Fashion & Beauty · Wedding Diaries

My Wedding Smile Project: Why I Chose Invisalign Before My Wedding


Illuminated Fravel Brewer Orthodontics sign on the stone wall inside the entrance
Fravel Brewer Orthodontics, from my first visit.

I love my smile. I just wanted to make a few little adjustments before one of the most photographed weekends of my life.

Partnership disclosure: This article is part of my Wedding Smile Project in partnership with Fravel Brewer Orthodontics. My experiences and opinions are my own.

There are approximately a million things to think about when you’re planning a wedding. The dress, the flowers, the venue, the guest list, and all the tiny details you somehow become an expert on overnight.

And then there are the things you want to do for yourself.

For me, one of those things was my smile.

Between spending more time in front of the camera lately and planning to document practically every second of our wedding weekend, I started thinking about a few little changes I’ve wanted to make for years.

I’ve always loved my smile. I wasn’t looking for a dramatic transformation, and I definitely wasn’t interested in veneers. I didn’t want a completely different smile. I wanted mine, just with a few adjustments.

Which brings me to some exciting news: I’m officially announcing my first wedding partnership with Fravel Brewer Orthodontics here in Central Florida!

They’re helping me with my Wedding Smile Project, and I’ll be documenting my Invisalign experience along the way.

But before we get into the appointments and all the technology, I want to talk about why finding the right orthodontist was so important to me.

Why I Wanted Invisalign Instead of Veneers

I feel like we’re living in an era where everyone has access to some pretty incredible cosmetic treatments. And while I love that we have options, I also think there’s something to be said for knowing what you actually want to change versus feeling like you need to change everything.

For me, veneers were never really the goal.

Veneers are thin coverings placed over the front surfaces of teeth to change their appearance. They can be a great option for certain cosmetic concerns, but depending on the type and treatment, they may require permanently removing some natural tooth enamel.

Invisalign works differently. It uses a series of custom-made clear aligners to gradually move your teeth into new positions.

They’re two very different approaches, and neither is automatically the right choice for everyone.

I wasn’t trying to change the shape or appearance of all my teeth. I was interested in improving their alignment while keeping the smile I’ve always had.

And that’s really where this whole project began.

Finding the Right Orthodontist Was a Journey

When I first started exploring my options, I quickly realized how important it was to find someone who understood what I was actually asking for.

I didn’t want to walk into an office and feel like I needed a completely new smile.

I wanted someone to listen to the few things that bothered me, explain what was possible, and help me make a decision that felt right.

That’s what ultimately led me to Fravel Brewer Orthodontics.

From our conversations and my first consultation, I felt like they understood exactly what I was hoping to accomplish.

They weren’t trying to turn my smile into something else. We were talking about how to improve the one I already have.

And there was another important factor in choosing them.

I wanted this partnership to be local.

Central Florida is home, and so many of my friends and family live here. When I share a business with my community, especially something as personal as orthodontic treatment, I want it to be somewhere I’ve actually experienced and feel comfortable recommending.

Orthodontics isn’t just about cosmetic changes, either. It’s something families explore for all kinds of reasons, from bite concerns to crowded or misaligned teeth.

I loved the idea of working with a practice that sees both children and adults, because this is the kind of recommendation that could actually be useful to the people in my life.

What Actually Happens at Your First Invisalign Consultation?

One thing I didn’t fully appreciate before starting this process was just how much technology goes into planning orthodontic treatment.

My first visit began with a tour of the office from Stephanie, who showed me around and explained how everything worked.

There were a few little details I really appreciated, especially from a family perspective.

They have a wall dedicated to community events, a toothbrushing station where patients can freshen up before appointments, and even an Ortho-store where patients can earn Orthodollars for following their treatment plans.

I thought that last part was such a cute idea, especially for kids.

After the tour, we got into the actual consultation.

The team started by taking photos and videos of my smile, followed by digital scans using an iTero scanner.

If you’ve never seen one of these before, it’s pretty fascinating.

Instead of relying only on traditional impressions, the scanner captures detailed images of your teeth and creates a digital 3D model.

Suddenly, I was looking at my teeth from angles I’d never really seen before.

And let me tell you, seeing a giant 3D version of your own teeth on a screen is an experience.

After the scans and a couple of X-rays, I met with the doctor to discuss my concerns and what an Invisalign treatment plan could look like.

We talked about the changes I wanted, how the aligners would work, and what I could realistically expect from treatment.

That’s something I appreciated about the process. It wasn’t just about showing me a beautiful end result. It was about understanding how we would actually get there.

The Part That Really Sold Me

At the end of the consultation, they showed me a digital simulation of what my teeth could potentially look like after treatment.

This was probably my favorite part of the entire visit.

Until then, I’d been talking about these little adjustments in a pretty abstract way. I knew what bothered me, but I hadn’t really seen what correcting those things might look like.

Seeing that simulation made it much easier to visualize the possibilities.

Of course, a digital preview isn’t a guarantee of your final results. Actual outcomes depend on your individual treatment and how your teeth respond.

But being able to see a potential result and discuss it with the orthodontist made me feel much more confident about moving forward.

And most importantly, the smile I was looking at still looked like mine.

That was exactly what I wanted.

A Few Things I Learned About Invisalign

Before starting this process, I knew the basics of Invisalign. Clear aligners, straighter teeth, and no traditional metal braces.

But there are a few things worth knowing if you’re considering it yourself.

For me, having that conversation with an orthodontist who understood my goals made all the difference.

Why I’m Making This Part of My Wedding Journey

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about this next chapter of my life.

There’s so much happening between work, family, travel, producing, and planning a wedding. It’s exciting, and at times, there’s a lot to keep up with.

And somewhere in the middle of all of that, I’m trying to make sure I’m still making time for myself.

I don’t think getting married means you need to suddenly reinvent yourself or change everything about how you look.

Actually, I feel pretty much the opposite.

I want to walk into this next chapter feeling like myself.

I love my smile. I love the little things that make me look like me. And I don’t want to lose any of that.

But if there’s something I’ve wanted to improve for a while, why not finally make the time to do it?

For me, this is less about achieving some idea of a perfect wedding smile and more about doing something I’ve been meaning to do for myself.

The wedding just happened to give me that extra little push.

Welcome to My Wedding Smile Project

So, here we go!

I’ll be sharing my experience with Invisalign at Fravel Brewer Orthodontics, from the appointments and progress updates to the little things I learn along the way.

And I want to share the actual experience, not just the pretty before-and-after photos.

What does wearing aligners feel like? How do you work them into your everyday routine? What happens at follow-up appointments? And what are the things nobody really tells you before you start?

Those are the kinds of things I want to document.

If you’ve been considering Invisalign for yourself or exploring orthodontic options for your family here in Central Florida, I hope this series gives you some helpful insight into the process.

I’m really excited to have Fravel Brewer Orthodontics as my first official wedding partner, and even more excited to see where this little project takes us.

Here’s to loving the smile you have and making a little room for the changes you want. 🤍

Partnership disclosure: This article is part of my Wedding Smile Project in partnership with Fravel Brewer Orthodontics. My experiences and opinions are my own. This article is for informational purposes and is not a substitute for professional dental or orthodontic advice.