Step into the winter-wonderland elopement of Nathalie’s friend-turned-NK-Bride, Gina, and her husband, Ryan! This unconventional couple has been in each other’s lives for 20+ years, though their journey to romance was a slow (and, at times, comical) burn. Keep reading to find out how their love story blossomed, and see the NK Bride jacket that helped this matrimony-averse bride open her heart to marriage.

The Love Story

Let’s be honest, we all believed that we would marry our middle-school crush. Well, for Gina, it actually happened! She met Ryan in 6th grade and was instantly drawn to him. Even at such a young age, “I always knew that there was something really powerful—something there or that would be between us.” Awkward and shy at the time, Gina wrote stories featuring Ryan to better articulate how she felt. To her horror (and ours!), a, how do we say, “colorful,” story ended up leaking, facing some dramatic rumors and informing the whole school about Gina’s crush…

Fast forward to 2012, and that nightmare turned into a dream. The pair reconnected via mutual friends and went from being merely friendly in high school to being close friends as adults. She had dated other guys since, but “I still thought of him and that very strong feeling I had for him. Nobody ever came close to that,” she admitted. Then, one day, when both were down on their luck, they made the spontaneous decision to move to Denver and live together…as friends *sigh*. The romance didn’t blossom here, but best believe the underlying tension did!

It wasn’t until Gina bid him farewell and moved to Portland that the pieces fell into place. Ryan came to visit, and in a karaoke-filled moment, they finally decided to be together. “He asked if I wanted to move back to Vermont and just spend the rest of our lives together.” Once they took the plunge, everything felt right. Months later, they rented a van and moved cross-country as an official couple. Being best friends for 10+ years before dating, it may seem like a slow culmination to some, but it was perfect for them. Anyway, Gina, I think it’s safe to say, we’ll all be living out our middle-school fantasies through you!

The Proposal

“Once we got together, the plan was to be together for life, but still, I was surprised when he proposed on Christmas!” How’s that for getting in the holiday spirit? Gina was standing by the Christmas tree surrounded by family, when the next thing she knew, Ryan was on one knee. “I gasped and basically jumped on top of him squealing with happiness,” she laughed. He was holding a symbolic ring glistening with her sapphire birthstone and a deeper meaning. “He calls me his healing rock because we recharge each other. He's the only person who made me believe in soulmates.” The ring isn’t the only symbol of their cosmic love. A quirky alignment emerged when Gina’s big dipper tattoo, covering a breast cancer scar, coincidentally lined up perfectly with Big-Dipper-esque beauty marks on Ryan's chest when standing face to face. Dare we say this marriage was written in the stars?

Background

Gina first met Nathalie on a writing assignment at Williamsburg Fashion Week in 2011. Nathalie’s collection stood out to Gina for its uniqueness and for being “a step above.” “I immediately wanted to wear every piece!” she told us. The pieces resonated with her so much that she reached out to Nathalie for an interview for her blog, Women Around Town. Nathalie happily agreed and gave Gina a tour of her best creations. Little did Gina know that this initial connection would blossom into a lifelong friendship.

With her Fashion Week experience plus directing a fabulous fashion show in Vermont, Gina is no stranger to fine apparel. And there's something about bridal wear that brings an extra skip to her step, especially when writing about her talented friend's creations. The wedding dresses Nathalie has crafted are like a breath of fresh air in a world that sometimes seems a bit too boring and traditional. “She's the first wedding designer who made me find an interest in wedding dresses because of how unique they [Nathalie’s creations] are.” Each piece, from dazzling pantsuits to reinvented classics, has a way of making even the most marriage-averse soul think, "Maybe I should get married after all!"

Choosing NK Bride

Talk about a whirlwind wedding! Gina and Ryan long debated the timing of their wedding until a random Tuesday night. Many of their friends had eloped, and they thought that’d be the perfect solution for themselves too. When Gina asked her fiancé when they should do it, and he responded with, "Why not Friday?" the couple went in full throttle and never looked back.

The idea of a custom NK dress had floated through Gina’s mind in the past, but due to the time constraints, it wasn’t an option. But something else was! Perhaps one of the most distinct (and badass) NK originals—our white leather jacket. “When she [Nathalie] first created that leather jacket, I instantly fell in love with it, and I was like, 'If I ever get married, which I probably never will, I totally want to wear Nathalie’s leather jacket,'” Gina reminisced. It only took a quick call, and our designer was on it! The jacket was being overnighted to Vermont faster than you can say, “I do.”

Fast forward to her wedding day, when she wore the jacket, a piece she had admired from the moment she laid eyes on it. It was more than just a fashion statement—it symbolized a close friendship that had grown over the years. “She's like family to me. She is family to me. I felt like that was a really special way to represent her in my wedding.” *Sniff* Anyone have a tissue?

The Leather Jacket

Nathalie has many designs to her name, so we were curious: Why the leather jacket?

Well, Gina is somewhat of a leather jacket aficionado usually rocking them in every shade of black. So, when she saw this little white number with its floral details, it was love at first sight. And while a leather jacket may make you conjure up masculine images of biker dudes, this one is different. “The fact that she [Nathalie] made a leather jacket look so feminine and bridal, I’ve never seen anything like it. And it represented a nontraditional approach to getting married, which I felt represented my marriage and love story.” Nat's the queen of making the unexpected look effortlessly chic!

“It way surpassed my expectations!” Gina’s fear that the jacket might be a bit snug quickly subsided once she put it on. “It felt perfect, like it was fit for me even though it wasn't.” With her dress and veil being an ivory, cream color, the jacket shone bright in its pure white form. That’s what we call a statement piece!

The Dress & Veil

No frills or froofs here! Considering a courthouse wedding was Plan A, our bride-to-be didn’t even think she was going to wear a dress. But after solidifying the leather jacket and envisioning the big day in full, she changed her mind. A quick browse on ASOS led her to the one—a backless high-low maxi dress with a heart clasp, perfectly aligning with her everyday style. “I like more mini dresses, but I liked how it was longer and more elegant in the back—a bit of a mullet dress, party in the front, elegant in the back.” Who else thinks Gina should coin that term?

The bride initially wanted to wear her mom's 70s wedding dress, complete with puff sleeves, but the fit wasn’t quite right. Luckily, the dress she chose had a similar vibe. Still, though, Gina couldn’t help but feel a little sad about her mother’s dress. Thankfully, a delightful surprise came on the morning of the wedding…she found her mom’s veil! What made it even more special is that it was crafted by her talented grandma, and it just so happened to pair seamlessly with her dress, creating an unexpectedly cohesive look. Sadly, these two special ladies in Gina’s life reside amongst the angels, but the veil served as a physical reminder of them, adding a sentimental layer to the celebration.

Working With Nathalie

Nathalie emerged as a true wedding MVP, “giving me a lot of guidance even about the photographer and giving helpful tips about preparing for a wedding.” When Gina mentioned that they were only planning on taking iPhone photos, Nathalie jumped in to offer advice that we could all take: “If you spend any money on the day at all, spend it on a photographer. You will not regret it." We’d say these photos are proof, and so did Gina! “I would not have my favorite photos of my life if it weren't for her.”

Throughout the getting-ready process, Nathalie played the part of a style consultant, helping coordinate the jacket with the other pieces of Gina’s outfit through photos alone. “I didn't have a wedding party or bridesmaids; she was essentially that person for me even from states away.” A true lifesaver, Nathalie even stepped in to guide the bride on the intricacies of veil placement, preventing a potential fashion emergency. In the absence of a physical maid of honor, Nathalie took on the role seamlessly, proving that every bride could use a fairy god friend!

The Setting

There’s no such thing as an ugly location in Vermont. Opting for convenience and scenic beauty, the couple chose to wed on their porch at home, overlooking a majestic tree. With the allure of privacy, they avoided the spotlight, preferring the personal exchange of vows away from prying eyes. “Both of us were already nervous but excited, and we get embarrassed when it comes to love stuff, so it was good to just have it between us.” A magical transformation occurred the night before as snow blanketed their surroundings, transforming the deck into a winter wonderland. The bride’s stepmom sent the flowers that adorn the deck, adding a touch of warmth to the snowy scene with the help of some candles.

The Ceremony

The couple opted for a simple, secular ceremony. In lieu of wedding bands, the couple got tattoos of each other’s names on their ring fingers! How freaking cool is that? They considered writing their own vows but went with the tried and true classics. For them, it was enough to simply stand up there and express their excitement to each other in a magical moment of blissful disbelief. “It felt like we made the right decision to do it intimately by ourselves, making it about us and our love and forming that bond officially.”

But that doesn’t mean their loved ones didn’t play a huge role in their day! The couple received heartfelt gifts from friends who played a significant role in their journey to the altar. One friend, a pivotal figure in their connection, acted as a behind-the-scenes matchmaker. “She always rooted for us to be together, though, by a certain point, she was losing hope,” Gina laughed. Her persistent belief eventually proved right, becoming a heartwarming part of their love story and adding an extra layer of joy to their wedding.

Bucking Tradition

No first look for these two! Bucking tradition, the pair decided to get dressed side by side, cracking jokes and having fun the whole time. Gina didn’t even have a makeup artist. While many people are often too nervous to eat prewedding, our carefree couple grabbed breakfast at a local diner before going back to wait for their only wedding guest to arrive. The justice of the peace, of course! After some hesitation, Gina and Ryan chose Anne Donahue, a conservative state representative. Although Anne and the couple stand on different sides of the political spectrum, Anne’s more progressive views reassured them. In the end, Anne proved to be an excellent choice, making history with the couple as the first wedding she officiated!

Surprise! There was actually one more guest at the intimate wedding. Meet the furry flower girl, Amelia. “I made ribbons of flowers for her to wear, but they didn't stay on too long, so she was only the flower girl for about a minute, but it was a very, very cute minute!” Gina chuckled. We conquer. Amelia, uhh, “made her mark” in another way too…by taking a tinkle while her parents tied the knot. At least they got these cute laughing pics out of it. As they say, “get you a girl who can do both!”

The Theme

While there was no formal theme, we like to think of it as “saddle up, snow bride.” Embracing practicality, Gina opted for her signature cowboy boots over pink pumps, a nod to her love for the style and a sensible choice for the snowy weather. Ryan, choosing his outfit on the morning of the wedding, effortlessly matched her laid-back vibe, with blue tones popping out in a way that suited him and made her smile. The hurried nature of their clothing choices was on brand with their spontaneity throughout the whole planning process. Capturing candid snapshots of Ryan navigating the white terrain in his trusty snow boots gave them a laugh that they can revisit for years to come.

The Special Moment

“Saying 'I do' and getting to kiss knowing that we were married. That was just such an amazing feeling.” The joy was palpable with Ryan blurting inside jokes because what’s a serious moment without some lighthearted touches sprinkled in? The photographer skillfully captured those candid moments, allowing the couple's genuine connection and authenticity to shine through. Later in the evening, as husband and wife, they found themselves casually hanging out together, painting, as Ryan so loves to do, embracing the newness of their marital status. Even before making it official, they had playfully called each other husband and wife, making the papers the cherry on the cake!

Reflecting on their journey, both agreed that marrying anyone else would have felt like settling. There was always an underlying awareness that they were meant to be together. The realization came after years of dating others, a period Nathalie also sensed as a form of “going through the motions,” trying to fill the void of believing that being with Ryan might never happen. The love they shared was unparalleled, and no one else could come close to evoking the same depth of emotions. The unique connection they had was simply incomparable, affirming their belief in a destined union.

Congrats, Gina and Ryan! Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together.

<3 NK Bride

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The Dream Team

Photographer: Sean Hood Photography | Bridal Leather Jacket: NK Bride | Justice of the Peace: Anne Donahue | Couple: Gina & Ryan