Wedding Day Vision

Jason and Elissa love adventure and novelty, so they set out to plan a wedding full of unique experiences for both themselves and their guests. They also wanted their special day to give everyone a glimpse of the love God had given them through one another. It’s safe to say that both of these things were accomplished at their romantic wedding in Ireland. Their destination and wedding day was the perfect blend of adventure and romance. Before the ceremony, the bride and groom spent a few dreamy hours taking photos around the Irish countryside, catching some spectacular views of the west coast. As if the setting wasn’t romantic enough, they found themselves caught in the rain! There’s nothing that says “adventure” more than hiking the Irish Cliffs in your wedding gown through the mud and rain.

When it came time for the wedding ceremony, they lit a fire as well as lots of candles to create a romantic, intimate setting for their guests. To top it all off, their vows were exchanged inside a little 15th century castle.

Wedding Dress Shopping in Denver

When Elissa began planning the wedding, the one thing she felt most nervous about was shopping for a wedding dress. After seeing countless films and TV shows where the bride “just knows” or has a “feeling” when putting on the right dress, she couldn’t help but fear that she wouldn’t have that experience.

As she walked into The Bridal Collection, she mentioned to her sister that her stomach was in knots. The engagement was only five months long, AND the wedding would be in Ireland, so the pressure was on to find the perfect dress as soon as possible. Once Elissa met her bridal stylist, she shared a little bit about her wedding dress vision. Ever since she could remember, she knew she wanted a traditional wedding dress with subtle hints of flair and sass. She wasn’t keen on wearing a poofy ballgown, but ended up falling madly in love with a simple, but full skirted, wedding dress with buttons all the way down the dramatic train. The bodice featured flirty and fun details (the perfect touch of sass, just like she wanted), and the dress had pockets!

To complete her romantic wedding day look, Elissa wore an elegant cathedral veil edged in a stunning delicate lace. The lace was the final detail to pull the entire look together! Elissa truly felt like a princess in her Irish castle.

Elissa says, “Jordan was spectacular at figuring out my likes and dislikes. As soon as I walked out in my dress, and saw my dad, mom and sister tearing up, I knew it was the one. I will never forget the smile on my dad’s face when I walked out in that dress!”

Special Wedding Day Memories

Jason and Elissa were blessed by over 30 friends and family members who traveled to Ireland to help them celebrate their special day. After all was said and done, they said, it was the people who surrounded them with love that were the most special part of their wedding day. Everything about their wedding was personal and catered to the couple and their loved ones. For example, the gorgeous burgundy shawl that Elissa wore over her wedding dress was crocheted by her grandmother, who happened to be the one who had set the couple up on a blind date! Jason’s talented sisters performed all of the music for their ceremony, which meant so much to the bride and groom. During their rehearsal, they asked if their officiant would perform an Irish wedding tradition called Handfasting — where the term “tying the knot” comes from. He needed to bind the bride and groom together, which made him so nervous that he spent hours the night before the wedding practicing tying the knot on his hotel room ironing board. Elissa’s brother and sister-in-law braved the flight with their 4 month old son, (Elissa’s nephew), who was the ring-bearer. Though he stole the show in his adorable bow tie and suit, the most memorable part of him being there was when he threw up on a groomsmen during the prayer (the bride and groom laughed about it, thankfully!). Needless to say, the wedding would not have been the same without all of Jason and Elissa’s loved ones.

Advice from the Bride

“Enjoy your groom on your wedding day! Don’t be afraid to take a few minutes, or even an hour to spend some time alone. Celebrate together, be thankful together and just soak in the significance of the day. It will be an incredibly busy day, don’t get lost in all the hustle and bustle!”

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