Throwback Thursday: Wedding Edition
I can’t believe that in June, Karl and I will have been married nine years. Nine years! Where does the time go? I’ve been thinking about our wedding a lot since the cicadas are set to return this summer and they were here for our wedding. I decided to take a walk down wedding dress memory lane for today’s Throwback Thursday.
Though I South Beached most of my engagement, I was still a size 10/12, which makes dress shopping hard. Most boutiques only carry sample sizes, which are in the single digits; no matter how many binder clips they use to attach that dress to your bra, you can’t get a good feeling for how it will actually look when the dress is several sizes smaller than you need. So my first stop in dress shopping was David’s Bridal, where I knew they would have all the popular silhouettes and also have many dresses in my size. I went, and thought I found THE ONE on the first visit. Came back a second time, took pictures and realized that while the dress did flatter, it wasn’t quite right. However, that trip to David’s helped me narrow down silhouettes and know what styles flattered my figure and fit my sense of style.
I ended up with a very similar gown I remember it was called the “Temara.” I tried on at a boutique in Baltimore, but found it for almost half the price online (thank you Bridal Bargains!). It had the a-line skirt and wrapped waist I found flattering on me, but was ivory silk shantung (always been a sucker for shantung) and Swarovski crystals along the top. Lace-up back so alterations were minimal (which was a good thing because I somehow LOST weight on my Bachelorette weekend of debauchery in Dewey Beach). I had my seamstress make my veil, the week before the wedding I decided I HAD to have a tiara and ordered one online. It was small yet sparkly and I must admit I still pull it out from time to time to wear around the house. My shoes were hot pink and found for almost nothing at the now-defunct department store Hecht’s. I went to a Chanel counter to have my makeup done; the artist was going to do my makeup that day but cancelled short notice so I did it myself.
My favorite color was and still is orange. We had orange invitations, orange flowers for the ceremony and centerpieces, the boutiques were predominately orange (with Kermit green flowers to represent my dad Kermit). Tables were named after places we had traveled to as a couple, written on shades of orange and pink paper; that same paper was used for the programs and cardstock in the same shades was used for placecards. We even had an orange signature drink – the Orange Crush that I had enjoyed many times with my friends during our Dewey Beach adventures. I wanted my bridesmaids to wear orange tea-length dresses but they vetoed me and wore a much wearable shade of bronze.
Our wedding was at an historical mansion that was just a few miles from where the two of us grew up. The plan was to have the ceremony outside on the terrace. The cicadas were in full force and we were considering all sorts of ways to deal with them (have catering sweep up the carcasses 10 minutes before people were to arrive, have the minister ask the audience to do a round of applause before we walked out to shush them long enough for the ceremony). Even though the farmer’s almanac said it would be fair weather, it rained all day and evening so the whole event was inside and cicada-free.
Looking back, I think the most dated parts of my look were the cosmetic ones – the shimmery silver shadow, the deep maroon lips, the very slicked-back updo. The dress still holds its own; in fact I went to the David’s Bridal site to look at their current dresses and found almost the same dress that I almost got (though the one I tried had a solid skirt and was a dark ivory/candlelight color). Like wrap dresses, pointed-toe pumps and dark straight jeans – some trends just don’t disappear because they are so figure flattering. I think my wedding dress could be rocked now, though I would likely replace the lace-up back with buttons, wear my hair down and cut down my makeup by a million. And the shoes? Oh I would still totally rock those shoes!
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It was so fun to see pictures of your wedding! I love wedding stuff, particularly wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses, wedding hair, etc. (which is funny because at our wedding, I was super relaxed about all of that and didn’t really care…). Your dress was beautiful and you looked so happy and excited 🙂 Congratulations on almost-9 years!! 🙂
theoriginalbrynn.blogspot.com
I was married in 1994 in, believe it or not, a Laura Ashley wedding dress, back when they made such things. I do think it looks dated, but I wouldn’t change a thing. I think I looked like the kind of bride I was — young and happy!
Here’s the dress, if you’re interested:
http://spriggsflorist.blogspot.com/2011/06/wedding-flowers-for-laura-ashley-circa.html
It’s the top two pictures, with that same embroidered veil. Good times. 🙂
Aw thanks for sharing these pics! It is interesting how the current trends find their ways into weddings 🙂
Oh congrats ! I have seen 9 year old wedding pictures and some seem very dated- meaning that you can tell it was a while ago and i guess it has to do with how the bride styled herself-
the dress, the hair… but in your case, everything still looks fresh. That means you can walk down the aisle today and nobody would have ever known. BTW where is your wedding gown ?
I had my dress cleaned/preserved and it’s in a box in the attic. I had it in our closet for the longest time because I worried about the heat of the attic ruining it but we just don’t have the room, it’s a darn big box!
I love this post! I love seeing people’s weddings, good, bad, and in-between. I think your dress will hold up as classic, the shade too is very nice. I too, regret my hair. I wore it up as well, I really wish I had worn it down!
What a lovely way to remember your wedding day. You looked so pretty !
Lovely photos! You all look so happy, you can really ‘feel the love’ looking through those pictures. Thanks for sharing!
This is such a nice post. I love to read a little bit of the personal stories of bloggers and their mates. Not really so much because I’m nosy (though I must be on some level!) but because it reminds us all there is someone in all of our lives who support and help us through whatever we need. =)
Wishing you two many more years!!
xo,
nancy
http://adoretoadorn.blogspot.com
That “almost” David’s Bridal dress is MY dress! I wore it in 2009. I knew I loved your style before, but this clinches it!
How funny! Melissa below said she’s also wearing that dress. Great minds think alike! 🙂
Oh my gosh, this post is SO MUCH FUN! Thanks for the peek into your wedding day! I’m in LOVE with cicadas (we had them hatch one year when I was a kid and it was the craziest thing ever! I went to visit my parents a few summers ago specifically because the cicadas were back. Unfortunately we don’t have them in MN.) That’s awesome you still rock the tiara from time to time!
Your wedding sounded like you had a blast! My hubby and I just celebrated 10 years in March.
I too bought my dress at David’s Bridal! I chose one off the rack on sale for just $99.99. It fit perfectly. In fact, we took our after ceremony pictures in the lobby of our apartment building to have the Manhattan skyline as our background and several strangers offered their congratulations while admiring my dress. My veil was custom made by a seamstress at Group USA.
My makeup was pretty much my everyday look with red lipstick too, but my hair was down. It was one of the happiest days of my life.
Gotta love David’s for variety, style, and great price!!
Hah! Long time reader, first time commenter. The current DB dress you used to compare to your wedding dress is the one I’ll be wearing this Fall in my own wedding. Funny seeing it up on your site!
Oh how funny! And what a pretty dress you chose! 🙂
I can proudly say the same… as I got married almost 11 years ago (September will make 11 years) and my dress is still classic and stylish- and I *almost* went with shimmery makeup, etc. but on my wedding day, I wound up telling the artist to go simple and classic. To this day, I look simple and natural. The only difference is that I would probably not wear a blusher/veil and I would go with a pretty headpiece/birdcage veil and I would be rocking my shorter hairstyle because I am SOOOO not a long hair person.
I loved seeing your wedding photos Allie! 🙂
I totally wanted to channel Jennifer Anniston with more simple of makeup and hair down but caved into my then-hair stylist’s opinion. My hair is my biggest wedding regret, though must say it held up all night!
I love this post. As you know, I am looking for a wedding dress right now and trying to balance “classic” with more “vintage-y twee.” I’m sure there is a good compromise, but I’m not there yet. I have to say–you are swaying me toward classic with your pictures and grace!