Weddingbee Blog

When my mother returned to work, 11-week-old me was walked next door to my Gramma Rosie’s house. Gramma was the kind of grandma people dream about having. I was her little angel, and she was my big angel. We’d start every morning with some scrambled eggs. I’d nap while she watched Matlock and Murder She Wrote, and she’d nap while I watched Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie. She supported her family by working in the Fall River Sewing Mills, and she is the one who taught me how to hand stitch. The tooth fairy would visit my house, Gram’s house, and Aunt Millie’s house. Hey, I may be spoiled, but I’m not bratty!

Unfortunately, Gramma passed away when I was 11. The entire family was away at a wedding, but Aunt Millie, her husband Lance, and I stayed behind because they knew she was failing. Kids weren’t invited to this wedding, and I will forever be thankful for that. It was a tough weekend to say the least, but after she died, Aunt Millie assumed the role of my grandmother. My aunt and grandmother were the kindest, give-you-the-shirt-off-their-back, buy-you-an-ice-cream-with-the-last-dollar-they-had people, and they were both very talented seamstresses. I strive to be the kind of aunt to my nephews that my Aunt Millie was to me.

My dream was to pursue law school, up until one fateful summer day when I was 16. I got up from my chair in a daze, grabbed a pen and piece of lined paper, and sketched out a dress design. It was an out of body experience. Want to see? Don’t judge me; my drawing skills were zilch at this time.

Just like that, my dreams had shifted. Seeing as how my mom can save every life on this planet but can’t sew to save her own, I went to my Aunt Millie. Look! Look what my aunt did for me. The dress was perfect and exactly what I had in mind.

On the next dress, I began to help my aunt. She would make tea and teach me how to use the sewing machine. The best gift I have ever received was a pair of snips Gramma used in the mills with her name carved into the side. After we made my junior prom dress, we began to talk about someday making my wedding dress. We were going to create a beautiful Cinderella ballroom gown together. We would have, too. This was the woman who had searched for YEARS to buy me a string bikini when I was in early elementary school. Unfortunately, the bikini and the dress were never meant to be. My precious, darling, lovely aunt was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. She soldiered on for several years, even caring for her husband when he was diagnosed with lung cancer. They passed away within six months of each other during my senior year of college. I miss her every day and think of her often. I am eternally grateful for having spent those afternoons sipping tea, eating Famous Amos, and learning to sew. I could never attempt to make the dress by myself. I would only see the flaws, and it would taint the fond memory of looking into the future with my aunt. Please do me a favor and visit someone who means the world to you this week.

…and this, my friends, is how I begrudgingly began my journey into the dreaded bridal shops.