Page 29 - Digital Version For Web SDW Bridal 2015 (2)

Love is Better the Second Time Around

By Sharon Hightower

San Diego Woman

The odds of your marrying again after a certain age are less, they the truth. Going to the bridal salons will take some courage, but
say, than the odds of you getting struck by lightning or winning you have courage: You’re getting married again, right? Try on a 29
the lottery. But it’s happened. The thunder is rolling, the bells dizzying array of dresses. What looks wonderful? What looks
are soon to be ringing and you know that love is better the second awful?
time around. You’re over 40 and your biggest worry is not about Then, it’s time to get practical. What is your budget? Do you
getting to the church on time. Your biggest concern is what to really want to spend $500.00 on a dress? Would you prefer to
wear to the wedding. economize on the dress and use the money you’ll save on the hon-
Before you begin, remember that neither Martha Steward nor eymoon? Of course, it is possible to buy a lovely and reasonably
Dear Abby will be among the guests, so you needn’t accept their priced dress. Shop during the summer after the June brides have
unsolicited and often outdated advice. Nor should you listen to had their day. Look for sales. Most bridal salons will have a rack
your single friends who are bearing up despite being pea green of dresses that didn’t quite make it down the aisle. As you’ll prob-
with envy. And now is not the time to listen to your mother who ably want to alter yours a bit anyway, this can be a real cost saver.
would probably start by counseling you against a formal wedding At some point, you’ll need to consider how your dress will fit into
for your second trip down the altar. But if not these people, who the overall design of your wedding. Does a traditional formal
can you ask? church ceremony appeal to you? You can have a formal event if
First, listen to your heart. What do you want? How do you visual- you want. The rules that governed your first wedding have pretty
ize this most precious moment? Do you really want to wear a much been tossed aside. So, if you prefer, you can opt for a more
pastel suit with conservative pumps and a small corsage? If not, casual wedding outside in a lovely garden or down by the sea. This
don’t! Do you fancy yourself looking like a princess in a flowery film is your moment. Do it your way.
of organza? Do it. Do yards of Chantilly lace appeal more to you? Of course, you’ll want to consider the time of day and the season
Go for it. Is it reams of silver satin that give you goose bumps? of the year in which you’ll be married. If you’re planning a winter
Then do exactly that. wedding in the morning, you’ll probably want long sleeves – even
Get some brides’ magazines and dream. These are your wish books. in California. If you’ve decided on an August afternoon, you may
Look through them. Then put them away. Then go back through opt for one of the lovey sleeveless dresses that are popular these
them. Do the same dresses appeal to you? You’re on the right days.
track. Remember, when it’s all said and done – when the photographer
Second, listen to your groom. He is after all, the reason you won has put away his camera, when the last of the cake has been
the lottery. What would he like? How does he picture his bride as served, when the last toast has been offered – this is your day
she joins her hand in his? Does white make him uncomfortable or and you’ll want to be able to say in the words of Frank Sinatra, “I
does he think ivory looks dingy? did it my way!”
Third, listen to your mirror. It told Snow White’s Wicked Witch