Annie Allen Smith - Featured Bride

The Day

Featured Bride blogs tend to start with "The Day," but there wouldn't even be one without the dress. This sweet bride literally wanted to go to the courthouse or elope, but when Annie found her gown at Bridal Traditions, she decided that a wedding was in order. She and Dylan attend Little River Baptist Church and so eloping became a wedding and a wedding became a church wedding. 

Annie: "We decided to do a wedding at our church because it is a special place for us and we also loved the idea of a church wedding since no one does those anymore. I stressed about every little detail of my wedding, but I used my dress as motivation throughout my wedding planning to keep going. I was excited for the day and excited to wear my dress and allow my future hubby to finally see it! Our wedding day was the best day ever. It was so filled with love, support, and happiness."

According to the bride, doing a "first look" was a good idea. She and Dylan took the opportunity to chat privately and when she asked if the gown was what he expected her to choose, he announced it was even better. Well done, Dylan! She did look beautiful and her bridesmaids and the groomsmen all wore complimentary pinks, beiges and mauve - all perfect for an August wedding.

The Couple

The couple's beginnings have a similar flavor (and twist) as the decision to go from eloping to church wedding. They knew each other in high school and run into each other occasionally at the community college they both attended, but when Dylan finally asked Annie out, she thought, "no! I'm too nervous." Meanwhile, on that first day, she told us that it felt like their 100th date. 

Annie: "I felt like we had known each other forever and we began a relationship that allowed us to grow closer and closer. I knew within the first couple of months if not sooner that Dylan was the man I wanted to marry, and I prayed that if Dylan was the man for me that I would be certain. Dylan was saved on June 10th, 2018. It was important to both of us for us to both be saved and have our relationship with God first before we were married. (Thank you God for answering our prayers!) We were engaged on July 8th, 2018. We are both so happy to finally be Mr. & Mrs. Smith and starting this new chapter in our lives."

The Dress

So this is the dress that caused the plan to pivot. Annie wasn't planning on shopping for a gown, but thought why not and she's seen enough in magazines and doing a little research that she knew what her preferences were. She wanted sparkle and sleeves and that is what she got. Her skirt was more full than she originally wanted, but it ended up being part of what she liked the most about her dress. Brides tell us they want to feel comfortable and beautiful and those two things should always be goals. Annie got both!

"When I came out in my dress my mom got tears in her eyes and told me how much she loved it. That was a special moment between us.  I felt so beautiful and confident in it. Kelly told me to look at the mirror in the dressing room and told me that what I was seeing would be the view that Dylan would see of me on our wedding day. That made me love the dress even more! My three favorite things about my dress were the sleeves, lace, and sparkles!"

So here is the biggee for our team at BT: (well.... this and the fact that a dress from us spawned a whole wedding!) Annie felt like a bride while she was in our midst. "My mother and I felt so welcomed by Kelly when we came into the store for the first time. We felt no pressure to buy anything from her. It was a very comfortable and enjoyable dress shopping experience. I always imagined feeling self-conscious when I went to try on wedding dresses, but Kelly never made me feel that way. She and her staff were so helpful, sweet and kind to us during the whole process. We highly recommend her to anyone shopping for a wedding dress."

Annie's Matron of Honor, bridesmaids, and mom all purchased their dresses for the wedding from BT as well as her wedding day jewelry. Her new husband, his groomsmen, her stepdad, her father-in-law and grandfather all purchased their suits from us as well. [Aside: gentlemen: a good summer suit will serve you well, long after a wedding. Just saying.]

The Big Send-Off

Congratulations to you both, Annie and Dylan! The team at Bridal Traditions could not be happier that a gown you found from us created a wedding day you'll remember for the rest of your lives. We love you!