Have you entered our $2,000 Wedding Dress Giveaway yet? The deadline for entry is 11:59pm est January 31st (tomorrow)!
We can’t wait to call the lucky bride who wins and tell her she can choose her wedding gown from thousands of designer gowns. Imagine wearing a Vera Wang, Monique Lhuillier, Reem Acra, or another of the over 300 designers available on our site.
If you won our Giveaway, which dress would you choose?
St. Pucchi Z220, Amsale Coco, Kenneth Pool Phoebe
Amsale A458, Priscilla of Boston Morgan, Monique Lhuillier Snow White
Delicate…sophisticated…elegant…all perfect ways to describe the gorgeous wedding of Caroline and Dustin. Caroline had always dreamed of an all white wedding. By adding DIY touches, and some pastel accents for interest, she bought everything together beautifully. Don’t miss her “lace” wedding cake. It’s one of the loveliest I’ve seen, and looks almost too pretty to eat!
Caroline + Dustin | July 16, 2011 | Houston, Texas
The ceremony
We woke up to a forecast of thunderstorms on our wedding day. The morning started with a bit of drizzle, but the rest of the day was clear with glowing sun. People told us it is good luck to have rain on your wedding day, it’s a sign of a happy marriage!
Both sides of our family are religious Buddhist, so it made sense for us to have a traditional Buddhist wedding ceremony. We began the ceremony with incense placed in front of the shrine to Buddha and offering flowers. We exchanged rings and beads with the monks chanting the song of blessing. The ceremony concluded by reciting blessings of Buddha’s teaching, conveying the message that marriage should be based upon a foundation of mutual respect, and that the couple should be equal partners.
The reception
The reception was a seated formal dinner in the main dining room on the top floor of Hotel ZaZa, in Houston. The room overlooks a breathtaking view of the sunset and the beautiful Houston skyline. I always wanted a white wedding, so I kept everything white and had all my bridesmaids wear different colors and styles dresses to keep it interesting. Since it was a small and intimate wedding, for the decor, I wanted to add some personal touches to connect with our guests. We created DIY projects for the ceremony programs, place cards, table numbers, guest favors. The “Out of Town” gift bags, the candy bar and signs at the reception were our own creations, too. My favorite design element of the big day was our white lace wedding cake! With our beloved family and great friends, our wedding was the most incredible experience and undoubtedly the greatest day of our lives.
How Caroline found her dream wedding dress
The dress was truly a dream come true. I always knew that I wanted a dress in A line/ball gown style. When I saw Vera Wang’s Diana dress, it simply took my breath away with its amazing handwork of swirly tulle and the delicate sweet-heart neckline! The dress was so different in an AMAZING way. I knew there and then that it was THE dress.
The way Caroline felt in her wedding dress
Glamorous, chic, stunning.
Why Caroline decided to sell her wedding dress
Everyone loved the dress, especially my husband. As much as I would love to wear it again there is no other occasion. I feel it’s a shame for a dress that beautiful just sitting in the closet, so I hope to have someone wear it again and feel as beautiful as I did!
Caroline’s wedding dress: Vera Wang, Diana
Photography: Akil Bennett Photography
Vera Wang wedding dresses are beyond amazing. Her gowns have innovative designs and impeccable appeal. They draw you into their beauty and the pure romance of a wedding.
It’s the artistry of Vera Wang’s wedding dresses that separate them from the rest. Her use of gorgeous fabrics and unique construction is the signature of her design. Her wedding dresses are fashionable, yet timeless, and oh so feminine. And the collections are so expansive, there is truly a Vera Wang dress for every type of bride.
Vera Wang Dovima, Size 0; Vera Wang Fern, Size 2
Vera Wang Erica, Size 6; Vera Wang Ghillian, Size 4
Vera Wang Fairy Dust, Size 6; Vera Wang Ella, Size 6
Vera Wang Eloise, Size 4, Vera Wang Diana, Size 0
Those are just a few of my favorite Vera Wang gowns that are currently available PreOwned. (Which means a breathtaking dress at an amazing price). If you want to see even more, take a peek at the more than 300 Vera Wang Wedding Dresses currently for sale. Happy dreaming!
Today’s featured wedding comes to us from Calgary, Alberta Canada – full of classic elegance and a beautiful blend of Laotian and North American wedding traditions. I love the way Sonary + Kevin’s wedding envelopes you in a complete experience. The crisp ivory decor with accents of royal blue throughout the reception is like stepping into a dream-scape and the abundance of white paper lanterns gives wedding guests the sense they could float away. Not only was their day dream-like, their celebration was kid friendly, complete with mini-putt golfing for the young people. The bride and groom look amazing in their wedding attire and equally magical when Sonary and Kevin changed into their traditional Laos wedding outfits for their special Laotian wedding dance…Enjoy!
Sonary + Kevin | August 27, 2011 | Calgary, Alberta
The Ceremony
It was an afternoon traditional church wedding at the end of the summer. All along the inside of the church were beautiful blue stain glass windows, which created an ethereal wedding atmosphere that was only enhanced with a violinist playing in the background. My walk down the aisle seemed to be over in the blink of an eye. Although the ceremony was inside, our wedding photos were outside and we couldn’t have got better weather. The sun was shining, with just the right amount of clouds in the sky to make for amazing pictures.
The Reception
We wanted to keep it simple and elegant, but also had some very subtle yet unique accents to really ‘Wow’ our guests and made sure they were highlighted in just the right way. When I first saw how the space was decorated I couldn’t believe my eyes. The ceiling and the tables were better than I could have imagined, looking clean and crisp with just solid colors of ivory and royal blue. The illuminated centerpieces, the ceiling décor and the low lighting of the hall made the evening feel whimsical as the night went on.
My family is originally from Laos, so we wanted to integrate a traditional Laotian dance and wedding attire into the reception as well. I think our guests were really excited and surprised to see our Laotian wedding outfits, along with the Laotian wedding traditions that aren’t so common now-a-days.
How Sonary Felt in Her Wedding Dress
It made my body feel elongated in the best way possible. It made me feel like the rest of the world just melted away off the edges of the tulle, and it was just my husband and I on our wedding day. And I felt proud to show myself off in what I thought was such a breathtaking wedding gown.
Why Sonary Decided to Sell Her Wedding Dress
Because this dress is so unique and rare, I think someone else should be able to experience having and wearing such a beautiful gown. Every girl dreams of wearing Vera Wang down the aisle, so why not help make it possible for someone else?
Sonary’s Dress | Vera Wang Fiona
Photography | Yueko Image Photography