Charlottes Weddings

Latoya and David’s wedding, originally planned for 200+ guests, instead was changed to an intimate gathering of 40 of their closest family members and friends in Latoya’s mom’s backyard in Happy Valley, August 1st, 2020.

With their ceremony and reception featuring pops of ivory and gold, table centerpieces featuring eucalyptus, white roses and ferns from A Floral Affair, signage from Letters and Dust, and Latoya’s beautiful lace, fit-and-flare gown from Lillian West, their wedding day, in Latoya’s words, was “better than I ever dreamed it to be”

HOW DID YOU TWO MEET?

“David and I met in 2011 in a writing class at Mt. Hood Community College. I was late getting to the class because I had a morning gym class on the other side of campus...I opened the door to the classroom and everyone did that thing when you’re in a room and someone enters, simultaneously turned around and looked at me."

"I immediately grabbed the first seat available and sat down. Next thing I know the person to the left of me sticks his hand out to greet me and says, “Hi, I’m David.””

HOW DID HE PROPOSE?

The two were planning a trip to the beach with their dog, Rocket, for the first time so Latoya booked them an ocean front Airbnb in Waldport, OR. The trip was filled with drive-thru coffee runs, bakery goods from Seal Rock Espresso and Bakery, and hikes down Hobbit Trailhead.

“The weather was absolutely perfect and I just remember feeling like overwhelming happiness, like all the cards were aligned!”

That evening the two planned a bonfire on the beach to watch the sunset.

“I can’t remember exactly what I was doing but I wasn’t paying attention, looking somewhere else and I turned towards David and he was down on one knee with a ring in his hand. He said some things to me that I had to ask him to repeat later because as soon as I saw what was happening I was ugly crying and too excited to hear what he was saying.”

WHAT WAS IT LIKE FINDING YOUR DRESS AT CHARLOTTE’S?

“Wedding dress shopping was so fun, I could try dresses on all day every day. I found some nice dresses at other bridal shops but they didn’t give me the wow factor that I was looking for. I continued to search and search, I wasn’t going to go to Charlotte’s at first because I thought I had found THE dress, but something was telling me to just make an appointment to go look just to make sure I wasn’t missing out.”

Just three dresses later, Latoya knew she had found the one!

"I knew it was the one when everyone gasped as I walked in."

"It was beautiful, I loved everything about it. The lace, the fabric, the beautiful cutouts on the side, the low back detail and the fact that it was off the shoulder too.”

Latoya wore Lillian West “66104” ; an off-shoulder style featuring a plunging neckline and floral and leaf-like lace.

“The biggest surprise was when I was going to purchase my dress, Melanie [Charlotte's stylist] said that my balance had been taken care of...My mom said that my maid of honor, Alexis paid for everything, I instantly started crying. I still to this day can’t believe she did that for me, I still get butterflies thinking about it.”

TELL US ABOUT YOUR WEDDING DAY!

“The ceremony was set up in the courtyard in front of the fountain, I still planned out all the details the way I would have for the large wedding. Gold chiavari chairs, ivory and greenery. My mom is a baker, she made our wedding cake and cupcakes. The memory that stands out the most to me is walking out of the doors of my moms house with my Dad and walking down the aisle to the front of the ceremony.”

“I just remember feeling bliss, I felt beautiful, everything looked beautiful…”

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE FUTURE BRIDES?

"My advice to other brides is to not be afraid to ask for help..there are millions of ways to have a wedding, at the end of the day you just have to do what makes you happy. I see so many brides trying to please other people and not leaving any room to make themselves happy!"
"I highly recommend booking an amazing photographer and videographer for the entire wedding, pay the extra if you can because it’s so worth it to have photographic and videographic memories. The day will FLY by and you will want to remember every single moment."