Kaitlin + Devin

How did you meet?

We met a month after I moved to New York City from Portland, Oregon, on a dating app (Bumble)! A few friends of mine suggested I go on a date or two just to get out of the apartment and get more acquainted with the city; even if I didn’t meet my soulmate, I’d have a few nights out on the town and maybe get a funny story out of it. But, after my first date with Devin I did not want to go on any dates with anyone else, just him. We went dancing in Brooklyn and walked along the city skyline. Everything felt natural and easy, like we’d already known each other for a long time.

When did you know they were the one?

I knew pretty quickly that this was different with Devin than with anybody else I’d dated or been in a relationship with – but after a few months of dating, the Thanksgiving holidays rolled around and Devin and I were able to spend several days together without interruptions of work or other responsibilities, and when we had to say goodbye and separate after 3 or 4 days of being together non-stop, we both got very emotional (even though we knew we’d see each other again in only a few days)! That’s when I knew he was feeling the same things as I was, and that this was real for both of us.

What are your three favourite attributes of your partner?

Devin is unfailingly patient, which is something that I struggle with, so he helps balance me out. He is calm, and that helps bring me back to earth when I get too worked up. And he is so funny and goofy that he can always make me laugh! Bonus: he loves animals of all kinds, and we have that in common as parents to our 3 pets.

Who proposed and how?

Devin proposed! He popped the question during a quiet moment when we were at home together, which was very intimate and sweet. We had been together for 2 and a half years, and we’d talked about marriage and wanting the same things, so I knew it was coming at some point! It was really nice that it was just the two of us, as I don’t think either of us would have been comfortable with a big elaborate surprise.

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

I had seen photos of MWL dresses on wedding blogs and always loved how they flatter every body! I knew I wanted something that would still make me feel like me, but elevated. I tried on the Archie, and Rosey, and ultimately went with the Harlow as my dress. I would have been thrilled with any of them, but I took into account that our ceremony was going to be in nature, so I didn’t want anything that felt too-out-of-place formal, but still had a little something special. Harlow’s elements of the floral lace and organic lines made me feel she was the right choice for our woodsy elopement ceremony in the forest.

What was the best moment for you at your wedding?

We opted for a two-part celebration that felt right for us; a small ceremony with just us and parents in attendance, followed a few days later by a backyard reception for around 25 people. During our intimate ceremony day, I think my favorite part was doing our first look together outside of our hotel in Hudson, NY. Devin never knew what my dress looked like in the year leading up to it, but he had always said since we met that I looked good in white, so I was excited for him to see the ultimate white dress! During our garden party reception, my best moment was hearing my dad toast us and do a small reading; we live far apart and don’t get to see each other often so that was a special moment, for him to greet Devin as his son and see how happy he was for us in this new chapter.

What were your favourite details?

My favorite detail at our reception was something I chose to DIY – an arch made of birch wood with suspended flowers, each stem tied with an escort card and a guest’s name, to let them know where they were sitting! I had a lot of fun putting it together and it became a backdrop for many of the photos on our drizzly day.

What advice would you tell other brides?

I definitely tried to have things organized in the weeks leading up to our wedding week, so that I knew I wouldn’t be running around frantic with a ton of things to do. I’m a planner, and if you’re like me, it saved me some stress knowing I had checked things off my list ahead of time. As for the days of, you’ll worry about the weather and if everyone is going to make it, but ultimately, those things are out of your control – focus on the things that are important and those are the core memories you’ll have when you look back. Lastly, breathe! Take a step back into yourself when you find yourself feeling anxious, and just remember you’re about to (or are in the middle of) marrying someone you love, and who loves you, and that’s all that matters at the end of the day. When the cake is cut, and the flowers are repurposed, you’ll be with the person who matters so much more than a detail or two that didn’t end up working out perfectly.

Any standout vendors?

At our elopement ceremony, we had a decadent dark chocolate mini cake from Newburgh Flour Shop in Newburgh, New York. They worked with me on my idea and it turned out great. This was the perfect celebratory touch to an elopement in the woods: a cake decorated with forest elements (berries and wildflowers, hello!) Our garden party reception was completed with florals from RSVP by Anastasia here in New Jersey, and she went above and beyond all expectations – our tables were gorgeous, and she even climbed in a fountain to dress it up with the most beautiful flowers and the results were everything. Our favorite person of all, is Marilyn Lamanna, our photographer, who braved the wilderness, waterfalls, and a rainy reception day to capture all our favorite moments.