Real Hazen Bride: Hallie Leach
Date of Wedding: April 24, 2021
In three words, describe your wedding style:
Intimate Garden Party
What provided the most inspiration for your wedding?
Location! My dream ceremony venue was the beautiful Catholic church I grew up attending. Five years ago, the best part of my sister’s wedding was watching her walk down the same aisle with the pews full of smiling family and friends. Things looked different for me and Jake, but that’s OK! We opted to stream our ceremony over Zoom rather than choose between aunts, uncles, and more. Only 20 people attended in person: our immediate families, the wedding party members who lived locally, and their better halves, who are also our dear friends. However, we felt supported by loved ones near and far. The intimate setting also allowed me and my husband Jake to slow down and soak in the day.
Once we had to pivot away from a 250-person party, my childhood home and backyard became our inspiration and our dream reception venue. We held cocktail hour inside and dinner outside with my mom’s gorgeous garden as the backdrop. We even used her silver, China, and crystal tableware! It was truly special. In fact, Jake proposed in my childhood backyard, and I even held part of my bachelorette party there. Not to mention the countless memories growing up. It was wonderful to celebrate in a place meaningful to both me and Jake. Pure magic!!
What aspect of wedding planning was most exciting to you?
Anything and everything with my mom. She has been a saint of a mother and surrogate wedding planner. It’s been a treat to share this season of my life with her. She even came up with the idea of having a watercolor dogwood flower on our invitation. The dogwood became a subtle theme and anchored our spring wedding.
What made you decide on Hazen for your big day?
Since my own bridal look was either heirlooms or from the bridal shop, I knew I wanted a Hazen style for each of my bridesmaids. I am all about classic elegance with a bit of whimsy, and the Claire Earrings in Pearl fit the bill in a fresh way. My friends are so dear to me. They deserve a piece that will last them a long time and can be dressed up or down. I also love that Hazen is a woman-owned small business.
Anything else you’d like to add: Practical Wedding Day Advice! Our photographer shared two tips that stuck with me. 1. Don’t talk too much during your first dance. You’ll have better photos instead of mouths moving mid-sentence. 2. You’ll be photographed all day from many angles. Consider wearing your hair up or back to prevent a “curtain of hair” in many photos. Cheers to all the Hazen brides-to-be!
Wedding Vendors: