brittany + brandon {married}
This sweet sweet lady purchased her stunning dress while she was going through a very tough season in her life. We are so happy and honored that we could be a part of some sunshine for her! She has become one of Couture Closet's biggest cheerleaders and we are so grateful for her and her support! You are just going to LOVE her sweet intimate Kentucky Boho wedding at Red River Gorge.
Congratulations Brittany + Brandon! We love you and wish you a lifetime of Love, Laughter, and Adventure! Your love story is one for the ages!
xoxo, The Couture Closet Gals
Words from the Bride {you may want to grab a tissue}:
I spent most of 2017 miserable. Not how you imagine feeling the year of your wedding + what should be the most wonderful time of your life. However, before the year even began my father was admitted into the ICU at Pikeville Medical Hospital with not only pneumonia but congestive heart failure. Nothing, not even planning my wedding, could distract or take away the terrible heartbreak as I began accepting that I was losing my father. During a time in which my father was improving and no longer in the hospital + I started seeing other brides begin dress shopping for their 2017 wedding, I decided it was time to embark on my own dress adventure. In January, I began making several appointments with many bridal boutiques around Kentucky. My first call + appointment was with Couture Closet Bridal Boutique in La Grange, Kentucky for January 17th. Unfortunately, at the time my mom also became ill and was unable to attend the appointment with me, however my matron of honor accompanied me. I discovered Couture Closet from a dress that was posted to Facebook from Amy Wallen Reed who coincidentally is also from Eastern Kentucky + ended up doing mine + my husband’s engagement pictures. Having adored her photography style + the dress she posted won me over to give them a call to set up an appointment. Being an extremely indecisive person, there was no way I thought I’d end up making my decision that day when I had so many boutiques left to visit.
My Matron of Honor + I found the adorable boutique located in the quaint Main Street area of La Grange, + as you step out of the shop onto the street you’ll find the tracks of a still full functioning train! Inside we were welcomed by the warm and loving personality of Tera Davis who had my name on their chalk board as I arrived, welcoming me into their shop + personalizing my experience as soon as I stepped inside. She immediately began getting to know ME. Not just what I was there for, but about my life + how I got to this point. Tera took a genuine interest in my life, my story + what I was looking for in a wedding dress. We talked vintage, long sleeves, non-traditional colors. If my memory serves me correctly she chose 4 or 5 dresses to get me started, + they were all stunning. She personally helped me not only get into each dress but showed me how to use spanks which I had never done before. Earlier on our way to the shop I felt so alone without having my mother there to help or share this magical moment, but regardless if I had left there with a dress or not, Tera did everything in her power to subside those feelings, + with her selfless compassion made me feel so comfortable every step of the way into finding my dream dress.
The month leading up to my second appointment at Couture Closet had been filled with nothing but absolute stress, worry and anxiety over my father and his declining health. On top of that my mother fell ill with pneumonia + pleurisy from spending so much of time in a hospital with my father. We both were so emotionally, mentally, + physically exhausted. However, God works in mysterious ways + brings people in your life when you need them the most. The moment Tera Davis helped me into the feminine chiffon, A-line Lillian West dress, even if only for a moment, took all my worries away. It was quite literally one of the happiest moments of my life, one God knew I so desperately needed at the time. Even though my mother wasn’t there to share it with me, + even though I knew my father may not live to see it, here God had given me Tera to make me feel like everything in the world was right. Everything about that moment of seeing myself in that dress, my past, my future, + everything in between filled me with so many emotions. But everything about it felt perfect + it ended up being the one I chose to wear on my wedding day.
In a time of sadness God blessed me with a day full of happiness + joy. He entered a small business into my life that’s continued to make me feel as beautiful + special as I did the day I found my dress. However, their services + kindness didn’t end there. Had it not been for the several pictures Tera took of me in my dress, the day I came in, my father would have never seen it on me before he passed away. If that alone wasn’t reason enough for me to cherish + adore the ladies at Couture Closet, I now own a dress from their boutique that their other owner Lauren prayed over as she does all her brides for their wedding day. It truly doesn’t get anymore special than that. I wish all the best health, happiness, love + success to them + their incredibly beautiful + compassionate business, + that every bride can feel as important as they made me feel.
Their Love Story:
My husband + I met May 14th, 2014 in my mother’s garage in Georgetown, KY, it was love at first sight. Having parents who divorced after thirty-eight years of marriage only two years prior had left a huge impact on my own personal love life + I was the last person who would have believed in “love at first sight.” Ironically Brandon + I are both from the same tiny town of Paintsville, KY and I can’t be for certain if I added him on Facebook or if he added me, but I remember how cute he was (still is) + that surely with all these mutual friends in common that maybe one day our paths would cross. Sure, enough it did, + on May 1st Brandon Smith messaged me on Facebook + we continuously talked for two weeks. The day we met was spent sharing our life stories, listening to vinyl records, and drinking some terrible Kentucky Gentleman Bourbon. As we slow danced to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” on vinyl, Brandon kissed me for the first time, + I was smitten as a kitten. Two weeks later we were living together, + then on October 22nd, 2016 he asked me to be his wife. In the time spent before marrying my husband, + even before he asked me to marry him I learned exactly what it was like to be in love. I found “my perfect person” in an imperfect person. With eyes as blue as Paul Newman’s, lips as luscious as Elvis Presley’s, + a heart as big as Texas, Brandon continues to remind me what love is every single day. He accepts me at my best + at my worst, rejoices with me as I’m thriving + comforts me when I am weak. He is more than I could ever dream of, + I can’t thank God enough for making him my husband, + for who I have the honor + privilege of spending my life with.
One the wedding day once getting ready was over + we were finished with “first look” + group pictures, my groom + I headed to Slade, Kentucky to get married. Brandon + I chose Red River Gorge because it is directly between where we met (Lexington) + where we are from (Paintsville.) It is never forgetting where we are from, + it is also looking to where we are, + where we are going in our lives together. The Gorge is also absolutely the most stunning back drop for any season wedding, but particularly in the Fall. It is quite literally having a canvas of colors painted by God himself, surrounding you on every side. Once we had taken pictures at Princess Arch with My Tiny Wedding we made our way back to meet our wedding party at the trail which takes you to Chimney Rock. From that moment of locking arms with my brother, the man who would be giving me away, I knew this moment would change the rest of my life. As he was giving me away he leaned and told me, “There through the clouds is one single streak of light, shinning on you, where you’re standing, and that is our Father here watching over you.” I stood in that light the whole ceremony as I read my vows, and exchanged rings, + ultimately became Mrs. Brittany Higginbotham Smith.
Brandon + I were married + since we weren’t having a traditional reception we had Spalding’s Donuts for our guests set up on picnic tables right there in the woods. As soon as we scarfed those down, we were off to meet with Heather Rous of The End Photography at Shaker Village. Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill will always hold a special place in my heart. Growing up my family and I spent many years celebrating New Year’s Eve there, + dined at the Trustees’ Table where everything is made from seasonal ingredients from their garden and other local farmers. Little did I know years later this would also be where I would be proposed to. That is why after all the madness + chaos of the day, + planning, my husband + I decided to spend an intimate evening where it all began, to unwind + focus on what was important, + that is always each other. During our session with The End Photography, Brandon + I enjoyed a chocolate bourbon pecan pie made from Midway Bakery instead of having a traditional wedding cake. Once our session was through with Heather, we made our way to the Trustees’ Table for dinner where I had a delicious Grilled Pork Rack Chop with roasted sweet potato grits, crispy Brussel sprouts, + charred apple chutney. Brandon enjoyed the Shaker Village Burger which was made from 8 oz. grilled beef, Brioche bun, lettuce, tomato, pickle, fries, and bacon. All which was farm to table. Like most things for Brandon + me, this simple setting over food, with kerosene lamps fluttering in the background was the most perfect part of our day, because it was just us together.
Morning Photography: HMJ Photography // Post Wedding Photography: The End Photography // Ceremony Photography: My Tiny Wedding // Wedding Dress Designer: Lillian West // Flowers: State and Arrow // Hair and MU: Something Blu // Accessories: Southern Glitz // Ceremony Venue: My Tiny Wedding at Red River Gorge // Post Wedding Venue: Shaker Village // Donuts: Spaldings // Wedding Pie: Midway Bakery