Bride Of The Week: Jessie McLaughlin
Written By Kaileah Searcy
From a high school romance to a wedding at Castle Hill Inn, Jessie’s journey came full circle in the dreamiest way. Despite a hurricane and last-minute changes, her joy, style, and Galia Lahav Catalina gown stole the show. Below, she shares her most unforgettable moments, heartfelt advice, and the instant she knew she found "the one.
"When I put on Catalina, it felt like I didn’t have to choose"
One thing you wish you knew as a new bride? What advice would you give to future brides?
Celebrate every moment - not just the wedding day. Some of my favorite memories are from the year leading up to the big day - dress shopping, designing our invitations, picking out our florals, the food tastings. It's such a short, special season of life, and you only get to be a bride once - so romanticize it all. Take the pictures, pop the champagne, celebrate each tiny milestone. Yes it can be stressful at times, but finding joy in the journey makes the whole experience even more meaningful.
A detail that made you wedding special/unique?
Our venue, Castle Hill Inn, already held such a special place in our hearts - it's where my husband proposed the year prior. That night, we stayed for dinner and happened to catch a glimpse of a wedding happening on the property. Even from a distance, it felt so magical - the ocean, the landscape, the flowers, the energy. From that moment, we knew it was where we wanted to start our next chapter too. Being able to come back and celebrate our wedding day there made it feel even more full circle and personal to us.
Anything else we should know about your wedding journey?
The weather on our wedding day didn't go the way we had planned, but somehow, it made everything feel even more special. Our ceremony had to move indoors at the last minute, and yet the space felt so beautiful and intimate - filled with flowers, candlelight, and the people we love most. Looking back, I realized the day was never about the weather - it was about marrying the love of my life, surrounded by the people who mean the most to us. A few weeks later, we had the chance to retake portraits on a beautiful sunny day at our venue, and now we have the best of both worlds - memories of a day that was beautiful in every way, and photos that captured every piece of it.
How did you know your dress was 'the one'?
When I was trying on dresses, I kept going back and forth between wanting something dramatic with a long train and something more form-fitting and sleek. When I put on Catalina, it felt like I didn't have to choose - it was everything I wanted in one dress. The overskirt gave me that classic, bridal feel for the ceremony, but underneath the fitted silhouette felt so fun, effortless and me. I also loved the delicate floral appliqué - it added such a beautiful, romantic texture without feeling too heavy or overdone. I truly had the cliche "when you know, you know" moment with this dress and wish I could wear it again!
How did it feel when you put on your dress the day of the wedding? What was everyone's reaction to the dress?
Putting on my dress was the moment everything started to feel real. After spending the whole year planning every detail with my mom, sharing that quiet moment together - just the two of us - made it all feel even more meaningful. It was one of the last quiet moments before the day unfolded and it gave me a second to soak it all in. The reactions from my family and bridesmaids were everything I could've hoped for - so much love, hugs, happy tears, and a feeling in the room that I'll always remember.
A moment of your wedding day you will never forget?
During our reception, my husband and I got on stage with my dad's rock band to sing American Girl by Tom Petty - one of our all time favorite songs. It was at this moment we felt like we could fully enjoy ourselves. After all the nerves, all the planning and all the anticipation, it finally felt like we could just let go, have fun and live fully in the moment. Singing on stage surrounded by our family and friends, with my dad playing the drums behind us was something we'll never forget. It was the perfect reminder that the best moments are the ones you can't plan.
"Singing on stage surrounded by our family and friends, with my dad playing the drums behind us, was something we’ll never forget"
Would you have done anything differently?
We had heavy rain and strong winds on our wedding day, and it forced a lot of last-minute changes - even our Plan B ceremony tent couldn't be set up because of the wind. But thanks to the most incredible planner and vendor team, you would have never known there was a hurricane outside. They created an indoor ceremony space that was absolutely stunning - it blew our guests away and somehow felt even more magical than we originally planned. Looking back, I wouldn't change any of the choices we made. The only thing I would do differently is not letting the weather consume so much of my energy leading up to the day. Because in the end, none of it mattered - it was still the most fun, beautiful and meaningful day of our lives.
What was your favorite part of the wedding to plan / you were most looking forward to?
One of my favorite parts of the wedding planning process was putting together my entire bridal wardrobe - not just for the wedding day, but for every event leading up to it. It was such a fun way to express different sides of my personality, depending on the vibe of the event - from fun and flirty to timeless and elegant. I still have all of my outfits hanging in my closet - it feels like my own little bridal museum from one of the best seasons of my life.
How did you meet your partner? How did they propose?
My husband and I first met when we were 14 years old during our freshman year of high school. We had a little high school romance filled with mini golf dates, ice skating and a lot of butterflies. We ended up going our separate ways for college and to build our careers, but life brought us back together years later. Within just a few days of reconnecting, we both knew this time was different. It feels really special that our story started so young, and now we get to continue building our life together. My husband proposed at the Lighthouse at Castle Hill Inn, which is ultimately where we got married.
How did you find working with the team at Galia Lahav?
Working with the Galia Lahav team was such a special part of my wedding journey. They made the entire experience so exciting and easy. They understood the feeling I was going for and made the whole process - from trying on dresses to the final fitting - feel so seamless. They paid attention to every detail, but more than anything, they made me feel like they were just as invested in the moment as I was. It made finding my dress feel even more special.
How many dresses did you try on before you found it?
I probably tried on about 25 dresses before finding the one. I had a feeling from the start that I would love a Galia Lahav gown, so I saved it for one of my last stops. At first, I thought I had found the dress when I tried on Fabiana - my mom cried, I cried, and we all felt like it could be the one. But then my stylist brought out Catalina, and the moment I put it on it was a completely different feeling. I didn't have to think twice - I just knew. I didn't expect to have that 'gut feeling' moment, but it happened as soon as I put it on. It was exactly how I wanted to feel walking down the aisle.
Anything else we should know about your wedding journey?
The weather on our wedding day didn't go the way we had planned, but somehow, it made everything feel even more special. Our ceremony had to move indoors at the last minute, and yet the space felt so beautiful and intimate - filled with flowers, candlelight, and the people we love most. Looking back, I realized the day was never about the weather - it was about marrying the love of my life, surrounded by the people who mean the most to us. A few weeks later, we had the chance to retake portraits on a beautiful sunny day at our venue, and now we have the best of both worlds - memories of a day that was beautiful in every way, and photos that captured every piece of it.
"Celebrate every moment – not just the wedding day… you only get to be a bride once, so romanticize it all"
Venue | Castle Hill Inn, @castlehillinn
Planner | Infinite Events, @infiniteevents & @infiniteeventsashlie
Photographer | Brooke Nash, @brookenashphoto
Videographer | Steve Levin, @slevincinema
Hair | Alexandra Wilson, @alexandralee1016
Makeup | Jackie Fraioli, @jackiefmua
Ceremony Strings | Atlantic Strings, @atlanticstringsmusic.com
Reception Band | Protégé with Wilson Stevens, @wilsonstevensbands
Stationery | Emily Rose Ink, @emilyroseink
Florals | Stoneblossom Florals, @stoneblossom
Linens | BBJ La Tavola, @bbjlatavola
Boutique Tabletop Rentals | La Affitto, @laaffitto
Cake | Confectionery Designs, @confectionerydesigns
Live Wedding Painter | Ashley Hayunga, @bigdaypaintings_ashley.hayunga