Finding the Fairytale Gown

When planning her wedding, Alexandra had a dream of a fairytale destination wedding. Typically when you hear “destination wedding”, one automatically pictures beach nuptials. However, that wasn’t Alexandra’s vision — she fantasized about rainforests, volcanoes, and lush tropical landscaping. To add in the fairytale element, she knew without a doubt that she would wear a ball gown on her wedding day. After planning a full day of wedding dress shopping in Denver, the big day finally arrived! She started out early in the morning, trying on countless dresses at different bridal shops. However, when it came down to it, at each store there were always two dresses she couldn’t pick between. For Alexandra, this was a sign that none of them were THE dress.

After a long, exhausting, and disappointing day of wedding dress shopping, Alexandra made one final stop at The Bridal Collection. Although she wanted to cancel, her family encouraged her to just give it a try — and she didn’t regret it! She fell in love with the collection of gowns the moment she walked in the doors. When she met her bridal stylist, she shared her vision of a big princess ball gown. Before too long, she found the perfect one! She customized her strapless lace ball gown by adding extra crinoline underneath to create an even more dramatic princess effect. She was thrilled when the staff put her big dress into a tiny carry on suitcase; all of her guests were expecting something small, but when she made her grand entrance at the church, everyone was surprised — especially her husband!

Alexandra says, “My wedding day would not have been as special as it was if it wasn’t for the dress Bridal Collection helped me chose. I started dress shopping 5 months before the wedding and Bridal Collection did not say no, they just made it happen!”

A Celebration to Remember

Because Alexandra and Dustin so appreciated the efforts their guests made traveling long distances to share in their celebration, they had to make it worth their while! They planned a long wedding day — 10am to 11pm! — including two ceremonies: a Spanish church ceremony and an English ceremony at the resort with a volcano view. This way, both of their families got the full experience! While planning the wedding, Alexandra faced two particular challenges — keeping their guest entertained for the entire day, and incorporating her Hispanic culture in their wedding. She kept many details a secret from her 35 guests, not wanting to spoil the surprises for anyone. Her first surprise of the day? Arriving in a horse-drawn carriage! Then, after the church ceremony ended, a mariachi band entered the church, filling the space with joyful music. They also ended their English ceremony with mariachi and everyone dancing in front of the beautiful backdrop of Arenal Volcano.

When it came time for dinner, Alexandra surprised her guests with a romantic violinist to accompany their meal. Before things slowed down too much, the entertainment kept going! They enjoyed folkloric dancers — and before too long, everyone joined in on the fun! After all of the wonderful entertainment, the newlyweds and their closest friends and family danced the night away with a DJ, open bar, and a delicious pastry table! Despite having a small guest list, the dance floor was never empty. They ended the night with a magnificent fireworks show — a perfect way to close out the happiest day of their lives!

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