PUBLISHER Jack Robb
EDITOR Bill Graham
The wedding dress Second to the bride , the center of attention
ADVERTISING SALES Lisa Webb
COORDINATOR & WRITER Ida Brown
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Monique Henderson
Glenda Sanders
PHOTOGRAPHER Terrell Clark
DESIGNER Helen C . Reynolds
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Some in greater detail than others , but just about every female has envisioned their wedding day — especially the dress .
I remember in junior high school seeing a wedding issue of Essence magazine . The bride wore a beautiful white crocheted gown with a matching crocheted headpiece that was fitted then loosely draped to her shoulders . The bridegroom wore a neatly pressed white open neck shirt and white slacks with brown suspenders , complemented with a white crocheted kufi headpiece .
THAT was what me and my man were going to wear on our wedding day . And , of course , we would jump the broom as we exited the church .
Over the years , my visions of my wedding , in particular my dress , changed a bit : A-line , fitted , illusion neckline , bateau neckline , cathedral-length train , tealength with semi-cathedral-length train . One thing was for certain : I did not want a lot of lace and definitely not taffeta . The fabric had to either be bridal satin or tulle .
While I have yet to walk down the aisle as a bride , even at 60 I sometimes think about my wedding day . And to be honest , I ’ m sort of feeling that cream-colored crocheted gown with a matching crocheted … you know the rest . It ’ s simplistic , yet makes a statement .
The wedding dress has become an iconic piece of clothing , and for many women their bridal gown is their single largest clothing expenditure . How did this voluminous white confection come to be ?
According to the website historyofyesterday . com , in history , the first white wedding dress was worn by Philippa of England in 1406 when she married Eric of Pomerania .
However , the white wedding gown tradition didn ’ t become so fashionable or gain popularity until 1840 , when Queen Victoria of England married Prince Albert . It was a highly publicized wedding that attracted heavy attention from the press .
The queen wore an eight-piece bodice with an open neckline . The sleeves and neckline were well-trimmed , it had a visible off-shoulder dress with short , puffed sleeves . It also had a deep v-shaped waistline . Her satin dress had a full floorlength skirt and was over 6 yards long . The dress was carried by about 12 attendants as she walked down the aisle . Today ’ s wedding dress styles are as varied as brides . From classic silhouettes to modest dresses with bare backs , most modern brides like their wedding gown to reflect their style , rather than tradition .
In this Bridal Edition of Meridian Home & Style Magazine you will see gowns of various styles , fabrics and embellishments . Gowns featured are from Special Occasions in Philadelphia and our model may look familiar : Bobbie Harmon , director of marketing and development for State Games of Mississippi . The setting for the cover photo shoot was the newly opened Threefoot Marriott Hotel in downtown Meridian .
In addition to beautiful gowns , this issue also features dresses to fit every body type . Angelia Weems , owner of Special Occasions , discusses how her shop accommodates brides of all sizes , styles and budgets .
And not to be overlooked — the mother of the bride is cast in the spotlight in this issue with elegant and fashion-forward fashions from Lace Bridal Experience in Brandon . “ Choosing gowns that are fit for the modern wedding includes the flow , color , structure and , of course the ability to disguise what women feel the need to camouflage ,” said Laura Cieglos , who co-owns the bridal shop with her husband .
Two area wedding venues are spotlighted : Pierce Castle , an enchanting wedding venue tucked into the secluded countryside of rural Newton County ; and Mississippi ’ s Indigo Pines , which is located in Lake and offers a peaceful and quiet setting .
This Bridal Edition issue also includes trends in wedding bands , gift registry ideas , flower trends , wedding ceremony music and other marriage-based features .
Ida Brown Coordinator , Meridian Home & Style Magazine www . meridianstar . com
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