Weddingbee Blog

After we all had our hair and makeup done, we headed back to the Cathedral so we could put on our dresses. For photography purposes, I would put mine on last. It stayed in this spot, hanging on the ledge of a large mirror, waiting to fulfill its purpose while the rest of the bridal party dressed.

I never officially revealed my dress for Weddingbee, so this is it—my Mori Lee “Only You” collection, diamond white wedding gown. It was purchased at a Running of the Brides sale at Filene’s Basement in Washington, DC, in August of 2008.

I loved the beadwork on the back. It was my favorite part of the dress.

My two sisters were gathering the bouquets while the rest of the girls were putting the finishing touches on their looks.

Of course, someone had to help my dad with his bow tie.

And then it was time. All of my bridesmaids, along with my mom and Mr. DE’s mom, gathered around.

I was never one to put a whole lot of focus on a wedding dress. While shopping for one, I never had that “Ah ha!” moment where I found “The One”. There were dresses that I liked more than others, but I never felt like putting a certain color or style dress transformed me into a bride. Absent from all of my dress shopping experiences were the tears of joy and the overwhelming sense of excitement. I bought my dress because I liked the beadwork, it was affordable, the color and cut suited me and because I felt comfortable while wearing it. My overall feeling about my dress was: “Good enough. It would do.”

Regardless of how I felt about my dress leading up to the wedding day, the moment I was told to go and put it on was so special. I’m going to use this next picture to take a closer look into that moment.

There is something about the moment on your wedding day when it is time to put on your dress. It’s the part of your day when you truly do become a bride. I approached my dress anxiously, knowing that donning this special article of clothing was a very important step towards seeing my groom and becoming his wife. I could have worn anything—it’s the commitment, not the clothing, that mattered. But, picking something fitting of the tradition, constructed of satin and complete with intricate beaded details, helped to set this day apart in a way no other assembly of sewed fabrics ever could. I love how the angle in this picture captured those around me in the mirror. All eyes were on the dress. When else in your life will a gown garner this kind of attention?

As I reached for that hanger, I felt a full rush of the excitement that had been building all day. With the help of my mother and my two sisters/matrons of honor, I slipped into my dress and became a bride.

I made a few adjustments to the birdcage veil and attached my flower and feather fascinator.

My oldest sister, Jen, helped me put on my garter. This was my something borrowed, as it was the one she wore on her wedding day. My mom made it for her and it featured handmade bobbin lace, similar to what she made for my hankie. Of course, what would a wedding day be without a goofy face from the bride to mess with a perfectly good Kodak moment?  This is surely not the last of my goofy wedding day faces.

The bridal look was completed once I was handed my bouquet of ivory roses. All of the bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres were a DIY project taken on by my sister and I. I think mine turned out pretty good, don’t you?

And then, I had time for one last look in the mirror while reflecting on what was about to happen.

Let’s do this!

All photos are the work of Ticia Mangino Photography.

From the beginning:

• Our (Almost) Accidentally Vintage-inspired Wedding
• Cakes, Cookies and More
• Pampering and Prep