Real Bride

#EnzoaniRealBride: Brandie + Austin

Back to Basics

We see and love those weddings with elaborate floral arrangements, brides with trains who wow, and venues where we can only hope to one day host our special day. Brandie and Austin remind us that there's a timeless beauty in simplicity. For this couple, family and friends were the focus of their wedding as they planned a small intimate wedding at Vineyard Central.

Featured above: LOGAN Gown | Enzoani 2017 Collection

When you think about the kind of wedding you want to have, think first about the kind of marriage you want to have, and let your wedding be a reflection of that. In our marriage, one thing that Austin and I want to always pursue is hospitality. For us, that means making our guests feel comfortable in our home and in our lives. Making sure there is always plenty of good food and good drinks (and coffee, always coffee), and making sure our family and friends know how much we love them, and how much we love each other. When it came time to make decisions for our wedding, that is what we kept coming back to. It let the important details fall right into place, and it let things that didn't matter fall away.

Featured above: LOGAN Gown | Enzoani 2017 Collection

The last song of the night was "American Pie" by Don McLean. I had requested it of our DJ because it's one of my personal all-time favourites and some of my best family memories are tied to it, including memories of my grandpa who passed before he could see us get married.

Featured above: LOGAN Gown | Enzoani 2017 Collection

Everyone ended up forming a circle, one arm around their neighbour and the other raising a beer in the air, singing the entire 8+ minute song very loudly and rather drunkenly. I remember looking around at all the people who love and support Austin and I and being completely overwhelmed by how blessed we are and how incredible and FUN our family and friends are.

Featured above: LOGAN Gown | Enzoani 2017 Collection

I knew I wanted a simple--no lace, beading, or sequins for me--yet elegant dress. I wanted the focus to be more on me more so than the dress.

Featured above: LOGAN Gown | Enzoani 2017 Collection

Logan was perfect. Simple crepe material that made me feel sexy, and buttons all the way down the back to give that little something special. It's a timeless dress--as styles change, I know that when I look back on photos I will never regret my dress!

Featured above: LOGAN Gown | Enzoani 2017 Collection

My husband and I met when I joined a CrossFit gym in Cincinnati where he coached and trained. After a few weeks of being acquaintances, we found ourselves as teammates on our gym's CrossFit Regionals team. We discovered a deep mutual love of coffee, and one day Austin brought me a cup at the gym, sealing the deal on our friendship. After several months of developing our friendship over coffee, workouts, and Snapchats, Austin asked me out on a date. I was so caught off guard. I asked him what his intentions were. Needless to say, we did not have that date!

Featured above: LOGAN Gown | Enzoani 2017 Collection

Thankfully, Austin has always been the more patient one in our relationship, and just when we had moved on from the awkwardness of the first time, he asked me out again. This time, I said yes. Shortly after we began dating, however, Austin moved from Cincinnati to Cleveland.

Featured above: LOGAN Gown | Enzoani 2017 Collection

We agreed to try the long-distance thing since both of us felt that what we had was too good to let 4 hours and 250 miles end it. Our lives were a series of weekend visits and countless FaceTime dates for a year and a half. At last, I had an opportunity to move to Cleveland!

Featured above: LOGAN Gown | Enzoani 2017 Collection

4 months after moving in together, I came home from work to find Austin on one knee, asking me to spend the rest of my life with him. This time, I didn't bother to ask what his intentions were. I simply said yes. <3