Blair and I met in 2012 on a local soccer team in Boston. We both love sports and the outdoors, and the connection to one another was instant! We started dating in 2013, and got engaged on a crisp Fall evening on a pier overlooking downtown Boston.

We knew we wanted a Fall wedding the next year, and venues book up quite early in New England. Alas, we started looking soon thereafter, focusing on places that possessed natural beauty and would highlight the stunning foliage. On an early November weekend (and during the first snowstorm, no less!), we drove through Vermont and fell in love with Hildene, the historic former home of Robert Todd Lincoln. Hildene sits on a 400-acre working farm and the estate is a 1900’s Georgian Revival style mansion. It was absolutely perfect.

With the venue set, it was time to find the perfect dress! I knew I wanted something classic and timeless, though I initially thought it would be lace. I visited Camilla’s Bridal salon early in my search, and the Paloma Blanca line immediately stood out. After a few other designers (and a gravitation toward fuller skirts), I tried on Style 4661; the feel and flow of the raw silk was incredible – and it had pockets! I felt like the most beautiful bride, and couldn’t stop walking around the salon and looking at my reflection.

While I didn’t purchase the dress day (I like to sleep on big decisions), it was stuck in the back of my mind. I visited other bridal salons and tried on other Palomas, but the boutique experience at Camilla’s and the feeling of the dress made me realize it was THE one. I went back with my mother and sister-in-law, and amidst ooh’s and aah’s from the other patrons, I said yes to the dress! For the icing on the cake, we found a lace-tipped, cathedral length veil that looked stunning with the skirt, and fulfilled my wish for a lace component.

Our wedding day was truly unforgettable. The sun was shining and it was an ideal temperature for a ceremony in the estate gardens. Blair and I had our first look by the barn, and I’ll never forget his face when he saw me. I’d kept the dress a total secret and I don’t know if he expected something so elegant and classic; he was absolutely speechless. After family photos, I hid myself away in the mansion while guests arrived. My father walked me down the aisle to a string trio playing Canon in D, and I could barely hold in my happy tears seeing all of our friends and family gathered. It was a moment I’ll never forget.

In reflecting on the experience through photos, I can honestly say that the Paloma gown was one of my favorite things about our day. All of the joy and excitement on our faces was enhanced through the beauty of the gown, and I know that when our children and grandchildren look at these photos years later, they’ll see the true love that we felt.