Real bride Caroline wed her soul mate in a stunning layered lace wedding dress, Style D2548 from Essense of Australia. From their beautiful beach venue to the romantic details scattered throughout their big day, the Noblins hosted a truly breathtaking wedding. Read on to swoon over their love story:
It started with the sweetest proposal.
“December of 2017 was a huge month for Shawn and me. We moved in together after 5 years of dating, I finished my degree at the University of Virginia, and I started my full-time job as a reporter at NBC 29 in Charlottesville, Virginia. It was certainly a big month, but little did I know, it was about to get even bigger. It was Christmas Eve, and my mom was freaking-out that she didn’t have a gift for my dad for Christmas. She told me how much my dad loved a portrait of my sister and me when we were little, standing in front of the park in our hometown. She asked me if Shawn could recreate that photo of us before Christmas Eve dinner. I was wearing a cute skirt earlier in the day, but wanted to change into a comfortable outfit since we were going to be outside in freezing temperatures.
When Shawn arrived at my house to drive my sister and me to take the picture, he told me my outfit didn’t match — which it clearly did — and asked me to change. Annoyed, I threw on black pants and a sweater and jumped in the car. Little did I know, I was going to appreciate this later. When arrived at the park, I was focused on remaking that photo perfectly. After more than 20 shots, my sister and I finally got the picture, but before we left, I wanted to get a picture with Shawn. I asked my sister to take it (again falling right into his plan) and after a few photos, I turned around to walk away. As I turned, Shawn grabbed my hand, and got down on one knee. He pulled a red rose with a ring inside the petals and popped the question.
Of course, I said YES! It was so perfect — the same park where we met 5 years prior, the date–my grandparents got engaged over 50 years ago on Christmas Eve — the company (my sister was there to photograph/record the whole thing). I couldn’t have asked for a better proposal! The whole photo present idea was all a ploy by my mom and dad who were in on the plan to get me to the park in the cold, and my sister knew I wouldn’t want to leave the park without taking a photo with Shawn. Shawn bought my ring from the same local jeweler where my dad bought my mom’s engagement ring, and he took my mom with him to help pick it out. I don’t think there will ever be a Christmas Eve as special as that one.”
Caroline found her dream man, but finding the dream dress wasn’t as easy.
“For years, when I dreamed of my wedding day, I knew I wanted a lace dress. When I started dress shopping, I realized the dresses I loved were lace, but they were also modern and unique. I went dress shopping in Richmond, Virginia, and more than a year before the wedding, I purchased a dress that I thought I loved. It wasn’t until five months before the wedding, after my first fitting, that I realized the dress was not right for me. It was beautiful but didn’t make me feel beautiful. In tears, my mom and I quickly rushed to Tiffany’s Bridal in Richmond, the bridal shop where I had an appointment and cancelled the day I bought my first dress. The staff at Tiffany’s were amazing and went above and beyond to help me find my dream gown that could also be ready in time for my big day. When I tried on Essense of Australia’s Style D2548, I knew it was the gown of my dreams, The modern lace combined with detailed beading and a plunging neckline couldn’t have been more perfect for my beach wedding. I cried happy tears that day!”
See more of Caroline’s wedding dress here.
The Noblin’s went for a glamorous boho-beach vibe.
“I wanted a classic and timeless look with a boho touch. My bridesmaids wore gold dresses, and the groomsmen wore navy suits with gold ties. We incorporated gold into the majority of our table decorations, using geometric pieces and vases to compliment the ivory table cloths. We had tons of greenery and pampas grass throughout the room, in addition to champagne and ivory roses. Blush roses accented my bouquet and were also hung in a floral wreath from the ceiling of the pier house. We got married on Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, North Carolina because Shawn and I lived in the Outer Banks together for two summers. We both said if we got married, it would be there, and it was so special that we were able to make that happen. Since we have a Golden Retriever puppy, we chose to give our guests organic dog treats as favors. We also handed out koozies that said “the best is yet to come,” a saying my uncle and grandmother always encouraged us to remember. We had a cake to cut for tradition but also brought in Sunset Slush Italian Ice because we are both huge ice cream fans. I love everything about our wedding reflected our styles and favorite things as a couple!
“There were so many special moments throughout the big day, but two really stand out to me. Shawn knew I would be nervous and stressed out the day of the wedding, so he sent me three special notes, accompanied with small gifts, to help me relax. Each note explained why he wanted to marry me and how much I meant to him. Reading these notes surrounded by my closest girlfriends and family members really made me feel like the luckiest girl in the world! Shawn has a hard time showing his emotions, so seeing him tear up as I walked down the aisle was so special. It truly validated all of my feelings and made me realize that no matter what happened that day, I was marrying the man of my dreams. After the ceremony, he told me how much he loved my dress and that it was the perfect mix of classy and sexy. What more could a girl want?”
We wish that all of your days are as perfect as your wedding day. Congratulations, Noblins!
Photos by: Ryan and Rach Photography