I'm not sure why. After all, my wedding was many years ago and something I only plan on doing once. And my kids are several years away from being marriageable age so it's not as if I'm going to be shopping for dresses any time soon. I'm kind of in those in between years where we're old enough that most of our friends are married and young enough that their kids are not tying the knot either.
So what's up with the dresses?
I blame my characters.
Not every book has a wedding dress, of course. A happy ending often ends with a promise and not the actual wedding. But in my current manuscript I am thinking of a wedding and wondering what my heroine will choose to wear. And in my book next month - HER LONE COWBOY, there are not one, not two, but THREE dresses to consider.
For my heroine in HIRED BY THE COWBOY, Alex, I picked a simple style with an empire waist and a lovely overskirt - a real soft and feminine look. For Jenn, in ONE DANCE WITH THE COWBOY, it was a satin strapless number with a gathered waist. Of course, that wedding takes place in HER LONE COWBOY and Lily is making that dress. Which brings up the question of what Lily will choose to wear.
Because there's already a dress in Lily's closet, and it looks suspiciously like this!
When I think back over my other heroines I wonder what they would have worn to their weddings. What about 40-something Maggie from FALLING FOR MR. DARK AND DANGEROUS? Or Lucy, our cowgirl/Mediterranean Princess in THE RANCHER'S RUNAWAY PRINCESS? What about the shy and efficient Mari from HIRED: THE ITALIAN'S BRIDE?
One size and style definitely does not fit all. It would have been fun shopping for all those gowns!
I look back on my gown now with fond remembrance of our wedding day. I loved it then, with its elaborate sleeves and mini train. It's still a beautiful dress, but if I had to shop for a dress now, it would be far simpler.
What about you? Do you pay attention to the wedding gowns in books? Would you buy the same one again? What kind of dress do you want for your big day?
17 comments:
You look beautiful, Donna and I love Lily's dress. If I was doing it again, my dress would be much simpler.
I actually didn't have a wedding dress. My husband and I got married at the justice of the peace and didn't have enough money for a wedding or a dress. I wouldn't have changed it either. I don't need a wedding dress in the end I got what I wanted and that was getting married to a wonderful man.
Hmmm. My dress when I got married was one for the time (1993). A veiled hat, puffy shoulders tapering down to tight sleeves with way too many buttons. Sweetheart bodice, huge princess skirt with long train and layers of applique, lace and beads.
Guess what I did with the dress? Cut it up. Nope don't panic - My mom and I cut it up to make a fancy Christening gown and jacket. Both my daughters wore it. :) My Grandother and sister cried over the cutting, but what the heck else would we do with the thing?
Now that I am divorced, I suppose the opportunity might come again to have a dress. It would be simple I think. Something off white with a touch of color somewhere and v-necked, maybe with bare shoulders (as I would get married in Cuba of course, LOL).
Not that I think about these things. ;) My hero and heroine in my book Dark Harmony will likely never have a wedding. Unless it is a twilight affair - she has a serious problem with the sun.
Lilly
You look beautiful on your wedding day, Donna. Like you I have fond memories of my wedding dress,even though I am divorced. From that day came the two beautiful children I have and a good friend I will have for life. The dress had to be something simple and medieval...and it was, although it was white. Donna, the dresses in the blog are exquisite! Can't wait to see you at The Annex this Saturday. thanks for the great blog and great writing.
Hey - great pic! I just love wedding gowns. Can't get enough of them. Every woman gets to be a princess for a day.
I still love mine and would likely pick something similar. I chose it to suit my figure type, so there's not much room for anything different.
Oh Donna! Was there ever a blog post more pertinent for me than this one today! I'm getting married on March 16th and I don't have an outfit yet! Oh don't get me wrong, I've tried on loads but nothing, nada, nil. Everything I've tried on has resembled sack cloth and ashes! As a *cough* older bride I want something smart but not "mutton dressed as lamb" if you get my drift. Sigh. I've got a day off on Weds to go shopping (again) and this time I'm determined to find something! Take care. Caroline x
I look at that picture and I can't help thinking, was I ever really that young?????
I also look at my hair (which I loved and my mother hated) and remember the 76 pins the dh and I removed that night. I shudder to think of how many came out during the day....I have a LOT of hair.
Caroline! We posted at the same time. How did I not know you are getting married???? Congratulations!
Oooh now you've given me an excuse to go cyber shopping. LOL
I wore a simple tea length dress. I am amazed at how big my hair was!!
Beautiful dresses, Donna, including yours. I live common-law, so never had a wedding gown, but I found my dream dress downtown a few years back - a simple, elegant Victorian with exquisite embroidery. If I were twenty years younger...
I love the dresses. What beautiful pictures. I like looking at wedding dresses when I see them in magazines.
Simple design, simply made by me,
simple ceremony, simple chapel,
will simply celebrate our forty-
nine years together in April!
Pat Cochran
I've never been one for anything to fancy, so I probably would never buy an elaborate dress. Both times I was married I didn't wear a bridal gown, just casual clothes. That's not to say I don't enjoy other peoples wedding gowns, they just weren't for me. I do love wedding stories though.
Hi Donna, I actually got married in pants! It was a buttercream colored suit, it still fits and I still wear it. It was a very classic style. I had just gotten a job offer to come to the US (from Australia), so we pushed up our plans to get married. It was very low key and low cost. We couldn't justify the expense at the time on a big event. It doesn't sound romantic I know (despite the fact that I now write romance), but it worked out perfectly for us!
I have always loved the description of Meg's wedding dress in Good Wives - not sophisticated or glamorous, but each stitch sewn by loving hands. I'd love to make my own wedding dress, if I ever have the chance.
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