As promised, I have a few pictures from the bridal tea shower that I threw a few weeks ago for my soon-to-be new sister-in-law.
Except for the unplanned trip to the emergency room the night before, everything went off without a hitch. Let’s just say that I should have known better than to try out new kitchen equipment, mainly a mandolin (not the musical instrument, but the slicer), at 10:30pm when I’ve been doing nothing for three days previous except cook, cook and cook. I was exhausted. I didn’t use the safety shield. I sliced off part of my knuckle. A nice clean slice, but it still required a tetanus shot and three hours in the ER.
I’m such an idiot!
Anyway, next morning, I still had a ton of cooking to do–last minute stuff that couldn’t be done ahead of time. I’d swiped a couple of surgical gloves from the ER, so I was able to keep my hand relative dry and still keep things on schedule. I thought I’d have a bit more help with the cooking, but setting the tables turned into a major affair that required both my other sisters-in-law’s attention. See…here’s a picture:
Every time we thought we had everything needed on the table, we’d think of something else! A bowl for the Devonshire cream. A little plate of lemon. The party “conversation starter,” which was a list of questions encased in a pretty, bride-shaped box. So every time we thought of something else, everything had to be moved and re-arranged. At one point, we realized a table was too much in the sun! We had to move that table while set with our fine china! A tense moment…and no, I didn’t help with my bum hand!
Anyway, luckily, my 17-year old nephew was around all morning and he loves to cook, so he helped me put the finishing touches on the menu.
First course, a walnut-blue cheese & apple salad in a homemade balsalmic vinaigrette. Main course, set on three plates in tower servers (two per table): chicken salad with orange croissant, walnut scones, asparagus rolls, cucumber sandwiches, mini-cheesecakes, mint brownies, lemon squares. Final course: chocolate fountain with heart-shaped angel food cake, bananas and strawberries.
Oh, and tea.
Jeannette with my niece (her daughter) sitting down to tea
The tea actually provided a dilemma. We couldn’t figure out how to serve multiple flavors of tea and not have to run around and serve the whole time. We finally ended up putting a collection of tea bags on each table and providing hot water in the beautiful tea pots with candle-lit warmers that my sister in law, Joy, and her sister, Robin, have collected over the years. It worked out perfectly (however, it did facilitate us having to add a bowl to discard used tea bags, which required re-arranging the tables once again!) All we had to do was keep the tea pots filled, which we did with a large coffee server filled with pre-heated water.
It was a warm day, so we also served iced water and lemonade.
The bride opened her gifts and there was a lot of laughter and oohs-and-aahs. Afterward, we took a picture of the four of us…and yes, Joy forced me to wear a hat. She even had one that matched my dress, so I couldn’t argue. She’s stubborn like that.
The bride, Terri (in blue), Joy (in red), me (also in blue) and Jeannette.
A wonderful time was had by all. The shower was attended by the bride and her family, as well as my family and the bridesmaids. It gave us all a chance to get to know one another and I think this marriage is destined for greatness. I’m very excited! The wedding is in May.
A few of you asked for the Chicken Salad with Orange recipe that I served, so here it is:
Charlene’s Chicken Salad with Orange
Served on mini croissant
4 chicken breasts, cooked and cut into pieces (cook in water, cover with onions, celery, garlic, salt & pepper for about 40 minutes)
1 c thinly chopped celery
1 c chopped green olives (with or without pimento)
2 sectioned navel oranges
Dressing:
6 T Sugar
2 T Vinegar
¼ t dry mustard
½ c mayonnaise
6 T frozen concentrate orange juice
6 T oil
Mix “dry” ingredients with dressing about an hour before serving. Do not use all the dressing, but save some to serve on the side because the chicken really soaks up the dressing.
Now, on to the last bit…as part of the festivities, instead of games (I hate shower games!) we had “conversation starters.” It was a series of questions that the people at the table would answer and the replies were really fun! Here’s a few of the questions…I’d love to hear some of the answers from you guys!
1) Would you describe your first kiss as memorable or can’t you remember?
2) If you’re married, tell us about your wedding dress. If you’re not, tell us about your dream wedding dress.
3) At what moment did you realize that your significant other was the one for you?
4) What type of flower is your favorite and why?
5) If you are married, what was your “something borrowed?” If you’re not, what do you think you might borrow from someone on your big day?
6) What is the one food you think should be served at every wedding reception?
7) What song played (or will play!) when you danced at your wedding for the first time as husband and wife?
8 ) Tell us about the worst bridesmaid dress you ever wore.
9) If you had to give Tim & Terri one piece of advice about the first year of marriage, what would it be?
10) Champagne or sparkling wine?
11) Smash the wedding cake or feed lovingly?
12) How many times have you been a bridesmaid? Which was your favorite dress?
13) In the movies, weddings are always depicted as a great place to get a date. Did you ever meet anyone at a wedding?
14) What is your favorite wedding moment in movies, television or history?
15) Describe your ideal romantic date.
16) What’s your favorite romantic movie?
17) Where did you go on your honeymoon? Would you go there again? (Or where would you like to go?)
18) Rice, birdseed or bubbles?
You don’t have to answer them all! Just pick a few! I think it’ll be fun to read all the comments!
By all reports, Julie Leto was a sweet child once, somewhat shy, preferring to play quietly in her room making up stories. However, being raised with three brothers in a loud, primarily Italian household did have its influences and Julie discovered her inner tough girl. That’s probably why most of her heroines kick serious butt. Writing sassy heroines has worked out, as she’s sold over forty books to four publishers featuring strong, confident women. Julie lives in Florida with her daughter, a spoiled dachshund, a haughty lynx-point Siamese and a wide range of relatives all within driving distance.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
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I want to say everything looks amazing! You all look so gorgeous, and the food looks and sounds delicious. And I’m so relieved to hear you weren’t more seriously hurt Julie.
1. Don’t remember my first kiss so it couldn’t have been that bad…or that good
2. Not married. Would love somehing simple and elegant, and comfortable!
3. No significant other. Happily single. Maybe one day I’ll make some guy very lucky LOL
4. I love lilacs – for their color and their irresistible scent
5. What would I borrow? Hmmm. Courage? Maybe a piece of jewelry.
6. Chocolate should be mandatory, in an form would work, but maybe mousse.
7. Not sure of the song as I would like it to be one we share.
8. Only been a bridesmaid once and I loved my dress.
9. take the time to listen. This is the most stressful year, adjusting, so take a deep breath and give the other person a chance.
10. champagne
11. Smash the cake! If you can’t have humor and light-hearted moments at such an important time of your life, I think you’re missing something.
12. Once. and it was a lovely apple red. Simple, sleek and long. I felt beautiful in it.
13. Every decent guy was already taken. Had more fun hanging out with the bridesmaids and going bar-hopping after the wedding.
14. Princess Diana’s wedding, when fairy tales seemed possible
15. Walking on the beach or sitting in front of a fire, just talking and talking.
16. The Wedding Singer LOL. I loved it when Robbie Hart tells Julia he loves her…sigh.
17. Want to go to Hawaii or Aruba.
18. Bubbles!
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Thanks for the pictures and for the recipe, Julie. Everything looked beautiful! And the picture of all of you together wearing hats is priceless. I love it!
2. It was a confection of satin, lace and beads. sigh. I still love that dress.
4. My favorite flower is a pansy because they always look like they’re smiling and I love their rich colors. :-)
7. My Funny Valentine
14. I have “3″ favorite moments. 1- When Prince Charles and Princess Diana stood on that balcony and he leaned over and gave her a kiss. 2- When Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy were riding away in the carriage and they kissed. 3-The wedding at the end of Sense and Sensibility. And when Colonel Brandon threw the money up in the air.
8. It was this long, forest green thing with a hood and no shape along with peau de soie shoes died to match. We all looked like monks attending some bizarre ritual. Horrible! I shudder just thinking about it.
Cher
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1)ew, totally bad (long story)
2)Very Caroline Kennedy, but updated (well as updated as you can get in the 1990s)
3)before we even dated…we were friends first
4)sweet peas, reminds me of my grandpa’s garden
5)I can’t remember what I borrowed…how awful is that.
6)Chocolate
7)”All I ask of you” from “Phantom”.
8)totally my sister in law’s…none of them fit us….and the top and bottom didn’t work together (plus, it was just an awful day anyway)
9)Listen and always remember what you love about each other (yes, even the dumb stuff)…the wedding is the easy part, marriage is when the work begins
10)I don’t drink, so either one is fine
11)polite eating…I told my now husband that I wanted my dress to stay nice, his was a rental…
12)only been a bridesmaid three times…probably my sister in law’s (another sister in law’s). Very Laura Ashley
13)nope
14)don’t have one
15)the typical ‘romantic’ date….what’s funny is my hubby took a quiz on fb and he found out that his ideal is “The Notebook” and I told him, “okay, where’s my flowers? Where’s my romance?” (he has none).
16)A Room With a View. I saw it when I was sixteen and George was my ideal man.
17)Disneyworld (we were engaged at Disneyland and I LOVE Disney) and then up to Graceland (hubby loves Elvis)
18)bubbles
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We have matching Mandolin scars!! I did that last year doing scalloped potatoes. Insisted on finishing before we went to the ER.
1. too long ago to remember.
2. 1st time- Based on an old English riding habit and hat. Loved that! 2nd- Short, lacy and off white. With cowboy boots and hat!
3. We grew into each other long before as friends, so it’s hard to say.
4. Sunflowers. They are always so bright and cheery.
5. My grandmother’s rose gold bracelt and locket. Then she gave them to me afterwards. I love them.
6. Chocolate. No sharing needed.
7. Garth Brooks, The Dance.
8. Always a bride, never a bridesmaid
9. It’s not about the wedding, it’s about the marriage.
10. give me a beer.
11. eat it, don’t waste it! (actually the 1st time, we did smash, and knocked his front tooth out!)
14. Yours, Mine and Ours (the original, not that stupid PC remake).
16. See 14 above.
17. Nashville. I loved it there but really enjoyed Chatanooga. Would love to go again, driving through last month didn’t count.
18. Butterflies.
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Beautiful pics, Julie! I bet the party was a smashing success.
#8. Oh dear lord. There were so many! (I didn’t get married until I was 30 so I was in a LOT of weddings before then0. There was the purple and lavender satin with the tight sleeves to the elbow, and giant puffed sleeves at the biceps. The yellow knit halter (backless) in an air conditioned church–the groomsmen LOVED those dresses. The orange lace over the black satin (and no, it WASN”T Halloween). The “southern belle” with the hopped skirts we had to pick up, flip up and enter the church sideways to go down the aisle.
Unfortunately, I could go on…
#17. Our honeymoon when from the sublime to the ridiculous. The first half, we stayed in a beautiful suite at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs. The second half, we stayed in my parents Airstream Travel Trailer in Lake City, Colorado (best know for it’s trout fishing and Albert Packer, the cannibal.) We bought a Scrabble game at the general store and played it in the evenings. We’ll be married 26 years this August, so we did something right!
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The Tea looks wonderful and Julie you look so Beautiful!
1) memorable–I was shocked when he put his tongue in my mouth
2) Married in the car, wearing blue jean shorts and a yellow t-shirt
8 ) NEVER been a bridesmaid and at 35, I am doubting that will ever happen.
16) Gone With The Wind
I have been out of touch. Very sick, doing better now. I re-read the post I missed and just wanted ya’ll to know I missed you as well.
Have a Wonderful Wednesday.
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That luncheon sounds (and looks) like it was catered by the finest of restaurants. What an incredibly kind, loving and generous thing for you to do!! As for the list:
1) Would you describe your first kiss as memorable or can’t you remember? A quick peck on the end of my nose in 1st grade! LOL
2) If you’re married, tell us about your wedding dress. If you’re not, tell us about your dream wedding dress. My friend and I were shopping for dresses together. She tried on one that I absolutely fell in love with and it was nothing like I thought I would’ve wanted. It was a short dress with a long sleeved, floor-length coat over it. Satin buttons held it closed in the front. Fortunately, she didn’t like so I got it!
3) At what moment did you realize that your significant other was the one for you? I can’t remember, it was a gradual process.
4) What type of flower is your favorite and why? Hmmm..I have too many to pick just one
9) If you had to give Tim & Terri one piece of advice about the first year of marriage, what would it be? Old advice, but truly, don’t ever go to bed angry. It just festers and causes problems that could probably be easily solved if they were just talked about
11) Smash the wedding cake or feed lovingly? Be kind
13) In the movies, weddings are always depicted as a great place to get a date. Did you ever meet anyone at a wedding? I didn’t, but I know of a married couple that met at a wedding they were both in
17) Where did you go on your honeymoon? Would you go there again? (Or where would you like to go?) St. Thomas. I didn’t know where we were going, it was all a surprise. I loved it and hope to go back someday.
18) Rice, birdseed or bubbles? I think we did rice but the bubbles look really cool
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Julie, everything looked beautiful. Do you hire out?
Wow, the questions take me back in time.
1. My first kiss? it must not have been very memorable, because I don’t remember it.
2. My wedding dress was a long sleeve, high neck with a four foot train with lots and lots of lace. All I remember is that it was almost 90 the day we got married.
3. My husband and I are actually “childhood” sweethearts.
We have known each other over 45 years.
4.Sterling silver roses. So rare and so beautiful.
7. “We Only Just Begin” by The Carpenters
8. My advice. Never go to bed angry.
9. Champagne
10. Loving feed each other cake, but I do remember sticking my finger in the icing and placing it on hubby’s nose.
We honeymoon in Hawaii. Ah…….
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Gorgeous tables, Julie. And congratulations on learning your lesson for the week: no sharp objects!!
Your list: 1. I don’t remember my very first kiss–I was probably what, 11 or 12 and the boy was no one special. I doubt I thought he was all that special then–experimenting would have been a good enough reason! However, I do remember my first kiss with the love of my life, and that was twenty years ago. Despite having had lots of fun kissing and petting with other guys before I met him, it was the first time I understood the whole fireworks metaphor. Today, he’s still the one.
3. For YEARS I pretended all we had in common–on a “forever” basis–was attraction. Took me a long time to realize I’d been in love with him since the day we met. It was one of those instant clicks that should have been in neon, but instead it was a subtle “everything’s okay with this one.” Unfortunately, my blindness caused a lot of “what if” moments.
4. Roses. The old fashioned kind with lots of petals and lots of scent.
7. “Still the One” by Orleans, except it’s a terrible dance song. If I were 20 years younger I’d probably pick something different LOL
8. Be willing to stand apart. Remember the old saying “if two people agree on everything, one of them isn’t thinking.” But, as someone else said, don’t go to bed angry. Don’t go to work angry. Keep it honest, and keep it out in front, otherwise, what’s the point?
9. Champagne. A great, dry, rose….
18. Birdseed.
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Julie — It looks like the shower turned out BEAUTIFULLY!!! All your hard work and planning definitely payed off.
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Everything looked so beautiful!
I know your hard work was appreciated
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Beautiful shower, Julie!
You focus on weddings today which is Honey’s and my forty-eighth anniversary!
We met 50 years ago when I invited him to share my chair (he was left
standing while everyone else was seated), he did and on the way home, he
told a friend that he was going to marry me! We will celebrate by going out
to dinner this evening.
1. He was a rather shy fellow, so it was a soft and sweet kiss!
2. I made my own wedding dress – it was a simple dress with a scoop
neckline, fitted bodice, slightly gathered skirt, and a simple self-fabric belt
in ivory peau de soie with ivory peau de soie shoes. My attendants wore
a similar design dress in sage green brocade.
3. For a shy fellow, he was quite persistent and asked me several times
to marry him. I was greatly hesitant about accepting because I was five
years older and I’m Hispanic, he is Caucasian. In the 1960s in Texas, it
was not the done thing. In fact, it was a major no-no in both communities.
I accepted when he insisted on asking my parents for their blessing and for
“my hand” in marriage!
4. I wanted my favorite roses in my bouquet and our florist suggested
combining them with a flower I had never seen much less heard of: the
spider mum. She used all white flowers and the bouquet was gorgeous!
5. Mother had a beautiful, baby-blue, lace trimmed handkerchief which I
just loved. It served as my “borrowed and blue” items, my daughter
carried it when she was married 19 years ago. My daughter-in-law also
used it when she married my youngest son 19 years ago.
I’m going to stop now, because I really could go on forever! My best
wishes to Terri and Tim!!
Pat Cochran
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What a beautifully set table, and more meaningful, what a beautiful welcome of that woman into your family. People don’t just marry each other, they join two extended families together; if more families went out of their way to welcome the new member as you have done, I think it would do much to set the new union off on the right foot. Bravo.
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Julie, what a wonderful job you did with the shower/tea. It looks and sounds fabulous. If you ever give up writing (horrors, please don’t) you could go into catering.
Kudos to you and the family. 
Love the questions! What fun.
#1. I guess it was memorable because I do remember! We were 12/13, he was the boy across the street, we had no idea what we were doing!!
#2. I was married but divorced ages ago! My dress was beautifully made by my aunt & I loved it. Since I was not a virgin, had a duaghter from a former relationship (not married) I chose to wear a sapphire blue satin sheath with a jacket, shoes dyed to match. I also had a small tiara with a short veil and carried a bouquet of all white roses. The dress cost less than $25 if I remember correctly!! A big plus! It was a small wedding, not expensive but special to me.
#3. Probably by the third date. He accepted my daughter, in fact he is the one that had her call him Daddy, she was about 13 months old when we started dating. We started dating in January, got married in April!! To bad it didn’t last. I would be celebrating 43 years later this month!!
#5. I don’t remember my something borrowed but I did carry a linen handkerchief that had belonged to my grandmother or great grandmother.
#6. Wedding cake!!
#9. Concentrate on the marriage & the relationship not the wedding. The wedding is one day, the marrige should be forever.
#10. Champagne
#11. Be kind, I really hate seeing people smash cake into each others faces at receptions.
#12. I think only once, I wore a lavendar sheath with flowers embroidered on it, it was simple and wearable another time. It was a short dress, could wear it a lot of places.
#13. Never met anyone that I later dated!
#14. I thought Princess Diana’s dress was so spectacular & it was fun to watch the whole spectacle on TV. To bad there was not a “happily ever after” for her. My daughter’s wedding day was very special. They have been married for 20 years.
#15. Time spent enjoying each other’s company preferably at the coast or somewhere that is pretty, casual and has good food with yummy desserts!
#16. Pretty Woman, My Best Friend’s Wedding (I loved how they were always breaking into song!).
#17. We went to the coast as we had limited time. Today I would choose Hawaii, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone or Yosemite or maybe even Washington DC. It would depend on the budget!!
#18. Bubbles, we had rice but it was a different time!
Julie, this was such fun. Thanks. By the way, I loved all the pictures but I love the one of the four of you & hats are a must at an afternoon tea.
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You guys are so sweet with all your comments and I LOVE reading the answers to your questions!
I was a bridesmaid seven times. My favorite dress was a navy blue/black lace confection that was a bit Victorian in style, but looked fabulous on all of us. If I can dig up a picture, I’ll post it. The worst was a light blue one that was very simple, but the color simply did nothing for me. However, our bouquets were beautiful and as long as we were carrying them, the dress wasn’t so bad. My bridesmaids wore dark green and I let them pick out the dresses themselves. They were very classy and every since one wore the dress a second time, except my cousin, who gave the dress to my mother, who had it altered and wore it several times!
And don’t get me started on smashing cake into someone’s face who just spent hours and hundreds of dollars having her makeup done!
My favorite wedding movie was just on…The Wedding Date with Debra Messing and Dylan McDermott. Love that movie! And yes, the scene at the end of Sense and Sensibility! That’s one of my favorite movies of all time.
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I’ve been a bridesmaid 10 times and still waiting to be a bride. I still think that Princess Diana and Prince Charles had the perfect fairy tale wedding, just not a fairy tale marriage. I have so many favorite romantic movies, but a few of my favorites are Runaway Bride, You’ve Got Mail, and the original Yours, Mine, and Ours.
Julie, looks like y’all had a wonderful time.
Ev, if you come back to Nashville, please let me know. I would love to show you around and my friends have a couple of amazing restaurants.
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What a beautiful table!!!!
Here are my answers on just a few.
4) What type of flower is your favorite and why?
Daisy…Meg Ryan said it best: “They’re such a happy flower.”
10) Champagne or sparkling wine?
Sparkling wine…waaaay cheeper!
11) Smash the wedding cake or feed lovingly?
I’m sorry…but this is a deal breaker. If the husband smashes cake on the bride after she’s spent HOURS (days even) getting ready to be the most beautiful she’s ever been and he messes the make up, hair, and *gasp* dress…OMG it’s over.
18) Rice, birdseed or bubbles?
RICE, RICE, RICE!!! As a rice farmer, please do not fall into the “it bursts the birds tummys” load of…Believe me, we have fat, happy birds who munch on our crop. lol
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1) Would you describe your first kiss as memorable or can’t you remember?
6th grade walked home after ice skating I remember it being cold and wet and my nose was running…gross.
2) If you’re married, tell us about your wedding dress. If you’re not, tell us about your dream wedding dress.
It was very simple with a v-neck surrounded by lace, long sleeved, princess /medievil style.
3) At what moment did you realize that your significant other was the one for you?
when we went on a date and I wanted him to hold my hand
4) What type of flower is your favorite and why?
gardenia- beautiful creamy white rosr like appearance with a wonderful vanilla smell
also recently like the gerbera daisy- bright color and big blossoms
6) What is the one food you think should be served at every wedding reception?
wedding cake
8 ) Tell us about the worst bridesmaid dress you ever wore.
It was hand made and looked like a curtain. UGLY
9) If you had to give Tim & Terri one piece of advice about the first year of marriage, what would it be?
COMPROMISE & Listen to each othe without yelling.
10) Champagne
11) feed lovingly
12) How many times have you been a bridesmaid?
3 a mint green from my sister’s smmer wedding
13) In the movies, weddings are always depicted as a great place to get a date. Did you ever meet anyone at a wedding?
No, But I was hit on a few times.
14) What is your favorite wedding moment in movies, television or history?
I love when Cinderella marries her prince.
16) What’s your favorite romantic movie?
17) Where did you go on your honeymoon? Would you go there again? (Or where would you like to go?)
Over a month long period, we camped in Yellowstone, Tetons, Glacier and Olympic Natl parks …loved it! We’re very outdoors oriented people. We had awonderful time!
18) Rice, birdseed or bubbles?
We had rice!!
Congrats on your beautiful shower! Hope all goes well with your knuckles healing!
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Julie, it is all so beautiful–and you look great in your blue hat! Well, you look great *period*–the exercise thing is SO working for you! So proud of you!
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The tea sounds like it went well once everything was all set up. The tables look fabulous in the pictures and the menu sounds yummy.
Here are a few answers:
My first kiss was somewhat memorable, but not for a good reason. It was quick and not all that good, sadly.
The only time I have been a bridesmaid was when I was the maid of honor in my sister’s wedding 2 years ago. I absolutely love the dress I wore in her wedding, especially since she let me pick it out. It really is gorgeous and I just wish I had another function to wear it to.