Wedding Date: December 31st, 2021
Gown Designer: Essense of Australia
Custom Veil: Ariel Taub
Venue: The Lodge at Lone Moose
Photographer: Kristian Irey
Wedding Planner or Coordinator: True North Events
Band: Woodrow
Florist: True North Events
Menswear: TruTailor Co Custom Suits
Cake: Cake: Midnight Sun Cakery
Catering: Alaskan Roots Catering
Tailor: Celestial Designs
The best part of the venue: “The gorgeous chandelier and staircase. Also, the availability of the cabins on the property allowed for our family and closest friends to stay nearby all weekend.”
Why did you pick your venue: “The modern rustic vibe and intimate feel.”
Favorite part of your gown: “The perfect combination of sparkle and lace as well as the low back.”
Why did you pick your dress: “I always knew I wanted a ballgown and long train. I tried on practically every dress in the shop, but I kept coming back to this one. My dress made me feel beautiful and glamorous and accentuated my best features. It set the tone and was the perfect dress for a romantic and wintery New Year’s Eve wedding celebration. It blended in with the snow but sparkled perfectly in the candlelight. I wanted to feel comfortable in my dress so I could dance the night away!”
Three words to describe your day: “Modern, Intimate and Romantic”
Your inspiration for the wedding: “Even though we eloped in 2020, I knew I still wanted a wedding celebration that included our family and closest friends. I wanted the day to be extravagant where we could make our guests feel extra special and no detail would go unnoticed. When else would we ever be able to throw another New Year’s Eve party like this surrounded by everyone we love?!”
How you met: “Charles and I met at a job training. Even though we were focused on the stressful, intense, and physically exhausting training, our friendship grew. Six weeks into the training Charles had to get an appendectomy. I spent countless hours at the hospital with him, allowing us to become even closer. Five and half months later, after we completed training, I moved to San Francisco and he to Anchorage. Despite the distance we knew we had found our person. We endured a long distance relationship for 2 years, and eloped on Matanuska Glacier in June of 2020. In September of 2020 I moved to Anchorage and we started planning our NYE wedding celebration!'“
How they proposed: “Charles proposed when we were visiting my family in Detroit, MI. He had conspired with my sister to take photos and a video of the actual proposal. After dinner, with my family, we went to the Zoo Lights at the Detroit Zoo. As we passed the main fountain, my sister asked if I’d like a picture with Charles. We took a picture smiling at the camera and then Charles said, “wait one more!” And when I turned to look at him he was down on one knee!”
Any other fun memories / moments from the day: “After a full year of planning, trying to find the perfect officiant, flight cancellations, and the Pandemic, I was so nervous about everything coming together perfectly. But the wedding came together perfectly! The food was plentiful, the band kept the dance floor hopping, the photo booth was festive with a balloon arch, and the champagne was flowing. We even had sparklers and fireworks to bring in the New Year! It was such a wonderful feeling that all of guests said it was the best wedding they’d ever been too! My favorite part of our day was the ceremony. The Jewish traditions we incorporated and reciting our own vows made the ceremony feel intimate and unique.”
