Other
helpful hints are also available, such as creative cards helping guests find
their seats. Photo checklists, and even having the bridal shower at a bowling
alley. How about having the wedding in the Backyard? All the how-dos are on this
website. As I perused the lists, I was actually astonished that when I, with
help from a few others, planned my wedding, we did it without having such an all-encompassing
list. I am sure many weddings before 1969 had consultants with lists helping
the undecided bride. I did not and our
wedding event was successful. But perhaps in today’s fast-paced world, one
should get all the help they can. After all, a wedding needs to be the best it
can be.
Using some
of these wedding checklist how-dos as lead-ins, here are some photos from our
wedding. For, “Picking your perfect attendants,” here are my three Bridesmaids:
Lori, my sister-in-law, Janet, good friend, and Runi, Maid-of-Honor. Being that
this was a November wedding, jewel colors were picked for their gowns. Royal
Blue for Lori, Emerald Green for Janet, and Fuchsia for Runi. Furry muffs,
collars and hats complimented the winter theme. The girls loved their gowns and
they truly looked as if they were royal ladies-in-waiting.
The “Best
Man” was Keith’s long-time friend, Roger. He was quite handsome and had a great
personality. Here is Keith and Roger goofing off, like guys do, before the
wedding. Roger also gave a wonderful toast. I just wish I could remember what
he said.
The wedding
checklist has tips on choosing Groomsmen. Since our wedding party was small,
besides Roger, Keith’s and my brother were the other guys. We also did not have
a Flower Girl or Ring Bearer. I can’t recall why, but we didn’t miss not having
them. I was amused by the little caveats offered on the website regarding the
little ones such as, “Crying or not making it all the way down the aisle,” and
to “be sure to secure the rings to whatever they’re being carried in or on.”
Good advice.
Wedding
requirements can be mind-boggling. So can trying to remember our wedding. To do
so, I consulted my wedding album and was thrilled when I found the things
pictured here to jar my memory, like the wedding invitations. Creamy card stock with a fancy script was
sent to an every-growing guest list. The seven-part invites were assembled with
care, and whoever had the best handwriting got the worthy job of addressing the
envelopes.
The bridal shower invite came from ‘Hallmark’ and that task was handled
by Lori, for the shower was held at Keith’s house. All of his large family and
many relatives were there and we were overwhelmed. And to this very day, we
still have and use some of those shower gifts, like the Westinghouse hand mixer
and assorted mixing bowls. Now how practical can you get! 
Finding my
wedding dress was an event onto itself. Not only did I save my wedding dress, I
saved the original receipt for the gown. Yellowed with age but still legible,
my mother bought my dress from Bramson,
a high-end women’s fashion store located in Park Forest, IL in the Evergreen
Plaza. My wedding gown was a Priscilla of
Boston, designed by Priscilla Kidder, one of
the most famous makers of wedding gowns in the US in the 1950s, 60s & 70s.
After coming to prominence in 1956 when she designed the bridesmaid gowns for Grace
Kelly's wedding to Prince Ranier of Monaco, my mother needed no more convincing
by the sales lady that this was the gown for me. 
The
dress was an elegant floor length A-Line with hi illusion neckline with seed
pearls and beadwork, and many buttons down the back and long sheer sleeves. The
very long fine net veil had a gorgeous headpiece of sea pearls and lace. I
truly felt like a princess!
I
did some research and found a near-like version of my dress purchased in 1968.
Asking price was $720, originally $3,500. My mom paid $113.40 for the dress,
veil and tax. Of course it was the previous year’s design, but I did not mind
that. It was beautiful and I loved it.
The
wedding ceremony was held at St. Mary’s Church in Mokena, Illinois. It was a
cold day in November, but I do not remember feeling cold as my dad walked me to
the car to go to the church. The reception was held at the Prestwick Country
Club in the neighboring town of Frankfort.
As
I am half Italian on my mother’s side, and as it was a tradition at that time,
most wedding receptions were hosted by the bride’s parents, therefore, our
wedding had Italian food and
entertainment. Mostaccioli with sausage, Italian
Cream Wedding cake and almond cookies. Often during the dinner, guests banged
glasses with spoons to encourage the Bride and Groom to kiss several times. My
Godfather was a consummated entertainer, singing and dancing all the good ole
Italian songs. The wedding party lined up to do the Tarantella dance. There are
many renditions of this dance but the music is the same. What I remember the
most was having my veil stepped on a lot. But it was fun and exhausting.
Cutting
the wedding cake was a special moment. It was a small cake but there were other
desserts. Keith and I cut the cake together and stuffed a small piece it each other’s
mouths, and then passed it out to the guests. I loved the top of the cake, and
it has been saved all these years and has a special place in our family museum.
The bell is yellowed, but the bride & groom look as lovely as they did 44
years ago. 
Finally,
the reception was coming to a close. As we said our goodbyes, we stepped out to
a very cold night, the sky was absolutely brilliant with a full moon that had a
ring around it. How fascinating! We were told by a guest that a ring around the
moon means that our marriage is like the eternal ring, will always go around
and around, like the wedding rings on our fingers. What a lovely thought to have then and every
time we see a ring around the moon, we both recall our wedding and how
wonderful it was.
Next
Post: Summertime Memories
Suggestion: If you do not have a Family Museum to display your wedding keepsakes, gather up what you have and put them together in a shadow box, such as the wedding invitation and photographs, and hang them on a wall. It does not matter how many things you saved or how big the venue is for your heirlooms. What matters is that you still have them, share them now, and pass them on to your family.
No comments:
Post a Comment