Favorite part of your gown: “My dress had detachable sleeves that took the dress easily from elegant/classic for the ceremony to boho-fun for the reception.”

The best part of the venue: “The beautiful views!”

Why did you pick your venue: “Many of Matt’s friends & family had not been to Alaska so we felt this was the perfect place for them to experience views of the Chugach mountains. We ran the chairlift to allow access to the top, and we also took our photos up there! We also loved that you could see our town of Anchorage & from the top of the chairlift, my hometown of Eagle River.”

Three words to describe your day: “Fun. Perfect. Happy.”

Your inspiration for the wedding: “We agreed that the ceremony/outside portion would represent Linda’s Alaskan side while the reception would be a reflection of Matt’s Michigan side. As I like to tell people, a soft & pretty version of Michigan sports colors (blue & maize) but soft and a smidge of pink thrown in. We also threw in some fun features of our dogs since they did not attend; faces on the bar napkins, cocktails named after them & our bag boards painted with their faces.”

How they proposed: “Matt proposed on a hike on Little O’Malley, where we had our first date.”

Any other fun memories/moments from the day: “Having so many friends and family attend, drink up & let loose on the dance floor!”

October 6, 2023

Tara Gondek

Real Bride Friday | Niki and Kenii

October 6, 2023

Tara Gondek

Wedding Date: August 1st, 2023

Gown Designer: Essense of Australia

Venue: Outside in Alaska

Photographer: Narrow Road Productions

Florist: Tundra Rose Designs

Hair: Kelsey at Maxim Hair Design

Makeup: Jenna Bakk

Catering/Cake: Addie Camp

Favorite part of your gown: “I loved the details.”

Why did you pick your dress: I chose my gown because it made me feel so beautiful.”

The best part of the venue: “We loved the natural beauty that Alaska has to offer.”

Why did you pick your venue: “It just doesn’t get much better than Alaska.”

Three words to describe your day: “Blessed beyond belief.”

Your inspiration for the wedding: “Teamwork! Kenii was 100% involved in all of the planning.”

How you met: “I was 18 and walked into a new gym, he was the trainer and terrified me! After some hand-to-hand combat, I left there forever impressed. It didn’t take long to connect through social media! We spent nearly 5 years disconnected and in different states before reconnecting and eloping in the same year! We just celebrated an amazing 10 years while renewing our vows in the beautiful state of Alaska. Alaska is where we started our family and shared our fondest memories together. It was the perfect day and were happy to share it with our family and closest friends.”

How they proposed: “I proposed to him after anticipating his proposal!”

Any other fun memories/moments from the day: “We have the coolest crew!!”

September 22, 2023

Tara Gondek

Real Bride Friday | Kelsey and Kevin

September 22, 2023

Tara Gondek

Wedding Date: August 12, 2023

Gown Designer: Willowby

Venue: The Inn at Turn Lake

Photographer: Donna Marie Photography

Wedding Planner/Coordinator: A Touch of Saige Events

DJ: DJ KDean

Menswear: Beckett & Robb, Seattle

Florist: Two of Kelsey’s Dear Friends

Makeup: Analisa Paige Ramos

Catering: Inn at Tern Lake

Cake: Made by Kelsey!

Tailor: Aggies Sewing Shop

Favorite part of your gown: “I loved the unique yet subtle accent color and the large-scale lace patterns.”

Why did you pick your dress: “I wanted something that would be fun to dance in and it was! This dress also gave me that magic, confident feeling once I tried it on.”

The best part of the venue: “We loved that it was scenic and private. The staff was also exceptional.”

Why did you pick your venue: “The venue is in a remote location, there were rooms available to stay on-site, and so many other fun on-site amenities that made the space feel really special to bring guests there. We loved being able to host multiple events throughout the weekend of festivities.”

Three words to describe your day: “Joyful, Intimate, Memorable”

Your inspiration for the wedding: “Simple, natural, private, and intentional”

How you met: “Kevin and I met during high school cross-country running practice.”

How they proposed: “Kevin proposed while we were camping outside of Whittier.”

Any other fun memories/moments from the day: “The rain was truly a main character during our ceremony, which was a comical, torrential downpour but everyone stuck it out, and there was lots of laughter which made the ceremony feel really special, and helped me stay very present in the moment. Also, we had the best dance party, and the DJ created an epic emo/punk mashup which was unbelievably fun to dance to with our friends!”

September 15, 2023

Tara Gondek

Real Bride Friday | Leonella and Jacob

September 15, 2023

Tara Gondek

Wedding Date: August 3rd, 2023

Gown Designer: Stella York Bridal

Venue: Lazy Mountain Acres

Photographer: Sam Photography

Videographer: Eric Must Film

Menswear: Mens Warehouse

Hair: Christina and Co. Hair Design

Makeup: Chance Droege

Tailor: Aggie’s Sewing Shop

Favorite part of your gown: “I cannot pick one, I loved the whole entire thing.”

Why did you pick your dress: “I picked my gown because it made me feel beautiful.”

The best part of the venue: “We had our ceremony overlooking the peony field.”

Why did you pick your venue: “We loved all of the beautiful peonies.”

Three words to describe your day: “Best day ever!”

Your inspiration for the wedding: “Italy Gardens”

How you met: “We met in 8th grade and then rekindled at the gym.”

How they proposed: “Jacob proposed while we were hiking the Butte.”

Any other fun memories / moments from the day: “We loved hanging out with family and friends and enjoying time spent with everyone.”

September 8, 2023

Tara Gondek

Real Bride Friday | Kiley and Gehrig

September 8, 2023

Tara Gondek

Wedding Date: July 22nd, 2023

Gown Designer: Essense of Australia

Veil Designer: Bateau Bridal Boutique

Venue: Forget Me Not Nursery

Photographer: Ashlee Mcswain

Wedding Planner/Coordinator: Melissa Lawrence & Stacey Casey

DJ: DJ Lefty

Menswear: Suit Shop

Florist: Sireli Floral

Hair: Sharai Shepherd

Makeup: Danielle Blessie

Catering/Cake: Allisaw Cakes

Tailor: Aggie’s Sewing Shop

Favorite part of your gown: “I loved the bodice of the gown.”

Why did you pick your dress: “I felt like this gown had the perfect amount of elegance for our wedding day.”

The best part of the venue: “The Simplicity and Natural Atmosphere”

Why did you pick your venue: “We loved the beautiful Alaskan scenery that it had.”

Three words to describe your day: “Best day ever!”

Your inspiration for the wedding: “We wanted the day to have a natural feel with hints of terracotta and greenery.”

How you met: “Gehrig and I met in the emergency room while we were working.”

How they proposed: “Gehrig proposed during a Christmas party with all of our friends and family present.”

July 7, 2023

Tara Gondek

Real Bride Friday | Reve and Hunter

July 7, 2023

Tara Gondek

Wedding Date: May 20th, 2023

Gown Designer: Evie Young Bridal

Venue: Cusack’s on the Kenai

Photographer: Bianca Wardwell Photography

Menswear: Generation Tux

Florist: Sola Wood Flowers

Hair and Makeup: Trim Salon

Catering/Cake: Pizza Boys and Friend

Favorite part of your gown: “The off-the-shoulder detail!”

Why did you pick your dress: “It just felt like me. I put it on and it felt perfect. I loved the unique lace detail instead of traditional lace.”

The best part of the venue: “The gorgeous views! Almost every room had a view overlooking the river. The venue also was big enough for our whole wedding party to stay the weekend at the venue and enjoy it!”

Why did you pick your venue: “Jenny was amazing to work with and provided top-of-the-line accommodation! And again the view, I couldn’t think of a better backdrop for our ceremony!”

Three words to describe your day: “Perfect, fun, blissful!”

Your inspiration for the wedding: “We called this our boujee backyard wedding. We wanted it to be casual and really reflect us.”

How you met: “Hunter and I met through a mutual friend.”

How they proposed: “Hunter proposed while on a walk at Peters Creek in the middle of the creek.”

May 5, 2023

Tara Gondek

Real Bride Friday | Dylan and Elliot

May 5, 2023

Tara Gondek

Wedding Date: March 18th, 2023

Gown Designer: Private Collection by Bateau Bridal Boutique

Jumpsuit Designer: Willowby by Watters

Venue: Alyeska Resort

Photographer: Kenzie Mehan with Bare Bones Creatives

Wedding Planner/Coordinator: Lorell David with I Do Events

DJ: Eric Robinson with Alaska Professional Entertainment

Menswear: Men's Warehouse

Florist: Alina with Lily of the Valley

Hair and Makeup: Hair by Mandy Leslie with Behind the Bangs, Makeup by Tiffanee with Vibe Artistry

Cake: Anita with Midnight Sun Cakery

Tailor: Celeste with Celestial Designs

Favorite part of your gown: “I felt like a queen, I looked strong and beautiful. It was bold, elegant, and special. Simply special.”

Why did you pick your dress: “I fell in love with how I looked and felt in it, we were able to tweak the underlay to make the details pop. I felt like a prettier version of myself.”

The best part of the venue: “Gorgeous snowy mountain views.”

Why did you pick your venue: “One lovely place for people to ski, snowboard, and visit the spa for our wedding weekend! We love Girdwood.”

Three words to describe your day: “Love & Festive & Glamour!”

Inspiration for the day: “Moody and romantic, a pinch of Morticia Adams, a heavy dose of Great Gatsby, a dash of Noir, a smattering of Ethereal, and a healthy pour of Glamour.”

How you met: “We met training submission grappling.”

How they proposed: “Elliot proposed at our home, in our kitchen, with our perfect dog as our witness.”

Any other fun memories / moments from the day: “Dancing to "can't take my eyes off of you" for our grand exit, what a magical party it was!”