Is Ali Copying Me?

First it was my rehearsal dinner dress, now it's my wedding gown and bridal hair style. Ali is invading my personal style!  Actually, Ali looks completely stunning in this picture compared to me, but  I couldn't help and notice the similar styling.

BTW, the photo of me below was taken at my grandmother's apartment recently.  Grandma Lillian could not make the trip to Puerto Rico for our destination wedding. She is 102 years old and can't get around too well, so instead, we brought the wedding to her.  My parents came to my grandmother's apartment in their original wedding clothes, my uncle was the videographer, my cousin wore a vest and a bow tie (which is very fancy for him) and my aunt brought me flowers and performed the ceremony.  The Husband wore a tie over a t-shirt.  It was about 102 degrees in NYC that day and probably hotter in her apartment. I put on my full gown, jewelry, shoes and tried my best at my own hair and makeup and got married to The Husband right there and then in my grandmother's living room - again. 

The look on Grandma L's face when she opened the door to her apartment and saw her granddaughter, the bride, standing there - was well worth the effort.  She even dressed up for the occasion and put on her own makeup!  How many 102 year olds dress up for a wedding reenactment?  She is truly incredible.  Look at her standing on her tippy toes to try to be as tall as me.  What an amazingly modern woman!  Now I know why she's lived so long - she is able to go with the flow and run with any ridiculous situation that crosses her path - even a makeshift wedding!

The other picture below is of my Aunt, Uncle, Cousin and Grandma Lil with me, moments before the wedding ceremony.  I started to walk the 11 blocks to my grandmother's apartment (in my gown), but it was hot, and people were staring at me, so The Husband and I jumped into a cab.  I was thinking that if we could reenact our wedding once a week from now on, then the following might happen: (1) in about 600 years, I could get my money's worth for my dress and (2) it would force me to stay in shape to be able to fit into that dress.  To all of you former or soon to be or eventually to be brides out there, people are so much nicer to you when you're wearing a wedding gown!  I remember the moment our wedding ceremony overlooking the beach of our San Juan hotel ended, The Husband and I made our escape back toward the main building and on our way we passed a restaurant full of patrons who were eating outside.  As we approached, they all started applauding.  It was so nice.  Then I got to thinking - wouldn't it be nice to walk the streets of New York City with people applauding you all along the way?  If I wore my bridal gown to work, I might get some support on my daily commute. I might not mind waking up at 6 AM and traveling 90 minutes each day.  I might even look forward to it.  Of course, I'd probably get some strange looks and most likely lose my job, but I'd be applauded on the way to the unemployment line.  

Anyhow, the wedding re-enactment turned out to be a big success. We are looking into a repeat performance when some of my French cousins come to visit New York this summer or fall. There was cake, there was poetry and lots of kissing - all signs of a great wedding. 

In between these weddings, I'm contemplating become "The Brunch Bride." This is somewhat similar to the concept of The Naked Cowboy, except I wouldn't be naked - I'd be wearing my wedding gown.  And I don't play guitar in my underwear and really I'm not a cowboy.  But like the Naked Cowboy, I'd bring joy to the people on the street that I pass while making them wonder whether I was completely insane for wearing a wedding gown when it was not my wedding day.  Truthfully, I can't bare to say goodbye to this dress.  I spent close to a year searching for it, trying it on and making sure it fit perfectly. I also spent more money on this dress than any single article of clothing that I have ever purchased in my life and yet I will wear it less than anything I ever bought before.  Does this make any sense?  How can I just store it away and hope that in 25-40 years from now, a future daughter of mine might possibly want to wear it?  Nah, I'd rather wear it myself.  As the Brunch Bride, I'd put on my gown, wear my wedding jewelry and hair pins, do my makeup, and pick a nice spot on the Upper East Side to have brunch in once a week.  I just hope The Husband is willing to go along with this.  To mix things up a bit, perhaps I'll take to grocery shopping or dropping in to a Duane Reade or CVS Pharmacy before or after brunch.  The Brunch Bride is both elegant and practical: fancy enough to eat anywhere in Manhattan, but determined to get her money's worth for her bridal gown.