We all know the bridal saying, "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in your shoe" — but how many of us truly understand, much less honor, this old rhyme?
In today's world, tradition and ceremony have taken a bit of a backseat to other nuptial concerns. Outlandish dresses, exotic cuisines, expensive registries, and thick prenups have taken top priority in these sacred ceremonies — which sometimes look more like rock concerts than declarations of eternal love.
But in Bethlehem, PA, one young bride has decided to bring back some of these time-honored traditions — and she's doing it with a dress worn by 10 women before her. She sat down with Lehigh Valley Live to explain the details of this precious gown.
As she explained to Lehigh Valley Live, for more than a century, this special gown has been passed down on the family's father side, gaining a little more love (and a little wear and tear) with each ceremony.
But now, after generations of use, this beloved dress has finally received the tender loving care it's been much needing — just in time for this bride's special day.
What do you think of this family's special tradition? Did you do something similar on your big day? Let us know in the comments below!
When 30-year-old Abigail Kingston of Pennsylvania began to plan her wedding, there was one thing she immediately knew for certain: She would wear her mother's wedding dress down the aisle.
But wearing this beloved dress would be no easy feat. In fact, it would require over 200 hours of painstaking work before Abigail could slip into it for her big day. Why?
Because the dress had been crafted in 1895, making the lovely gown exactly 120 years old!
Since first being worn by Abigail's Victorian-era great-great-grandmother, the dress has been proudly worn by 10 other family brides. When Abigail exchanges her vows in October, she will be the 11th.
When Abigail announced she wanted to continue this long-lasting family tradition, her mother, Leslie, was thrilled. Last worn in 1991, Leslie knew exactly where to go to find the antique dress.
To see the original bride in 1895, click "Page 2" below!
Since first being worn by Mary Lowery Warren on December 11, 1895, the dress has remained in the hands of the "mother-of-the-last-bride," Leslie explained to Lehigh Valley Live.
Each time the dress was passed down to the next bride, it carried with it not just tradition and history, but love. It became a symbol of great importance in the family.
The dress did, however, skip a generation during the 1920s. Abigail's great-grandmother had been a flapper, and wanted nothing to do with the gown.
But 50 years later, her great-aunts reignited the family tradition.
The dress was not only symbolic, but absolutely gorgeous. When Leslie was just 5 years old, she fell in love with the gown at her aunt's wedding. She would wear it herself in 1977.
Each bride was given the freedom to customize the dress in small ways — but over time, with each unique wedding, the dress changed ever so slightly.
Designed in a time of tightly-laced corsets and hoop skirts, the dress lost more of its original shape with each generation.
And since it had been worn by brides of all shapes and sizes, it did require tailoring every so often.
It had also undergone some natural wear and tear. In its many years of use, it had only been dry cleaned once.
But despite its many changes, the dress remained a much-cherished symbol of family history.
However, by the time it reached Abigail, the dress was in desperate need of repair.
Over the years, the fabric had grown yellow and frail. It had also been badly patched and embellished over the years with lace.
But that wasn't the only struggle Abigail faced: Being on the taller side, the hem looked incredibly short on the bride.
Upon closer inspection, the family realized the Victorian-era dress would require a lot of work in order to restore its original beauty.
To see the gown's incredible transformation, click "Page 3" below!
They opted to take the historic gown to a bridal designer, Deborah LoPresti. With her talent and experience, the dress would undergo a transformation. The first step was to restore the dress to its original 19th-century shape and design.
But to do so, some of the original pieces — like the lovely sleeves — would have to be carefully replaced. After years of light exposure, the fabric had frayed and shredded the delicate sleeves. But the sacrifice did not go to waste; the sleeves' fabric was used to patch other holes and tears.
But in order to replace the original sleeves, LoPresti had to dig through hundreds of bolts of fabric to find the right hue and material. When she finally found the right style, the detailed work could finally begin.
Finally, after 200 hours of work, LoPresti had finished. The magnificent dress, now restored to its former 1890s glory, was ready for Abigail's wedding.
Because of the dress' delicate condition, Abigail won't be wearing the dress during her entire ceremony and reception.
But it will be honored by the many other brides who have come before her. At the reception, each woman will feature their wedding portraits, in which they all wear the same dress.
But the dress will not be the only way in which Abigail honors her family's history. Around her neck, Abigail will wear the engraved locket her grandfather gave to her grandmother on their 50th anniversary — and on her ring will sit her great-grandmother's ring.
"We're just really happy and blessed we can keep the tradition going," mother Leslie told Lehigh Valley Live.
And as Abigail's lovely wedding day swiftly approaches, there is already a 12th bride inquiring about the dress!
What do you think about this family's way of upholding tradition? Let us know below!
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