the time of their lives for the next 4 hours! We typically never leave the dance floor when we are guests at weddings, and our own wedding was no different. The Conspiracy Band did an impeccable job and even brought us and the bridal party on stage to sing and dance and party all night!
We finished our day with an after party in the basement bowling alley of The Athletic Club completed with a guest DJ, Mikey’s Late Night Slice, and some fun attempts at bowling in my gown.
Our wedding day was an absolute dream come true and better than anything we could’ve ever imagined. From the small details to the flowers to the gown to the band, it was perfect! I wish we could live 10.13.18 every day, forever!

Bridal & Formal made all of my dress dreams come true. I had gone a few weeks after getting engaged with my mom, future mother-in-law, and aunt “just to look.” I have always been in love with fairytales and Disney princesses so I knew I wanted a ballgown. We all took almost every ball gown in the entire store to try on. As I was walking to the dressing room, I saw the back of a stunning ball gown on a mannequin and said, “That’s the one!” The associates had to take it off the mannequin so told me to go ahead and start trying on. Each dress was beautiful and made me feel like a princess, but I wasn’t quite getting that “feeling” of it being MY dress. After my third dress, I came back into the dressing room and Lacrecia had brought in the mannequin gown. I immediately started to cry. I KNEW it was the one. I came out in this gown and could not stop twirling and smiling and crying. But my mom and future mother-in-law wanted me to keep trying on “to be sure.” So, I kept going. Lacrecia knew I was already sold on this gown. After a few more dresses, she had me try it on again, sent me to “Paris” to get jacked up with hair, jewelry, and a veil, and the entire group finally fell silent. It was perfect. The entire store came to see me in my dress, associates in all. I truly felt like a princess, and it was the perfect start to my own fairytale. I was planning on coming back a few weeks later with my bridesmaids, so since we already found and purchased the dress, Lacrecia organized a “reveal” party for my girls, complete with champagne and bridesmaid dress shopping. Both days were absolutely perfect and everything I could’ve dreamed of. Thank you, Bridal & Formal!

Bridal Gown by Mori Lee, style 8128 and in the Ivory/Champagne color.
Ceremony and Reception Location at The Athletic Club of Columbus
Photography was taken by Nicole Dixon