Mother of: Audrey
Venue: Family walnut grove near Brady, Nebraska
Vibe: Formal outdoor
Dress: Sachin & Babi from Neiman Marcus
After raising their kids in Minneapolis and traveling around the world for careers in fashion and retail, Susan and her husband Scott moved back to western Nebraska to enjoy time with their aging parents—three of whom will turn 90 this year. They opened a restaurant in Susan’s hometown of Cozad, Nebraska, population: 3,600 and their daughter Audrey moved down to help. As happens in small towns, a restaurant patron became a friend, and that friend mentioned her single son. The moms conspired to arrange an introduction, and two years later, in September, 2023, Audrey and Dutch were married on the bride's family ranch, under a grove of 200 walnut trees.
“It was magical,” Susan says.
Audrey had always known she wanted to get married in that walnut grove and she had a clear vision of the day: “formal yet festive,” Susan describes. “She wanted a princess/Georgian-influenced wedding.” Audrey helped to create her own wedding dress, and encouraged Susan to wear whatever made her feel beautiful and comfortable. “We spent hours combing websites and Pinterest for inspiration.”
Both mother and bride fell in love with Sachin & Babi’s “Brooke” gown—an enduring favorite for its flattering (bra friendly!) fit: sleeveless, v-neck, empire waist and full skirt with box pleats. It comes in different colors and prints; Susan loved the light pink hydrangea print for the outdoor wedding.
“We love the colors, the pattern and the style,” Susan says. “I wanted pockets and the [front] split was comfortable for our all night dance celebration.”
On the practical side: the Mikado fabric was durable enough to stand up to the elements: “I knew I needed to avoid a hem that would get caught in tree debris,” Susan says. Plus, the style and print were grandson-friendly. “I wanted a dress that wasn’t overly fussy so I could carry Henry. And the print and color would hide any spills or fingerprints!”
But most of all, “Audrey was adamant that I didn’t look like a ‘typical MOB’ and she wanted me to feel beautiful," Susan says. "Mission accomplished.”
| Photography by Ruthie Isaacson