My mom and dad got married on October 16, 1954. They had a HUGE wedding, about 450 people!
To give a little background, my dad was an only child and my grandparents owned a very popular and busy bar in Detroit. This wedding was a big deal to them and they wanted to show off to all of their friends and bar patrons! In other words, they wanted to invite a lot of people so they paid for the whole thing!
My mom's parents were not well off and my grandfather (her father) was very sick at the time of their wedding.
I only have a few pictures right now of her wearing the dress.
Here she is with her father. He passed away a few months later.
Anyway, after the wedding my mom packed her dress in a box wrapped in tissue paper. When I was about 10 years old she showed it to me and I got to try it on. I loved it and wanted to play dress-up with it but she wouldn't let me!
We may have looked at it one or two more times after that but I'm not sure. A few years after she died I asked my dad for it and he gave it to me.
Her writing on the box. I wonder if she wrote that right when she packed it up shortly after the wedding. I bet she was excited to write her new last name!
Anyway, the pictures make the dress look lighter than it actually is but by the time I realized that the dress was already packed away.
That dress is really pretty.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful wedding gown and that train is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteWow - that was a big wedding for that time. The dress is beautiful and it's wonderful that it's still around all these years later.
ReplyDeleteI especially love the satin roses. So pretty! I look forward to your February posts!
ReplyDeleteIt is gorgeous! Such detailed and fine little touches everywhere. She must have been overjoyed to wear it for her wedding. And it still looks in good shape to me.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. Thank you for sharing, smiles.
ReplyDeleteA lovely dress and such a beautiful memory of your mom.
ReplyDeleteOh oh OH, Jeanette. I absolutely adore these pictures and the story along with it. I think weddings were huge affairs back then, moreso than now. My oldest brother and his wife got married in 1958 and it was the same thing.... around 500 people attended. It's really sad how people don't even bother going to weddings these days. They send a card and that's it. I blame the internet and television, most of all, for the decline. "Back in the day" there was nothing to do and we always looked forward to weddings and reunions. It was an excuse to get out of the house, have some really good food, and visit. Even our wedding, in 1976, was well attended. But for two of my children's weddings, it was hard to get people to stay until the band started and the cake was cut. Sad. Anyway, I loved this blog entry!! ~Andrea xoxo
ReplyDeleteIt Is so beautiful. She must have felt like a princess.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful couple your parents are! I love that they had such a BIG wedding...I don't know that I could muster up 450 people for anything. :)
ReplyDeleteThe dress is lovely and isn't it a shame we wear something ONE time then box it up? I hope your niece can use it for something; surely your Mom would like that.
Thanks so much for sharing this.
Oh, you said there is a video of your parent's wedding. That always amazes me cause there are NO videos of me until I had a bridal shower. Did I live in a cave or what?
That is a truly breathtaking bridal confection. What a gorgeous bride your mother was! The dress has preserved remarkably well. Wow. Thanks for sharing this, Jeanette. xoxo
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