real bride erin side hugging husband on balcony - D3150 by Essense of Australia

Real Essense of Australia Bride Erin & Anthony

It was Halloween weekend at Boston University when Erin and Anthony’s love story began—Erin as Catwoman and Anthony as Happy Gilmore. Now, nearly a decade later, they said, “I do,” at their ceremony full of elegance and fun—even learning how to swing dance for their celebration of a lifetime.  

Real Bride Erin had a vision for her dream wedding dress from the beginning—something that would make for a dramatic first look at the steps of their venue, the Boston Public Library. The striking graphic lace and sparkling train of Essense of Australia Style D3150 was everything she was looking for and more.  

From an oceanside proposal in Grand Cayman to a first dance that was months in the making, discover the special moments and meaningful details that brought Erin and Anthony’s wedding day to life. 

real bride erin walking with husband after ceremony - D3150 by Essense of Australia
real bride erin kissing husband in ceremony wearing D3150 by Essense of Australia

ERIN, TELL US ABOUT YOUR PARTNER.  HOW DID YOU MEET?

Anthony is the most kind and compassionate person I know. He’s always doing little gestures that remind me I am so loved by him. We met at Boston University on Halloween—I was dressed as Catwoman, he was Happy Gilmore, and now we’ve been together for almost 10 years.  

Our engagement was in August 2022, and if I’d planned it myself, I would have done exactly what he did. We were on vacation in Grand Cayman with my parents and siblings. We were ready for dinner, and Anthony suggested a walk while the rest of my family got ready. As we got to the water, he tapped me on the shoulder; I turned, and he was on one knee. My whole family was watching from the balcony.  

real bride posing face to face with husband - D3150 by Essense of Australia
real bride posing on marble stairs with husband - D3150 by Essense of Australia

DESCRIBE YOUR BRIDAL STYLE. TELL US ABOUT YOUR DRESS SHOPPING EXPERIENCE. 

I wanted an elegant and timeless dress to go with our venue. One of the first pictures I saw of a wedding at the Boston Public Library was of a bride walking up the stairs for a first look. I knew that I wanted a dress that would look dramatic on the stairs. When I put Essense of Australia Style D3150 on for the first time, my mom, sisters, mother-in-law and I all had tears in our eyes because we knew it was THE dress. I felt incredible in it. My husband couldn’t stop telling me how beautiful I looked. I loved having a unique dress with so much intricate detailing, from sheer cutouts to the subtly shimmering tulle underlay. 

real bride erin posing with bouquet in front of marble pillars wearing D3150 by Essense of Australia
real bride erin posing in front of marble pillars with veil blowing in the wind - D3150 by Essense of Australia

IN YOUR OWN WORDS, TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR WEDDING.

We wanted to have a very classic and elegant wedding with a fun and colorful twist, like our bright, whimsical florals. Our guest book was a Boston University hockey jersey, because our first date was at a BU hockey game.  

Anthony and I took dance lessons for about 10 months to learn our first dance and also learned how to swing dance. Our first dance was one of my favorite memories of the night. We were both so nervous, but there was a point in the dance where we both knew we were going to hit the timing right for the dip at the end, and Anthony told me, “Oh, we crushed it.” Later in the night, we showed off our swing moves.  

Having an awesome party was also important to us. We spent all night on the dance floor, with an amazing band, surrounded by so much love from our friends and family. 

Cheers to Erin and Anthony!

Vendor Acknowledgements 

Photographer:  Melissa Stimpson @melissastimpson  

Bridal Shop: VOWS Bridal @vows_bridepower  

Venue: Boston Public Library @bplboston  

Flowers: Table & Tulip @tableandtulip  

Hair & Makeup: Refeyeance @refeyeance 

Did you wear an Essense of Australia gown on your wedding day? Share your photos with us for a chance to be featured.      

Are you still searching for the perfect wedding dress? Check out our latest designer gown collections from Stella York, Essense of Australia, Martina Liana and All Who Wander.