Alyssa + Spencer

How did you meet?

Spencer and I met the very first day of sophomore year at Boston College. We met at lower dining hall on campus, through a mutual friend who introduced us. We happened to live 5 floors apart in the same building

When did you know they were the one?

Ever since Spencer and I met, we’ve been magnets. Even in our sophomore year days, Spencer would sit with me and watch Netflix while I was in the study hall just so we could spend time together. We’re always happier when we’re together and after nine years of dating, you’d think we’d get sick of each other. Instead that magnetism has only gotten stronger and all we want to do is be together. I knew Spencer was the one as soon as he became my best friend.

What are your three favourite attributes of your partner?

– How affectionate he is with me
-His love and empathy for others
-His love for trying new things with me

Who proposed and how?

Spencer did! He actually had an elaborate plan to propose in London at the Seven Dials. We had a trip planned for April 2020 just the two of us, and he had coordinated with both our families to book them tickets to surprise me at the engagement. My mom, dad and sister, and Spencer’s brothers, sister-in-law and dad all had tickets. We had reservations at my dream spot in London – RedFarm for dumplings. Sadly, our flights got cancelled when COVID hit but Spencer made it so special. He’s from a little town in the north shore of Massachusetts – Manchester-by-the-sea. It’s always packed but because of COVID, it was completely empty. He had a picnic basket, champagne and two champagne glasses sitting on the empty beach and got down on one knee. I said yes, of course 🙂

Where did you fall in love with your dress and why?

I first fell in love with Made with Love. I had done a lot of research online and when I saw the dresses, I really just knew. The unstructured styles were perfect for my destination wedding and I loved the story behind them. I used the website to find Everthine in Madison, CT. When I got there, I only asked for Made with Love dresses. The Rosey was the very first dress I tried on. I tried a few more, but I just kept going back to it. Because of COVID, my mom and sister were the only ones allowed in with me. My dad stood on the outdoor porch waiting for me to walk out with my two favourites at the end of my appointment – I was between Rosey and Harlow. I walked out the door in the Rosey, and my dad immediately started crying and said that’s the one. I knew it too. I felt so confident, beautiful, sexy and also COMFORTABLE! It was everything I had dreamed of.

What was the best moment for you at your wedding?

The best moment for me was at my ceremony. Our wedding took place on Harbour Island, The Bahamas. It was a beautiful morning but around 3pm, it started pouring rain. The ceremony was supposed to start at 4pm, because you must get married before sunset in the Bahamas for it to be deemed legal. Around 4pm, we were still stuck in the villa with our wedding party, still raining. All of a sudden around 4:15, the sky broke and the rain got lighter. We texted all of the wedding guests to SPRINT! to the beach. We all got ready, hoping that the sky would hold. I had pictured everything as perfect, but in that moment I realized it didn’t need to be, because it was in its own way. Surrounded by people with umbrellas, ponchos and mist, we got married like we had always hoped on the beach. My veil was blowing in the wind, and I could really feel myself surrounded by my family. My mom and dad were sitting right up front, and my flower girl was holding my dress like it was the most important job she’s ever had. It put everything in perspective, and reminded me why I was there in that moment.

What advice would you tell other brides?

I would tell other brides to live in the moment. My friends told me this too, but it is sometimes so hard to pause for a moment during all of the festivities and look around you. Things move SO fast and are over in an instant. Spencer and I broke away from dancing during the reception to stand on the deck and look at the moon, just for 2 minutes, and I’ll still remember it forever. We took a minute to breathe, to look out at everyone having fun and remind ourselves how lucky we are.