WEDDING CHAT WITH SANDE | THE EVOLUTION OF WEDDINGS (IN MY EYES)
2017 has started wonderfully for me. I have spent a lot of time at Bliss Formals in the presence of some pretty spectacular wedding gowns. Bliss Formals had two designer trunk shows this month – Sophia Tolli & my all time favorite David Tutera – and I was so excited to be able to photograph some of the dresses. I took my time in Bliss’s beautiful bridal suite, touching each and every gown. It made me think of my wedding gown and the wedding world when I got married in 1981 and then again in 2004.
I started down memory lane by pulling out my own wedding dresses. I married my first husband in October, 1981 and then I married Timmy in June, 2004. (Just to clarify – there was a divorce in between – I’m not a polygamist!) There were no engagement photos then so didn’t get to have that experience. In fact, I didn’t even have engagement photos with Timmy either! I wish I could have had those photos! For my first wedding, I picked up my best friend Nita and she and I went to a local bridal store. How weird that I wouldn’t take my mother. Nita and I picked out a wedding dress and I remember it was on sale for around $120.00. My favorite part of the dress was the back – it had a satin ribbon bow that tied at the waist and the ribbon was long, it went down the train of the dress. In my mind I remember it as a a pretty plain dress but I pulled it out today and it is actually very pretty. A chiffon dress with long lace sleeves with some little pearls. I looked inside and no designer label. Just a tag saying dry clean only and MADE IN THE USA. How about that! Not made in China! I didn’t have it heir loomed so it is nice and yellow now. I am surprised how much I still like it!
In 2004 I married Timmy who is the love of my life. This was a 2nd wedding for us both and I didn’t think it was appropriate to do the whole wedding thing again for a 2nd marriage. I bought a pink suit with little silver threads running through it. The designer was Maggy London and guess what – it was made in the USA! Timmy and I were married in a small room in our church with an audience of 10. We did have a party afterwards and that was super fun.
I didn’t hire a professional photographer for either wedding. At my first wedding my cousin Michael took pictures and at my second wedding my sister-in-love Pat took our pictures. I did have bridals done by a professional photographer with my first wedding so at least I have those. They were done in studio, not like the gorgeous outdoor photos that are done now!
Although I love my simple wedding dress, it does not begin to compare with the beauty of gowns today