Real Brides: Abby

It all started 10 years ago when Andrew was assigned at random to be my older brother’s suite-mate at college. I was living in NJ and was a sophomore in high school at the time. I tagged along with the family to drop my brother off at college in Ohio, but never did I dream that I was meeting my future husband on that trip! When it was my turn to go to college, I also wound up at Malone, the college that my older brother and Andrew attended. I always admired Andrew from a far, but it wasn’t until years later, when we both were graduated from college, that our relationship became anything more than just being his best friend’s younger sister. In spring of 2017, I was studying to take my Nursing Boards and he was studying to take his CPA exams, so we began running into each other at Starbucks to study. Every once in a while he’d buy my coffee and we’d wind up talking over our books. It wasn’t until my brother gave him the “go ahead” that he officially asked me out. Two and a half years later, he proposed to me on our family vacation in the Poconos. We had a dream wedding day on November 21, 2020, despite covid, and we look forward to many many happy years together....And that’s how I came to marry my brother’s best friend!

I thought I would wind up falling in love with a form fitting, lacey gown with long sleeves. But when I walked into Lavender Bridal Salon, I was drawn to all the sweetheart, spaghetti strap, full gowns. I tried on 7 dresses, all that were so different from each other and loved every one of them - or so I thought. The last gown I tried on, was the gown, and I knew it as soon as I tried it on. The others just didn’t even compare. My bridal consultant paired the matching veil with my gown and tears were shed by my mom, aunt and I. 

Photo by Juliana Cole

Bride Abby wore a Moonlight Collection style.