Real Brides: Rachel

My husband, John, and I met on our Medical and PA school rotations at UT medical center. He asked for my number after lunch conferences one day to set up a date. We went to Babalu for dinner one night, and from there, we spent several years together before getting engaged in June 2022. We got married at Marblegate Farm in Louisville, Tennessee, on 10.7.23. Both of us grew up in East Tennessee. 

I knew the Val Stefani Blanca dress was the one when I first saw it on Instagram. I had been on a bachelorette trip for my now sister-in-law when I first saw it while surfing my Instagram feed. There were no local bridal shops that carried Val Stefani sadly. I went to one local shop just to look around, but could not get the Blanca dress out of my head. Ultimately, I decided I was not going to even consider any other dresses until I tried on the Blanca. I found the nearest location that carried the dress, which was Suite Bridal in Atlanta, and scheduled a trip to try it on. I tried on a few other dresses there first to “warm up.” Once I tried on Blanca, it was the perfect fit and I knew there wasn’t going to be anything else that compared. I happily bought the dress that day and have no regrets. It ended up being the perfect dress! The sleeves were the perfect touch for a cool, fall day.

Photo Credits: Shane Hawkins Photo

Bridal Store: Suite Bridal