Tiffany’s fairy tale wedding began with a sentimental Catholic church ceremony and ended with a lavish celebration at the striking Milwaukee Art Museum. Don’t miss the amazing Sweets Table –  it was a showstopper, two years in the making! Thirty-eight feet of the most delicious looking desserts you have ever seen, created an over-the-top centerpiece at the reception. But, the true centerpiece of this elegant affair was Tiffany’s custom made Pnina Tornai gown. The perfect fit, custom lace bolero and Swarovski crystal adorned bodice made this regal dress truly one-of-a-kind!

Tiffany + Robert | September 3, 2011 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The ceremony

We were married at the Basillica of St. Josaphat. The ceremony was the most important part of the wedding for us.  It was so important that I had decided to convert to be Catholic.  It was always a dream of mine to get married in a beautiful church and be a part of a religion that made me feel closer to God and my husband. We also includeded our family in the ceremony by having them walk at the beginning of the ceremony.  The colors that we choose for the bridesmaid dresses were Ice Blue and Cotton Candy Pink.  The girls then went to a local fabric store and sewed on rhinestone trim.  They were one of a kind.  The flower girls wore pink sparkle dresses.

The reception

Our reception site was at the famous Milwaukee Art Museum. We wanted to do things a little differently, so we did not have a traditional cocktail hour.  When our guests arrived they were escorted to the place card table to find their seats and then told drinks were available at the bar.  Once they got their drinks they were seated with their own personal plate of  hors d’oevres. We had a good family friend sing Frank Sinatra songs during our cocktails and dinner.  She has the voice of an angle.  By doing this it gave us a chance to get our first dance in before dinner, and something for our guests to watch while enjoying hor doevres. For our décor we wanted a modern, but classic and timeless look.  Our flower centerpieces were all white with an ivory rhinestone base, our linens were white with ivory design and crystals.  We had silver rhinestone crystal charger plates and even a rhinestone buckle on our napkins. Our cake was very modern with sparkle trim.  

We had Sweet Table that we wanted to be our centerpiece of the room.  The decor that you see on the Sweet Table was something Rob and I put together over a two-year period.  It all started with one cupcake stand, and it just grew from there.  The Sweet Table ended up being a 38 foot long table, all of which we had to fill with sweets.  The sweets ended up also being our guests’ gifts.  At the end of the night we set out pretty take home boxes for guests to take home whatever they wanted. The whole evening was a dream come true…our guests were even commenting “This is a true fairly tale wedding.”

How Tiffany found her dream wedding dress

I had my eye on a certain dress from the moment I was engaged.  This dress was only available at Kleinfeld as it was a Pnina Tornai.  I love New York, so I had no problem traveling to try on my dream dress.  Once I arrived at Kleinfeld I had to try THE dress on first. Once I had it on I felt stunning, amazing, and like a real bride.  This dress was totally me, with a few alterations.   I had wanted my dress to be unique something that would make jaws drop.  So Pnina and I had altered the dress a little to make it a one of a kind.  I did end up trying on other dresses,  I always knew which dress was mine!

Since we were having a traditional Catholic ceremony I wanted a little jacket made of the same lace to match the lace on the bodice of the dress.  I was not sure how it would look especially since the dress was already very dramatic with the rhinestones and ruffles.   Once I put on the little jacket I cried.  I, at that point realized that was my best idea yet.

Why  Tiffany decided to sell her wedding dress

At first I didn’t want to sell the dress.  This dress is one of a kind.  Then I thought about my own experience wanting to find a beautiful one of a kind dress on PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com.  So I decided to sell the dress in hopes that I would help another Bride with a similar vision find a good deal on such an amazing dress.  I love this dress.  I hope this dress finds a good home and puts smiles on another bride’s face on her special day. 

Tiffany’s dress: Pnina Tornai

Photography: OutVision Wedding Photography

Sandra’s amazing vision of a Vintage Floral Fantasy came true at her exquisite summer wedding. I’ve never seen more beautiful flower arrangements at a wedding – they set the scene and created an elegant, ethereal atmosphere. From the unique centerpieces at the reception, to the sweet mixed arrangements lining the pews at the church, flowers made all the difference at this celebration. If you are planning a “dreams come true” wedding, let today’s Real Wedding feature be your inspiration!

Sandra + Rodrigo | June 25, 2011 | Hollywood, California

The ceremony 

The ceremony was located at the Holy Martyrs Armenian Apostolic Church. It was a very traditional elegant ceremony. The church walkway was covered with my favorite flowers!

The reception

We chose The Taglyan Cultural Complex to host our wedding because to us, it represents a timeless elegance that we associate with weddings. When you first enter the ballroom, it just feels like a place where weddings should take place. The picturesque landscape, the elaborate ballroom, the magnificent glass ceiling all helped to convey a certain ambiance for the guests to enjoy. 

For us personally, the most enchanting part of our wedding was the flowers and the décor. The theme was a Vintage Floral Fantasy! Everything from the wedding dress, bridesmaids’ dresses, invitations, place cards, cake, dance floor, centerpieces reflected the floral dream that was the focal point of our wedding. I chose lavenders, petal pink and ivory because I thought the colors were romantic yet traditional. The flowers were vignettes going all the way down with an extensive amount of candlelight, high and low centerpieces and refluxed rose heads. The room looked like a romantic garden!

How she found her dream wedding dress

From the moment I got engaged I knew what kind of wedding dress style I wanted. Elegant, strapless, and BIG ball gown! Although I tried other styles, I knew I wouldn’t feel like a true bride if I wasn’t in my own version of a princess gown. Although I wanted a traditional look I felt like the Sunday Rose dress still had a modern edge to the traditional wedding gown. It also fit with my floral fantasy wedding theme. Till this day people still ask about my wedding gown and tell me how unforgettable it was!

How Sandra felt in her wedding dress

Glamorous, Princessy (is that even a word?), Elegant

Why Sandra decided to sell her wedding dress

I decided to sell my wedding dress because I wanted other girls to have the same experience I had, but for a fraction of what I paid. Right now my wedding dress is in its preservation box in top condition waiting for that special bride to enjoy her special moment!

Sandra’s wedding dress: Monique Lhuillier, 32278335

Photography: Couture Foto

Today’s featured wedding comes to us from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, complete with soft and airy charm and the most graceful Amy Kuschel gown made from French Chantilly lace.  With a history dating back to the 17th century, I love the grandeur and delicate detailing of the chapel where Hannah and Griffin tied the knot. Other things not to miss: the relaxed New England backdrop, the couples favorite coconut cupcakes and a bride who felt “Feminine, unique and beautiful” – I couldn’t agree more Hannah!

Hannah + Griffin | September 10, 2011 | Portsmouth, New Hampshire

The Ceremony
Portsmouth is so special to us because it was the first place we lived together as a couple.  The town has so much to offer and we knew it would be the perfect place to celebrate our wedding.  We chose South Church for the ceremony.  Built in 1636, it was Portsmouth first chapel.  The interior of the church was already so beautiful that we decided to keep our decorations minimal.  We chose a variety of simple green and purple floral arrangements, complimented by white bows, to decorate the pews, altars and doors.  It took our breath away when we saw the final results on our wedding day.

Reception Description
The classic New England hotel – Wentworth by the Sea, was exactly what we were looking for in a venue.  It was a place that our guests could relax and have fun, and still be treated to a little pampering.  We focused most of our attention on the food and drink, and let the stunning hotel take center stage.  Our guests enjoyed cocktail hour on the waterfront porch, before being escorted into the Grand Ballroom for the main event.  Tables were adorned with small tea lights and centerpieces featuring green flowers and topiary balls.  We enjoyed a delicious dinner and finished it off with our signature coconut cupcakes.  The DJ kicked up the music and we danced the night away.  It was the perfect end to a perfect day.

Hannah’s Dress Search
I had a pretty good idea of what I was looking for in a dress.  Instead of looking at EVERYTHING, I concentrated on styles that would complement my figure – mainly sheath silhouettes.  It was love at first sight when I came across the Amy Kuschel “Lauryn” gown online.  I tracked it down at a local bridal boutique and the rest is history!

How Hannah Felt In Her Dress
Feminine, Unique, and Beautiful

Why Hannah Decided to Sell Her Wedding Dress
After going back and forth about what to do with my dress, I decided that selling it made more sense than letting it sit in storage for the rest of my life.  I want someone to enjoy it as much as I did on my wedding day!

Hannah’s Dress | Amy Kuschel Lauryn
Photography | Susan Mullen Photography

This gorgeous California wedding has me dreaming of Spring! With chic modern decor, and a delightful green and white color scheme, this celebration just feels fresh and fun. I love the flirty green bridesmaids dresses and the elegant table settings at the reception. Don’t miss Leah’s story about finding her dream wedding gown. She offers some great advice!

Leah + Gene  | July 16, 2011 | Pasadena, California

The wedding

Our ceremony and reception were held at the Pasadena Museum of California Art. Our ceremony and reception decor was green & white, clean and simple, elegant, modern.

How Leah found her dream dress

I started my dress search as soon as I got engaged by looking through bridal magazines. From the magazines, I noticed I leaned towards A-line silhouettes. When I finally tried on dresses, I was open to all silhouettes but ended up with an A-line just like I had envisioned. I visited two bridal shops before finally purchasing my dress at Kleinfeld Bridal Salon.  Here is my advice to brides: be open minded because in the end, the dress chooses you. The dress I ended up with I did not like at all on the hanger. On the other hand, the dress that I loved on the hanger looked terrible on me.

The way Leah felt in her wedding dress

Beautiful, radiant, and whimsical. I felt like I was floating in my dress!

Why she decided to sell her wedding dress

My husband and I are moving to a new house and we are trying to de-clutter. Though I really love my dress, I’d rather have someone else make good use of it instead of collecting dust in the garage. Though it was sad for me to list the dress for sale, I’ll always have my pictures to reminisce.

Leah’s wedding dress: Lazaro, LZ 3962

Photography: Steven Lam Photography