My Masterpiece Wedding Gown

I simply *had* to dedicate a post to my wedding gown.

Way back when MBF was a budding blog, I stumbled across a Tumblr belonging to a seamstress named Karen.

Karen made sacramentals:
chasubles, stoles, altar linens, baptismal gowns, mantillas, and yes, wedding gowns.

I followed her Tumblr for ages, breathing in each new post as if it gave me life.  Her embroidery is stunning, and can you believe she did most of her work without patterns?!  I'm still baffled by that.

Anyway, we followed one another online and ran in the same virtual circles.  We kept in touch after she retired through e-mails and the occasional text message.  She was one of the first people to find out I was engaged!

Imagine my surprise when she offered to make my wedding gown.

At first, I thought she was joking.  She had retired back in 2014.  The amount of work that goes into her pieces is mind-blowing.  In her mind, being a seamstress wasn't a job or even a career; it was a vocational calling to utilize her God-given talents to create beauty that would honor the Divine.  ​

She poured her heart and soul into EVERYTHING, and while stitching everything together, she would pray for whoever would end up using whatever she was making:

•  new priest receiving his first set of chasubles
• a baby receiving Baptism
• a woman beginning to veil at a TLM
• whole congregations that would utilize her altar linens
• a husband and wife as they prepared for marriage

When I finally realized she was serious, I cried.  I felt so overwhelmed with gratitude, unworthiness, and awe that I couldn't respond to her e-mail for more than a week.  Every time I would try, words would fail me and I'd just begin crying again.  To think that she would not only WANT to do this, but consider it a personal honor... guys... I'm tearing up again just thinking of how wonderful she is.  

Karen lives out in Ohio, so she asked that I send her my measurements.  She asked if I had anything in mind, and I didn't.  My only request was that she use lightweight lace because I'd be married in May.  She sent me a photo of a style she thought would be perfect for me and I immediately approved.  Of course she'd pick out something perfect.  SHE is perfect.

I didn't hear much from her in the months that followed.  To be fair, I was inundated with changing plans around due to the impending pandemic, moving Chris home, and trying to sort out virtual learning for the boys.  She was very clearly busy, too, because the day we finally got Chris home, a package was waiting for us when we arrived.  It was the dress!

Upon opening it, I could hardly contain myself.  It was more stunning than I had anticipated.  The lace was SUPREMELY soft and for as large as the dress was, it was super lightweight.  I'm not entirely sure how she managed that.  

She included a cathedral length veil that was trimmed in the same lace she used to make the dress.  I didn't end up using it due to COVID, but I still have it tucked away with the dress.  She sent me the sweetest letter ever with the dress, assuring me that every stitch was offered as a prayer for our marriage.  And now I own an original piece of artwork from one of my most beloved artistic friends.  I cannot overstate how much I appreciate this grace.

So to Karen, I love you ridiculous amounts.  I cannot ever thank you enough for giving so freely of yourself to ensure that I had something so beautiful to wear.  I cherish it, just as I cherish our friendship.  You are a saint, my friend, and I hope to be much, MUCH more like you when I "grow up."

And yes, Chris absolutely wiped a tear from his eye when he saw me in it.  Even he was blown away by your ability to clean me up.  *Grin*

​Love you, friend.  Thank you.