Alice's Final Wish...

 

Some bridal appointments stay with you forever. This is one of them.

Many years ago, two elderly sisters walked through the doors of Cherished Bridals.  They weren't shopping for a young bride-to-be. They weren't looking for a mother-of-the-bride gown, either.  These two lovely ladies were on a very specific mission.

They were shopping for a blush lace gown for their sister, Alice.  There was just one little twist.

Alice had never been married, and her final wish was to be buried in a blush lace wedding gown.

Now, I know what you're thinking.  Barbara. That's terribly sad!  And yes, on paper, it certainly sounds that way. Some might even find it a little morbid.  But let me tell you, if you had spent just FIVE minutes with these two incredible women, you would have felt very differently.  In fact, what could have been one of the saddest appointments I've ever hosted turned into one of the funniest, sweetest, and most unforgettable experiences.

Enter the Sisters.

These two ladies were absolutely immaculate.  Both dressed head to toe in pink. Both wearing beautiful silk scarves tucked ever so neatly into the necklines of their sweaters.  I would have guessed both ladies were well into their 80s, but their impeccable style, quick wit, and wonderfully spirited personalities were absolutely timeless!  Their stylish, short silver hair was perfectly coiffed.  They were elegant. They were polished. They were FABULOUS!

And I could tell immediately... These ladies were professional shoppers and I loved them!

They gave me a little background on Alice.

There were three sisters, each born just a year apart. Alice had never married, entirely by choice. While there had been many "suitors" she loved her life as it was.   She loved all things pretty, sweet, lacey, and, most importantly, PINK!

Years earlier, the three sisters had discussed their final wishes with one another. They knew exactly what each wanted when the time came.  And Alice?  Well, Alice wanted a blush lace wedding gown.

Oh, and one more thing.

Pockets.

Preferably pockets large enough to hold a handful of anise-flavored hard candies.  Yes. Hard candies.  Alice was known for always having a pocket full of sweets.  Apparently, Alice had quite the sweet tooth, and she intended to take her favorites along for the ride!

I was beginning to understand that Alice was probably every bit as delightful as the two women standing in front of me.

The Mission Was On!

Now, here's what struck me most about these ladies.  They weren't sad.  Not even a little.  They were focused. Determined. Almost celebratory, actually.  They had a job to do, and by gosh, they were going to do it right!

I showed them several gowns, and we chatted as they carefully examined the lace, the fabrics, and the shades of pink. They knew Alice's taste. They knew what she would love.  And they certainly knew what she wouldn't!  One even commented on a piece of lace feeling scratchy, and how Alice would just hate that.  After all, Alice certainly "wouldn’t appreciate being uncomfortable for all eternity!"  And so they moved on.  

Eventually, we found it.  A beautiful soft lace gown with long sleeves, a modest neckline, and the softest whisper of pink beneath the skirt.  It was delicate, feminine, and just lovely.  Everything Alice would have wanted.   Well, almost everything.

No pockets.

They decided Alice would just have to make an exception on that one!  They would figure out how to sneak the sweets in with her another way.  The sisters were thrilled. They agreed it was absolutely perfect.  Mission accomplished.

And Then Came the Moment I'll Never Forget.

As I carefully packed the gown into a long pink garment bag, the sisters stood admiring their purchase.  There was a brief, quiet moment.  One sister looked at the other and said, almost tenderly,

"Alice will just LOVE this!"

Without missing a beat, the other sister replied,

"When she sees it, she will just DIE!"

And the two of them absolutely BURST into laughter!   I stood there for a split second, not quite sure whether I should laugh, gasp, or pretend I hadn't heard a word.

But these two?   They were practically doubled over!

And suddenly, I was laughing right along with them.

It was one of those moments when you realize that love, grief, and humor can all exist in the very same breath.   And sometimes, laughter is simply the most beautiful way to handle something difficult.

One Last Goodbye.

I handed them their gown, safely tucked inside its long pink garment bag.  They thanked me warmly and headed toward the door.

I think they must have sensed that, despite all our laughter, I was still a tiny bit uncomfortable with the unusual circumstances of their visit.  Because just before leaving, one sister turned around, gave me the most mischievous little wink, and said,

"I'll tell Alice you said hello!"

Well, that did it.  I couldn't help but laugh!

And off they went. I watched through the window as they carefully laid Alice's beautiful gown across the back seat of their tiny white convertible.

Yes, a convertible!  Of course they drove a convertible.  Somehow, it suited them perfectly.

And as they climbed into the car, those beautiful silk scarves that had been so neatly tucked into their blouses were suddenly free.  I didn't follow them home, of course, but I can tell you with absolute certainty that those scarves were blowing in the wind the entire ride.

I can still picture it.

Two fabulous silver-haired sisters, dressed in pink, driving off in their little white convertible with Alice's blush gown safely in the back.

Their final mission for their sister, complete.

Some Brides You Never Meet. Some Stories You Never Forget.

I've thought about those two women many times over the years.  And I've thought about Alice, too.A woman I never had the pleasure of meeting, but somehow felt I knew just a little bit by the time her sisters left my shop.

I imagine she was every bit as stylish, spirited, and wonderfully funny as they were.

I hope she loved her gown.  And I really hope someone remembered those anise candies!

Nearly 14 years in the bridal business have taught me that not every wedding gown has a wedding attached to it.

Sometimes, a gown represents a dream.

Sometimes, a memory.

And sometimes, it's simply one last beautiful gift from two sisters who knew exactly how to honor the third.

 Three sisters bound by a lifetime of love.  Two amazing women.   One final wish fulfilled.

And one bridal appointment I will never, ever forget.

With love, laughter, and a little bridal-shop survival humor,

Barbara

December's Oh My Blog!

🎄 The Bride, The Bow & A Christmas Miracle 🎀

Two little children, Christmas just weeks away, and a New Year's Day wedding. One bride's dream dress seemed out of reach—until a mysterious phone call changed everything.

One beautiful gown, an enormous red bow, and a gift tag signed, "Love, Santa and all my friends at the North Pole."

Sometimes Christmas magic is very, very real. ❤️

Coming this December to Oh My Blog!