Anna + Joshua

Anna and Joshua were married on July 11th, 2021! This military couple combined the best of both worlds as they created a ceremony that perfectly paired them together. We are beyond happy for you and we thank you for allowing us to help you find your dream dress! Congratulations again and we wish you all the best!

Looyenga Photography

The Proposal : Joshua "won" a photo shoot so we went up to Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado Springs where he was stationed and we took several cute photos. While he was spinning me for a photo he let me go, got down on one knee and asked me to be his forever — and it was all captured — and it was PERFECT!!! 

The Big Day: My husband is a USMA graduate and Captain in the US Army so it is a big part of our life. When we decided to incorporate that into our wedding day it changed the theme a bit but it all worked out. I still got my simplistic earthy greenery that I wanted and we added a clean classic modern look to it. Mrs. Kalin's Barn was a perfect addition and offered so much that made our wedding what it was. 

What was your favorite part of your wedding?: Obviously my dress was my favorite part and made my wedding gorgeous. But my all time favorite is the military traditions that we incorporated like the saber ceremony (welcoming the bride into the military life) and cutting the cake with his West Point saber! I loved that we were both able to have our themes/ideas become one and I think that they complemented each other perfectly. I wouldn't have changed a single thing! 

Special Memories: I cried so much seeing all the people that came to support us on our special day and that was the most meaningful to me. We are both strong Christians so having my childhood pastor marry us was a dream as well as sharing communion together as a fresh start to our new beginning.

What advice would you give to future brides?: It's okay to hear peoples’ opinions but you get the final say —remember that. Don't let it just be another day, enjoy everything start to finish.

New Beginnings

Happy New Year! Here at Believe Bride we are ALWAYS ready to help our brides find their perfect dress. A new year means new brides for us and so much to look forward to! If you are recently engaged or awaiting your bridal appointment, here are a few tips as you enter a new year and continue preparing for your big day! Whether you’re big on resolutions or you are always looking to better yourself, use these tips to make your wedding day go smoothly and beautifully!

 

5 Tips to Prepare for the Big Day!

  1. Prepare your guest list

Solidifying the guest list can be a daunting task. Some prefer a small wedding while others want the whole shebang! Either way, be sure to get your guest list rounded up and documented! Hand written invitations can be the personal touch many dream of while others may prefer to type and print out those addresses and save some time! Whichever you decide, make sure to get started on this task ASAP! The sooner you can notify your guests about the day the sooner you can nail down your attendees. Most people recommend sending out a save the date 6-8 months ahead of time. For mostly local guests, 6 months is plenty of time and you may be able to send them a little later as well. But if you’ve got lots of guests needing to nail down travel accommodations, the sooner the better! Save the dates are great to notify your guests and put your date on their radar. While save the dates are fun and easy, if you plan to send a formal invitation as well you can plan to get that out about 8 weeks before your wedding date.

 

2. Create a checklist

Let’s be real — not all of us are planners! Planning a wedding can be overwhelming and difficult! Make life easier by creating a checklist! Talk with your partner and decide on what is most important to have on your big day. Once you do that, create a checklist to ensure that each item on your list can be made a reality. If you’re not good at creating lists or you’re feeling overwhelmed, there are tons of wedding planning apps and websites that can help you do this! Find your favorite one and then get planning!

 

3. Set up your bridal appointments

If you’re newly engaged, we recommend getting your appointments set up to find your dress! While some can be purchased off the rack with small alterations needed, if you find a dress that needs to be ordered, it can often take up to 6 months to make the dress and then need additional time to complete alterations. Don’t let this task become a stressful nightmare! Find the dress early to ensure you have enough time to get the dress in and get those alterations done. Lucky for you, here at Believe Bride we make the whole experience so easy for you! Get your bridal appointments scheduled today and let us help turn this task into a fun event!

 

4. Pick your venue

Unless you have personal connections, this can often be one of the more difficult tasks to complete for our newly engaged couples. Whether restricted by budget or trying to find a place with availability on your date, it can be overwhelming to find the perfect venue. Make a list of the things you want in a venue — ie. outdoors, a room to get ready in, accommodations for the ceremony and reception. Once you decide which are non-negotiable, it will make it easier to search for venues that fit the bill. Call ahead once you pick your date to ensure you have a space locked down and ready to go. Once you have a venue, it makes it even easier to get those initiations ready to send out!

 

5. Ask for help

Sometimes we get wrapped up in the whirlwind of excitement when we get engaged and forget that we don’t have to do everything ourselves! When things feel like they are impossible, make sure you have your bride tribe to lean on. Delegating tasks and asking for help will not only make your planning experience less stressful, it will also create wonderful memories to last a lifetime! Being able to share not only your big day but the days leading up to it with those closest to you will make your wedding day even more special. Cherish the memories big and small and don’t be afraid to admit if you can’t do it all.

 

You may be new to the wedding arena but we are pros here at Believe Bride! Let us help you as you prepare for this wonderful day so that you can embrace and enjoy every moment. The wedding day goes by so quickly and you don’t want to be stuck dealing with small problems all day long. Starting your planning with these 5 simple steps will help set you up for success and ensure that your big day goes off without a hitch! And if there’s a hitch or two… remember not to sweat the small stuff. This day is about love and your partnership and you deserve to enjoy every second of it.

Nicki + Joe

Nicki and Joe were married last summer on July 31st. Congratulations on your big day! You looked beautiful in your dress — even on a horse! We are so happy to be a part of your special day and we wish you the best. Welcome to the Believe Bride Tribe!

Looyenga Photography

The Proposal: I had fallen down the stairs and torn my sacral ligaments, and had bulging discs in my lower spine. I spent 10 days in a wheelchair, unable to dress myself, go to the bathroom myself, or bathe myself. My husband (boyfriend at the time) took care of me around the clock. Every night he helped me go to the bathroom, fed me, gave me my medication, and did everything for me. I was in excruciating pain, and he was my saving grace. One day when I was having a particularly bad day, he came home from shooting with my Dad and I was crying in my wheelchair. He dropped to one knee and proposed to me, and I was so shocked I screamed, “Noooo!!” and hid my face in my hands. I didn’t mean “No, I don’t want to marry you.” I was just so embarrassed about the state I was in at the time, and certainly never imagined my marriage proposal would be in a wheelchair wearing pajamas. But in retrospect, I wouldn’t want it any other way. He wanted me when I was at my very weakest, most vulnerable state. I will always treasure that. 

The Big Day: Our wedding venue was a 550 acre ranch with an old barn built in the early 1800’s. We wanted it to be rustic and western, and we wanted our horses to be part of the wedding. I wanted people to feel like they were going back in time, to when things were simpler than they are today. I had a horse drawn carriage to give our guests rides from the barn to where the ceremony was, as it was a bit of a walk to get there. Everything was beautiful, especially at night when everything was lit up. I love how it turned out, it was everything we wanted it to be.

What was your favorite part of your wedding?:  I would say my favorite part was our ceremony. It told the story of how we both waited 35 years for each other, how we ended up together, and was a great testimony of our faith. 

Special Memories: The best man speech (from Joe’s older brother) was one for the books. One of the comments we got the most after our wedding was that his speech was the best they had ever heard at a wedding. His brother Justin is charismatic, witty, and humorous. I’m grateful to have it on video so we can watch it again. 

What advice would you give to future brides?: Not to get too caught up in all the little details, but to focus on the bigger picture. Why you’re getting married, all of the people who will be there to support you and to just enjoy the day as much as possible. It flies by in the blink of an eye. 

Vendor Credit: Our videographer Daniel Baker and photographer Brent Looyenga were both amazing. 

Videographer: Dan Baker Films

Photographer: Looyenga Photography

Keirstan + Matthew

Congratulations to another Believe Bride! Keirstan and Matthew married on October 24, 2020. Although 2020 was a tough year for us all, this couple brought a little more light to their lives and the lives of their family. We wish you a lifetime of happiness!

The Proposal: In November of 2019, Matthew took me to Bowl and Pitcher and proposed on the bridge. Bridges have a special meaning for us, so it was the perfect choice. Our best friends were hiding out taking pictures. To top it off, he custom designed the ring!

The Big Day: We knew we wanted to get married and I knew venues book up fast, so before we were even engaged, we went searching for a location (about a year in advance). We knew we wanted to marry in the fall, indoors, about 200+ people and we didn't want a big ball room or a farm atmosphere. We wanted it to be unique. A coworker suggested going to Trezzi Winery and the moment we got there, we knew it was the perfect fit. Even more, the owners are Italian and serve the most amazing fresh Italian food. My (now) husband is 50% Italian and knowing that his family roots would be represented made it all that much better. Come to find out, there were only a few Saturday wedding dates left, which made us worry because we were hoping to marry on my late grandpa's birthday, October 24th (we used to celebrate our birthdays together when I was a kid). By some miracle, that date (out of maybe 2-3 Saturdays) was one that was left! We booked it for that day.

I continued planning, getting rentals, linens, and of course having my mom and sister come to Spokane over MLK weekend to look at wedding dresses. The process was rough. I wasn't too excited about trying on dresses, it just felt awkward. Every dress I tried on just didn't feel right. I either felt like I was a 10 or it just didn't fit me right. We left two different shops feeling defeated. My mom told me to make an appointment at Believe Bride just to have one last look. So that Monday, just the two of us went in for an appointment. Teresa was my stylist and asked me to look at the rack and pick out some dresses that stood out to me. She was surprised to find that one of the dresses I picked twice in two different sizes. We tried that one on first and it was beyond perfect. I took it home that day.

Then Covid hit. We decided to not make a decision until about a month out from our wedding and felt we needed to be cautiously optimistic. For months, I didn't want to plan anymore, worried I'd spend money that we'd lose and worried I wouldn't be getting my dream wedding. The one thing we did know was that we would be getting married on October 24th, no matter what.

Five months until our wedding, we came up with a backup plan: Cannon Beach, Oregon is a favorite location for both Matthew and I. We both grew up vacationing on the Oregon coast with our families. On our third date, we found out that both of our families have a photo of Haystack Rock hanging in the living room. So it was the perfect fit.

Three months until our wedding, family members were calling and asking about travel plans, wondering if they should make reservations or not. We decided a decision needed to be made and Covid just didn't seem to have an end date. We made the call to cancel our 200 person wedding, cancel our reservation at Trezzi and instead rent an Air BnB on the Oregon coast with just our immediate families.

Two months before our wedding, the beautiful Air BnB we booked, which was just 2 blocks from Haystack Rock called to tell us they SOLD THE HOUSE!!! We would need to find a plan C and different location. During this time, our rentals also canceled on us and we had to find another avenue. Since our wedding went from 200 to 15, we decided to order our flowers in bulk from Costco, after ordering we found out they can’t deliver flowers to an Air BnB and had to change plans once again.

Altogether, it was a super rough process, but in the end it all came together. Since it was so small, I was able to make it special by decorating the table nicely, having personal menus, special glassware and little touches like that. Our photographer, Amanda Muchmore was AMAZING and we were able to get the most wonderful local pastor to marry us on the beach. We would have loved to have our family and friends there and a lot of other touches I would have loved to have at our big wedding that were special, but life threw us a curveball and we had to make the best of it.

What was your favorite part of your wedding?: I think the location was really special. Never in a million years would I ever want to get married on the beach, but with Covid having other ideas, it ended up being the perfect plan b. Matt's parents honeymooned there and my grandparents honeymooned there. We both grew up going on vacations there and both of our parents have a photo of Haystack Rock hanging on the wall in the living room. Now so do we.

Special Memories: I started to get anxious around dessert and decided to take a little break. I excused myself to the restroom, I thought no one had seen me. But my 2yo niece and flower girl came into the bathroom, asked what I was doing and we sat on the floor and ate wedding cake together. It was so cute.

What advice would you give to future brides?: Plan early and don't let anyone tell you you're planning too much too soon! People and places get booked so fast!

Vendor Credit: 

Photographer: Amanda Muchmore

Rentals: Event Rents

Glassware: Artifact Rentals

December Wedding Themes

With the holidays right around the corner, a lot of couples are looking for the perfect way to celebrate their winter wedding! Think about it…what could be better than celebrating the holidays AND your love with those who mean the most to you? Both Christmas as New Years are popular times for couples all over the country to tie the knot since they often mark the anniversary of the proposal!

If you’ve been considering a winter wedding, here are 5 December wedding themes to think about when planning your special day.

 

5 December Wedding Themes

  1. Christmas

Christmas is one of the more popular themes we see in December. Christmas trees and twinkle lights already have such a magical quality, imagine having them surround you in your stunning gown! Play off of classic Christmas colors using deep reds, sage greens and gold or silver accents. One tip to make this theme unique is to highlight some of your Christmas traditions within the ceremony and decor. Bringing in this personal touch will tie together the holiday and your wedding with a meaningful memory.

 

2. Winter Wonderland

Winter can be a warm and cozy theme with endless possibilities! Take inspiration from snowflakes, fireplaces, hot cocoa and sparkle! Focusing in on one aspect of the season can make it easier to decide on colors and themes. Or, combine all of YOUR favorite aspects of winter to personalize your day and create a space that you will love.

 

3. Rustic Winter

One of the most popular themes year round(especially in the Pacific Northwest) is definitely rustic farmhouse! This theme is so easy to adapt to any season and can make for an intimate winter wedding. Whether your venue is a farmhouse or barn, you can create a barn wood arbor with gorgeous wildflowers and eucalyptus, or maybe you want to get that personalized jean jacket and wear cowboy boots! Whatever you decide for this rustic theme, it’s easy to personalize and creates a cozy family feeling.

 

4. Intimate Evening

With snow comes cozy fires and lots of holiday movies! Recreate that same cozy couch feeling by utilizing candles and string lights as well as a fireplace. If your venue doesn’t have a fireplace, don’t worry! You can usually purchase or rent an electric fireplace that gives you all the same cozy vibes as the real thing, without the need for actual flames. The emphasis on decor for this theme will create an intimate space that brings everyone together. Low lit lighting and deep, warm tones will highlight the intimacy of the space. Adding special touches such as a hot cocoa bar, blankets if guests get cold, and even comfy seating with candle lit centerpieces will warm the hearts of everyone there.

 

5. Holiday Getaway

Let’s be honest, not everyone loves the snow. For our snowbirds, choose a venue that best matches your personality as a couple! Do you prefer a warm sandy beach? Or maybe you want a rainforest vibe with tall mossy trees? Whichever location you choose, utilize the scenery in lieu of decor. Although these types of weddings may be a bit more pricey, you can capitalize on the exciting attractions that come with the area and even stay after for your honeymoon!

 

Here at Believe Bride we have dresses for all occasions and all styles! Whatever the setup is for your day, the most important part is that you feel and look like yourself. Our favorite part of helping our brides is being able to create memories which so often come attached with the month of December.

Happy Holidays from all of us here at Believe Bride!

Jessica + Kyle

Jessica and Kyle had their dream wedding this summer. Welcome to the Believe Bride squad! Thank you for sharing all about your special day with us! We are so happy to be able to be a part of your love story. Congratulations!

The Big Day: Our wedding day was the perfect day. Despite little things going “wrong” (like forgetting to put the center pieces out and it being 100+ degrees), it was the best day.

Kyle, his family and myself worked hard almost every day after work and every weekend to make sure the property was ready for our wedding day and all the hard work paid off. It turned out better than we ever could have hoped.

We had an intimate first look that was captured by our videographer (definitely recommend!!) and photographer. Having this time to spend together and share our gifts before the business of the day was exactly what we needed and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

We laughed, cried, danced and shared memories with our closest friends and family. It was the perfect day.

What was your favorite part of your wedding?: It’s is hard to pick just one favorite part but I would have to say the first look between Kyle and I was my favorite moment. I remember looking around the corner, and saw him standing and waiting for me. At the moment it became so real - I was about to get married!

Special Memories: My best friend and maid of honor shared her mother’s blue sapphire ring and matching earrings with me to wear as I married my best friend. This was an emotional and precious moment as her mom, who I considered my second mom, passed away in December 2014. This made it feel like she was right there sharing my wedding day with me.

Another special thing was my uncle built our arbor. He created the most beautiful arbor for us to get married under from cedar. He surprised me with it a few weeks before the wedding.

My dad is in a wheelchair and sharing our first dance was another special moment I will never forget. We danced and laughed while everyone watched and my mom cried while capturing as many pictures as she could.

What advice would you give to future brides?: First off, remember to take a deep breath. Look around and take it all in because as cliché as it sounds, it goes by fast. Just remember why you are getting married and what the day really means. Small things may go wrong but at the end of the day you are marrying the love of your life and that’s all that really matters. Also, on a more practical note, I would recommend a first look! It’s such an intimate time to share with you partner-to-be and it gives you both time to really just be together and take it all in.

Vendor Credit: 

Photographer: Kali Hylton

Videographer: Heather and Jarret

DJ: Tyler Zoesch with Ruby Frog Enterainment

Hair: Jen Ripple at Kiss and Make-Up

Makeup: Alexa Shortell

Eyelashes: Lexie Mulvania

Food: Outlaw BBQ

Cake & Cupcakes: Sophia Yost

Finding the Perfect Wedding Shoes

Finding the perfect bridal shoes to match your dress AND last the entire day can be tough. Here’s some tips on how to navigate this small yet important detail!

 

Step 1: Think about your personality

Clothes are an expression of who we are as individuals… from head to toe. We get so focused on the dress that sometimes we forget about the shoes! Or, we have the perfect wedding shoes for our day and need a dress to match. The number one aspect to think about when deciding on your bridal shoes is to find a pair that shows off your personality. Are you more of a tomboy? Do you like to dress up and wear 5inch heels? Maybe you are more simple and want to be a bit more dressy for the occasion. Whatever the case may be, find the wedding shoe that screams YOU!

Step 2: Comfort and Fit

Sometimes we find a pair of stilettos that are absolutely gorgeous! However, when we try them on they feel like daggers stabbing the balls of our feet. (We’ve all been there) Although looks can be number one for some brides, your wedding day can be long. Be sure that you’ve tried on your bridal shoes and they fit correctly and won’t cause injury on your big day. Break them in before your wedding so you are able to dance the night away at the reception! If you just HAVE to have those gorgeous dagger stilettos, consider buying a second pair of wedding shoes to change into after the ceremony! In the end, be sure that whatever pair you choose doesn’t cause you pain.

Step 3: Incorporate your theme or dress

Do you have a specific color scheme for your big day? Maybe your wedding dress has a subtle pearl detail that you want to emphasize. Thinking about the overall setup of your décor or the build of your dress can make it easier to decide on a wedding shoe. Match your shoes with your color scheme to give your dress a pop of color. Look for similarities in shade or details of your dress and find a bridal shoe that will make those stand out. Or think about your theme and rock something anywhere from feminine cowboy boots to customized converse. If you're looking at a December wedding theme, be sure to take the weather into consideration when choosing your bridal shoes. Thinking of these aspects can make it easier to check off this item from your todo list.

 

At the end of the day, most guests probably won’t remember the wedding shoes you wore. The footwear you choose, however, can heavily impact your ability to enjoy your day. Use these tips to help navigate this decision and if you’ve already got your shoes, bring them with you to your appointments and fittings! The ability to visualize the overall look makes it easier to pick your perfect dress.

If you’re looking for more tips, check out our wedding planning checklist to make sure you're prepared for your big day! Ready to find your dream dress? Make an appointment today to come and see us!

Samantha + Bryce

Samantha and Bryce tied the knot on August 7th, 2021! She was a stunning bride and looked gorgeous in her dress. May your marriage be full of happiness and hunting. Congratulations from all of us here at Believe Bride!

The Proposal: On November 11th, 2020, he got down on one knee in a meadow while we were out hunting last season. 

The Big Day: It was a simple backyard BBQ with good food, drinks, music, and lots of dancing! 

What was your favorite part of your wedding?: Um... all of it! Probably the dancing right after we said our I do's!

Special Memories: Too many!

What advice would you give to future brides?: Don't worry too much in the end, it’s about what’s most important to the two of you and no one else. It’s your day. The rest is just a party! 

Vendor Credit: 

Photography: Kiara Jean Photography
Hair: Rashai Morgan
Catering: Outlaw BBQ

Taylor + Brandon

Welcome to the Believe Bride Tribe! On June 18th, 2021 Taylor and Brandon married. We are so happy for you and wish you luck on your new adventure in Tennessee!

The Proposal:  Brandon proposed while we were visiting family in Knoxville, TN. He wanted to do it while we were in Tennessee as we were soon moving there. We had planned to go tubing down the river that morning, but he had asked that we take a small detour to Cades Cove first. I was annoyed (as I was ready to tube LOL) but agreed. We got out and as I was admiring the mountains and views he was behind me ring in hand. I was shocked (as we had just discussed marriage the night before and he explained he wasn’t ready yet) but it was beautiful! He used my grandmothers wedding ring and it’s absolutely perfect.

The Big Day: Our wedding was at a winery/vineyard and with it being in June everything was filled in, green, and blooming! We only had two bridesmaids and two groomsmen and my father officiated. Another special touch was our memorial table. This was filled with pictures of loved ones who have passed and it was very special to have in our reception area. Our wedding didn’t really have a ‘theme’ but the colors were sage green, creams, white, and navy blue and the decor was very simple, earthy, and natural I would say.

What was your favorite part of your wedding?: My favorite part was having my father officiate it! It made it so special.

Special Memories: The first dance with my husband and father were special to me. My first look with each of them individually were also highlights!

What advice would you give to future brides?: Assign someone that isn’t in the family (if you can) to help with things the day of.

Vendor Credit:

We used Val Cinema for our pictures and videographer and they were amazing!! They’re all over the country and were great with communication, pricing, and quality.

Whitney + Michael

On August 14th, 2021 this couple had said their nuptials in their very own backyard. Small and intimate was the goal to share this special moment with their friends and family. Congratulations from your Believe family!

The Proposal:  The proposal was unique because we had spent the day on the lake and it was a bit windy/chilly, but he keep insisting we go for a walk since the lake was down low enough. Of course I'm thinking to myself why is he asking when I'm finally warm, so he finally got me to walk with him back in a cove area. Then before I knew he's asking me to marry him which without hesitation I said yes!!! 

The Big Day: Our wedding was exactly everything we could have asked for, but better in the sense that we kept it very small and intimate. One special touch I did was writing a hand written note to both my mom and dad just saying thank you, as well as how much I've appreciated them being the kind of parents who are always there for me.

What was your favorite part of your wedding?: My favorite part of our wedding was finally being able to reveal my dress to my now hubby, as well as to my dad. Both of there reactions were priceless and so my sister made sure we captured those. His favorite part of our wedding was everything because of finally being able to tie the knot.

Special Memories: Everything on that day was a special memory especially because I'm now married to my best friend.

What advice would you give to future brides?: Just to breath and have fun on your big day!!!

Vendor Credit:

Food, music, and pictures were done by family members

Published+in+Wedventure+Magazine+2020
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