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?
