Real Brides: Alyssa

My husband and I both live in Hawaii and work in the film and theater world! I work in makeup and he does acting. I had taken theater in college and a few semesters later, my former professor walked by me in the hall and asked if I would want to perform in a play she was directing at our local community theater. I walked into the rehearsal room later that day and my husband was sitting in a chair with his leg draped over the arm of the chair. About a month into rehearsals and a month of flirting with each other, I told him that we should go on a date. I didn't really ask him, just told him. And here we are 8 years later. I had a VERY specific idea of the dress that I wanted. Lots of lace and SLEEVES. I was set on sleeves. Our good friends (husband and wife team) own a bridal shop in Hawaii and we went to them to choose my husband's tux. While my husband and his dad were talking things over in the back office with his friend, my mother-in-law and I went out with the other owner to the showroom to look at styles. I had picked out all the sleeve ones and they did nothing my for shoulders so Daisy (the owner) said she was going to pull a completely different style, but I should try it on. I put in on, stepped on the platform and CRIED! I had never been moved by a dress before! My mother-in-law came over to give me a hug and told me that she was pretty sure I had found my dress. They were right. I change and went to the back office and my mother-in-law cheered, "SHE FOUND HER DRESS!" My husband was shocked because we were only gone for 20 minutes! But when you know, you know! My second dress was another story! The plan wasn't to buy another dress. My girlfriends had arranged a "bridal shower" kinda day to have brunch and go look at dresses. I hadn't told them that I had found the dress already! So we show up to the bridal shop and they start pulling dresses off the rack based on my preferences. The owner knows that they don't know so she plays along. One of my best friends stops mid-searching and pulls a dress and says "I don't know why, but you HAVE to try this on. It's nothing like what you wanted, but there's something about it." It was my dress! So I put it on and start crying AGAIN! I spill the beans and we all cry! That same friend says, "I actually want to see you in one more dress." So I bite and try on the last dress which is also the opposite of the dresses I originally thought I wanted and also the opposite of the dress I already have. I walk out and I start bawling again! Daisy, the owner, says, "I think you found your reception dress." And that's how I ended up with TWO Moonlight Bridal gowns!
Photo by That First Moment Photo
Bride Alyssa wore two Moonlight Tango styles.
Alyssa  Photo Alyssa  Photo Alyssa  Photo