Old Traditions, New Uses

I got into a discussion about wedding dresses with my sister-in-law, and she told me that she once went to a wedding where the bride wore her mother’s wedding dress, which had also been her grandmother’s wedding dress. Yes, that tradition. And she didn’t change it anyway, either, so she was wearing a 50-year old dress, in a 50-year old style, at her wedding. Which is fine, if she was okay with it (everything’s fine as long as you’re really okay with it).

BUT, as I explained, there is an alternative. I’ve had a few brides who’ve been in similar situations where a passed down dress or traditionally ethnic clothing are involved. One of the best ways to handle it is to wear your own dress to the ceremony, and then change into the traditional clothing sometime during the reception. First/Parent dances are a good time, and you can throw in a little ceremony to honor your parents/grandparents/heritage in there, and then change back into your dress if you want to. It’s a crowd-pleaser, trust me. You’d be surprised how many clothing changes there are in weddings these days.