By Her Side Series 3 - Father of the Bride

By Her Side Series

"My little angel."

"Daddy, you are making me cry," she spoke, wiping away swelling happy tears.

"Oh honey, I...I am sorry.  They are hap...happy tears, right?  Yes.  Oh dear, now I am a mess."

Father and daughter laughed, grabbing tissue after tissue to wipe away the many tears.

He cleared his throat and said,

"There is something you need to know about your wedding gown.  Your mother and I wanted to share its history with you on the day of your wedding."

"Okay," she spoke in hesitation.

"The gown you are wearing has been passed down the family tree on your mother's side for more than a century.  The first bride to wear the gown was your great-great-grandmother, Maria Jane Coleman.  She designed and made the dress herself, knowing the history it would unfold."

Maria turned to face the standing mirror and deeply focused on the dress she never knew had such an extensive history.

Off white ballgown.  Large puffy shoulders.  Thick long sleeves.  Chest coverage as high as the middle of the neck.  No train, but long veil.  All satin (with exception of the veil having tulle fabric).

No trace of wear...ever.  So how would she know?

One other question -

"Dad, am I named after..."

My name is Maria Jane, she thought to herself.  She never knew.  She only assumed the name was unique to her.

"Never..."

"Yes you are," he said, answering her question before she asked and finishing her realized thought before she could complete the word "never mind."

"Dad, why do you call me your angel?"

"Because of her.  She has been loved dearly all this time and is a forever angel by every generation's side."

Knock, knock

"Come in," Maria called out one last time.

"It's time," said the wedding planner.

"Shall we?" he asked with raised arm.

On this day, so many loved ones were by her side.  In spirit, Maria was not alone.  Maria Jane Coleman stood by her side as she walked slowly down the long church aisle in a gown to pass on to a daughter she would one day have.

By Her Side Series
The End

By Her Side Series 2 - Mother of the Bride

"My precious Maria, I will always remember you playing dress up with my makeup and jewelry.  You tried so hard to fit into my clothes and heels.  So adorable!"

Mother and daughter laughed at the silly childhood memory.

"I still remember laying out your wedding gown and daydreaming wearing it someday on my wedding day."

"And now here you are - a daydream come true.  Lovely.  Absolutely lovely."

"As my mother - mother of the bride - you are lovely as well.  As my mom, you are timeless and classic in fashion.  You taught me well with all of the years you worked in the fashion industry.  I remember going to photo shoots with you and looking at the window displays when you were a visual merchandiser.  Do you remember sharing your first personal shopping trip with your very first client?  And your first styling session?"

Her mom lightly laughed and said,

"So many years ago and yes I still recall all of those many memories."

"Special memories passed down and to be treasured.  Mom, you are my inspiration.  You are my reason for being a fashion stylist.  Without your guidance, I would not be the person I am today, especially with  my career.

"Look how beautiful you are...dare say stealing the show," she said with a happy smile.

"Oh honey..."

Pastel pink satin fitted gown with pastel pink cashmere wrap.  Pastel pink suede kitten heels.  Sterling silver necklace with small but ornate silver locket...Inside, a photo of Maria's mother holding her daughter shortly after birth.  White rose corsage.  Dark blonde hair gathered into a bun with a clear crystal bun cuff.

Knock, knock

"Come in," Maria called out.

"Honey, it's time.  Oh look at you, my little angel."

"Daddy, you will make me cry..."

To Be Continued

By Her Side Series 1 - Maid of Honor

"You are so beautiful, Maria.  I am truly honored to be your maid of honor.

"And Christopher is so lucky.  I cannot imagine two people more perfect for each other, more meant to be, more in love, and more prepared for the journey of marriage.  I am certain, then, how happy and content married life will be for you two."

"I do love Christopher so much.  He will always be my soulmate.  I am so happy for me!"

The two laughed at Maria's eager exclamation.

"In all seriousness, though, you are beautiful too, Cindy.  And I should be so honored to have you by my side this evening.  You are my best gal pal..."

The two lifelong best friends lightly laughed at their special nickname, tears beginning to form at the corners of their eyes.

"Oh gosh, Maria, there goes our makeup."

"Oh no!  Oh I don't care.  Happy tears can ruin our makeup.  But you...you are a stunning maid of honor.  The dress you chose is breathtaking.  Navy blue is a gorgeous color on you."

Navy blue satin A-line dress with sweetheart neckline and wide straps.  Long silver heart pendant necklace.  Navy blue suede low heels.  White carnation and green leaf mix bouquet.  Long jet black hair styled with clear crystal bobby pins on either side.

If not for being maid of honor at her best friend's lavish wedding, she would be a breathtaking bride in her gown.  She knew she would impress her boyfriend, Dustin, of so many years when the ceremony was set to begin.  (He in fact was going to propose at the end of the reception.)

Knock, knock

"Come in," Maria called out.

"It's time," said her wedding planner.

Cue the violin.

"Congratulations, Maria.  I love you, best gal pal."

Cindy walked arm in arm with the best man down the aisle.

Today was Maria's day, but her maid of honor was by her side.

Princess

"A wedding fit for royalty," her father boldly declared.

"Thank you, Father, for the sentiment, but my fiance is not a prince and his parents do not sit on a throne.  A simple wedding, Father."

Her gown was royal style -

Couture design

Lace long sleeves, satin fitted shape, Swarovski crystals lining the sweetheart neckline, silk veil accenting the long length of the train, breathtaking white.

Her engagement ring was royal style -

Exclusive design

Princess cut with white gold band and sparkling diamonds surrounding a striking emerald stone set in the middle.

She was not royalty, though, and made such notion clear to her father.  Her wedding was not royal as her father was paying for what was a simple ceremony.  Her in-law family was not royal, again made clear to her father.

On the day of her wedding -

Knock, knock

"Come in," she called out as she fixed the finishing touches to her hair.

"A gift from your fiance, honey."

"Thank you, Father."

"You are beautiful and precious, sweetheart.  We may not be royal, but I will forever be honored to walk my little princess down the aisle on her magical wedding day."

"I love you, Father."

A sweet smile from both.  He left to give her privacy in opening the gift.

An intricate white box with royal embossed letterhead attached by light peach organza ribbon.

'My lovely princess,

I love you with all of my heart and soul.  You are my life.  On this our wedding day, may this gift to you be a token of how much you mean to me.

Always,

Prince Michael'

She was speechless.

The gift - a pearl- and diamond-encrusted tiara once worn by the queen of his family's origins.

She never knew.

He is royal.  The wedding will be royal.

She truly is a princess.

Blushing Bride

The wedding day was four weeks away.  Vows had yet to be written.  Salmon, Cornish game hen, vegetarian, any selection, or all had yet to be decided in full because guest replies - beyond actually accepting or declining to attend - were still being reviewed.  The ceremony venue was set quite some time ago.  However, the weather was not certain.  The wedding was going to be in an outdoor courtyard adjacent to a church.  The reception was going to be held in a beautiful park overlooking the lake.  The reception, though, was going to be tented, so she guessed everyone would be okay.  Weather forecasts consistently predicted dangerous doom in this summer month of June.  She really hoped everyone would be okay.  What else, she thought nervously to herself.

The wedding gown.

She was anxious for the final fitting.  Under doctor's orders, she lost a significant amount of weight after purchasing her dream dress one year ago and hoped beyond hope the dress would still fit.

The final fitting.

"Oh dear," said the seamstress.

"Um, is there something wrong?" She asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yes dear.  I see you have lost quite a bit of weight since your purchase, so I will have to take in half the dress.  I will not have time to finish the changes by your wedding."

"Oh.  Okay," she said with swelling tears.

Her dream dress by her dream designer no longer.  The wedding was paid for by her parents and her fiance's parents.  The wedding gown, though, was paid for solely by her.  She was devastated and embarrassed.  She was devastated because she left the bridal salon empty handed.  She was embarrassed because although her weight loss was achieved with positive intentions, hearing the need for massive alterations out loud was a shock despite the intentions.  She somehow no longer felt worthy of a dream dress because a part of her still lacked self-esteem from when she was heavier.  Heartbroken, she didn't have time to restart her search nor did she have the finances.

As she left the bridal salon in deep sorrow and wiping away tears, she happened to overhear a consultant tell a client about an upcoming blowout sale.

Blowout sale

She bee lined up and down the aisles, rejecting every dress she browsed through and quickly lost faith until...

Wedding day

"My sweetheart daughter, you are beautiful," said her happily tearful mother.

"Thank you, Mom," she said with a tear in her eye.

"Oh honey, you are blushing!" exclaimed her father.

"Thank you, Dad."

She proudly beamed.

Cue the music

She blushed in pure joy and content happiness.

She was marrying her soulmate.  She was wearing the perfectly fitted new dress of her dreams - on deep discount.  The weather was cooperative with a hint of sunshine.  Her confidence was strong.  In this moment, she felt perfect and profoundly beautiful.

A seamless day.

A blushing day.