Real Essense of Australia Bride JE and Trent’s love story is rooted in shared experiences and beautifully unexpected moments. After five years together, Trent surprised JE with a magical engagement at El Greco Resort—an unforgettable chapter that set the tone for a wedding day filled with meaning, intention and heartfelt details.
Wanting to feel nothing short of a princess, JE embraced full-on glamour for her bridal look, selecting Essense of Australia Style D3386 as her wedding gown. With its sparkling bodice, intricate lace and dramatic ballgown silhouette complete with a show-stopping train, the gown delivered all the drama she dreamed of—and then some. A stunning reflection of her bold side, the dress surprised Trent in the best way possible and became a true centerpiece of a day that celebrated love, family and unforgettable memories.
JE, TELL US ABOUT YOUR PARTNER. HOW DID YOU MEET?
Trent and I met while working at an internship in the summer of 2018.
TELL US ABOUT THE PROPOSAL.
We dated for five years before getting engaged at El Greco Resort in Santorini, Greece! It was so magical and special, and I absolutely had no clue he was proposing in Greece.
DESCRIBE YOUR BRIDAL STYLE.
I wanted to feel like a princess! One thing I knew for sure was that I wanted a huge train and some sparkle on the gown itself. I walked into the bridal shop and immediately asked to see the dresses with the most glamour and the longest trains. I wanted the drama! I found it in Essense of Australia Style D3386. I loved the sparkle and lace on the gown’s bodice and the glittering sequin details.
HOW DID TRENT REACT WHEN HE SAW YOU IN YOUR WEDDING DRESS?
My husband did not think I would pick the dress I did. I have more of a simple/timeless style, so he thought I’d pick something more fitted and simple, but I went with a sparkly ballgown instead!
TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR WEDDING. HOW DID YOU MAKE YOUR WEDDING PERSONAL TO YOUR LOVE STORY?
We wove in SO many personal details! Our invitations had a hand-drawn picture of the church where we got married. Our welcome sign also included a hand-drawn picture of our reception venue. Our wedding rings, perfume and cologne bottles were engraved with our wedding date.
We wrote each other letters the morning of our wedding, since we did traditional vows, and they were eerily similar.
My bouquet was a dream, with white roses, baby’s breath and peach ranunculus as the star of the show. The flowers and decor were stunning and so much more beautiful than I imagined. I dedicated my bouquet toss to my mom, and we had a table full of wedding pictures from both our families, reminding us of the love and support surrounding us.
Trent’s cousin made our wedding cake, and it was both delicious and stunning! We had our cake knife and server engraved, which were gifts from my parents.
Finally, Trent and I took dance lessons to surprise our guests with our first dance, and even though it was hard to keep a secret, we pulled it off! During the father-daughter dance, we invited all the other father-daughter duos to come dance with us. The pictures are precious!
DID YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL FAMILY TRADITIONS THAT YOU INCORPORATED?
Yes, a few! I wore a pearl ring on my right ring finger; it was a gift from my grandfather to my grandmother on their wedding day, and my mom also wore it on her wedding day.
My garter, purse, my mom’s robe, my robe and my dad’s handkerchief were all made with lace from my mom’s wedding dress. My dad’s handkerchief was embroidered with “Of all the walks we’ve taken together, this will be the one I remember forever. Today a bride, tomorrow a wife, but I’m always your little girl for life.” And at the church, I did a first look with my dad, and of course, we both cried.
WHAT WAS THE MOST SPECIAL MEMORY FROM THE DAY?
Our good friend sang a beautiful song while we lit our unity candle. It’s still one of my favorite memories from the day.
Photography: Frame 805
Venue: Monastery Event Center
Florist: Susan Foy
Wedding Planner: Cincy Event Planning
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