Thankful for THE Dress

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10 years ago I walked down the aisle to meet my husband.

It’s not the wedding I want to talk about this Thankful Thursday.  It’s not the past 10 years.  Although I am extremely thankful for our lives together.

No, today it’s about the dress.

 

Let’s face it, when it comes to planning the wedding, the dress is often the first thing future brides look for.  Once upon a time it was circled dresses in bridal magazines, now it’s Pinterest.  And of course, there’s the trying on of numerous dresses in front of tall mirrors, while standing on a pedestal.  I’ve heard some places even serve future bride champagne as they look — the royal treatment.

 

But me?  I knew which dress I wanted to wear back when I was in high school, long before I even met my husband.

Wrapped in tissue paper, still in the original cardboard box, it had been stored on a shelf under the steps of my parents’ home for 36 before the day I wore it.

 

You would not believe how hard my mom tried to change my mind.

She insisted we go try on dresses anyway, partly so I could have the experience, but mostly because she really hoped I’d find a different dress.

I tried on three.  People oohed and awed for each one, and I just kept thinking of MY DRESS, under the steps in my parents’ house.

Finally, she gave in, and we got it out so I could try it on.  It was almost a perfect fit.

Next came the hard part, finding a dry cleaner who was able, and willing, to clean an heirloom wedding gown.  We drove almost an hour, and then I held my breath for a week, hoping the dress would turn out okay.  The only thing they couldn’t get out was a single footprint on the dress’ train, left from a relative that was no longer with us.  To me it was perfect.

 

My mom tried to talk me into wearing a higher heeled shoe than I had chosen (I found white Easter sandals with mini pearls in the girls’ section of Payless.), but eventually I stood on a chair while she painstakingly pinned the dress’ hem and then carefully stitched it to the right length.

Finally, a few days before the wedding she pressed the dress, using  a brand new white sheet she bought just for that purpose.  She was a nervous wreak the entire time.  Me?  I told her it didn’t matter what she did to it, I was wearing the dress.

 

And then, it was time to walk down the aisle.

finding the right wedding dress
My fairy tale moment ~

 

I am so thankful that I was able to wear the dress of my dreams.  And looking back, I am thankful for all my mom did to help make that happen, even when she thought there might be a better dress out there.

 

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This post was inspired by Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop.  Also shared on Black Tag Diaries, The Fontenot Four, Six by the Bay

Comments

    • Thank you! When I took the picture down to snap a shot of it, I was reminded about how simple and beautiful the train was. What was great was you could then unsnap the train from the dress at the reception.

  2. haha cute! that is certainly a phenomenal dress! at every wedding, the dress is definitely the star of the show!

  3. What a great story about the perfect dress. Mine was made for me by my MIL and it is soo special. She always points out all the flaws and things that she would do differently if she was making it again. To me, it is perfect.

  4. Thanks for stopping by and hosting me. The dress really is a big deal and I am thankful you stuck by what YOU wanted for YOUR wedding. Have a blessed week. See you next Thursday!

  5. I love this entry! How wonderful to have been able to wear the dress you had coveted for so long! It was beautiful. Your lucky to have such a stylish Mom!

  6. Happy 10th Anniversary, OneMommy! Your/mom’s wedding dress was lovely!!

    I wore my mom’s wedding dress too, and it meant so very much to me to do that.

    34 years later, I still have the wedding dress packed away….hoping that someone else in our family may want to wear it someday. Unfortunately, it didn’t fit my daughter when she got married (her body type is quite different from mine and my mom’s)…..but maybe it will fit a future granddaughter!

    • I love that you were able to wear your mom’s dress, too!
      And I love that you have it packed away, just in case one day a future granddaughter may wear it!

      My niece could not fit into her mother’s, but they are using part of the bottom of the dress to make the ring bearer pillow. I love the idea of using parts of heirloom dresses when they don’t fit!

  9. What a sweet story! I like how you used a dress that had meaning in your life instead of a random one from the store.

  12. What a beautiful story. I sort of hope my daughter wants my dress or to use my dress to make hers. My mom’s dress was a definite no. There is a footprint on my train too 🙂

    • I’d love it if my daughter wanted to use the dress too one day…
      Footprints on the train… 🙂 I actually loved the footprint on my train.

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