I have seen exactly two weddings where the bride has worn her mother’s wedding gown. Amanda and Matt’s wedding was one such wedding. There was so much going on their wet November day but their spirits were incredible and the day was spun with gold.
Amanda and her bridesmaids got ready at Amanda’s parents’ house in Woodbury, NJ. Amanda wore her petite mother’s 1982 wedding dress with only some slight alterations – removal of the sleeves, a conversion of taffeta to satin, and the addition of tens of thousands or Swarovski crystals all over the gorgeous gown. Excess lace was used as a wrap around Amanda’s bouquet.
In the lining of the dress, her seamstress and family friend had sewn a picture of her mother wearing the dress and the dates of the weddings.
In honor of her late grandmother who loved all things animal print, Matt bought a fantastic gold cheetah clutch for Amanda as a wedding gift. The veil she wore on her day was an impulse purchase the day before the wedding when she decided that she wasn’t too keen on the first one they found.
Gasps went up when Amanda glided down the stairs to her parents and maids.
Meanwhile, Matt was getting ready at his house with his guys. Matt DIY’d his own button covers and cufflinks on his tux.
The gangs made their way to St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church for the lovely ceremony. Bridesmaids were in pretty full-length plum gowns. Each held a bouquet with unique blingy brooches. The ceremony was beautiful and the expressions priceless.
Following the nuptials, the wedding party made a pitstop at the house so that Amanda and Matt could celebrate with their pooch and snap a few pictures with the party outside before traveling south to the Hotel du Pont in Wilmington, Delaware.
As always, the place looked spectacular! We had a bit of time for pictures around the ornate property for the wedding party and the newlyweds.
The main attraction of the day wasn’t the vows but the first dance to “Love Never Felt So Good” by Michael Jackson. Amanda is a dance instructor and had choreographed an incredible spinning, strutting, moonwalking, shimmying frolic across the floor and the crowd went crazy.
The night went on from there – toasts, cake, musical interludes, laughing, singing, and a crazy good time.
It was absolutely marvelous! Amanda and Matt, so many congratulations and thank you for bringing me in to be a part of it all!
Oh, baby, love never felt so fine
And I’d die if it ever mine
Not like you hold me, hold me
Baby, love never felt so good
And I’d die if it ever could,
Not like you hold me, hold me
~ Michael Jackson, “Love Never Felt So Good”
