Hannah Gown in a Maine Island Wedding | Claire + Walker

On the surface, choosing a wedding dress sounds simple enough – you try some on, find one that makes you feel gorgeous, and move on. But we all know it’s more complex than shopping for everyday clothes. Threads of family history, your love story, personal style, sense of self, and sometimes unexplored feelings about marriage surface and inform your choice. For some women, it’s a journey of self-discovery, while others recognize their heart in dress form straight away.

Love at First Try-On

Claire and Walker’s black-tie wedding in Maine was in the works, and so she went in search of an elegant, timeless wedding dress that felt as comfortable to wear as it made her feel beautiful. Finding it didn’t take long. Says Claire, “Monica at Bellissima knew that Lea Ann Belter was the perfect designer for this and as soon as I put the Hannah gown on, I fell in love!”

As she stood before Bellissima’s sun-drenched mirrors wearing her classic drop-waist ball gown, “We talked about adding an off-the-shoulder cuff for the ceremony.” The effect was nothing short of magic. “When I tried one on, my mother and I shed some tears as it reminded us of her wedding dress (also an off-the-shoulder and drop-waist gown!). Wearing this Lea Ann Belter gown gave me an opportunity to honor her, while also creating my own family heirloom to hopefully pass on one day!”

Worn With Love

On her wedding day, Claire carried her grandmother, mom, and matron of honor’s love with her down the aisle. In addition to her custom off-the-shoulder cuff, “I also wore my mom’s pearl earrings and my grandmother’s pearl bracelet, along with a veil from my matron of honor, who couldn’t be there because she had her first child on our wedding weekend!”