Much time has passed since I got married – the first time. But I remember the ceremony and the events leading up to it clearly. The first wedding was traditional. I was twenty-four and went dress shopping with my mom and older sister. Overwhelmed by all the lace, satin, and tulle choices, we bought the first dress I tried on – a traditional white gown with a lace bodice and long sleeves that came to a point just past my wrist. The year was 1985 and you might find one like it in a vintage shop these days. I remember being adamant that my veil be long and plain, but bordered with lace. It was one of the few times I would curl my hair, and I didn’t want it covered up with one of those western wedding hats with a veil attached that were so popular back then. 

By the time my second wedding (to a different groom, ahem) came around, I was older and wiser – forty-seven. I wore a white bejeweled blouse with sheer sleeves and a long black skirt. That ceremony took place outdoors in a rose garden on a fall day. It was small, with only family and about a dozen friends present. My daughter and niece walked ahead of me down a short path to a gazebo where everyone was waiting. My two sons on either arm, I walked down the aisle with fall leaves raining down. 

Supporting Island Weddings editor Nicole Fullin while she is out on maternity leave has given me an opportunity to think about those days and to reimagine just how exhilarating it is to plan for an event that serves as the starting point for the rest of your life. Fashion may have changed a lot since I first walked down the aisle, but the anticipation and dreams that come with a wedding ceremony, whether it’s on the beach, in a community space, or in a church, is timeless. Love reveals itself without considering how old you may be.