Blog / Real Brides -
#CasablancaBride: Jessica Smith
1) The dress This was the 18th dress I tried on and it had everything I was looking for. From Elegance, tulle, lace, sparkle, a sweat heart neckline, and a ball gown. I loved the way the dress felt and it was very light weight unlike other ball gown dresses I had tried on. More than anything this dress was me and it was what I had pictured myself in since the day a girl started to dream about their wedding day. I just knew that this dress would catch the eye's of my guests and more than anything this dress made me feel beautiful. I was able to sit, stand, breathe, dance, jump, run, walk, and eat in this dress. When I ordered my dress I was even more excited to learn that they made my dress to my measurements and I was able to order it with a lace up back instead of zipper. Once my dress came in, even though I loved it just the way it was, I had the store where I ordered it from do some "Me" alterations. The store was unsure and wasn't sure just how this would turn out, but I was the bride and they took the challenge. They took a dress that I fell in love with and was everything I was looking for and added "Jess". With a lot of careful hard work and phone calls, the dress was complete. I was even more in love with this Cinderella Ball Gown. I must say after I ordered this dress I never once looked at another gown not even on Pinterest. I went to Bridal Shows and I was even more pleased because I had my own Casablanca Bridal Gown, no one had my dress or anything like it.
2) The love story AH, the love story of William & Jessica. Well funny story was.. I had got invited to a event Will was having for his nephew. I had messaged him on Facebook asking him about this event he was having. We started talking and after a few weeks decided to get together at a Local place for a Penguins Hockey game. We met on April 18th, 2012, and of course I had to bring my best friends. After a good night of hockey Will thought he would never hear from this girl (Me) again. Well he was surprised when I got a hold of him the next day. We had started to hang out more but I didn't want to date someone younger and he didn't want to date someone that had kids (Which I have 2). That didn't seem to stand because we had than met each others family's, he had met my kids, and than he asked me to be his girlfriend after dating for a little while. We had became close to each others family's, my kids took a liking to him as he did my girls, and my dad absolutely just thought he was the best guy ever. Will knew how much I loved Kenny Chesney and surprised me with tickets to a summer concert which was where we said our first "I Love You". I guess love kept growing between us and our family, but we were struck with very bad news that my father "My Hero" had Lung Cancer. It was a very emotional toll on my family, his family, and myself. He was quick to make sure my dad did his bucket wish which included the best 55th birthday and a Pocono race weekend where he got to meet his favorite race car driver and more. My dad grew ill and Will knew how much he met to my dad, how much I loved him, so he ran to the jeweller and got me a ring. Not any ring but my dad and mines birthstone. He asked me to marry him, and of course I said YES. After a 13 month long battle, 2 weeks after he had proposed we both lost a man we loved and looked up to. Through all that he stood by me through the ups and downs.. and through the downs he took me back to the jeweller and let me pick out any ring I wanted (Who does that?). 3 years we have been together and we are each other's soul mates, best friends, rocks, and lovers. There is a lot to a love story, but our love story never ends and has only begun. 3 years together and we do a lot of firsts together and teach each other new things. Our love story has only begun and will always be happy ever after... for I am his Cinderella, he is my Prince, and more importantly he has become the best dad to my 2 little girls and they became his little girls!
3) Most memorable - share with us your favorite wedding day memory! A most memorable moment is hard to pick when the whole day was memorable. I guess one of the most memorable part of the day was being with my best friends and getting ready for the big day. I remember getting my hair and makeup done and watching all of my girls get their dresses and jewellery on. It was than my turn... THIS WAS IT. 19 months of planning and waiting so long to put on my dress (which felt like it took forever to come). This was it. I remember my maids of honour, my mom, my mom's best friend ( aka my 2nd mom) and the photographer all in the room with me. Putting on my dress and feeling the way I did. It didn't really hit me till my dad's best friend walked in and had tears in his eyes and told me "I was beautiful and my dad would be very proud). I can tell you everything went so fast and I remember every ones faces when they seen me. The Groomsmen said how beautiful I was and Will was a lucky man. Like most brides I started to get scared, cry, and couldn't breathe. I remember panicking and my dad's best friend Joe, kept telling me it was fine. Will was the right guy for me and my girls. That my dad approved and to focus on Will. He led me down the aisle as tears came down to face, I got to Will and he had the biggest smile on his face and said "You Look beautiful". I replied "I feel so much better now I am with you". Joe smiled, our Pastor smiled and Joe gave me away for my dad. That was one of my most memorable moments!
4) Advice to other brides? Everyone says you always pick your first dress..... Not always true. When you go to find your dress only take a few close people not your whole bridal party. You get to many people putting in their opinion which will start to change your mind on what you the bride wants. When looking for a dress make sure you jump, sit, dance, walk, twirl, and look at the dress at every angle. Also have them dim the light so you can see what your dress will look like in a darker light. When you try on your dress make sure you don't assume you are going to drop a size, you might or you might not... always make sure you ask about dress alterations and the what if you gain or loose weight. Also know your shoes, your gonna be on your feet all day. Last make sure you eat before your wedding, you will be surprised at how much you don't get to eat at the reception because you're so busy.
5) Anything other comments? Don't be afraid to try on a dress you would never try on rather it be for fun or just to see what it looks and feels like, have fun with trying on your dress don't get frustrated. Also when people say "Something" will go wrong it always does, don't get upset when it does but laugh about it. Remember this is you and your soulmates big day, nothing else should matter. Have fun, take lots of pictures, and smile big!! A last tip is make sure you have someone get those little odd things you worked hard on. Such has wedding programs, gifts, photos of decorations ect. You'll love them when you get them because by the time you get to your reception everything will look different and will change with guests arrival.
The Details The Dress: Casablanca Bridal, style 1813 Photographer: Everlasting Memories by Lisa Venue: The Trinity Chapel Dubois PA Wedding Theme: Elegant/Formal, country setting