Charlottes Weddings

HOW DID YOU TWO MEET?

I saw Garrett on Bumble and thought he looked familiar, so I went to Instagram to double check. Garrett hadn’t responded to my Bumble swipe so I boldly decided to message him on Instagram saying, “Hi Garrett, I know this is super forward but I saw you on Bumble and think you are super cute and love that you love Jesus. So I wanted to reach out”.

Garrett admittedly had given up on Bumble but the two began chatting. After a few days they met for dinner to celebrate Holly's new job opportunity and became instantly inseparable.

HOW DID HE PROPOSE?

Asking our featured brides to share their proposal story with us is one of our favorite parts of the Featured Bride blog, and to our surprise and absolute delight, Holly handed over this question to her husband to tell the story in his own words—we can't stand the sweetness either!

It was July of 2020 and the pair had ventured to Pacific City where they had planned a hike to the secluded beach at Cape Lookout in celebration of Garrett's 30th birthday.

"After about an hour, the beach cleared out and we had it to ourselves: showtime. We walked back toward the treeline and placed our things on a giant piece of driftwood. At this point, you thought I was just changing the batteries to our drone, but I was really grabbing your ring (anxiety overload!) I set up my camera on the tripod and asked you to stand in frame for a 'portrait shot', I asked you to face away and smile. I held your shoulders as you turned around, kissed you and dropped to one knee. I have no idea what I said, but I know you said yes at 5:55pm."

WHAT WAS IT LIKE FINDING THE ONE AT CHARLOTTE’S?

After hours of collecting inspiration from their Pinterest boards and Instagram feeds, most brides expect finding their wedding dress will take a few tries and try-ons! While we understand the desire to shop till you drop, finding your dream dress can happen when you least expect it, it may be your first appointment—or even your first dress!

I was very lucky in that I found my dress at my first and only appointment at Charlotte's, I had such an amazing experience! My stylist gave me a great mix of what I thought I wanted and a few styles I wanted to try on just in case.

After several styles and a few tears, Holly couldn't seem to get the very first dress off her mind.

I ended up choosing the first dress I had tried on. It was similar to what I had always imagined, but it had a few elements that I surprisingly fell in love with!

Holly said yes to Sincerity Bridals "44204" a beautiful cap sleeve, all over lace fit and flare gown with a sweetheart neckline and low scooping back.

DID YOU HAVE A FAVORITE MOMENT DURING YOUR WEDDING DAY?

Holly and Garrett chose to tie the knot at Barn Kestrel because of its outdoor and indoor options, perfect for the unpredictable Oregon weather! But ultimately, they chose Barn Kestrel because directly beyond the old oak tree that would become their alter, you could see the church they attended every Sunday tucked on a distant hillside.

One of our favorite parts of the day was our 'around the corner' moment before walking down the aisle, we exchanged our own personal vows and perfume/cologne for each other to wear. It gave us both a moment of peace being able to say a little prayer together before seeing each other for the first time.

ANY ADVICE FOR OUR BRIDES-TO-BE?

It's true what they say, your wedding day flies by in the blink of an eye! Always remember to take a moment to reflect on your special day and those who are able to cherish and celebrate your love. Holly and Garrett chose to include traditions and elements that were important to the both of them and felt lighter by not catering to every single trend.

Try not to let the wedding planning stress take away from the joy of your day, it can be so easy to get lost in the planning! It can all pass by so fast, so we made it a point to invest in photographers and videographers to always have beautiful memories to look back on and cherish.