One Year Married. A Lifetime to Go (And a Boutique Full of Wedding Dresses)

As my first wedding anniversary creeps up (wait, how did that happen already?!), I've been doing some reflecting. And by "reflecting," I mean thinking deeply in my head and not actually writing blogs about it—because, shocker, I am terrible at consistently blogging. But hey, I made it through a whole year of marriage, so let’s call that a win!

This year has been a wild ride—equal parts beautiful chaos, major milestones, lessons in patience (for both of us), and some serious growth in both my personal and professional life. People aren’t kidding when they say the first year of marriage is the hardest. (I’ll save that for another post, but just know: my amazing husband is still very much alive, still married to me, and has yet to flee back to his bachelor pad, despite living among my crafty decoupage chaos, wedding gowns draped on every curtain rod, and my spontaneous “brilliant” ideas that inevitably cost money and somehow require him to build something. Again.)

The Vintage Dress That Brought It All Back

Recently, a wonderful woman reached out to ask if she could donate her wedding dress—one that was custom-made for her 57 years ago. My answer? A very enthusiastic YES, because I LOVE vintage wedding dresses and hearing other people’s wedding stories!

She brought it to my new bridal boutique, and we chatted. Her husband had passed away a few years ago, and she was doing some renovations, letting go of things, clearing space. She pulled out her stunning gown and entrusted it to me. My plan is to lovingly restore it and either put it on display or find a bride who cherishes vintage style as much as I do.

Talking with her brought me right back to the why behind all of this.

It's Not About the Money (But If You Know a Millionaire Bride, Send Her My Way)

Running a bridal boutique is not a fast track to riches. It’s a labor of love. I’ve had plenty of late-night convos with my husband that go something like, “Should I keep doing this or sell the whole collection and we go on a 3-week trip to Greece?”

But I keep going because of moments like this. Because I believe in the sanctity of marriage, and I believe that every bride—no matter her size, her budget, or whether she wants to get married on a beach, in a barn, or in a backyard—deserves to feel radiant when she finds her dress.

People sometimes tell me that wearing a pre-owned dress is “bad luck.” That you need “something new.” But when I look at a pre-loved wedding gown, I see something else entirely.

I see the moment a bride stood in front of a mirror, saw herself in that dress, and said, “This is it. This is the one I’m going to wear to start my forever.”

Out of all the dresses in the world, this was the one she picked to begin her new life with her partner. It’s not just a dress. It’s a symbol of courage, love, hope, and the belief in a future together. That’s not bad luck.

More Than a Dress

To me, wedding dresses are more than pretty lace and flattering silhouettes. They carry meaning. Emotion. They represent a huge decision, a sacred moment, and the dreams of a life shared with someone you love- even when they continually leave their shoes behind the bathroom door, and you hit your head INTO the door EVERY time you open it, or when the kitchen table has become the craft table and nothing can be found when needed (that one may be me…)

Marriage is not the honeymoon glow or the highlight reel on social media. It’s about the partnership you build with your best friend. Whether you’re planning for human kids (I call them “skin kids”), fur kids, or both (though I’ve heard skin kids are less likely to chew on the couch), marriage is about building a life together—one moment, one memory, one mess at a time. —with someone who loves you through it all.

So, the next time you see a wedding dress at a thrift store or consignment shop, or you’re on the fence about wearing one that has already been the choice of the bride before you—pause and really think about what it means.

It’s not just a dress.

It’s THE dress someone chose to start the rest of their life in. And that’s not something to toss aside. That’s something to treasure, to honor, and—if it’s the right one—to step into yourself as you begin your own forever. It’s not about superstition. It’s about love. It’s about the beginning of something wonderful. And honestly? That love is only made greater by the stories that came before yours.