Weddingbee Blog

Two weeks after Mr. Guinea Pig and I get married, my parents will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary. They’ve been pretty awesome role models for me, both as individuals and in terms of marriage, and I’ve always admired their ability to overcome whatever obstacles are thrown their way, together.

35 years ago, my parents got all gussied up and went through the tradition Mr. GP and I are about to embark on.

(Mom and Dad Guinea Pig, 35 years ago - they look SO happy! Also, Dad GP looked a lot like Abraham Lincoln )

See Mom GP’s beautiful all-lace dress? I’m pretty thrilled to say that I get to carry a piece of it with me on my wedding day!

Luckily, Mom GP saved her dress for many years until one day they had a baby (me!) and turned that lovely dress into a lace christening gown. The lace gown goes over a long-sleeved cotton overlay, and since then has been used each time a baby is born in the family - baby’s initials are then embroidered on the sleeve in either pink or blue thread!

(my Aunt with her grandson in the christening gown (which makes him my first cousin once removed?))

Because the whole dress wasn’t needed to make the christening gown, Mom GP had some odds and ends of the lace left over, which is how I got this piece in my hands:

(a close-up of the lace piece on a black background)

As soon as I knew that Mom GP had extra lace from her dress, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. I had always heard of bouquets with things like charms or lockets tied around them in honor/remembrance of someone, but once I saw bouquet inspiration photos like this:

(a meaningful handkerchief wrapped around the bouquet, source)

and this,

(Black lace, ooh la la! source)

I knew I wanted to do something like Mrs. Tiramisu did with her bouquet (she used antique lace from her grandmother’s wedding gown as a bouquet wrap):

(Love this bouquet, Source)

I am really excited to carry a piece of my mom’s dress with me all day - I feel like the lessons my parents’ marriage have taught me and the wonderful example they have set are symbolized in this little piece of their own wedding. Knowing that I will have that with me on the day brings me such happiness, and I love that even though it will be just my dad walking me down the aisle, I sort of get to bring along a bit of my mom, too. Hopefully some kind of good vibes transferal will occur, and the lace that set my parents off on their happy journey many years ago will bring Mr. GP and me that many years (and more!) of happiness together.

Are you incorporating anything sentimental from your family into your day? What are you using to wrap your bouquet?