Wedding Date: June 5th, 2021
Gown Designer: Essense of Australia
Venue: Stephanie’s grandma’s yard in Fairbanks (for the ceremony)/Palmer area for glacier photos
Photographer: Wilder Arts (for the ceremony)/Chugach Peaks (for a glacier photo shoot a couple of days later)
Florist: Emma Mayo
Hair and Makeup: Elements Salon
Cake: Kimberly Durst Cakes
Tailor: AL Sewing
Why did you pick your venue: “My grandma has a gorgeous yard, so that’s one reason. It’s also a very meaningful place to me as her house has been a second home, both while growing up and to this day. It’s one of my favorite places to be.”
Favorite part of your gown: “I don’t think I could pick one! I love the elegance to it in that it’s form-fitting and has a flare of gorgeous lace on the back.”
Why did you pick your dress: “All the dresses I tried on were beautiful, but as soon as I tried this on, I think my jaw about dropped. I just knew it was the one.”
How you met: “He actually knew my parents before I knew him, but they went to the same church in Fairbanks. My parents like to invite people to dinner who may be on their own for the holidays. So during nursing school, I came up from Anchorage to join my family for Easter, and he was at that dinner. I was still very busy in school, so I thought nothing more of the new people I met there. But once I finished school and moved back to Fairbanks, we met for real.”
How they proposed: “He was about to be stationed in Japan so I flew down to Alabama to see him before he left. He took me jet-skiing, biking, scuba diving, flying (he’s a pilot), and joined me as I showed him my love of rowing. A couple of days before we parted, he took me walking down an old railroad bridge turned pedestrian walkway. He took his time in crossing, which isn’t like him, but I thought nothing of it at the time, just that it was odd. As we neared the end, he twirled me and coming out of the spin, I found him down in his knee.”
Any other fun memories/moments from the day:” My sister and her amazing talents and incredible thoughtfulness. Photo booth fun and goofiness. Riverside dance floor. Canoe launch getaway.”
