Timeless Hellenic Center Wedding | Amanda + Dylan

A blind date sparked Amanda and Dylan’s love story. Over the years, these two fell head over heels over the big things (like a sweet proposal at the Philadelphia Art Museum) as well as the everyday sweetness that makes finding your person so special, too. Shares Amanda, “My favorite thing about Dylan is how he balances his sense of humor with his soft side. He is hilarious—he always makes me laugh and makes the mundane things fun, and yet he also knows when to dial down the humor and take things seriously if needed.”

Says Dylan, “My favorite thing about Amanda is how she has always been so good at boosting me up. She always lets me know when she’s proud of me, is a constant positive support, and I know I can always rely on her.”

wedding dress: Lea-Ann Belter Arden | photographer: Dan Aguirre Photography | scroll down for full vendor list

Together, they planned a wedding at The Hellenic Center in Ipswich, Massachusetts that captured their relationship and was definitely a family affair! Says Amanda, “My bouquet was wrapped in fabric from my paternal grandmother’s wedding dress and an aquamarine pin from my maternal grandmother—both grandmothers were then our flower girls! I borrowed my sister’s veil, as she had gotten married a few months before me. For the ceremony, we asked our mothers to choose a reading that represented our love and their wishes for us.” They also included their sweet dog Freya into their day, too! She had a signature cocktail named after her and Dylan wore a needle-point patch of her sewn into his tuxedo jacket.

Then there was the dress. Amanda’s aunt Karen is also our Lea-Ann Belter US rep! So, when Amanda spotted our Arden, she had to try it on! Karen made arrangements, and when our lovely bride slipped it on, she knew it was the one!

More about their day from our big-hearted couple below.

How did you two get engaged?

“Dylan proposed at the Philadelphia Art Museum. His parents were in town, and we had reservations at a fancy restaurant. We were all dressed up and ready to go when Dylan told me his parents had to cancel because his Dad had a “migraine.” We decided to still go out and have a glass of wine at the park near the Art Museum before dinner. He proposed at the park and then surprised me with our family and close friends waiting around the corner for a party after!”

What is the best thing you’ve learned from one another?

“I’ve learned how to live in the moment more from Dylan, and Dylan says he has learned how to communicate what he needs in our relationship from me.”

Tell us about your outfits! How did you choose your gown?

“I knew I wanted something that was both classic and modern, in a simple and glamorous fabric! I had seen a dress similar to Arden online, and my Aunt Karen, who works for Lea-Ann Belter, sent me the Arden dress and said I had to try it on! It was the first dress I tried on and I immediately knew it was perfect for me. I love how the classic ball gown silhouette is updated with the slit and sharp neckline. Dylan wore a classic tuxedo to match the elegance of our venue and my dress!”

Tell us about your day!

“I loved how all the small details of our wedding came together to make it a reflection of our personalities. Dylan and I love to cook and host dinner parties, so for our guest book we had guests sign an apron with fabric markers. We had custom cocktail napkins with fun facts about us, which guests loved. We included our dog, Freya, in the big day by having a needle-point patch of her that my mom’s friend made sewed into Dylan’s tuxedo jacket, and one of our signature cocktails was Freya’s French 75, with her making an appearance on the hand-painted signature drinks sign that a friend made for us.”

What part of your wedding day was/is most important to you?

“Reading the vows that we wrote in front of our family and friends, and hearing the readings that our mothers chose during the ceremony was so special!”

Where did you go on your honeymoon?

“We are going to Thailand, where we will be spending time in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Koh Lanta.”

Any tips for couples getting married?

“Our tips are to set aside time for yourselves during the big day just to be alone and soak in everything that’s going on. Also stick together the entire time, with all of your friends and loved ones there it is easy to get pulled in different directions! I’m happy we decided to be glued at the hip the entire day.”