We can’t get enough of Mary’s wedding here at Little White Dress. There are just so many details to gush over. The venue (one of our favorites, the Chatfield Botanic Gardens), that bouquet, that perfectly-messy braid… (and don’t even get us started on the adorable puppy!) We may be a little biased, but we think that Mary’s dress – ‘Madeleine’ by Claire Pettibone – ties every gorgeous detail together.
Mary chatted with us about finding her dress and about her wedding day, which was photographed so beautifully by the incredibly talented Laura Murray. Don’t miss Mary’s great advice to brides about finding the perfect gown….
How did you choose your wedding gown? Tell us about the process of finding your dress and about your experience at Little White Dress.
I had my eye on Claire Pettibone dresses for a while. So, as soon as I saw that she was doing a trunk show at LWD, I called for an appointment. I originally went into LWD with my eye on dresses other than the Madeleine; I liked a few of the Claire Pettibone gowns with intricate backs and I really wanted my dress to be unique. My bridal consultant was a huge help. Within minutes of talking to her, I felt like she knew me and understood my wedding vision. I tried on the dresses I had come in for, and while they were beautiful on, none of them seemed perfect for me. I started trying on other Claire Pettibone dresses that hadn’t caught my eye the first time around. I began realizing, with the guidance of my consultant, that intricate backs were too much on my 5′ 3″ frame. The simpler Claire Pettibone dresses looked better on me, and when I stepped into the Madeleine, I knew it was perfect. I felt comfortable and completely myself. I didn’t want to take it off!
How did your gown fit in with other aspects of the wedding: the venue, the decor, the overall look?
As soon as I had an idea of the “feel” of the wedding, the Madeleine dress just seemed to complete my vision. I wanted the wedding to have a somewhat vintage farm-like feel, with romantic details and a light, airy color palette. A very structured full gown would have looked totally out of place. While I loved some of the beautifully beaded gowns at LWD, I knew the beautiful lace and cut of my dress would complement our style and theme. In the end, I know I picked the perfect dress.
How did you feel in your dress on your wedding day?
I couldn’t have been happier with the dress I picked. I felt absolutely beautiful and self confident. It was one of the easier decisions I made regarding the wedding because it felt so perfect the second I put it on.
Do you have any advice for brides in the process of looking for their wedding gown?
I think having a vision of the entire wedding, how you want it to feel, what emotions you want it to evoke, should be your starting point. Starting there will give you more guidance than starting with guidelines like “strapless” or “A-line”. Maybe once you have an idea of your overall look, you may look at gowns you didn’t picture right away, but which may be exactly perfect. Having an open mind for what complements your body type is essential and having good (and honest) friends there for guidance helps too!
Thank you, Mary, for sharing your wedding with us!
Little White Dress Bridal Shop is thrilled to be welcoming the one and only Claire Pettibone for our 2013 Claire Pettibone Trunk Show February 22-24!
Claire Pettibone has been designing her feminine, romantic, vintage-style wedding gowns for nearly a decade. But life changed for the wedding dress designer last May when the world learned that Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, got married, and that his bride, Priscilla Chan, wore Claire Pettibone’s “Sky Between the Branches” gown.
The excitement didn’t stop there. Claire Pettibone and the staff at Little White Dress Bridal Shop were surprised and ecstatic to learn after the wedding that the new Mrs. Zuckerberg, using a pseudonym, had actually visited Little White Dress and purchased her gown right here! The intricate, delicate dress that Priscilla Chan wore, as well as Claire Pettibone herself, were featured in worldwide news and style coverage, on television, in newspapers, and online in the days and weeks following the Zuckerberg wedding. We are honored to have been part of raising awareness of Claire Pettibone’s stunning designs to brides around the world.
Since the Facebook bride chose Claire Pettibone’s gown for her big day, life at Little White Dress has been different too. Brides travel from throughout Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region specifically for Claire Pettibone wedding dresses, which are only available in Colorado at Little White Dress Bridal Shop.
Despite her status as a celebrity wedding dress designer, Claire Pettibone is as focused as ever on making every bride look and feel her most beautiful. We are delighted that Claire will be helping LWD brides find their perfect dress in person during our trunk show February 22-24.
Meet the delightful and gifted Claire Pettibone and experience true paradise right here, right now, with her entire Spring 2013 “An Earthly Paradise” collection. Call us today to book an appointment at 303-814-8972.
Sneak Peak! “Olivia”gown from Claire Pettibone’s new “An Earthly Paradise” collection.
When Priscilla Chan bought her Claire Pettibone gown at Little White Dress Bridal Shop in Denver, LWD owner, Cate Malone, ended up in the Wall Street Journal!
Here’s the photograph (which ended up on the cover of People Magazine) that started it all. Priscilla Chan in her “Sky Between the Branches” gown by Claire Pettibone.
Few brides know the special story behind Claire Pettibone’s “Kristene” gown. Kristene is one of Claire Pettibone’s most beloved wedding dresses because of its delicate details and timeless beauty. However, few brides know that Kristene is the FIRST wedding gown Claire ever designed and was the gem that kicked off her entire bridal gown design career.
The truth is that for many years, Claire Pettibone was well-known for her exquisite lingerie, available in Colorado at Pampered Passions Fine Lingerie near Park Meadows mall. However, about 9 years ago, Claire’s good friend, Kristene, asked Claire to design her a custom wedding gown. Claire of course said, “Yes!” , and the rest is history!
Claire says on her website, “This gown holds a special place in my heart as does my wonderful friend. Who knew that this was the start of my career as a wedding dress designer, and that years later, she would still inspire such devotion?!”
Little White Dress Bridal Shop has been proud to carry Kristene in the Pearl/Ivory color since the first day Claire’s gowns adorned our shop. This year we have added a second Kristene gown to our shop - in the color Platinum, to create an especially “vintage” feel to the gown. Colorado brides can now see first hand which color choice they prefer in this amazing and timeless Claire Pettibone gown.
A little bit about the dress... The Victorian inspired “Kristene” is comprised of layers of English lace embroidery that offers the perfect blend of vintage romance and playful celebration. Notice the heart-shaped train and marvel in the stunning details on the back of this gown.
Here’s a snapshot of Kristene with its silk charmeuse Platinum color lining , which is exclusively available in Colorado only at Little White Dress Bridal Shop!
Claire Pettibone “Kristene” in Platinum (front)
Claire Pettibone “Kristene” in Platinum (back)
Did you know that Claire Pettibone is coming to Denver in February? Book your appointment today! 303-8148972.
PS: Just to give you a sense of how Kristene moves people, check out this Kristene-inspired wedding cake we found online (Cake designed by Crissy Jeffcoate as pictured on OneFabDay blog).
Claire Pettibone bridal gowns embody all that is romantic, pure and good on this earth. Any Claire Pettibone bride will tell you there is nothing in the world like a Claire Pettibone gown. Once you own one, you are part of a special family of brides who share a unique and magical bond.
It’s no wonder that Denver brides and brides throughout Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Region are clamoring to attend our Claire Pettibone Bridal Trunk Show February 22-24, 2013. Not only will brides get to delight in the wonders of Claire’s 2013 collection aptly titled, “An Earthly Paradise,” but they will also have the rare opportunity to meet Claire Pettibone in person – right here at Little White Dress Bridal Shop. Claire is also bringing along her favorite gowns from past collections, so Colorado brides can try on that extra special Claire Pettibone gown they’ve been eying for years.
Because this is such a rare opportunity to have Claire Pettibone here at our Denver bridal shop, appointments are booking fast. Really fast. Please don’t delay when booking your appointment because we would be devastated to not be able to fit you in. PLEASE CALL TODAY 303-814-8972
We’d love to share some of the Claire Pettibone gowns we’re crushing on from “An Earthly Paradise” collection. It’s an intricately designed collection that showcases everything we adore about Claire Pettibone… it’s romantic, earthly, mysterious, whimsical and of course, vintage-chic!
Join us on a journey to channel your inner goddess by trying on a few of these Claire Pettibone gowns for size…
Accessories: I had a hairpin I got from Little White Dress that really finished up my hair perfectly, but I don’t remember who made it. I also wore a gold locket bracelet that belonged to my late grandmother. She passed away just a few weeks before the wedding, and it was a way to have her and my late grandfather with me at the wedding.
LWD: Tell us about how you got engaged and a bit about your fiancé?
Meg: My husband, Dane, proposed after we finished running the Tough Mudder in Truckee, CA. It was actually really funny because we got seperated from the rest of our team and he was running around frantic to find them. When we finally did, he kept rushing them so that we could all go get our dry clothes and change. I told him to calm down and let them enjoy their beers!
The race ended up being almost five hours and the sun was setting so it was getting cold. We got back to the tent and we were all trying to quickly change out of our muddy clothes. I was in the middle of taking off my shoe when Dane said, “Megan, I have something important to talk to you about.” I think I gave a snippy response along the lines of ‘What?!’. I was so cold and I didn’t know what could be so important that it couldn’t wait until we had changed.
Dane persisted, “Megan, I really have something important to talk to you about! I talked to your parents last week, and I was wondering if you would marry me?” OK, so he finally got my attention. I looked up at him for the first time, and he was holding out a ring. My response was so eloquent, “Are you serious?!” He didn’t miss a beat, “Yes, I’m serious, I figure if we can finish something so difficult like we did today, together, I don’t think there’s anything we can’t do. Will you marry me?” I said yes and gave him a big kiss, but honestly those few minutes were kind of a blur. Now I understood why he was being so pushy… the ring, which was his mother’s engagement ring, was in his wallet and he wanted to make sure it was still there. So in the end the real quick version of the story is that my husband proposed while I was soaking wet, dirty, exhausted, only wearing one shoe, but I couldn’t have been happier.
LWD: Why did you decide to come to Little White Dress during your gown search?
Meg: When I started looking at dresses I found that the ones I loved the most were designed by Claire Pettibone. Little White Dress was the only shop I could go [in Colorado] where I could see her dresses.
LWD: When selecting a gown, what “features” were you looking for and/or what was most important to you?
Meg: I knew that I wanted a form fitting lace gown. I didn’t want a lot of sparkle, as I tend to lean towards things that are more simple but elegant, and I wanted something comfortable.
LWD: Who ended up picking out the “one” – you, a friend of family member, your stylist, etc.? Tell me more about it.
Meg: Malea, my stylist, helped me pick some lace dresses to try on that she thought would work best for me, including the dress that I ended up picking. But it was my mother and my sister who helped me decide which dress was the one. Throughout the whole appointment they kept telling me they liked every dress I tried on, which was not a whole lot of help! I am horrible at picking things out, especially when it is something this important, but when I tried on Claire Pettibone’s Renee dress, I think they knew. It was elegant and understated, but the rose pattern of the lace made it unique and beautiful. I knew I was going to wear cowboy boots and the dress was a perfect match!
LWD: What three words describe how you felt on your wedding day?
Meg: Elegant and excited, but mostly loved!!!
Just Married!
LWD: What do you have planned for your dress now that your wedding is over?
Meg: One of my favorite memories was getting to try on my mother’s wedding dress and I hope to have the same memory with my daughter. I plan to keep my dress safe and tucked away for that day.
LWD: What did you do to relax and de-stress prior to the wedding and/or throughout the planning process?
Meg: Honestly, I had a few freak outs and yelled sometimes, but I tried to keep those to a minimum! But really I relied on my family and the gym to relax and de-stress! My family was amazing throughout the whole planning process, and I don’t know where I would have been without my mother, sister, and husband. Anytime that I felt like I was getting too anxious, I made sure I got a good workout in. It really helps me to get out my nervous energy.
LWD: Was there any particular person (family, friends, vendors) that helped put that extra special touch on your wedding day?
Meg: My friend, Jennifer Swift, was my amazing makeup artist. She not only did my makeup , but several of my bridesmaids as well. My photographer, Austyn Elizabeth Photography, took amazing pictures of the whole day, and my florist, Flowers Forever Design, made absolutely stunning arrangments for the whole event. Also having my Godfather, Richard Paczkowski, officiate the wedding was absolutely perfect. But most of all, our wedding was about our family. All of our immediate and extended families were there, as well as many of our close friends. It was having everyone together for our special day that made it absolutely unforgettable!
Last week, Claire Pettibone, a wedding dress designer exclusively carried in Colorado at Little White Dress Bridal Shop, shared with brides why they should stop concerning themselves with trends and rather focus on being true to themselves.
In a contributed article in the Huffington Post, “What Are the Latest Bridal Trends? Who Cares?!,” Pettibone discusses why wedding trends come and go, but a bride should always try to be true to herself and her family’s traditions.
She says, “A wedding is beyond trends: it’s the opposite of trends. It is meaningful, and genuine, and one day that symbolizes something that is supposed to LAST. Not for a day, or a season, or until the next big thing comes along, but for your LIFETIME!”
So how does Pettibone think brides can avoid falling into the “trends” trap?
She says, “You probably can’t [avoid it], but here’s a tip when it comes to the dress: be true to yourself.” She recommends staying true to your own style, not some “bridal mold” you’re supposed to fit into, as well as picking a wedding gown that “moves you” and makes you feel happy, beautiful and at your best.
Perhaps her best words of wisdom come in this antidote, “Choose a gown that you will look back 20 years from now and think, ‘Wow, look how young we were’ (even if you aren’t that young, 20 years from now, trust me, you’ll revise that opinion!). You will look back and see how in love you were, and if you pay more attention to choosing the right partner than obsessing over silhouettes and table settings, hopefully you still will be [married]!”
We couldn’t agree more with the beautiful Claire Pettibone, who we think resists the urge to design her wedding dresses based on bridal trends and rather focuses on creating gowns that are true works of art made for brides with unique styles of their own.
You can read Pettibone’s full article online at the Huffington Post.
Trunk Show Alert! Don’t miss this very special opportunity to meet Pettibone yourself! Yes, Claire Pettibone will be here in Denver to help you find the Claire Pettibone gown you love the most. Season after season, it remains true – there is nothing like a Claire Pettibone wedding gown. If you are a romantic, feminine, creative, alternative bride who loves all things vintage, don’t miss out on this rare experience. Her entire Spring 2013 collection, along with favorite gowns from past collections will be here at Little White Dress Bridal Shop February 22-24. Appointments book quickly, call us today 303-814-8972.
We were thrilled this weekend to learn that Mark Zuckerberg’s bride, Priscilla Chan, wore a Claire Pettibone gown as she said “I do” to one of the most well-known and wealthiest men on earth. But yesterday, the excitement came to a peak when we learned straight from Claire Pettibone herself that the newly minted Mrs. Zuckerberg bought her dress at Little White Dress Bridal Shop in Denver!
The gown, Claire Pettibone’s “Sky Between the Branches,” is carried in Colorado exclusively by Little White Dress. As Claire began digging to see which bridal shop the dress was purchased, she realized it was a Denver bride from Little White Dress!
Now you might think it’s strange that we didn’t recognize the bride at first – but our records indicate that she used a fake name and all of the paperwork was done by a third-party.
Regardless of how Mrs. Zuckerberg found the dress (or did the dress find her?), we all now know she has impeccable, regal-like taste. Claire Pettibone brides are vintage-chic and oh-so-elegant.
If you’d like to see the “Sky Between the Branches” dress, it’s on display in our window this week. If you want to try it on, call us at 303-814-8972 to make an appointment.
