TIMELESSLY ROMANTIC

When Britain’s Princess Beatrice married Edoardo Mozzi two summers ago, she didn’t wear a custom gown by one of the world’s top designers. Instead, she paid tribute to her royal heritage by borrowing a stunning taffeta dress her grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, had worn on special occasions.

Moved by sentimentality, style preference and budget, modern brides are following Princess Beatrice’s lead and opting for throwback attires that capture the romance and glamour of decades past. They’re unwrapping delicately preserved heirlooms; ordering retro-inspired creations of satin, organza and lace; and adding timeless embellishments like beadings, sequins and fringes to their dream dress.

Today’s brides are wearing history—or a nod to it—for their memorable walk down the aisle.

SOMETHING OLD

For her January 1, 2022 nuptials at Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral in Raleigh, Catherine Piaskowski proudly donned the gown her grandmother and mother wore for their weddings in 1957 and 1989, respectively. “I had always thought the dress was so pretty when I looked at their wedding photos,” Piaskowski says. “I tried it on, but it didn’t button up all the way so I took it to a vintage restoration tailor. They were able to open up a couple of the seams to let out some fabric. … The sleeves were also a little tight. I couldn’t bend my arms at a 90-degree angle,” she laughs. “I love weight lifting but told myself for the next five months, there will be no arm workouts!”

Catherine’s grandmother, Patty Revord, remembers buying the dress with its chapellength train at Marshall Field’s in Chicago. “It was just very pretty, lacy with a train, and I liked the cream-ivory color,” she says. Revord preserved the gown so it could be adorned by a future bride. Little did she know that would happen with two consecutive generations.

“It was classy and elegant. I liked the beading and the overall gestalt of it,” says Mary Schricker, Piaskowski’s mother, who wore the dress three decades later. “I never tried any other dress on. It fit like a glove and I felt like a queen.”

This past January, there were plenty of misty eyes when Piaskowski took her vows in the 65-year-old gown. “It was an amazing feeling, seeing her wear it so beautifully and so in love,” Schricker says.

Piaskowski and her husband Dan will travel to Rome in March for the “Sposi Novelli” (newlyweds’ ceremony), in which Pope Francis greets and blesses couples—in their wedding attire—who were recently married. She’s opting to wear a J.Crew dress for the occasion, to safeguard her family’s precious heirloom. “I’m so thankful for the very fruitful and loving marriages that came from it,” she says.

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Catherine Piaskowski, in her grandmother’s dress, reads her vows before the ceremony.

Photo courtesy of Cole Pickard of griffindavisphoto.com

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Catherine Piaskowski wore the same wedding dress worn by her grandmother, Patty Revord, and mother, Mary Schricker, who are both holding their bridal portaits.

SOMETHING NEW

Kelly Zelna’s vintage-inspired wedding dress perfectly befitted her October 15, 2021 ceremony at Raleigh’s historic Haywood Hall House & Gardens. “I didn’t want a traditional white dress. I wanted something warm, timeless and one-of-a-kind-looking,” she explains. “I love the vintage feel of the embroidery and the warm champagne coloring of the skirt. My veil had handmade, beaded trim with dainty flower-shaped designs that tied perfectly with the floral embroidery on my dress. I also wore a beautiful gold headpiece to complete the vintage look I was going for.”

Zelna’s love affair with her gown began after watching a bridal try-on session with influencer Hannah Godown. “After ordering it, I discovered it was not true-to-size and not returnable, but I was determined to make my dream dress work.” She consulted seamstresses Bea and Laura of Becoming Bridal Alterations in Angier. “Bea took apart the entire bodice and sleeves, and put it back together to make it the absolute perfect fit,” Zelna says.

Then, due to the pandemic, they had to postpone their wedding. “My husband JP had to wait so long to see this dress [because of the pandemic],” she says. “During our first look, he said it was well worth the wait. The photo of his face when I came around the corner in my dress is one of my favorites!”

She shares reassuring advice: “Don’t be scared of having alterations done to make your vintage bridal dreams come true. There’s someone out there who has the vision to make it work for you.”

SOMETHINGBORROWED

Olivia Oates of Apex says weddings were a frequent topic of conversation with her mom and grandmother when she was growing up. “We’d talk about my future wedding, what style of dress I would wear,” she reminisces. “I’m getting married November 12 at Evermore Farms in Apex. When my grandma offered her veil, I knew I wanted to try to use it,” she says.

Sharon [Trimmel] Longstaff was married in Ohio in 1973 and kept her veil in a box, securely nestled in tissue paper. “I have a long train and wanted a cathedral-length veil. Her veil was the perfect length,” Oates says. “The appliques that are already on it are very close to what I have on my dress. My dress is a blush-nude color, so the fact that the veil is not bright white will match it perfectly. I’ll be adding some appliques to my dress that I will also add to the veil to give it an extra touch.”

Oates is touched by her grandmother’s gesture. “It means a lot that she thought of me and offered her very own veil,” she says. “I know that she is so excited and happy that I will be wearing it down the aisle.”

Retro has reawakened and dress designers are returning to the styles of yesteryear, according to local bridal shop consultants. “They’re bringing back the puff sleeve, but with a modern twist—along the arm instead of right at the shoulder—and returning to fabrics like lace, tulle and mikado satin. High necklines and long sleeves are also popular again,” says Chasity Graham of Coastal Knot Bridal.

Pamela Fey of Gilded Bridal notes, “We’re seeing trends coming back around like the fuller sleeve and dresses made of silk and other lightweight materials.” More brides are also choosing to pair vintage accessories with a new gown. Christina Chiosa of CC Bridal Atelier, who has created and altered bridalwear for more than 12 years, says as long as the size isn’t too far off, today’s brides have the option to wear an heirloom dress that doesn’t fit properly or has suffered the effects of time. If the dress is one or two sizes too small, she says, “I can let the dress out completely to make it fit, if there’s enough fabric. I can also add material.” For brides who are several sizes larger, “the only option is to incorporate some of the original dress into a new one.”

Chiosa recommends professional gown cleaning and preservation as soon as possible after the wedding. For dresses that have permanent stains or degradation, “I can cover those areas with lace or another fabric, and make everything look symmetrical,” she says. “We have our tricks to make dresses look their best.” OPPOSITE PAGE

Kelly Zelna chose a vintage-inspired wedding dress that Becoming Bridal Alterations in Angier carefully altered for her wedding day.

Photos courtesy of Justine Montigny

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Olivia Oates will wear her grandmother’s veil when she marries Drew Juliano November 12.

Photo courtesy of Arika Jordan Photography

Sharon Longstaff wore this veil in 1973. Her granddaughter will wear it in 2022.

Photo by Josh Manning; bouquet by Fallon’s Flowers