Wednesday, April 4, 2007

It was 20 years ago today …



On April 4, 1987 I became a Cook. After growing up a Ronzitti, I never thought anyone would ask, "How do you spell that?" ever again. I was wrong. I've been wrong a lot over the last 20 years. But that's OK. DH is patient, forgiving, and very generous of time and spirit. We've been up, down, and all around like any marriage, any family. But the good far, far outweighs any rough days and I know we'll be growing old together.

Sewing related, my paternal grandmother made my wedding dress. She took some measurements, looked at my bride magazine clippings, and then took me shopping in the NYC garment district — the former, more bustling and plentiful district that it was back then. We trudged in and out of shops where she had long-established relationships. (All of my grandparents were either NY natives or immigrants through Ellis Island into NYC and knew the City well.) I had given her general ideas of my dream gown but that's as far as my "authority" went.

After that, she picked the fabrics, laces, beads, pearls, buttons, netting, and whatever else she knew would be perfect. After all, this wasn't her first wedding gown. Before mine, she had made her own (of course), her own daughter's, two for her future daughters-in-law (one being my mother's), and countless others for close friends and extended family. Our last stop that day was for me to be professionally fitted into a "Merry Widow" long-line strapless bra because she knew to start with the proper foundation even if I didn't at that point.

My grandmother was a professional tailor/dressmaker, and her work was the definition of couture, although I didn't know it at the time (shame on me!). To me, grandma just sewed. She always had a project in her hands, making the most tiny, precise stitches almost automatically. (If only I could go back in time for some lessons!)

Most of the construction of my dress was done with only those hands, and without any pattern to guide her. She spents hours and hours on the lace and beadwork alone. The edges of my multi-tiered veil were hand-rolled. Each of the 48 buttons up the back and 12 on each sleeve were covered and stitched on individually. The delicate button loops were fashioned from tubes of the dress fabric. There'd be no zippers on this dress! My crinoline underneath was another project. She did all of this long-distance as she lived in NY at the time and I was in Virginia. I only knew what was happening from her letters and telephone calls and I could only hope that she had really understood what I was dreaming of.

Finally, it was time to travel back to NY for a visit and the final fitting. Yes, final. No muslin, no intermediate fittings. The dress was done, waiting for me, and the fabric had not yet touched my body.

Of course, it fit perfectly, and was just as I had been imagining. I was definitely Princess for the day, and on the arm of my Prince Charming.

Happy Anniversary Mike, and thank you grandma!

26 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your 20th Anniversary!
    I'm very impressed with your grandmother's work! Beautiful, a garment like that is a treasure indeed. All that hand work and Couture techniques put into practice... Just looking at it must feel like a Couture lesson!

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  2. Aawwwww....this made me a bit teary! Congrats on your 20th and may you have many many more years of happiness together!

    (Love love love your dress. I'd give anything to see a few of my grandma's tiny perfect stitches again, too!)

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  3. happy anniversary, debbie! gorgeous dress, and with NO fittings!!! wow! (do you still have it?)

    c[] here's to 20 more, right? :)

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  4. Happy Anniversary! The story about your grandmother and your dress was really lovely. When I think about people like your grandmother, I feel guilty saying I sew. A wedding gown without fitting! WOW!

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  5. Happy Anniversay! Thank you for sharing such a beautiful story. What a very special Grandmother! My daughter is just starting to plan and asked if I was going to make her dress. I am still not sure. My Aunt Angie made mine and we probably looked in the same stores in New York City for material and lace. Congratulations to you and your husband and many, many more. Elaine

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  6. Happy Anniversary. Thanks for sharing the pictures. The dress is beautiful and you both look so happy on your wedding day. Here's to the next 20.

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  7. Thanks for sharing that great story, Happy Anniversary, our 20th is in 21 days...where has the time gone?! Star

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  8. Thank you for sharing your story..You have a wonderful writing style...
    I must say,you have your Grandmothers Sewing genes...
    Your dress and you are beautiful!
    Happy Anniversary
    Enid

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  9. Congratulations and I hope you have many, many more years with your Prince. I'll bet a daughter in law will be looking to you for a dress before you know it. Liane

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  10. Congratulations, Debbie. Here's to another 20 joyful years. The dress is beautiful! You look beautiful in it. :)

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  11. What a beautiful dress, and how lovely you looked in it! I'm sure your grandmother is very proud of the sewing you do. Happy Anniversary, and here's to many more!!! I'm having my 30th in October and I wonder where the time went!

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  12. Debbie what a lovely story. The love for both Mike and your Grandmother shine through the telling. Congratulations - g

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  13. What a lovely story! The dress looks beautiful - and just a bit of work in it!

    Congratulations on 20 years - well done.

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  14. Happy anniversary - twenty more years on you will still be saying "where did the time go" - believe me I know.! And what a beautiful dress!
    Anne

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  15. Conratulations to you both on your 20th Anniversary! It's our 21st next month-where did the time go??
    How special to have your Grandmother make your dress, and without a fitting! You looked lovely in it!

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  16. Hi Debbie
    Congrats on your 20th Anniversary!
    I have read your blog many times before and have found your tips and tutorials most helpful.
    I was wondering if you were able to give me some advice on how to do an FBA for a McCalls pattern - M4304? Its just that I am not sure whether to add a dart at the side seeming it has one big vertical dart on each front.
    Any advice or ideas- if you have time - would be great as you appear to be an expert at FBA's :)
    Thanks Kate (from Australia)
    artistkate78@yahoo.com

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  17. Congratulations to you and Mike for 20 beautiful years of marriage. What an awesome gift to have such a beautiful wedding dress, and what a heritage to come from, now that you are that couture sewist yourself! Your Grandma would be proud!

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  18. Happy Anniversary!!

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  19. Happy Anniversary Debbie ! Your gown is really beautiful, and it’s as lovely as the day you wore it. There were some doozies in that decade for sure, but yours is just the right combination of luxury and restraint. My wedding gown was my mother's, which was also made by my grandmother, and I have fond memories that are very similar to yours. Mazel tov! Phyllis

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  20. Congrats and wow, look at that dress! What a wonderful story. You must write something up (or print this story up) and put w/your wedding dress.

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  21. You made me a bit teary too. Enjoy your day and a very happy anniversary and many, many more.

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  22. BEAUTIFUL dress! You were just lovely, and the story is perfect. Happy Anniversary!

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  23. Happy 20th anniversary, belatedly! You look beautiful, Debbie. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful story about your dress. I wish you many more happy years.

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  24. wow, what a gorgeous dress!

    Happy Anniversary!!

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