Real Martina Liana bride Abigail’s wedding was all about elegance, including her choice of wedding gown. After her first wedding dress shopping experience, Abigail couldn’t get Martina Liana Style 1341 out of her head. The modern minimalist gown features a high neck, skinny plunge, signature seaming, and angled open back. Abigail looked glamorous in the gown, and it perfectly complemented the garden venue. Read on for more proposal and wedding details from this stunning couple!
Tell us about your proposal…
Michael prosed in Charleston, South Carolina. Michael was trying to find the perfect moment to propose the first two days in Charleston. He thought the third day was it when we decided to bike the city and sightsee. Like anyone who has ever visited Charleston or anywhere in the South knows, it can be hot! We were scorching after biking a short distance in the heat. The humidity had my polished hair crazy and the park Michael planned to propose at was overly crowded. He decided it wasn’t the right time to propose and we stopped for lunch. We both went into the restroom to wash our hands. Without knowing, I carried the book bag into the restroom that had the ring. We both came out from washing our hands and because of a wall that separated the restaurant into two halves, we sat on opposite sides of the restaurant. After a few minutes, Michael started to think I was looking in the book bag and saw the ring. After 5 long minutes, a waitress came over and asked Michael if he’d come in with someone. He told her that he had and said I was on the other side of the restaurant. We both laughed about it, but it was funnier once I knew I was carrying around my own ring without knowing. After lunch and some time to cool down, Michael found a quiet place to make the sweetest proposal.
How did you know that Martina Liana Style 1341 was the one?
The look I was going for was minimalist and elegant. Style 1341 achieved both. I felt it was a timeless pick. I felt flawless in my dress. During dress shopping, I visited Formally Yours in Lilburn, Georgia first. I immediately walked in and before the associate had even pulled any dresses for me, I’d already spotted the Martina Liana gown. She pulled several and I told her I also wanted to try that one. They were all beautiful, but none gave me the feeling or the confidence of the Martina Liana gown. I didn’t say yes to the dress that day. I visited all stores within a 50 mile radius the next weekend trying to achieve the look and feel of that dress before saying yes. By Sunday, I went back to Formally Yours and finally said, “Yes!” to my stunning Martina Liana dress. My only wish was that I could wear it again.
How did you make your wedding personal to your style and love story?
Our theme was simple elegance as well. We got married at a 117-year-old mill with the most stunning outdoor garden area. We choose to stick with green to compliment all of the greenery in the garden as well as black. The black made everything chic and timeless. We’re from outside of Atlanta, so the venue was more than two hours from us. Upon seeing it, we both fell in love. We are both outdoorsy people. I loved the gardens and Michael loved the Chattahoochee River that runs right behind the gardens. It was a stunning venue making Columbus always have a place in our hearts.
What was the most memorable part of your wedding?
The most special memory from our wedding day was the first look, both with my dad and Michael. Each had the sweetest reaction to seeing me, and I was able to share a special moment with each separately before guests arrived. Even though I wanted a very traditional wedding, the first look took the pressure off and had Michael and I more at ease for the ceremony. I’ll cherish all of my wedding photos, but certainly those.
Photography by Haint Blue Collective.
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