here comes the bride

When it comes to weddings, I’ve got skin in the game. I have my own wedding-adjacent business (hello, Ally Quirk Studio); I’m currently planning a wedding of my own (hello, Jack); AND with the number of weddings I have attended this year, my status as wedding guest is beginning to err on the side of professional.

I feel like I have a unique POV when it comes to wedding planning. Don’t get me wrong, I love elegant, traditional elements of a wedding (I’m only human), but I definitely do favor uniqueness, standing out, a bit of edge, and personal touches at every corner.

I am fully equipped to share all my opinions and findings from wedding planning so far: where I shopped for dresses, my refusal to give cringe bridesmaid gifts, curating an insane vintage wedding wardrobe (and accompanying addiction to a specific designer vintage rental company), and so on. For those behind the paywall, surely there is no better way to convince you to take the plunge…

I am very excited to say that my hunt for a wedding dress has officially come to a close. I went to six appointments total: one in Boston, three in New York, one in Edinburgh, and one in London. In true Ally fashion, I had to cross the Atlantic and shimmy my way into a teeny tiny London atelier to find my perfect dress. But BOY was it worth it.

My dress is quite literally my favorite thing I have ever put on my body, and I am so happy with my dress shopping experience overall. Every shop I went to, I was greeted with beauty, a clear beverage, and kindness. I experienced it all, from large bridal retailers to shoebox ateliers. I left each appointment feeling so excited about something or other, yet as cliché as it sounds, there was an unmistakable feeling when I put on the dress.