The Meet Cute : The couple first locked eyes in 2018 at a mutual friend ’ s birthday party .
The Bridal Attire : Bailey knew from the very beginning that she wanted to find her dream dress ( make that plural ) in a major city . “ In the 1980s , my mom traveled with her mother to Chicago to shop and prepare for her wedding , so we decided to do the same ,” she explains . Over the course of several appointments , Bailey says she tried on more than forty different dresses , but she never quite found “ the one .” The fittings did , however , give her some direction : She realized she loved the bottom tiers of one Vagabond Kahlo gown and the corset top look of a Marchesa design . And so , she decided to mix and match the two , as well as add in a few other customizations like spaghetti straps and an off-white coloring . “ The team at Lovely Bride was very helpful in ensuring that Vagabond could create the dress in a different color , as well as finding a tailor who could disassemble and recreate my vision using the two dresses ,” she says . “ Alva Tailors in Chicago painstakingly took the dresses apart and used the pieces to make my dream ceremony dress , as well as a mini skirt from the rest of the Marchesa dress for my rehearsal . I ’ ve kept the extra fabric from the dresses and hope to use it one day for my future child ’ s wedding !” Her Louvienne reception dress , meanwhile , also came from Lovely Bride in Chicago . “ The dress is called ‘ Olivia ,’ which is special to me as that is my matron of honor ’ s name ,” Bailey says .
The First Look : The bride and groom chose to shirk tradition and do a first look to ensure a private moment between them before the formal proceedings . “ We thought this would be the perfect time to shake out the nerves , give our special gifts and share our personal vows ,” Bailey says .
The Highlights : Food played a major role in helping the couple pamper their guests , a factor they say was very important to them . During cocktail hour , multiple stations served local New England cuisine like clam chowder , lobster rolls and fish and chips . Blackstone Caterers provided a raw bar featuring shucked-to-order oysters and other local seafood along with passed hors d ’ oeuvres like mini chicken and waffles , tostadas , arancini , leek flatbreads and more . The catering company also created the plated dinner menu — braised short rib and Murray ’ s Farm Statler chicken — as well as the late-night slider bar complete with truffle fries and mini milkshakes . “ To top it off , we had a special coffee bar with a barista that made custom espresso and iced coffee drinks . Jason and I love coffee and wanted to share this with our guests ,” Bailey adds . “ And we had three wedding cakes designed to incorporate details from my wedding dresses .”
90 | ENGAGED IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND 2023