Our Bride, Lauren: A Dress for Now, a Dress for Later

Written by: Clare Spencer

Photography by: Julie Pepin Photography

http://juliepepin.com/

Though they both attended Michigan State University, and both received degrees in Business, (Marketing for her, and International Business for him) Lauren and Jack didn’t meet until they began working for the same company in Ann Arbor. Let's quickly jump forward to a very important day. To keep things classic and romantic, Jack chose a very sentimental spot to propose.

“…in the same spot we first said I love you.”

Their venue played both roles as the ceremony and reception space. The wedding was held at The Valley at Frutig Farms in Ann Arbor. Lauren wished for a venue that provided an outdoor ceremony space and indoor reception space, so The Valley was perfect. Thankfully, the couple received 70 degree weather and clear skies as a wedding present from Mother Nature and they were able to use both spaces as was desired. Julie Pepin was their photographer and was able to give their photos life.

“I absolutely hate posed and staged close up cheesy wedding photos[…] We have gorgeous movement and landscapes in our photos.”

Now onto what this is really about, The Gown. A young designer, who has recently risen in popularity is the talented Hayley Paige. Her gowns are fun, flirty, and whimsical, with just a touch of edginess. Many of her dresses have graced the pages of most, if not all bridal magazines and that is where Lauren saw and fell in love with ‘The One’, or so she thought. Lauren came to Mimi’s for a Hayley Paige trunk show and to her delight the magazine gown was there. She tried several gowns, but it was the one from the magazine she just had to try. Of course, she liked it but among the other gowns there was another that stood out even more. That other gown was ‘Halo’: a lightweight, tulle skirt ball gown, with a chunky ivory lace bodice with nude lining and an open, criss-cross back.

“The shop was closing, but I couldn’t make up my mind. Deep down I knew I wanted the Halo gown.”

Lauren returned the next morning and tried the two gowns on one more time.

“I knew before I got there, but after putting Halo back on, I decided it was the one.”

The amount of fun had at a wedding is determined by how dirty the hem of your gown gets, or at least that’s my theory. Lauren wasn’t too keen on the idea of preserving her wedding gown after the wedding. She didn’t want to put her gown in a box and only being able to look at it. Since the bottom of her ballgown was worn and dirty from dancing all night, rather than just having it cleaned another idea was proposed. Thanks to Mimi’s seamstress and fitters they were able to shorter her gown into a truly unique, one of a kind, cocktail dress for any upcoming special occasions.

“…maybe our anniversary!”

Final words of wisdom?

“Do not do anything you don’t want to do – it is your wedding!”