Ellen & Joe’s Engagement Story
Joe and I had been dating since October 2013.
In September 2016 we went on a vacation with his family to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. To have some time to ourselves, one day the two of us decided to climb one of the highest peaks, Flattop Mountain. Elevation at the peak was around 12,230ft and we had to bring extra clothes and windproof jackets to get to the top. It took us almost three hours to get to the top and we had to slow down a lot because as the air thinned out and got windier, we had trouble breathing. We made it to the top shortly before sunset, and you could see 4 other mountaintops around us.
At the trail sign at the peak, Joe turned to me, hugged me, and told me that together, we can make it anywhere, do anything, and accomplish everything we want. He had bought the ring seven months prior and was unable to sneak it into his luggage for this trip, so he didn’t have it with him. He then dropped down to one knee, told me about the ring, and said he knew he had nothing else to offer me right there, but he was asking me to marry him anyway. I had trouble crying because the wind was so strong and cold it almost froze the tears to my face. Of course I said yes! But there were clouds moving in and we needed to get down this mountain!
What location did you choose to get married? What made you choose this venue?
“Our venue was Starlight Meadow in Burlington, NC, a converted and re-purposed barn on an old dairy farm out in the country in central North Carolina. It was less than 30 minutes from where we lived and had everything we needed in terms of space, venue staff, and the owner had a full list of fantastic vendors we could choose from or pick our own.”
How did you choose your wedding gown?
“This was not my first wedding, so I wanted something easy on-and-off, low-maintenance, shorter (assuming it would be warm still, which it usually is in NC in November but it ended up being very cold), form-fitting but also comfortable, and cute with long, curled hair, but also sexy and fun.”
How did you feel in your dress?
“Once altered, I felt amazing in it! I felt elegant yet comfortable and like I could actually wear it other places. It ended up being the perfect dress for me.”
What made you choose JJsHouse?
“I gave my friends a list of what I wanted in a dress, and they just started searching the web frantically and one of them sent me this dress (and several others from JJs House) and it fit everything I wanted the best. I also needed something reasonably priced as my mom was very sick at the time and my parents were unable to help with much in terms of cost.”
What was your favorite moment of the day?
“My favorite moment was probably the calm few minutes where we were getting the pictures of the two of us done while everyone was having cocktail hour. It was calm, we were in the warm, setting sun, and just got to appreciate our first few moments of being married. Also we’re runners, so we took some pictures in our running shoes with a medal from the first marathon we ran together. It was so nice to not be in heeled booties!”
Three words that sum up your day?
“We’re so lucky!”
What’s your best tip for dressing for the big day to share with other brides?
“Be yourself and be comfortable. Wear a dress that makes you feel beautiful and happy, but also that you don’t have to struggle with. And always size up! When you order and if/when you get alterations, always be sure things are a tad loose (you can fit an extra couple fingers between your body and the material) because you never know what your body is going to be doing that day. Plus you want room to breathe and move around.”
