{SBB Bride of the Week} Taylor
T A Y L O R
+
H E R S C H E L
{September 17th, 2023}
{Photos by: Roxana Snedeker Photography}
Oh, do we love this gorgeous gown {and bride}!!
Introducing our beautiful bride, Taylor!
For her September wedding, Taylor looked incredible in a fitted, off-the-shoulder gown by Abella!
From the blush color to the corset top, we LOVE this dress!
{Photos by: Roxana Snedeker Photography}
For her flowers, Taylor worked with Bokay Florist in Indianapolis!
They turned out so beautiful!
{Photos by: Roxana Snedeker Photography}
Taylor and soon-to-be hubby, Herschel, had one important order of business before heading down the aisle: a special first look.
{Photos by: Roxana Snedeker Photography}
Taylor and Herschel were married at The Marott in Indianapolis!
This ceremony space, y’all! WOW!
{Photos by: Roxana Snedeker Photography}
After the happy couple said “I Do”, the newlyweds and their guests headed to the reception space at The Marott, which is just as beautiful as the ceremony space!
Taylor ditched the gown and changed into a top and pants for her reception look!
{Photos by: Roxana Snedeker Photography}
How did the newlyweds first meet?
“We actually went to high school together – though we weren’t in the same friend circles or grade. We followed each other on social media and knew of each other for many years, but it wasn’t until I went away to graduate school at Ball State that we connected and met in-person. We’ve been inseparable since!”
How did Herschel pop the question?
“For our 2-year anniversary, we drove to Indianapolis and had dinner at the restaurant we had our first date at. Then we went to Eagle Creek State Park – where we had our first hike – and he took me to a section where you can sit on a bench and overlook the water. This is where he proposed – and he had a photographer secretly capture the moment.”
Was it a surprise or did Taylor have a feeling it was coming?
“I knew he was going to propose, because I do not like surprises, and we had discussed where we saw our relationship going at an earlier date. I also designed my own ring. I am very picky about jewelry, and I am passionate about where my jewelry comes from so, I knew I wanted to get my ring from Brilliant Earth. They have diamonds that are lab-grown and ethical which is very important to me. I picked out every part of it – the specific design, the diamonds, etc. I know most people prefer a surprise, but I am someone who likes being involved in big purchases/decisions, so it felt really meaningful that he asked me to help in this process. It helped solidify that I had picked the right person because he knew what I would want most: being involved.
Although I knew he had purchased a ring, I did NOT know when he was proposing. He was very careful about not dropping hints and making it seem like the ring had been “lost in the mail”. So, when our anniversary came, I was under the impression that he was still calling the company to get a replacement or anxiously awaiting the package.”
Moving on to our favorite topic: dress shopping!
“In my hometown of South Bend, there aren’t a ton of wedding dress shops. There is one particular place that a lot of my friends have gone to – and I do not want to name the store because that feels cruel – but I had a really negative experience there of body shaming and knew I would not be using them for my dress selection. I also knew that I wanted an Allure Bridal Gown – because I had been in love with their designs for many years. Another issue I ran into was that many places, like venues, were very open about their anti-LGBTQ+ views in regard to weddings.
I ultimately chose Something Blue Bridal because 1) they had wonderful reviews, 2) they were decently priced without going overboard, 3) they were LGBTQ+ friendly, and 4) they carried Allure Bridal Gowns.
It ended up being the absolute best decision. No one in my family has ever had a “traditional” wedding or shopped for a wedding dress so we were all nervous and feeling out-of-place in the process, but the staff at Something Blue were kind, super informative, and did not try to push styles or dresses on me that I was not interested in or were over-priced. They made me feel so darn special and I am so grateful for that.”
How did she know her dress was "the one"?
“I had tried on many, many dresses and each had something I really liked – but I didn’t feel 100% certain about any. The absolute last dress that my sister added to my grouping was the one I ultimately picked. It made me feel sexy – which is not something that happens often – and when I came out, my mom and sister were in awe. Even the staff at Something Blue choked up when they placed the veil in my hair and handed me a practice bouquet. It was a really special moment.”
What was Taylor’s favorite part of the planning process?
“Definitely food tastings and planning the seating chart. My husband and I are really into food – our idea of fun is trying new restaurants or recipes and just eating good, quality food. Plus, we have two moms who are very picky about food so having them there to taste and help select a meal was fun and helpful. As for the seating chart, there is tons of drama within our families and friend groups, so we had to be very meticulous about who we sat together and that was a lot of fun for me – I know how bizarre that sounds, but I promise it was so much fun.”
What about her least favorite part?
“Collecting RSVPs……… People can be so inconsiderate, particularly people who have never been to a wedding or experienced a “traditional” wedding. A lot of people did not realize that RSVPs were necessary or needed in a timely manner – and often refused to reach out with questions instead of making assumptions. I had to make several social media posts and even send several emails just to remind people. I had no idea it would be that hard just to get answers.”
Looking back, what was Taylor’s favorite moment from her wedding day?
“Honestly, my bridal party made my wedding day the best it could be. They took care of any small details that came up so I could sit, relax, and focus on getting pampered. I can’t think of a specific moment in particular, but a picture comes to mind: it is of my three best friends taking a selfie during the reception. None of them had met before this day, but by the end of the wedding, they were soul sisters – it was absolutely heartwarming, and I will cherish that forever.”
Does she have any words of wisdom for brides-to-be who are currently planning their own big day?
“Be very mindful of who you pick to be in your bridal party. The wedding day is going to be very stressful and nerve-wracking – you want people who understand you, know how to handle your stress, and step in when needed (sometimes without being asked).
Lastly, don’t let other people bully you in any decisions. I had many family members who tried to overstep and make decisions on my behalf – be brave enough to set boundaries and stand firmly on your choices. It is YOUR day – not theirs. I am a major people-pleaser, so it was really difficult to do this, but I am so glad I did. You won’t regret choosing you.”
Congratulations, Taylor and Herschel!
Check out more of their beautiful wedding photos by Roxana Snedeker Photography in the gallery below!
