KK’s Wedding Dress?

Posted on June 26, 2015June 26, 2015 by Mary P Karnes

The last time I saw KK in a formal white dress was at her DAR, (Daughters’ Of the American Revolution), debutante ball. She was 18. She is 27 now, but the swelling of my heart will be just as great when she walks down the aisle in a week. All of a mother’s children are special and loved equally. But there is a certain right of passage for a mom when she sends her first born off. KK is MY first born. She is the one I learned with and ON. 🙂

It was a happy, yet bittersweet time when KK, Maggie and I went wedding dress shopping to our FIRST bridal shop — many more were to follow until we found “the one”. I remember KK playing bride as a little girl. In the blink of an eye, SHE is the bride.

I tried to find a cute picture of Kathleen alone. I found a few, but the best ones were with her sisters. Because being a sister, and a great one, is one of the things that defines her best. It is who she is – best sibling ever to Maggie, part mother, part sister, to the younger girls.

The picture above, KK at her Deb Ball. Below, Julia, Tess and KK at Maggie and Rob’s wedding. They look happy and alike, don’t they?!? We will all be lifting a loving toast next week to Kathleen and Tyler. And soon…I’ll finally tell you, and show you what we found wedding dress shopping… The picture at the bottom…is it KK’s wedding dress dress? 😉 Doubtful, however…would I really let a daughter of mine wear a BLUE wedding dress?

Images: # 1 Mary P Karnes

Image # 2 Patty Cloherty

Image # 3 www.pinterest.com

Royal Wedding Gowns

Posted on June 14, 2015 by Mary P Karnes

explore.idojour.com

Royal wedding gowns …the makings of fairly tales… I chose a few beauties over the years to share with you. My very favorite – Grace Kelly’s. I think it’s absolutely exquisite. There is not a thing I would change. The reviews of Kate Middleton’s dress were constantly comparing it to Princess Grace’s. I do not see it, save for the lace bodice and long sleeves.

gineqovihi.blogspot.com

While not a fan of Camilla, I think her dress is stunning, and in perfect keeping for a lady marrying for a second time. She makes the old adage, “All Brides Are Beautiful”, true. She sure was on her wedding day.

faredjyxuvawaky.blogspot.com

Above is a picture of the angelic Queen Victoria in her wedding finery. According to Wikipedia: “The tradition of a white wedding is commonly credited to Queen Victoria’s choice to wear a white wedding dress at her wedding toPrince Albert in 1840.^[1]^[2]

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

Royal brides before Victoria did not typically wear white, instead choosing “heavy brocaded gowns embroidered with white and silver thread,” with red being a particularly popular colour in Western Europe more generally.^[1] European and American brides had been wearing a plethora of colours, including blue, yellow, and practical colours like black, brown, or gray. As accounts of Victoria’s wedding spread across the Atlantic and throughout Europe, elites followed her lead. Because of the limitations of laundering techniques, white dresses provided an opportunity for conspicuous consumption. They were favored primarily as a way to show the world that the bride’s family was so wealthy and so firmly part of the leisure class that the bride would choose an elaborate dress that could be ruined by any sort of work or spill.^[3] The colour white was also the colour girls were required to wear at the time when they were presented to the court.^[1]

orderofsplendor.blogspot.com

Above is a photo of the new Princess Sophia of Sweden’s train…and notice the lovely flowers on the pews.

The chart above showcases the wedding dress sketches of the most recent royal brides.

itheedread.jezebel.com

www.ottawacitizen.com

And we can NEVER forget the iconic dress of Diana, Princess of Wales. It was panned throughout the years, but I think she chose well. It was perfect for her larger than life wedding, her larger than life venue…

It’s All About the Back

Posted on March 22, 2015 by Mary P Karnes

It’s all about the back … ’bout the back… I don’t think enough brides take the rear view of their dress seriously enough. Your guests just MAY be looking at the back of your dress and hair more than the front — well at the wedding ceremony at least. Think about it…unless you choose to be innovative and face your guests when you say your vows, (your presider would then be one one to have HIS back to the congregation), the focus is on the rear view.

I ADORE the above dress, the one below too…Both are exquisite. Two things to remember: If you choose a dress style with such an intricate rear view, you must have either short hair, or wear your longer hair up. Your veil may need to be modified as well. My veil was so heavy and pure white, it was more opaque then sheer and not much was visible through it. Maggie’s, not the other hand, was as delicate as a spider web’s…

Much thought must be given to you hair as well. The bride below chose a different “rear view.” The emphasis here is her hair, but she has created a blank canvas to showcase it.

The next photo also presents an option for the highlighting your back. This bride opted for her jewelry to hang down behind her. I love this look and think it’s a great coupling for a strapless gown. It integrates a bride’s dress and accessories.

Or…you might favor the next dress which features a bow. This was my choice 🙂 My dress was very tailored/simply. Although I preferred the word, “Elegant” I had a big old bow on the back of my dress. It was feminine, and gave the guests focus. Just more food for thought…not that a bride needs any more confusion…

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Image #1 dressshoppingonline.wordpress.com

Image #2 www.pininterest.com

Image #3 ultimatebrideblog.wordpress.com

Image #4 etsy.com

Image #5 weddingsbylilly.com

Wedding Dress Styles Part II

Posted on March 8, 2015 by Mary P Karnes

WEDDING DRESS STYLES PART II

MERMAID

Bonus for the dress above. Not only is it the coveted “Mermaid” style, but it has a lace bodice, and oodles of fabric ruffles on the bottom. This is a gorgeous dress, the “Mermaid” a gorgeous style. But take heed… it demands a model thin figure. Had it been “the thing” when I married, I would have been far too short for it. It requires a tall, thin stature.

SHEATH

The sheath is often neglected by brides to be. For most, it doesn’t have enough, “Big Romance” bling. But it can be spectacular with the right figure -think Carolyn Bissett Kennedy. It also flatters all age groups of brides, and you can add your own “pop” of sparkle like the bride above did with her belt.

TEA LENGTH

I wrote a whole blog post on “Tea Length” wedding dresses. Check it out in my “Archives”! I think the tea length is a perfect choice for a more casual wedding, and it looks great on everyone. You needn’t wear a full skirt like the dress above, but the full skirt lends a delightful “50’s” feel.

MINI

What about the “Mini”? Much like the tea length , the wedding would have to be much more casual but what a sophisticated look! And if you have the legs for it….why not show them off? With this short length, you could wear it again. Today, most women don’t recycle their wedding gown, but in my mother’s day, they were more practically minded, and it was not unheard of to wear your wedding dress/ suit again for another grad occasion. Would YOU consider it? We often follow the trnds celebrities start. I recently saw a picture of Natalie Portman at an event decked out in HER wedding dress – food for thought…

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Image #1 rusolclothing.com

Image #2 designurge.com

Image #3 www.pinterest.com

Image #4 blog.jjshouse.com
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