"I Believe Playing Dress Up Begins at Age 5 and Never Truly Ends."

So, my wedding was in 3 weeks and I had no dress and no ideas.

I kept saying that I just wanted to wear a hippie dress, but I thought the fantastically proper, Ma Nielson, might have a heart attack, so I continued to rack my brain for an appropriate formal gown design. 

(remember my mother is a talented seamstress, and I enjoy designing clothes) 

The process was all very strange. 

We were driving around AZ trying to get inspiration from the most gorgeous of designer dresses--Dresses that I would have swooned over had I seen them on anyone else, but for some reason when I saw them on me, they didn't feel right.

So, exhausted, we left the boutiques 

no more inspired than when we entered.

Then one day we were at TJ MAXX looking for serving bowls and a white blouse caught my eye. 

Once it was in my hands I knew--a hippie dress was the only thing that was going to sit well with me.

We bought the $9 top and headed to SAS Fabrics to do some material matching. 

Since I wanted to wear a leather belt, It wouldn't matter if there was a seam across the middle. 

I was so excited. 

I knew it was right...but that didn't solve the problem of a VERY TRADITIONAL in-law family. 

Somehow when I thought of telling Ma Nielson that I would be wearing rainbow huaraches and a giant braided-belt to the big event--I panicked.

Still, we moved forward with the dress.

One day, while being fitted, I saw a glimpse of white from

my material closet.

It was the vintage gown I had bought on my 21st birthday (Golden Birthday) for $3 from a women whose mother owned a bridal shop in Chicago during the 1950s and 60s. 

It was a tube top and I had bought it with the intent to used the material for some undecided project, but seeing it again brought about a flood of ideas.

And, friends, they were good ones.

All of this dress drama was symbolic.

It was our relationship:

I was the free-spirit, the dreamer, while Marcus was the traditionalist, the analyzer--together we made a perfect team.

 A hippie wedding didn't really suit him, whereas a super classic wedding didn't really suit me--so, I would have both, and it would be perfect.

My mother cut open the skirt to obtain enough material to add sleeves, and I hand-picked the lace off a vintage veil to add as sleeve trim. 

I was stoked about having two wedding dresses, and especially about the symbolism behind them.

So at the temple, it was a formal, vintage affair.

but at the wedding dinner, we kicked off our shoes and had a party full of whimsy.

I made both of Marcus' self-tie bow-ties. Am I awesome or what?

Plus I got to wear my Lucky Rainbows :)

And That Was The Story of 

The Two Dresses.


But the Drama's Not Over Yet...