Last summer my son (B) asked his favorite gal (S) to marry him, and she said yes!
While this year has been happy, yet crazy busy, with my own elopement and move into a bachelor pad, where I’m still busily researching contractors to fix “this old house”, I’ve also been participating in preparations for my son’s big day…which my son humorously reminds me falls on the same day but different month from my elopement!
While my son and I were still at the apartment, I was privvy to listening in on their many ideas, plans, etc, often answering any questions they asked about “typical weddings.”
After the start of the year, while packing, S invited me to join her, her mom, and her bridesmaids to glean our advice on the wedding gowns she tried on.
Here’s a quick clip of my one and a half year old granddaughter adorably twirling amongst the gowns!
In between the initial gown shopping…and then the final one…I joined them on a research trip to their wedding venue in Winchester, a barn…since S loves barns!
COLORS
Meanwhile, I asked them what they wanted me to wear? Color? Long or short?
Asking me what I thought, I suggested that since the groom color was blue and the bridal color was pink, they might like the moms to wear the coordinating color.
Perhaps they’d like to vary up the shades of their colors from their attendants to their moms.
Liking that idea, they gave me some color samples of blues to chase down.
Knowing I have never had opportunity to wear a long gown to an event (apart from historical interpretation), they encouraged me to look for one to wear.
SHOES
Before I eloped, I happily snagged the perfect shoes that were pretty and comfortable enough for me to walk down a hill on my son’s arm to the big moment!
Practically, the wide heel would help a lot in the grass…especially since I have one balance nerve.
OUTDOOR SUMMER WEDDING – SLEEVELESS GOWN SEARCH
Since this would be an outdoor wedding, in Virginia, in July, in the late afternoon…I wanted a sleeveless gown to endure the humid heat, so common that time of year.
FIRST GOWN SHOP BUST
My first stop was David’s Bridal, since I had seen a gown I liked there while visiting during S’s gown shopping there…and where she ultimately purchased the one!
As much as I liked this one, I was concerned the short sleeves would be too hot for me in the afternoon summer sun, especially since the gown was polyester.
Meanwhile I messaged these selfies to S and B to ask their opinion, since they were really too busy between work and wedding planning to join me in person.
Although they liked the gown a lot, they understood how a sleeveless gown would help me to be more comfortable at their summery event.
And then, while one of the staff talked to me about other sleeveless options in their store, she quite frankly told me I was too old for one of those gowns, suggesting instead some styles that made me feel ancient.
So…I took her advice and walked out.
SECOND GOWN SHOP WIN
Venturing to nearby Occoquan’s Labella Bridal Shop the next day, where I arranged a fitting appointment after leaving David’s Bridal, I was excited to work with this shop run by a creative lady who once worked for Vera Wang in New York City.
When I arrived, I was very warmly greeted with a personalized sign! I thought they only did that for brides…which makes sense to me….but they asked me to pose and they took a picture!
Surprisingly, the super sweet young gal cheerfully attended my requests by bringing me gorgeous sleeveless navy blue gowns…that looked youthful!
When I told her what the David’s Bridal lady said, she was shocked! She told me they do not make me look too young.
And she put my hair up for me, very quickly, I might add! Her idea and I loved seeing how that looked with the gowns.
One by one, I told her what I liked but didn’t like after trying each one.
The third gown was the charm! I loved it and it was super comfortable!
Oh, how I wish I had brought S, my daughter, and my granddaughter with me for their opinions, because they would have had so much fun in this lovely boutique.
Also because I was not allowed to message any photos of myself to anyone for their opinion, although I could set another appointment to host my girls to give me their opinion.
Debating since we were less than two months away from the wedding, with much busy activity…I decided to go with my heart…and committed to the gown purchase…after which she took tons of pictures of me.
Then I put on my shoes, so we could assess fitting needs, for which their in shop seamstress could help with.
And…we stuck to my budget, not spending too much more than I would have at David’s Bridal.
