Real Bride #14~ Hilarey L.

Where did you get married and when?

At the Art Center in Des Moines, IA on June 29, 2012

What was the best moment of the day?

Seeing Brian for the first time when I walked down the aisle.  Also, that my grandparents could be at my wedding.

What was the most memorable moment of the day (different then the best- maybe something funny, someone fainting, bad toast, etc)?

There was a huge thunderstorm right when we were supposed to have our ceremony and we had to move inside to our rain location.  It was really hectic while we were deciding what to do, but it ended up turning out just fine.  Another memorable moment was hearing what our officiant, Bev Davis, had written for the ceremony.  She is a good friend of the family and an amazing writer, so we knew she would do a great job, but we didn’t go over what she was going to say before hand, so it was all a surprise.  It was very special and personal.

If you could do it over again, what would you do differently (if anything)?

I would have picked a different dress.  I loved my dress, but I didn’t have much time to look (we got married six months after getting engaged) and I wasn’t that into dress shopping.  I wish I would have done a little more research and gone with something simple.

What was the most stressful part of the planning?

Our wedding planner had a lot of weddings in June and didn’t really focus on ours until just a few weeks before, so we were running around trying to get everything done.  Also the forecast was calling for a huge heat wave, so we were nervous everyone was going to bake in the sun during the ceremony.

What were you thinking while you were walking down the aisle?

I was trying not to cry and was very overwhelmed with what was going to happen!  I’m also very close to my dad so him walking me down the aisle was something I had always looked forward to, so I was really cherishing the moment.

Did you do anything special to get in tip top shape?

Brian and I stopped eating out and went to the gym together instead about 4-5 nights per week.  I would alternate the gym visits with yoga too.  We also cut out alcohol, ate only whole grains, veggies and lean meat.  We both saw great results- the wedding was a great motivator.

What is your advice for choosing bridesmaids?

We only invited immediate family and two friends each to the wedding- about 25 people total, and I didn’t have any bridesmaids.  My two girlfriends and my cousins came over to get ready the morning of the wedding and had a great time.  The two friends I invited to the wedding I’ve known for over 17 years so they’re like sisters to me.

What was your first dance song?

We didn’t do a formal first dance song- we tried to keep things kind of unconventional.  We had a live jazz band and danced together, but not to a specific song.

What shoes did you wear and were they comfortable?

After a lot of searching, I ended up with some really inexpensive silver flat sandals from Nine West!  They were really comfortable and went well with the dress.

Were you able to enjoy the reception or did you feel that you needed to “work the room?”

That’s why we only invited our close family and friends- we spent all weekend together and I felt I got to talk to everyone one on one.

What is your best “day of wedding” advice?

Don’t sweat the small stuff, keep in mind the goal is marrying the love of your life, not in the dumb wedding details.  Plus no one will know but you that something has gone wrong.

Did your relationship feel different after the wedding?

Yes I think it has evolved and is still evolving.  I love having Brian by my side every day and calling him my husband!  I’m very proud to be his wife.