Supply and Demand- The Strapless Wedding Dress



Jenny Packham Wedding Dress



Well it is time for New York again! Each time I go to New York to see the latest collection of wedding dresses, on my list of store "wants" seems to be the same over the last 9 years.  Fashionable wedding dresses with  long sleeves, gowns with any sleeve,  gowns with straps, wedding gowns with unique modest necklines, in general gowns that are different from what designers are showing, year after year.  But yet they all show strapless, and the necklines are getting lower.  Ironically, every bride who I deal with says she wants something different, but they don’t really mean it, because guess what, she wants strapless!  Wouldn’t it be nice if a bride really wanted something different, and different was something a little more covered, something with a sleeve or non-plunging neckline?  Parents and priests can help me out, help create the demand after all marriage is a Sacrament and only you control the $ and the requirements for the church. I would love to have  a supply of truly different wedding dresses for brides to select from, I get tired of throwing money down the drain by having to remove sleeves and straps from gorgeous gowns to accommodate the never ending demand for strapless! Believe it or not there are some great designer wedding dresses with unique necklines, but are the brides wearing them? I have to give designers credit for trying.



Oops! Where is Jesus?

Yes, I know He is everywhere, however, I have noticed a trend lately in the newer round Catholic Churches: that Jesus in the Tabernacle is not raised, front and center in the Church. After attending Mass at several Catholic Churches while outside my Parish it became quite apparent that this new trend of putting the Tabernacle off to the side, hard to see by the congregation is becoming acceptable practice by Roman Catholics and it’s leaders. Is anyone from the Church approving these plans before construction begins? Is this just an Oops? Hard to believe it was intentional! Isn’t it Jesus’ presence in the Tabernacle the reason we genuflect, bow, cross ourselves, don’t talk while in the Church, aren’t we giving reverence to His presence? I noticed how confused the Catholics at these Masses were, didn’t know where to bow, pray, everyone just walked passed the Tabernacle without any regard or respect, very casual and laid back though! What a shame!

It doesn’t seem appropriate to sit in Church and have to search for the Tabernacle; this isn’t ‘Where’s Waldo?’ Why don’t we hire architects who will physically put Jesus back at the center of the Catholic Church, instead of spending time on how to design a cool, laid back, fun modern structure. Perhaps a great architect will be moved by God to design a plan to help these Churches redesign and rebuild what appears to be a serious flaw in the trend to putting Jesus aside. For God’s sake  let’s not build any more; we need to fix the Oops, quickly!

Let’s put Jesus back in our lives up high, front and center! 

Modern Catholic Church Architecture can still put Jesus up high, front and center!

St. Joseph's Catholic Church

Shawnee, Kansas

Gloves and Glamour for the Bride

If your priest allows strapless wedding gowns without a jacket at your church, you may want to consider adding long gloves covering the elbow for extra coverage. The gloves will also give a more formal look and feel. Gloves show more respect and reverence than bare arms. Also, since the shoulders are uncovered you will need to wear a veil that covers the shoulders. Blushers are definitely making a comeback as well.
Photo by VanDeusen

Blushers for the Blushing Bride

If you decide to wear a blusher with your veil to wear over your face when you walk down the aisle, many brides ask who unveils them, father or husband? The correct answer is either, most brides have their father’s unveil them when he gives the bride away with the kiss. That way you can see clearly throughout the ceremony and it won’t bother you, since the average Catholic wedding takes at least an hour. In the event that you want your new husband to unveil you, he would unveil you when the priest says ‘you may now kiss the bride.’ Be sure to ask your priest if he has any requirements regarding this issue.

"Sunday Best"

I often wonder "How did we get to the point in our history where brides don't know what is appropriate attire to wear in Church? Then I sit in Mass on Sundays and see all of the T-Shirts with inappropriate words and insignias, jeans, tennis shoes, and it doesn't take much to figure it out. (I have to remind myself that I live in one of the wealthiest counties in the USA.) I remember the term "Reverence" when attending the Mass, and remember hearing "Wear your Sunday best". I realize people just don't know what that is anymore, after all look at what people wear to work on casual Fridays, isn't it really grunge Friday? And then today, Easter Sunday, I walk into Mass and I have never seen so many little girls in cute dresses with ribbons in their hair, teenage boys with button down shirts and hair cuts, women in dresses and men in coat and ties. Wow! We do know what 'Sunday best' is! So why not every Sunday?