Real LWD Bride: Abby's Winter Wonderland Wedding
Abby and Kristofer's March 9th wedding at Vail Cascade Resort looks like it's straight out of a fairytale, thanks in part to the beautiful snowfall that graced their big day. There's just something so romantic about a wedding in freshly fallen snow.
Abby embraced the setting with perfect style on her wedding day. She looked gorgeous in a blush-colored ball gown adorned with sparkling embroidered flowers, by Liancarlo. Luxe and heirloom accessories topped off her personalized look. We chatted with Abby about how she chose such a unique gown and about how all the details came together to create the perfect winter wonderland wedding.
How did you choose your wedding gown? Tell us about the process of finding your gown and about your experience at Little White Dress.
In the beginning of my search it seemed like I would never have that “Say Yes to the Dress” moment. I had a style in mind, but I was open to trying anything and everything on. The first time I had tried on dresses was in Los Angeles with my sister, Maggie, at a sample boutique. My mother had recently passed away and Maggie wanted me to get the overwhelming emotions out while she was with me. I couldn’t commit to anything that early and started my serious gown search in Denver. I visited a few boutiques looking for something without much detail and maybe one shouldered with a dropped waist. Through the many gowns I had tried on I had only really found what I did NOT want: strapless, tulle, flowers, and sparkle.
It was only then that I had received a postcard in the mail from LWD and made an appointment. I grabbed a couple of my bridesmaids and hit the Highlands for brunch and more gown hunting. The moment we walked in we all ran over to this gorgeous Liancarlo dress in the window and demanded it be stripped from the mannequin so I could try it on. Of course it was strapless with a big tulle skirt, covered in lace flowers and crystals. I tried it on first of the 10 or 12 dresses I liked and fell in love. No other dresses I tried on compared to the Liancarlo masterpiece. I spent the next 30 minutes twirling around the store like a school girl in love! My consultant was terrific, playing along with us and commenting on how happy I looked in that dress. She couldn’t have been more right!
Your Liancarlo gown looks absolutely magical in your wedding day's snowy setting. Did you choose your gown with the mountain weather and setting in mind?
I did! I loved that the color was so different than any other gown I had seen before and thought it would pop against Vail’s snowy backdrop. It felt so romantic and I thought it would be perfect for our black tie theme. The decadent tulle and crinoline skirt was weighted perfectly so it walked beautifully and moved like a dream for photos. I could not believe how lucky I was that I found such a perfect gown for the setting.
Your accessories - from the hairpiece to the veil, the fur, and those amazing shoes - complement the dress without being overwhelming. How did you decide what would look best with such a unique gown?
When I originally tried on the dress my consultant placed a thin, infinity symbol crystal belt around the seam at the waist. That was the tipping point on knowing that this was MY dress. It was ordered that day! When my dress arrived at LWD I tried it on with a simple fingertip length veil. The veil completed the look and made it decidedly bridal.
The gown with the belt was quite a statement on its own so I decided to keep everything else simple and classic: from the vintage-style, velvet pump that had all the romance and drama fitting of the big day, to the hairpiece, which I found on Etsy.com with the help of my hairdresser, Annette (who was also a bridesmaid). My sisters gave my Swarovski drop crystal earrings to me as a wedding gift and they accented the gown perfectly.
The fur was actually a gift from my father to my mother around the time I was born. I figured there would be no more perfect of an opportunity to rock it than at my wedding. I was right!
How did you feel in your dress on your wedding day?
I was with my three sisters when I was putting the gown on and it took all three of their support to make it happen. When I finally looked in the mirror I was overjoyed with the way the gown fit and impressed with how the whole look came together. It hit me just then that I was a bride! It was then that my sister Emily handed me my mother’s floor length fur coat and the look was totally complete: Romantic, black tie, Vail wedding. Perfect! I felt like an ice princess twirling around in the falling snow behind the chapel before the ceremony. I have never felt more beautiful than I did on that day.
What is your advice for brides looking for their wedding gown?
Don’t be caught up in one style! You have probably been dreaming of your gown your whole life but you never know where the perfect dress is hiding and what it might look like. I can guarantee you that Little White Dress has something hiding in the wings that will surprise you :)
Thank you, Abby, for sharing your gorgeous wedding with us! Many thanks to Devo Photography for sharing photos of Abby and Kristofer's beautiful day!