Carly + Collin

September 30th, 2023, at The Belle Gardens in Deer Park, WA

Welcome to the Ivory Bride Blog, where we share stories about our real brides and their gorgeous weddings! In today's post, Carly and Collin share how their wedding was the perfect mix of romantic vintage charm and personal touches that made the day truly unforgettable. Even though she and her husband started with very different visions — rural garden dreams versus industrial city vibes — they found their perfect middle ground at Belle Gardens in Deer Park, surrounded by chandeliers, string lights, and sunflowers. While the day wasn’t without a little drama (looking at you, missing minister!), Carly’s incredible support system, a quick-thinking venue team, and a whole lot of laughter turned it all into a story she’ll cherish forever. From the beautiful first look to a reception full of joy (and a few hilarious speeches), Carly’s wedding day was a testament to love, resilience, and the magic of finding your perfect place.

What was the vision for your wedding?:

In the beginning, I didn't know what my wedding vision was until I repeatedly kept adding chandeliers and sunflowers to my Pinterest board. My now husband and I always knew we wanted a Fall wedding, but was unsure if we wanted an outside or inside wedding. My husband was 100% certain that it was NOT going to happen in a barn--which, to my disappointment, was my first thought. I wanted to be married in a rural area surrounded by beautiful nature, added aspects; my city husband wanted an old and industrial feel. We looked at many venues, but it wasn't until we drove up to the Belle Gardens, in Deer Park, that I knew what I wanted: Romantic Vintage Garden Elegance. Belle Gardens had everything I didn't think I wanted: Chandeliers, string lights, gardens, a beautiful water fountain, Romantic Gazebo. Even when we saw it in April, when the flowers were only starting to bloom in its large garden, I knew it was the place. It had to be there. Luckily, it had an old enough feel that my husband was okay with it. Add the sunflowers, the deep royal, eggplant color with ivory and pearls, and Italian food (our favorite), and it was the best wedding I have ever experienced--but I may be biased. Haha!

How did it go on the day of?:

I’ll be honest with you: our wedding day passed in a blur of happiness and a hint of panic, but will forever be one of the best days of my life. Starting early in the morning to get four bridesmaids, two mothers, a groomsmaid, and a bride required us to be awake at 6:30 AM in order to get to the venue by 11:00 AM was a legit challenge. We didn’t even leave the hotel until eleven, and the venue was thirty minutes away without traffic! My wedding day brain was only thinking of everyone trying to help me, and making sure they were happy and having a good time, which meant bringing Costco muffins, Red Bull, and dutch bros for the pre-wedding process! Unfortunately, though, my pre-wedding brain did not think about Lunch. Therefore, in my nervousness before our wedding day, we showed up with nothing but leftover muffins and a group of hungry groomsmen, and a groom. For some reason, my loving husband and best man thought we were bringing them lunch (when it was never once discussed–I told them: “You’re on your own till dinner.”) Luckily, they munched on the leftover muffins, cookies, and champagne that was left over from our morning while we snacked on the much needed Marverick (gas station) goodies which curbed out hunger for at least until the ceremony. God Bless gas station snacks. The real MVP of any wedding day. I always wanted a grand entrance to my wedding, where the first time my husband saw me was when I walked down the aisle with my dad, but after much consideration, we decided that having a First Look was the better route. We were able to see each other after not seeing each other for almost twenty-four hours, and it was as good as any grand entrance; so don’t let that deter you, future brides! Also, another benefit? You can get your bridal party, family, and wedding pictures done before the reception so you can enjoy it with the people you love! Just— make sure you remind your close family to arrive BEFORE the wedding ceremony, at the time for photos, so there aren't any awkward large group photos during the reception with everyone staring at you. (Not speaking from experience, I assure you. (read: I am.) By the time guests were starting to arrive, I got to watch everyone arrive at our beautiful Victorian garden venue. It was my husband’s job to greet everyone while the Best Man hung out with me and my maid of honor. I like to think because my husband knows I’m a worrywart and sent him to keep an eye on me, but I’m going to tell myself it’s because the best man loves me like a sister! Luckily, he was there to become my knight in shining armor, because it was twenty minutes to the start of my ceremony when my coordinator came to the bridal suite door and asked if I’d seen our minister yet. When I tell you I felt my heart drop through all three floors of the house and then another six feet under, I kid you not. Insert the panic, the delayed ceremony, and me questioning if I’m even going to be legally wed that day. My husband’s best man became both of our best men for the rest of our lives that day. He was the one to tell my husband, told him to calm me down, went in front of everyone to tell them about the delay but not the reason, to not embarrass me (because I was!), and then proceeded to be my anger interpreter while he called him. Turns out, he was at a Whitworth football game, living his best life. One of the most vivid memories I have of my wedding is hearing the minister say over the phone, “Whose?” when the best man asked why he wasn’t here for the Giglio wedding. I legit thought the wedding was going to be ruined because some guy didn’t care to remember our wedding. On a day where everyone came to celebrate, the third most important person to be at a wedding FORGOT us. We texted him the week before to remind him of the rehearsal. In hindsight, we should have pressed more when we didn’t get a reply or when he didn’t show up to the rehearsal, but it slipped our minds. We confirmed with everyone except him, and it bit us in the butt. Luckily, my anger interpreter/husband’s best man, made it known his services we no longer needed, and to my delight made him feel like complete crap. I knew that bit was for me. Luckily, one of our wonderful venue owners (and coordinators) was ordained. Gina and Rob not only helped make my wedding the most beautiful wedding I could have ever imagined, but also saved my wedding. I will forever sing their praises for the rest of my life. After that whole debacle, the wedding went smoothly. Were there things I wish I could have redone? Sure. But I was married by the time I walked down that aisle, and that was good enough for me. The reception was everything I dreamed, and every person we talked to exclaimed how beautiful the wedding was. To this day, I still get told how beautiful our wedding was… aaand how funny my tipsy aunt’s speeches were. Funny? More like mortifying. Haha! Have you ever wished you had a fast-forward button? Let me tell you, you’ll wish for it when your tipsy aunt starts saying things like: “Carly’s favorite color purple is because my favorite color is purple,” and saying they forgive me for “marrying into a Skankee (NY Yankees Baseball) family.” I’m sure my new East Coast Italian family loved that.) But in the end, it was the most fun and best day of my life! All thanks to my love, our best man, my parents, and Gina and Rob.