I am so excited about today’s blogger bride! Not only does Bethany of Rinse, Repeat have the most gorgeous, girly style, she also has the most amazing surprise wedding story, which you can read about on her blog (part one and part two). As if all that wasn’t enough, the talented lady Bethany enlisted to help her pull together the details was none other than Jacin, featured a few weeks ago! The blog community is a pretty amazing one, I can tell you that. Bethany and her husband moved to Kuwait this past summer, so we’ve had a ton to chat about since I lived in Qatar for seven years. Her e-mails are like little bursts of sunshine in my inbox, and I know her dress story will feel the same way to all of you!

{Photography by Flory Photo}

My dress was Melissa Sweet for Priscilla of Boston.

I knew my dress was the one when…it fit and was 75% off. Seriously! I’m a pretty emotional girl, but the dress was 100% logic. Halfway through the planning process, my fiance and I had a complete change of heart. He was in Iraq, which really put life into perspective. We loved each other and were ready to get married…why wait? And so, we ditched our original “perfect” wedding plans for a surprise wedding that would happen in just 8 weeks. Dress shopping quickly became less about finding the “perfect” dress, and more about swiftly finding a dress that fit my body and our budget!

Within hours of changing the date, I drove alone to the Priscilla of Boston closing sale, where I’d previously tried on a few gowns. I told myself, “If that Melisssa Sweet sample dress is still on sale…you’re geting it. No dilly-dallying or getting emotional. It’s just a dress. Just make it work.”

It was there, and it was meant to be. In the end, time crunch or not, I couldn’t have loved it more!

My favorite thing about my dress was…the swiss dot fabric! Originally I went looking at another swiss-dot beauty, which wound up being all wrong for my body type. But once I slipped into the Melissa Sweet Gigi and saw the way the fabric swished, I knew it had serious potential! The small train and neckline sealed the deal!

I accessorized my dress with…a champagne Tessa Kim veil, a peach thrifted cardigan, gold glitter shoes and some vintage beads from my favorite little shop in Minnesota. I was a far cry from the “together” bride who incorporated old, new, borrowed and blue! (I wish.) With 8 weeks to plan, I was just jazzed to make it to the altar with shoes on my feet! But, the accessories I wore on my wedding day are things I still love to wear today…veil included, when no one is looking. ;)

Thanks so much, Bethany!

Love, Lisa