Wedding Dress Shots, Take Two

How often does an opportunity like this come along? B's taking a wedding photography class at present, and he volunteered the two of us as models for the informal photoshoot session on SAIT campus. With the provision that my dress still fit. So, two weekends ago, we pulled it out. Fitting into it was no problem. However, there were several other rather large hitches. Major hitch #1 1) The corset-back ties may or may not have been run over as we left the wedding, and may or may not have ripped. Ok, they did rip. In two pieces. And had tire-rubber marks and dirt all over them. Oh yes, and for a few frantic minutes, we thought we'd lost them all together. 2) The dress had been tied up in a plastic bag for four years and was very wrinkled. Especially the lengthier train in the back. 3) I had never had the dress cleaned after the wedding and, seeing as it was an outdoor wedding, it was quite dirty. But at least I hadn't spilled anything on it! Oh well, we thought, these are all overcomeable with a little ironing, sewing and dusting. However, we left all of this until an hour before we were supposed to leave for the shoot along with getting all of Brent's stuff ironed, polished and tied (whoops!). But, thanks to my trusty sewing machine and a little creative cleaning and ironing, we managed to get the dress in working order. So the dress, we figured, was a go. What we forgot to account for, until the day before the shoot, was that I am completely incompetent when it comes to fancy hair doing. Ever wondered why I keep my hair long and at one length? Because it's easy to tie up in a braid or bun. And a bun or ponytail or braid just wouldn't cut it for this situation. So, major hitch #2: I am hair-doing handicapped. However, a good friend of mine stepped in for the rescue. We headed over to her house Saturday morning and while B and her husband visited, she handled the hair situation. It looked GOOD. Definitely as good as the original wedding hair-style, though a way more sophisticated look. (Thanks D!) So, with the addition of my far-east imported pearls (finally a chance to wear them, Rach!), some make-up courtesy of the Body Shop, my warmest leggings and fancy scarf, I was ready for take 2. The dress is now in DIRE need of being cleaned, however. I think I'm going to get dry-cleaned and packed up professionally. I don't think I'll be needing it any time after this. Wearing it once more and getting it extra dirty has been good incentive to get this looked after finally. Playing dress-up was one of my favourite activities as a child. Right up there with reading. Apparently I haven't grown out of either. :D Our real wedding pictures were a bit of a letdown. So hopefully some of the students' images turned out well and they'll pass them along to us. Obviously they won't replace the ones from the real day, but they're a fun alternative. In closing, I have to say I'm a little self-conscious of all the shots of just me, but, obviously, Brent couldn't be in the shots that he took himself. Hopefully we'll have pictures of him too later.