Even the fiercest academy rivalries couldn’t stand in the way of Kat and Josh. A Naval Academy graduate fell in love with an Air Force Academy alum while both lived in South Carolina. Military life led them to Florida, but their hearts drew them back to Kat’s native Ohio for a summer wedding, where she stunned in a bespoke wedding gown.
Kat + Josh: From Rival Academies to Forever
Kat and Josh met in downtown Charleston, SC on a summer evening in 2015. At the time, Kat was an instructor at Joint Base Charleston. Josh was an instructor pilot at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, SC. They spent the first year and a half of their relationship living 2 hours away from each other. After that, they lived three time zones apart for six months as Josh was temporarily stationed at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, NV. Nonetheless, they made the most of the time they got to spend together. In 2017, they moved down to the Florida panhandle.
They got engaged in 2018 mere weeks before Hurricane Michael slammed into Panama City, FL. As they cleaned up from the hurricane, they also set about planning their Navy-Air Force themed wedding. For her wedding dress, Kat reached out to her friend, fellow military spouse, and Edith Élan designer, Lourdes, for a bespoke wedding gown.
Kat’s Bespoke Wedding Gown
The wedding dress “search” for Kat started with a visit to Lourdes to talk about what she wanted in a dress. Kat’s main priority for was to have a dress that let her dance a lot without being cumbersome. They decided on Eloise’s a-line skirt which gave volume without the poofiness of a ballgown. Kat also knew she wanted a sleeveless look, and they both agreed that a V-neck was the most flattering neckline on her. So, Lourdes used the bodice pattern of Bibi with some modifications to give Kat a lovely V-neck and a low back to give her have a summery look with some modesty.
From there, Lourdes took measurements and set about working on the dress. However, with their busy work schedules, there would only be time for one round of fittings over the course of a weekend. So, Lourdes had to be sure that the dress would fit almost to perfection when that day came.
The Final (Sparkling) Touch
Before the fitting, Kat and Lourdes set about looking at the shoe options Kat had brought with her. With a pair of sparkling Badgley Mischka Rouge pumps picked, it was time for Kat to try on her dress for the first time. Like Cinderella’s slipper, it fit perfectly! Lourdes had one final idea to add a touch of sparkle to the dress to compliment the shoes and pull the bridal look together.
Kat wasn’t sure about the sparkle at first, but when she saw Lourdes pin a few Swarovski buttons down the back of the dress Kat was in love! She loved how they sparkled and how they made the dress stand out in an elegant and tasteful way. Besides that final touch, the dress only needed a hem and a bustle, and it was ready to go home with Kat by Sunday night. A few weeks later, it was on the road to Ohio.
A Wonderful and Memorable Navy-Air Force Wedding in Cleveland
Kat, an avid runner, started her wedding day with an early morning run around downtown Cleveland. Returning to her childhood home in the suburbs, it was time to get ready with the help of her bridal party. She accessorized with a pearl bracelet and tanzanite necklace from her mom. She then added simple gold drop earrings, a crystal hair pin set, and a plain edge veil. It was a simple, elegant, and clean bridal style. Pinned to her bridal bouquet’s ribbon was a small pendant holding a photo of her late father, ensuring he was by her side as she walked down the aisle.
Meanwhile, Josh and his groomsmen readied themselves at the downtown hotel where the reception would be later in the day. Their morning included a classic shave at the hotel lobby barbershop before they dressed and headed to the church for the ceremony.
Kat and Josh chose to forgo a first look, opting to see each other for the first time as Kat walked down the church aisle. This decision made for Kat’s most cherished moment of the day. Josh looked dashing in his Air Force service dress uniform, and Kat was radiant in her bespoke wedding gown.
Celebrations and Military Traditions
Following the Catholic church ceremony, the wedding party prepared for photographs before returning to the hotel for cocktail hour. As they exited the church, the newlyweds passed through the traditional military sword arch, but with a unique twist. Instead of just one spouse receiving the customary welcoming sword tap, both Kat and Josh got tapped, acknowledging the union of rival branches — much to Josh’s surprise!
With cocktail hour and dinner concluded, it was time to party! The groomsmen removed their service dress jackets as the DJ started the music. For hours, the dance floor remained full, punctuated by only a few special moments..
One of those moments came during a unique Navy/Air Force wedding “tradition.” Kat sat on a chair in the center of the dance floor, surrounded by the groom, groomsmen, and military guests, who serenaded her with a spirited rendition of “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling,” reminiscent of the scene in Top Gun. Another memorable pause occurred when the newlyweds cut their cake, using Kat’s Naval Academy sword as a distinctive cake cutter.
The dancing continued late into the night, concluding a day filled with love, family, friends, and cherished memories.
Cleveland Wedding Vendors
Kat’s Custom Designed Wedding Dress: Edith Élan
Photographer: Kristen B. via Lily and Lime
Church: St. Noel Church (Willoughby Hills, OH)
Reception: Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center
Hair: Trilogy Spa at the Cleveland Marriott Downtown
Flowers & Decor: Willows and Sage Flowers & Events
Cake: Cleveland Vegan (with flowers by Willow & Sage)
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