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FROM ONE EVERMORE BRIDE TO ANOTHER: KARA MCDONALD

We had the honor & privilege of getting to help our sweet Evermore Bride, Kara, find her wedding dress back in February of 2023. We loved getting to know her, her wedding dreams, and her love story so much that we decided you should hear it too... so here is an inside look at Kara's story.


Kara and Gage met at College of the Ozarks where they both ran Fellowship of Christian Athletes together on a weekly basis. They had been friends for 2 years before Gage asked her on their first date! "Before that, I had never even considered dating him but the Lord opened our eyes at the right time and I knew immediately I couldn’t let him go." A year and a day later Gage got down on one knee to ask Kara to marry him! It was the perfect moment on a sweet hike after church on Sunday.


With as sweet as a love story as they have, we just knew their wedding was going to be beautiful. You could say that we were more than just a little excited to learn Kara's vision for her wedding day. She described the overall feeling of the day being whimsical, romantic, and elegant (which as a guest to the wedding, I would say that she nailed it). She used pinks, peaches, and pops of white and gold throughout. They got married at Graystone Valley, and it was truly stunning. This venue has beautiful floor to ceiling windows and a breathtaking view of the Ozark hills. That matched with her beautiful bouquet made for a wedding out of a fairytale. "When I saw my bouquet I cried because it was like something out of a dream! It brought the garden party theme I had dreamed of to life when paired with the unmatched beauty of the Ozarks."

Kara's attention to detail didn't stop when she began wedding dress shopping. She talked about how excited she was and how she wanted to find a dress that she was comfortable and confident in (which we think is amazing advice). It is important to bring people to your appointment who really support you and care about what you love. Kara brought her mom, mother in law, sister in law, a couple of her aunts, and her grandma. "They are my biggest hype women and I knew they would be honest, gentle, and supportive to help me find THE dress." Kara also loved the fact that she was able to walk around to look at our collection and then try them on in a private area. After trying on a handful of dresses, she started to narrow down what style and shape that she was loving. This helped both the stylist and Kara to be able to go back out into or collection and find other options that were of a similar shape and vibe. After just a few more dresses, Kara was able to find THE dress!


Saying yes to your dream dress is a big moment! Because of that, we wanted to ask Kara how she knew her dress was THE dress... "I knew it was THE dress by the way I felt my face light up as soon as the dress was zipped up (we know the look). When I revealed the dress to my group of ladies they were beaming and I immediately knew it was the one. Once we added a veil and I didn’t want to take the dress off, it only confirmed it for me!" Kara felt comfortable, confident, and the dress matched the vibe of her wedding perfectly.


There can be many false beliefs when it comes to wedding dress shopping. We wanted to ask Kara which ones she had before shopping so it could help ease any nerves of you brides-to-be! Her first false belief was that she had to go to multiple stores to find her dress. This is a very common mindset that brides have, but more often than not brides will find their dress at the first shop they go to! She said that the moment she put on her dress, she just knew that was the one she would be wearing on her wedding day. The other misconception that she had was that the more people she brought with her the more stressful it would be. It is not about the amount of people, but it is more about bringing the right people that you know will be your biggest supporters.


So what brought Kara to our cozy space downtown? She said that she had followed us on Instagram and knew we had dresses that fit the vibe of the wedding (we love a bride who does her research!) Most importantly though, she really valued our unique, personal, and private shopping experience.

Kara's advice and encouragement From One Evermore Bride to Another is, "Bring people with you who will be loving and supportive and excited for you - whatever dress you choose! I would also say to make sure to eat before your appointment (which FYI the Evermore girls always have the best recommendations for), be relaxed, and be yourself! Don’t try to follow or copy someone else’s style - you are unique and beautiful and there is a dress out there that is perfect for you!"


We loved getting to help you find your dress, Kara! Congratulations, Evermore Bride! We are so happy for you and Gage!


xx the evermore girls



Are you ready to have the sweetest dress shopping experience?


Come on in, we can't wait to help you shop!


(Kara's vendor team)

Cake and Catering: SugarLeaf Bakery

Decor Rental: Branson Party Rentals

Photographer: Jacy Overstreet

Hair and Makeup: BelovedBeauty Company

Pianist and Music: Jordan Nimmo

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