Hey, y'all! I'm Cris.
  • Say Hello
  • Check Me Out
  • Work With Me
  • Find Out More
  • Shop My Favorites
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Contact Me
  • Sponsorships
  • Privacy Policy

Kiss My Tulle

Real Life in a Perfectionist World

  • Capsule Wardrobes
    • Fashion
    • Beauty
  • Travel
    • Disney + Marvel
    • Marvel Bounding
  • DIY + Tutorials
    • Home Improvement + Design
    • Food + Cooking
    • Health + Fitness
    • Holidays
  • Pregnancy + Parenting
    • Mommy
    • Daddy
    • First Trimester
    • Second Trimester
    • Third Trimester
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Kid
  • Weddings
    • Our $5,000 Wedding
    • Ceremony
    • Reception
    • Honeymoon

Uncategorized · January 17, 2012

Wedding Wednesday: On Making Your Own Moment

I come to you this Wedding Wednesday with a bad, bad mood. I’ve been struggling the last week with some depression lately (my birthday was the one month mark from my dad’s passing and it hit me really hard) and I'm having a difficult time bouncing back into the fun and sunshiny “I’m planning my wedding!” mood. How’s that for keepin’ it real in the blogosphere. Honestly, I’ve tried really hard to keep my sadness and anxiety over it all away from Tulle Nation because really, who wants to listen to someone boo-hooing all the damn time? But then it hit me – this is tough for me and Wednesdays are the day that I hand y’all personal stuff so… there it is. Not pretty but very, very real.

But! Now that I’ve gotten all that honesty off my chest – off to today’s post!

060111 b

Today, I’d like to talk about making your own moments during wedding planning and the wedding itself. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately (after I participated in recording a podcast with Hindsight Bride, The Rogue Bride, and The Thirtysomething Bride last weekend and it came up). My engagement and wedding planning have been anything but traditional. First, I’m planning a wedding on a SUPER budget, at our house, and DIYing most everything. Second, we’ve already gotten married. And third, I’ve been the happy recipient of several freebies.

And the freebies are what started my discussion on making your own moment during the podcast recording – specifically, getting my wedding dress for free (y’all HAVE visited The Wedding Dress Project, right? Go, go, go, go, GO!). Having Liz share her wedding dress with me has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Not only did it allow me to have a far more beautiful dress than I ever could have gotten on my teeny budget but it has also blessed me with an incredible new friend. I am truly thrilled to have Liz and Luke in my life.

060111 c

But! Sometimes even the most amazing things can have a downside. In this case, I missed out on the whole “shopping for my wedding dress” experience and that “finding THE ONE” moment. So not a biggie but a slight bummer none the less. I’m not a showy-offy kinda gal but after several months, I realized that I actually did want that moment. I really wanted to have that time when you walk out in The Dress and everyone stops and “oohs” and “aahs” and maybe even tears up. Silly, stupid, and a little selfish but true.

Then in early December, my mom called to tell me that my dad had taken a dramatic turn for the worse. In fact, he was completely comatose and probably would not live through the weekend. I immediately flew up to Alaska and hunkered down with my family to spend the remaining days of my daddy’s life with him. However, before I had left Texas – I packed my wedding gown. See, originally it had been planned that I’d bring it with me and my childhood best friend would make my wedding jewelry over the holidays. And, selfish me – I wanted that. I really, really, REALLY wanted that memory. So… I schlepped that fifteen pound dress up north with me.

011112 g

And that’s when something really cool happened. My family wanted to see it. In fact, they basically demanded that I put it right on and show them. So, we turned it into a moment. Everyone gathered around my dad’s bed and my niece helped me into my gown in my parent’s bathroom. I walked out and… everyone stopped and “oohed” and “aahed” and there were tears. And I held the train of the dress up to my dad’s wasted hand so that he could feel the fabric and beading. And I asked him if he liked my dress. He grunted.

I’m taking that as a yes.

011112 a

There are no pictures of my moment. I chose not to have them. But I will always have the memory of sharing my dress with my family and my sweet daddy. I made my moment and I’m not ashamed of it nor do I feel selfish for doing it. It was easily one of the best things that I have ever done and I will always, always have that special memory.

Sharing is caring!

  • Share
  • Email
  • Print

Posted In: Uncategorized · Tagged: bride, gown, our wedding, The Wedding Dress Project

You’ll Also Love

10 First Dance Songs for a Second Wedding
50 Ways to Save on Wedding Essentials Without Sacrificing Style
Blended Family Wedding Songs: Creating a New Family Together

Comments

  1. Rogue Bride says

    January 17, 2012 at 9:59 pm

    I think this is my favorite wedding story ever. It’s why we do what we do as bride bloggers. Nothing goes the way it should for a wedding, and this gets to the heart of a wedding is really about. Family, love, making your moments. Dammit, you have me tearing up again.

    Reply
  2. Janna (Sparkly Love) says

    January 18, 2012 at 9:30 am

    Aww Cris this is so sweet!!!! You are amazing for sharing your story with all of us. You’ve definitely had a non-traditional path down the aisle, but that’s what makes it your own!

    PS. You look amazzzingg!

    Reply
  3. Karina says

    January 18, 2012 at 11:09 am

    This is so sweet Cris.
    As always I am rooting for you, you are amazing!
    xo

    Reply
  4. Koru Kate {Koru Wedding} says

    January 18, 2012 at 11:57 am

    What a beautiful dress! & what a beautiful Bride you will be!! This story is so heartwarming that I’m tearing up. Nobody can define your wedding moments except you!

    Reply
  5. Wendy {Just Wenderful} says

    January 18, 2012 at 12:35 pm

    You are gorgeous! Your dad will be looking down on you and only wanting the best for you, promise! I lost my mom 2 months before my wedding and I think my passion for planning went straight DOWN. I look back and it’s sad but you have to pull through…for him!

    PS You look amazing! Your fitness progress is inspiring! And like Jacin, if I can do anything for you, holla…I owe you!

    Reply
  6. Allie H says

    January 18, 2012 at 5:12 pm

    An amazing post. I’m so, so glad you got to share your dress moment with your family. And really? it kicked ass way more than any store ever could.

    Reply
  7. Elizabeth F. says

    January 18, 2012 at 7:30 pm

    Cris, just wanted to thank you for sharing this truly beautiful, intimate moment with everyone. I feel honored to have a glimpse of something so special between you and your family.

    Reply
  8. Brynn_davello says

    January 18, 2012 at 8:15 pm

    Cris this is an amazing story and touched my heart deeply. Every bride deserves her moment.

    Reply
  9. chandra ~ oh lovely day says

    January 18, 2012 at 8:30 pm

    oh honey, I am sending you a big hug. I lost my dad when I was 20, and a couple months later I turned 21 and it was a really hard day. Something about your first birthday after losing a parent… I didn’t have to plan a wedding after, but I did 10 years later. It is so hard. And I’ve dealt with anxiety and depression the last year after I had a baby, so I feel ya there too. You aren’t alone. xx

    Reply
  10. Jenna @ Heartcarry Press says

    January 19, 2012 at 4:16 am

    You wrote this so beautifully- thank you for sharing your moment with us. I have the chills, do you know what are inspiration you are? Sending love your way and if you need anything, always here.

    Reply
  11. Christie O. {Hindsight Bride} says

    January 19, 2012 at 5:35 am

    Cris, I teared up when you shared your story on the podcast, and I’m tearing up again. What an amazing moment to have, or rather to make. I’m sure you wouldn’t trade it for the world at this point.

    Oh, and by-the-bye, you look GORGEOUS!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Next Post >

Wedding Wednesday: I Got My Wedding Jewelry!

I'm Cris. I live in Alaska with my husband, two kids, and two cats. I love sleeping, Disney, Marvel, and fries.

Kiss My Tulle is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Web Stories

Work With Me

  • Sponsorships
  • Contact Me
  • Find Out More
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy

Shop My Favorites

  • Travel Essentials
  • Capsule Wardrobes
  • Home Decor Finds
  • Pregnancy Must Haves
  • DIY Tools

hey, y'all!

I'm Cris. Kiss My Tulle is filled with humor, down-to-earth advice, true parenting stories that are equal parts funny and horrifying, and some swearing while tackling real life in a perfectionist world. Stick around!

Disney + Travel

  • Travel
  • Disney + Marvel
  • Marvel Bounding
  • Honeymoon

Being A Mom

  • DIY + Tutorials
  • Pregnancy + Parenting
  • Capsule Wardrobes
  • Food + Cooking
  • Home + Life
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Contact Me
  • Sponsorships
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 Kiss My Tulle · Theme by 17th Avenue