Ali and Jarred’s wedding is filled with chic and contemporary wedding ideas, such as the silk attire, mirror-filled seating chart, and their unique last dance – definitely check our IG later today for a fun Reel from their day!! “We wanted our day to feel fun, elegant, airy, and classy,” says the couple. Adding that they used Pinterest to help them figure out the overall aesthetic of the event and find decor inspo. To top it all off, their venue added an extra sentimental touch because its the same place where Ali’s parents exchanged “I dos.” The couple also opted for a more intimate ceremony by only inviting 60 of their closest family and friends. A larger reception was then held after the nuptials.
The reception was definitely a memorable one for the newlyweds, too, thanks to their private last dance. It allowed for the couple to have a moment where it was just the two of them before the night ended. We just LOVE this idea and think you should add to your wedding day timeline!
Along with the private last dance, Ali says that they also found a unique way to continue the celebration into the after hours. “Our wedding and reception were unique in that they were held at a public venue, says Ali. Adding, “our ceremony began at 6 pm after the Arboretum closed, and because of the noise ordinance in Dallas County, music had to be turned off at 10:30 pm.” So, in order to extend the length of the reception, they planned a faux send-off at 10:30 pm for guests who were ready to leave and then continued to celebrate by having a Silent Disco party until 12 am!
With planning + design by Wandering Events DFW, florals by Kate Mcleod Studio, and captured by the talented Ruby Olivia Photography, check out this fun-filled day below…
The Dress: Like so many other 2020 brides, Ali found her dream gown during the pandemic. So, her shopping experience was a bit different than she envisioned, but still led her to her dream wedding dress. “We went to three different boutiques, but I was most excited to go to Stanley Korshak. My senior year of high school, I was looking for prom dresses online and came across a dress from a designer that I fell in love with. I looked up where they were sold in Texas and Stanley Korshak was one of the only places. My mom and I absolutely loved our experience with them and said we would definitely be back when I was getting married. 4 years later and there we were, back at Stanley Korshak.”
However, despite falling in love with a gown at Stanley Korshak, they ended up not buying a dress that day. “My mom encouraged me to wait and try a few more places before making a decision,” says Ali. Fast forward 3 months, in June 2020, exactly one year before the wedding, Ali and her crew continued the wedding dress shopping journey by visiting a few more few more boutiques. Stanley Korshak, of course, was their last and final stop. Ali says that even though she found a dress at another salon that day, she was eager to go back and try on the first dress she found at Stanley Korshak. “While at Stanley, a stylist recommended a new dress that had just come in from the same designer that I had liked back in March. When I put it on, I knew it was the one. I didn’t even try on the other dress that I had come back for; I immediately knew and we bought both the dress and veil that day,” says Ali. Her gown ended up being an elegant Ines Di Santo dress featuring zero embellishments and a figure-hugging silhouette.
There were a lot of memorable moments, but some of the most significant were getting to see Ali walk down the aisle, the private last dance, silent disco, and playing in the rain.
Our biggest piece of advice is to be authentic to who you are. It is your day, so do everything that YOU want to do. It doesn’t matter what your best friend did or even what you feel like you’re supposed to do; it will be one of the most important days of your life, so make sure it feels like you.
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Another tip from the couple: “After going to a few weddings before our big day, we noticed that guests really follow the lead of the bride and groom in terms of vibe and energy. We wanted our guests to walk away from our wedding saying, ‘that was the best wedding EVER!’ So, we made sure to bring the energy and just had a ton of fun. Ask yourself what you want your wedding day to look like and go make it happen. Just be yourself and everyone else will follow!”
Processional: Somewhere in Time, La Vie En Rose, Canon in D, In Christ Alone
Recessional: At Last by Etta James
First Dance: Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley
And the private Last Dance…
Check out more from their day in the film below by 14th Avenue Films
Ready for more inspiring wedding inspo? We’ve got you covered! Check out our real weddings page #onGWS here!
photography: Ruby Olivia Photography // venue name: Dallas Aboretum & Botanical Gardens, Dallas, Texas, USA // event design: Wandering Events DFW // planning: Wandering Events DFW // florals: Kate Mcleod Studio // wedding dress: Robin by Ines Di Santo // wedding dress boutique: Stanley Korshak // hairpiece: Ines Di Santo // bridesmaid dresses: BHLDN // groom attire: Joseph A Bank // videography: 14th Avenue Films // paper goods: Sydney Beth Designs // catering: Two Sisters Catering // cake: Ruth Robbins // furniture rentals: Lawson Rentals // specialty rentals: Wandering Events DFW // silent disco: LeForce - Event DJ & Lighting // ceremony strings: Dallas Asian Strings // tent: Marquee Event Rentals // dj: Ben Grubbs
