Two of my daughters friends have worn their mothers (very )altered dress for their welcome dinner. They turned the dress into a two piece outfit with the top being sleeveless ( puffy sleeves removed) and the lace skirt shortened to either a mini or a midi…showing a quarter inch of skin in between the skirt and top. They were gorgeous!
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Cool—maybe my D may consider this, if she ever marries. Who knows? Maybe easier to just make into pillow for ring bearer.
One friend’s daughter had the Mom’s dress remade as a pantsuit. It looked great.
My mom’s dress (also known as mine) has a rip — the silk can be remade into a Christening gown or go to a charity like Angel Gowns for babies. Some day.
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Last I checked…they were no longer taking dresses. But maybe that has changed.
Thanks @thumper1 — I’ll look into that when I get motivated to clean that cedar closet. If I ever get a granddaughter the silk would also make a special 1st Communion Dress.
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We have friends whose daughters made gorgeous christening gowns from their wedding dresses.
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My friend had saved her wedding dress for her daughter, but when the time came the daughter wanted something else. Friend was a great seamstress so made the dress into a flower girl dress for D#2 to wear in the sister’s wedding. I think the younger child was about 10 years old but very tall so sort of needed a more mature dress than most flower girls wear.
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The rain didn’t go away, but it was okay anyway! The venue had a good rain contingency plan, so they moved the ceremony indoors. Still a beautiful setting! Fun reception with a Pittsburgh cookie table, an amazing Kentucky backdrop, and so much dancing! It was a perfect celebration. Now the happy couple are off to Kauai for their honeymoon. 
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It is better when you know for sure it is going rain because you could just go to plan B. For D2’s ceremony they called at 10am to say there is a chance of rain in the afternoon and if she wanted to move it indoor. She decided to chance it to have it outdoor, so for the whole day we just kept on checking on the weather. Very stressful.
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This is why I told DD2 that she could NOT have a wedding with an outdoor option. No matter how great the “Plan B” is, the stress of making that decision on the wedding day was a huge downsie of DD1 wedding. Even though the chance of rain was low and it did not rain. But checking the weather apps, discussing and debating—no just no!
Talking to a groom this weekend who is already worrying about rain and the wedding is Aug 1. That’ a long time to worry.
But they knew going in that it often rains in Colorado on summer afternoons. A friend’s daughter got married at the top of Beaver Creek about 10 years ago and when they were all set up on top of the mountain with no way to get to shelter, the heavens opened up and everyone was soaked. The pictures with the clear umbrellas were beautiful. A day to remember.
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Went to one wedding where the rain contingency was mud. I’m sure the venue was pricey, but what a mess. I actually threw out the shoes I wore. H and I were just glad we didn’t get sick.
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D’s wedding venue had a Plan B and a Plan C. We were comfortable with both and trusted the wedding planner that he would pull off either option seamlessly.
We ended up with plan A.
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S & DIL had outdoor courtyard wedding but there was covered patio and also ballroom, for plans B & C. It was perfect and lovely weather.
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What’s a Pittsburgh cookie table?
So glad for your family that the wedding was terrific!
I thought I posted this already, but I don’t see it. We went to an outdoor wedding a couple of weeks ago. It looked like it could rain, so there was another tent rented/put up. FOB indicated he’d spent $15K on contingency (I’m not sure what else besides the big tent - but it was a big tent/there were over 200 ppl). There was no indoor option. Of course the rain held off, but if they wouldn’t have done the other tent it probably would have poured.
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Think giant display of elaborate and favorite cookies, usually
buffet style but often involving tiered levels and pretty serveware. Sometimes with boxes to take cookies home, as well. The cookies can be professionally made but in my part of western PA, this is a job for your Nonna and Aunties. You are aiming for 8-10 cookies per guest.
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Wow, that’s a lot of cookies! But I love the idea of getting the Nonnas and Aunties involved. I think people have more fun when they’ve contributed something to the event, and it makes people feel good to be valued and included.
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My niece’s grandmother was terminally ill, and turned out the grandmother had made dozens of cookies, carefully wrapped and froze them, so when niece had a wedding there would be a proper cookie table. It is taken as something between a religion and a contest in Pittsburgh. And yes, it is an honor to be asked to participate (“auntie”
covers a lot of people)
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@greenbutton has it exactly right.
Being from the west coast I had never heard of this before. DIL’s family is originally from Pennsylvania.
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