It's been two months since our daughter's beautiful wedding.
Time enough for new life chapters to settle into place
and
time to reflect on such a grand Life Moment.
I will admit
some parts of the wedding were really hard for me.
And I have never in my life
been more grateful for a well chosen outfit!
been more grateful for a well chosen outfit!
On the wedding day my husband, oldest son and I
whirled around the venue
from the very moment we were able to get in
from the very moment we were able to get in
setting up all of the installations we had designed.
I am really great at that busy work
when I'm nervous!
And we couldn't have been happier
how all the wedding planning came together!
And we couldn't have been happier
how all the wedding planning came together!
It was when it was time to go back to the hotel to change
I felt like I was going to loose it
as in
faint or simply not be able to show up.
I had hard, painful nerves building for at least a week before the wedding
wondering if this whole idea
of 'giving away' my beloved daughter
to what felt like to another family
with a whole different name
was something I could really do.
Looking back now
most of my dread was fear based.
How would Ellis's marriage change our relationship.
What would that change feel like.
But I can say now nothing much has changed really
(other that that whole name thing).
We are still as close
and
now she really is a full grown adult
and
I couldn't be more proud of her!
And the flip side of 'giving away our daughter'
is now we have gained a most wonderful son!
I couldn't be more proud of Elliot
and
the man of integrity he truly is through and through.
And the flip side of 'giving away our daughter'
is now we have gained a most wonderful son!
I couldn't be more proud of Elliot
and
the man of integrity he truly is through and through.
I am so proud of myself for not loosing it
at all during the wedding.
Because
boy there were some moments I sure could have.
at all during the wedding.
Because
boy there were some moments I sure could have.
But I was able to pull myself together
and
be the loving family matriarch
that I had always wanted to be.
And I owe so much to the outfit I had chosen.
Slater had even told me
after the set up
when fear was setting in …
after the set up
when fear was setting in …
"to go change … I'd feel better".
Wise young man … who knows me well.
I did change
and
I could feel
personal power flow back into my heart.
It felt almost magical.
Like putting on 'these' clothes and crown
enabled me to
reach deeper into my soul
and
pull out
all the love, strength and confidence
that true loving intention can summon.
It felt almost magical.
Like putting on 'these' clothes and crown
enabled me to
reach deeper into my soul
and
pull out
all the love, strength and confidence
that true loving intention can summon.
Because I wanted to show up as the very best version
of myself … not just for myself
but for my entire family
friends
and
every single person who took the time out of their life
to celebrate
the coming together as a new family
of
Ellis and Elliot.
And to be quite honest
nothing helped me pull it together
like
Crowning Myself.
Sometimes we must dig deep inside
to pull out our very best self
especially in the midst of fear and nerves.
I will always remember
when my makeup was finished
and
everyone had left the room
I took a step back
and
looked into the full length mirror at my own reflection
and
after moments earlier in the day spent in what felt like paralyzing fear
or
the cliffs of hysterics
I took a deep breath
and
realized
I got this!
All my pieces that I had chosen
came together
in a way that felt
halfway like magical armor
and
the other half like Cinderella at the ball.
I had agonized over what I would actually wear as
Mother of the Bride
for almost a year.
When the moment actually came
it was all worth it!
My pieces empowered me
to be
the version of myself I wanted to be.
My Mother of the Bride Ensemble
that day
that day
started with great foundation choices!
Underpinnings
that truly offered support
both literally and figuratively!
My waist cincher was a perfect physical reminder
to stand up tall and strong!
The ball skirt slip
added just the amount of fullness and flow when walking
making each step feel important.
Pockets in a ball skirt were a must for me.
There is something about having pockets
when I'm nervous that feels calming.
Pockets also were the perfect place to keep my phone
which I used all the time to capture
personal moments
I wanted to have forever.
When I was researching
Mother Of The Bride
I couldn't find the advice I was looking for.
Like how
if your having a tough time
with this whole life transition
of marrying off your daughter
of marrying off your daughter
do you not only get through the day well
but summon up
all the love in your heart
you want to bring to the occasion.
For me
my clothes and accessories
helped immensely.
I chose them with not only the occasion in mind
but
with respect for self as well.
So much of being Mother Of The Bride
is all about
being there for your girl.
And
I have found the very best way
I have found the very best way
to be there for others
is to make sure you first
take great care of yourself.
The pieces that I wore
were a great step in the process.
I was also so very lucky to have my son by my side
the entire day
as well as friends who had come to support me
supporting my girl.
It really does take a village!
One with beautiful ripple effects!
The whole wedding ended up going so fast
just like I had heard it would.
I was so grateful
to have been given great advice before hand
by other
Mother Of The Brides …
To make sure to take time
to just take in the moments …
and
boy did I.
And it was our fantastic photographer Elyse
from
who captured moments
that will live in my heart forever!
Elyse also submitted Ellis and Elliot's wedding to
the ever popular wedding blog
and
I couldn't be more excited to announce
they will be publishing our wedding
on their site in the middle of August!!
I remember when Ellis and I were just beginning
the wedding planning
being published in
Green Wedding Shoes
being published in
Green Wedding Shoes
was a distant dream of ours!
And now it's here!
It was such a joy to me
to help
Ellis' wedding style vision come to life!
I couldn't be more proud for it to be shared on such a fantastic platform!
Now that the wedding is firmly behind us
my husband and I
have settled most lovely into our empty nest
and
new lifestyle.
If you are a regular reader of my blog
you know that transition to empty nest
has been one I have struggled with
grieving as each of my children
have moved onto lives of their own.
(If you want to read more of the journey
to the wedding day
all of the links are under Ellis' Wedding
on side bar of my blog).
(If you want to read more of the journey
to the wedding day
all of the links are under Ellis' Wedding
on side bar of my blog).
But now
I finally feel I have crossed to this new side
I finally feel I have crossed to this new side
and chapter
and
can see the beauty and promise
not only for today
but for new and beautiful chapters on the horizon.
I will always be grateful for my Mother of the Bride clothes
and
how they enabled me
to love on all the people in my life
at the wedding
in such a grand life moments.
in such a grand life moments.
Trust me
taking the time and opportunity to
'Crown Yourself'
can have beautiful rippling effects
and
sometimes when you need it most!
I bought my dress from Beholden
which is Anthropologie's Wedding Brand.
A site we visited and ordered from often
planning the wedding.
A site we visited and ordered from often
planning the wedding.
I paired it with my vintage lace Yves Saint Laurant blouse
I sewed from a pattern over thirty years ago.
For some reason having a piece that was truly mine
that I had such a personal history with was calming
and
had me feeling
like me
in a role that was a new!
and
had me feeling
like me
in a role that was a new!
I added a belt from Anthropologie
and
finished off my ensemble with a
velvet flower crown
of my own design.
Not only did my outfit make me feel confident and happy
it complimented my daughter's beautiful Vera Wang dress
and
the venue itself.
And it even was a blast on the dance floor!
Now that I am on the been there done that side of being
Mother Of The Bride
My biggest advice on what to wear is to
find something that makes you
feel good
speaks to your soul
and
enables you to tap into your very best self
so that you may pour love onto all of those around you
on that big day
that celebrates Love.
And
Crown Yourself
It doesn't even have to be a literal crown
but have something that reminds you of
all you have done
enabling your beloved daughter
to join her life with her beloved
in a Grand Life Moment.
As mothers
we all know just how much love we
pour into our children.
If anything in life
ever deserved
A Crown
this is it!
And
Crown Yourself
It doesn't even have to be a literal crown
but have something that reminds you of
all you have done
enabling your beloved daughter
to join her life with her beloved
in a Grand Life Moment.
As mothers
we all know just how much love we
pour into our children.
If anything in life
ever deserved
A Crown
this is it!
As always my friends
I wish you love and joy
as you style your life