Wedding Style

With a majestic Alaskan glacier as the backdrop to their nuptials, Aranda and Joe needed minimal decor. What they chose was a perfect blend of rustic, bohemian, moody, and classy. With an emphasis on gorgeous florals by Alaska Flower Mill and pops of gold throughout, it was the perfect setting to say “I do”.

The Dress

When she got engaged, Aranda was very excited to go wedding dress shopping. Her mom and maid of honor flew to Denver from Alaska, and the three of them planned a day shopping at 3 different Denver bridal shops. After not finding anything special at the first two stores, Aranda began to feel disappointed and frustrated. After all — those TV shows make it seem so easy and instantaneous! Ready to give up hope, her entourage urged her to head to the last appointment for good measure.

After arriving at The Bridal Collection and explaining her vision and budget, Aranda’s stylist encouraged her to try on a strapless wedding dress. Although she previously made up her mind that she did not want a strapless gown, she decided to give it a try. The second she put on the ethereal WToo “Della” dress, she instantly felt like a queen. She was surprised, as it was not the type of dress she expected to fall in love with! At the end of the day, what Aranda wanted was a dress that she felt comfortable and beautiful in, and that was exactly what she found. From the soft, flowy skirt to the amazing bodice detail, she couldn’t say no!

Something Borrowed

Aranda’s favorite wedding day details were those used to remember her grandmothers, both of whom passed away before her special day. She incorporated an heirloom from each grandmother in her wedding day attire by wearing a ring passed down from her mom’s mother, and added lace from her dad’s mother’s wedding dress. During alterations, she customized the dress by creating a slit in the lining under the tulle. From there, they added the heirloom lace around the slit. They also added some of that lace to the bodice. It was so meaningful to wear the ring and lace on her wedding day. Aranda truly felt like both of those incredible women from her life were part of her special day.

Advice for Future Brides

“All of your hard work is so worth it. None of your ideas are stupid. If it’s meaningful to you and your partner, then go for it. I had a lot more fun dreaming up a memorable and meaningful experience than I did just going with the flow of traditions. We didn’t do a garter toss, and I brought my bouquet to my Grana’s grave site the next day instead of doing a bouquet toss. And lastly, Google Calendar was my saving grace for wedding planning. I had it booked with all my small tasks (Ex. Pick out shoes and jewelry, remind Joe to buy a suit, etc.), and it really saved me from having a head full of ideas with no action plan. You will save yourself a lot of stress if you create an action plan! It really made the final week, and day-of, a dream.” – Aranda

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