Real Brides: Julie

Jonathan and I met in 2013 when I started serving at Red Robin, where he was a line-cook at the time. I often caught myself checking the kitchen schedule to see when we would be working shifts together, and somewhere in between lunch breaks taken at table 15, and me "running out of gas" (totally faked that so he would hang out with me), he became my go-to-person at work. The timing wasn’t right for us to be anything but friends, and I ended up moving out of state for an internship. Every time I visited Richmond, I always made it a point to text him to see if he wanted to go out for a drink and spend time together. I eventually moved back to the area, and began working at Red Robin again while finishing up my degree at Virginia Commonwealth University. We instantly clicked, and I finally admitted my feelings towards him following drinks after work with coworkers at Buffalo Wild Wings. We began dating shortly after, and at the risk of sounding cliché, the rest was history! I had gone to a few bridal boutiques and tried on probably 20-30 dresses. Being a plus-sized bride, and suuuuper indecisive....I thought It would be impossible for me to find the perfect dress. I liked most of the dresses that I had tried on, but I didn't necessarily think that any of them were my dress. My mom and I went to Bridal Elegance in Richmond, Virginia and my Moonlight gown was one of the first few that I tried on. I put it on and immediately got emotional-- I knew that it was my dress. We paired it with a cathedral length veil, and I was 100% certain that was the dress I would walk down the aisle to meet my groom in. I couldn't be happier with my decision, and I know that I will always look back at pictures from our wedding knowing that I wore my dream gown!

Photo by Brittany Claud Photography

Bride Julie wore an exclusive in-store style.