Two souls. One city. And a future full of love and bliss.
Allison had no idea she was about to meet the love of her life when she matched with Ander on a dating app. They were both living in Boston, Ander earning his MBA and Allison working in the same city.
After getting to know each other, being together for a year, and then experiencing long distance for another year, Allison and Ander decided to move in together; however, Covid threw a wrench in their plans. Postponing their plans, Allison moved to Brisbane, Australia, in 2022 to be with Ander once the borders reopened.
When it came to proposing to the love of his life, Ander chose a wholesome, intimate moment between the two on the balcony off their bedroom in their Brisbane home, on a lovely Saturday morning. Although they went ring shopping together weeks earlier, Allison was left overwhelmed with joy as the heartfelt moment was unexpected and just perfect!
To Allison and Ander, marriage means having a partner to go through life with, through thick and thin, no matter what.
“We are a team first and foremost. Each other’s support system. Each other’s rock. Someone I can laugh with uncontrollably.”
With families in both America and Australia, choosing the right location for the wedding was one of the first big decisions that needed to be made by Allison and Ander.
“We wanted to celebrate with as many of our friends and family as possible, so we had two celebrations on two continents!”
The couple decided to host a pre-wedding party in Melbourne, Australia, with Ander’s family and friends, and have the big wedding in Pennsylvania, USA, where Allison grew up. Over 20 Australian friends and family flew over to America to join Allison’s family in her hometown and surround Ander and Allison with love for one of the most important celebrations of their lives thus far.
When it came to finding her dream wedding dress, Allison knew she wanted a classic, timeless silhouette with the addition of something unexpected and unique. Whether it was through accessories or the details on the dress, Allison wanted to incorporate something special and meaningful into her look, whilst keeping the traditional feel of the dress.
Although Allison’s mother couldn’t join her for her wedding dress shopping, having her join through video call, along with Brisbane friends, was a memorable and emotional experience. Trying on multiple stunning dresses from all different studios brought Allison’s ‘Say Yes to the Dress’ fantasies to life.
When it came to her bridal accessories, Allison knew that When Freddie Met Lilly was the place to look in order to make her bridal look truly unforgettable and special.
“Spring hadn’t quite sprung in Pennsylvania, and I was hoping to be outside for the ceremony, so we needed to add a layer.”
When Freddie Met Lilly created ostrich feather boleros for Allison and her bridesmaids, which added her desired unique element to the overall look of the bride and wedding party. The unexpected snow, the morning of the wedding, made the boleros functional, providing warmth whilst also adding a stylish touch to the bridal look.
“Ander said it was the bolero that made him tear up at our first look…it added something elegant yet unique to my bridal look…and it kept me warm while we were outside for photos…. my bridesmaids loved their grey wraps as well; they looked stunning with their peacock dresses.”
Much like the beautiful bride, Ander looked every bit the part in his timeless Tux that he reused for his wedding.
It should come as no surprise that Allison and Ander’s most important thing for their celebrations was having all their friends and family share their special moments with them and enjoying every second dancing and laughing away.
When asked what the most useful piece of advice was during the whole wedding planning process, Allison shared, “Enjoy the ride – don’t worry about things you can’t control. Remember that it’s about starting the journey of marriage with your person.”
So, here’s to Allison and Ander – we wish you a lifetime of love and happiness.
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