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Hannah and Matt: Since 2005, That's a Long Time!

Clare Spencer
Feb 16, 2018
2 min read

Photography by: Christopher Tyson

www.ctysonphotography.com

As you can gather from the title, Hannah and Matt have been together since 2005. They both grew up in Peoria, Illinois and they met in middle school. For college they attended different schools but both in Iowa. It was on a weekend visit to Des Moines, where Hannah was studying, that Matt decided to pop the question.

“I’m surprised he still went through with it!”

They were at dinner and Hannah made a comment that she felt she wore too much jewelry, especially rings. A bit later she went on to say she was nervous about living with him and sharing her space and her things with him. However, none of this deterred Matt. After dinner the couple went for a walk in Hannah’s favorite park in the city. In the center of the park, on a beautifully lit up bridge, Matt proposed to Hannah. To which, Hannah obviously said yes! To add extra pizazz to the proposal fireworks went off from a near by sporting event.

Hannah came to Mimi’s with a very specific image in mind for her gown: mermaid fit, lace, sweetheart neckline, classic. The only problem was every dress Hannah looked at that matched this description she didn’t like. Hannah was worried that she wasn’t going to find anything and that she was going to leave disappointed.

“The associate was very understanding.”

Hannah was shown a ballgown by Hayley Paige, to which her response was an adamant, ‘no’. But the associate suggested she just try something different.

“[she said,] ‘she saw me in this gown.’”

Reluctantly, Hannah tried on the ballgown and when she faced her reflection she fell in love with the gown and she knew it was the one.

“I am not sure HOW she knew…[it] was so far from the style that I wanted! It was the most beautiful gown I had ever seen and I loved it so dearly.”

The gown was in fact, ‘Elysia’, a ballgown with Hayley Paige’s signature layered tulle skirt with thin horsehair edge, long sleeve lace bodice with illusion neckline and criss-cross open back.

Hannah and Matt are passionate craft beer drinkers and they knew they didn’t want a venue that was typical or felt like a banquet hall. So, they decided to go with Prairie Street Brewhouse in Rockford, Illinois. This historic and “architectural landmark”, gave the non-traditional feel Hannah and Matt were going for while still being elegant and unique.