Wedding Dresses Get New Life

"My husband, Gary, and I will celebrate 38 years of marriage May 11 my wedding dress was simple, sewn by my mother. As a child of the generation of" flower power ", the candles were not fresh. Instead, I wore a cap of Julia . I kept everything in a box in the closet all these years.
"My daughter, Clara (Willman) Hoernis, in 2008, married, and if it is a very emotional style of my clothes are not just for her. At first I thought I could be a piece of lace on my dress and pin in the bottom section of the dress for happiness, but they would not let me cut. Then I got the idea of ​​adding my tips Juliet cap comes in your industry had. When I had arranged all the flowers themselves, it was very easy to do.
"When my daughter walked down the aisle with my father, who had a small piece of her mother.
"I like to think that she and her husband to celebrate her 38th birthday one day."
- Barb Willman, who grew up in Belleville and now lives in Shiloh

"My husband and I were married November 17, 1978 Tim, and my dress was cleaned and packed and there in my parents' house.
"I have been excavated recently, and it for a good cause.
"A seamstress in our wonderful city, cut and made two Ring Bearer Pillows, one baptism of our little son Collin and retain a beautiful christening gown in the future could granddaughters.
"The ring bearer pillow" is at the wedding of our daughter Emily on 9 June Jim Warnecke be used, and the wedding of our son Brett fourth May 2013, to Natalie Henschen.
"There's nothing better I can to think about doing some of these special events in the lives of our family.
- Tammy Lewis of Highland
"My granddaughter has ever asked about my wedding dress and wants to it.Her father was still married and they would be looking at the clothes girl.After various flowers, I thought, 'I can be your dress.
"I have my dress, in 1967, and I thought I could make the dress of my dress. Likely to take my dress and cut the fabric. However, when I started this project, I realized I could in my dress to fit, with some modifications. worked, I have a green belt that matched the bridesmaid dress and placed a large cabbage rose at the waist. She was happy and my dress is out of the box, which had been for years. "
- Joyce M. Tracy, Granite City
"What will I do with my wedding dress? To give, after years of conservation and planning or sell on consignment, which was finally thanks to a donation of clothes, which were to Joplin hit after the tornado. I was hoping that was the bride BEA out there who had lost her dress and a replacement would be welcomed. "
- Rebecca Hartsfield, Belleville
"I was planning my wedding in 1977.
"My mother and I went to a seamstress in Indiana, who had a shop in his basement. I went to try on dresses to get up and my wedding dress. I tried on some clothes and found that I liked.
"The seamstress gave me the same dress for $ 75 was a dress for $ 50 or the sample could buy or rent for $ 25. My choice!
"Although I am a very sentimental person who saves things, I decided to follow the example of clothing that was in very good condition and I intend to use the rental and return it.
"My mother was afraid he would regret it, he turned his back and offered to buy for me after the wedding. I told him I did not want the store and probably never used again, so she reluctantly returned to the store .
"I've never regretted it. Since I need the son of two raised, not a wedding dress, I think we make the right decision!
"My husband Tim and I will celebrate 35 years married September 23, 2012." - Connie McCammon, Highland
"I was 2nd February 1960, to Don, married my childhood friend. I held my wedding 35 years. My youngest was in the army. He and his bride in a civil ceremony of marriage, then came back and married in the church.
"I have my daughter-in-law asked," You do not want to wear a wedding dress? She said: "I want, but I have no money."
Barbara offered to have her dress to show his 1960 with Chantilly lace, buttons on the back and the points of the hands.
"She said:" It would be an honor. There is a lot smaller than me. I am 5 feet 6th We had 10 inches cut. It is about 5 m.
"They offered to give back.
"I said, 'Not on my dress, it's yours.."
- Barbara Roth of Red Bud
WITH ART
"I married Dennis Stork in September 1972, and made my own wedding dress. I have my dress christening of my son, Peter Stork in 1980, and then used the reserve is maintained to decorate a box the wedding cards to his marriage Emily in June 2007.
- Lindaann Stork, of Sparta
"After my wedding, my dress was pretty shocked. My dress was different than many dresses of velvet .... it was. I was not sure what I would do with it, so my mother, m 'brought the idea to make a blanket . A friend of the family took the train of my dress and lace wedding dress and my mother made her a baby blanket. My two sons use the cover of their baptism, and I hope to use for reporting their children. "
- Kristie Hitpas, Swansea
"When shopping, we went dressed for my future dress her daughter-in-law, I thought, I wish there was something I could do with my wedding dress. I had no girls. Maybe we could have a ring bearer pillow. Aunt bride wears lace sleeves and bodice of the pillow. I had one done for each of my son. "
- Kathy Koch, Belleville
"My wedding dresses was the recession of 1980 was white, simple, just below the knee, with a series of ground-length Gore (triangular tapered skirt) below. The neck smooth, hollow, spaghetti-bodice was an evening cover-up. Less Gore long veil of secrecy, I reach my tenth (Belleville Township High School West) meeting, three years later. It is also now in our closet. "