Sitting on a Pizza Box In the Weeds

Becca just sent me an article from her local paper about trashing the dress because she knew I'd recently done this. It was interesting to read--apparently dress trashing hasn't really taken off in the Norfolk area--but the author certainly shed a positive light on this new fad, or whatever you want to call it. Everyone seems to have a strong opinion about it one way or another. Believe me, I've heard every reaction possible from friends and family upon their learning that I both trashed the dress and actually enjoyed it.

Like everyone else, here I am weighing in on the matter, so to speak. My two cents: I think it's a really personal decision. It's your wedding, your marriage, your dress. Do whatever feels right for you. That's it. Really simple.

For me, it was extremely liberating. I can't tell you how much! (nevertheless, I'll try) When I first found out about it on our honeymoon back in April, I was immediately drawn to the idea. It was something I felt that I had to do. It's hard to explain. But I needed to do it. It had to do with my being tired of being so predictable and rational all the time. It provided an opportunity for a much needed release after the total craziness that was wedding planning. And it was fun. So much fun. I just didn't care, and that was an intensely powerful and freeing feeling for me. Let your hair down, get dirty, jump in, I told myself. . . DO IT! And so I did :) It was fun wearing the dress on the streets and at the beach (although I seriously thought I might fall and break my neck tripping over that poofy, humongous skirt a couple of times!) I was so lucky to have my supportive husband right there with me as well as an amazing photographer who seeks beauty and art in the uncoventional. I loved every minute of it.

I'm keenly aware of the fact that I don't look like a lot of the beautiful brides on the trash the dress website (although I think it's great that they're all real brides as opposed to models). I'm not a blonde with perfect skin, an arresting face, and a voluptous body. I'm me. Imperfect and self-conscious and inquisitive and quirky. And that's okay. It didn't matter to me that day, and that in itself made it all worthwhile. I only hope that the photos capture that.

I had the love of my life beside me, and together we had our whole future spread out there on the vast sea before us.

And it was perfect.

Can't wait to see the pictures :)

Oh, and the dress? It's fine now. I know you were wondering.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .