Amanda + BC

How did you meet?

BC and I met the first week I moved to Florida for graduate school. Our relationship quickly grew into a friendship with a lot of laughter and endless hours watching netflix. A few months after meeting we began officially dating and 6 years later here we are!

When did you know they were the one?

I knew pretty much immediately that BC was the one for me. There is something magical about meeting someone you immediately feel comfortable with, and that is exactly what happened to me with BC.

What are your three favourite attributes of your partner?

BC is the most supportive man I’ve ever met, he is contagiously funny, and he continuously helps me grow as a person.

Who proposed and how?

BC proposed while we were on vacation in the Turks and Caicos. We woke up early to go watch the sunrise on the beach. As we stood together, gazing off into the ocean, I was taking pictures when I realized BC was no longer standing next to me. I turned around to find him down on one knee and he asked me “if I would be his wife”. I immediately jumped into his arms and cried out “yes!”.

What was the best moment for you at the wedding?

The best moment was being able to share it with our closest family and friends. Having to plan our wedding in 2020 was full of ups and downs but we were so blessed to have our special day. Our entire wedding was set outdoors so we were still able to have it in the midst of the pandemic but we did cut our guest list down to half the original size. It was intimate yet we felt so much love from our friends and family!

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

I first saw Carla on Instagram. When I went to try dresses on, my bridal shop did not have Carla in stock but I was able to try on a few similar silhouettes from MWL. The other dresses just didn’t feel like my dress and I kept wondering about Carla, so I decided to buy it sight unseen, without trying it on! I’m not going to lie – I was definitely anxious about this decision for months until… my dress arrived and I was finally able to try it on. I immediately fell in love with it and I felt beyond beautiful in it! The 3D lace is exquitest and the bone colored tulle was the perfect balance to make the lace pop.

What surprised you most at or about your wedding?

The most surprising thing was how much I preferred having a smaller guest list. We were very sad to not have all of our friends and family there with us. However, the smaller guest list allowed us to spend quality time with each person and still be able to have fun at our reception.

What advice would you tell other brides?

If your budget can handle it, I would highly recommend getting a wedding planner or a day-of coordinator. We had a wedding planner and she was amazing. She handled everything for us leading up to the wedding as well as any day-of details. This allowed me to completely focus on spending time with my bridesmaids, mother, and future mother in law the morning of the wedding. Those are some of the best memories I have from my wedding day!

What was one thing you did differently for your wedding?

The moment we booked our wedding venue I knew I wanted to enhance and showcase the natural beauty of the property. The venue sits on an old orange grove surrounded by large oak trees covered in Spanish moss right off the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida. This led me to be minimalistic in my decorations and florals, which was a huge cost saving!