Gilded Social Bride

Laura Rutner Thompson

Gilded Social Bride
The Story

The Story

My sister was a COV*D bride. In fact one of the last trips I took BEFORE the plandemic was to shop for a dress with her. At the time, Gilded Social hadn’t yet started selling bridal, so admittedly, I didn’t know much, but I knew enough to know what would look good and help her have a great experience. And wouldn’t ya know it, she ended up picking a dress we would sell one day! She ended up picking a Jenny Yoo #GildedTribe line up, too. 

 

My sister and I have different moms and are 13.5 years apart, but we both moved to the midwest for college, joined a sorority, and never looked back at our Coastal roots. We always joke that we have led parallel lives. That said, it can be hard to connect with a sibling that far apart in age, but there is no better opportunity than a wedding. Weddings make or break relationships, and I was determined to take advantage of my chance to be there for her. I do rise to the occasion when weddings are concerned, if I don’t say so myself.

 

On top of helping her find the ONE, her actual wedding weekend posed an even greater opportunity. For reasons I will never really understand, 3 of her 4 bridesmaids “claimed COVID” the week of the wedding and decided not to show. What did we do? Not panic. I brought a few purple dresses for my sister in law who served as a backup BM and my sewing machine, helped her pick a style, and then hemmed that dress on site.

 

It was the first time I did any kind of onsite emergency alterations, and I couldn't have been more excited and honored to rise to the challenge. And that I could do it for Laurie, made it even sweeter. And wouldn’t ya know it, she let me be a bridesmaid emeritus for her, too. By the photos, you wouldn’t have even known it wasn’t planned that way from the start. God works in mysterious ways.

The Look

The Look

Dress

Eden by Jenny Yoo

The Vendors

PHOTOGRAPHER

Courtney Howard Photography

The Prep

The Review

“Crisis averted! My daughter was faced with a wedding day emergency. Due to state mandates and new COVID restrictions, two of her three bridesmaids dropped out on Wednesday. Luckily we were able to find replacements. Tanya Hartman from Gilded Social saved the day! Tanya brought several dresses in the style and color of the original dresses and a sewing machine. The new women were able to pick a dress they liked and Tanya hemmed them for us. She brought a portable steamer and she made sure all the dresses including the bride’s dress were pressed and beautiful. During the picture taking, Tanya also made sure that everyone’s hair was in place and clothing hung perfectly. Sometimes photographers look for faces not being in shadows and that everyone is visible but they don’t have time to worry about hair and clothing. Tanya made it so I, as the bride’s mother, could just enjoy the day. Worth every penny to have her there. Thank you Tanya and Gilded Social!!”

- Peggy Ward, Mother of the Bride

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