Here Comes the Bride

~ MaryG

These California wildfires (and the mass evacuations) have really got me thinking about what I would grab if I were forced to leave my home with very little notice. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s the photos and the mementos that you just can’t get back.

Now I don’t know about you, but I’ve got a giant basement closet (plus a bin in the attic) full of old photo albums. I’m talking 30+ photo albums plus shoe boxes of old photos. There’s no way I’d be able to grab all of them in an emergency situation.

So, I think what I’m going to do is start selectively scanning them. I’m using the PhotoScan by Google app on my phone.

As a result of my first scanning session, I’ve discovered the root of my fascination with brides.

I always loved brides, bride dolls, veils, bouquets, etc. I remember sitting in my driveway as a kid watching in awe as my former babysitter emerged from her home across the street in her wedding gown. To this day, I will drop everything if I see a bride in the wild to gawk and take a photo.

Apparently it all started with my mother’s brother’s wedding. My Uncle Pete married Aunt Betsy around 1968 and I was the adorable toddler in attendance. My baby sister was too young to go (haha). They clearly made a big deal out of me.

Helping Uncle Pete with his bow tie
My nana lifting me up to see beautiful Aunt Betsy in her spectacular veil
Planting a kiss on some little thumb-sucker at the wedding (I think a photographer set this up—I was not that assertive!)
Having some ice cream with my stylish Nana, who was probably about the same age that I am now

There are so many photos of me “playing bride” after that wedding. I could turn anything into a veil, including mosquito netting. And later, I had a bride doll with a tulle dress and veil that became a favorite toy.

It was an inauspicious start for a feminist-in-the making, but I chalk it up to the tulle. I loved spinning around in fluffy white tulle. And when it came time for my own wedding, you guessed it—tulle.

Lots of tulle
And I finally got my dream veil

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24 thoughts on “Here Comes the Bride”

    1. True! Younger generations won’t have to deal with this. I’m going to have to pick and choose. There’s no way to scan all of them. Then there’s my parents. They’ve got a whole house full of photo albums. It’s daunting.

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  7. Ahhhh these photos are incredible, Mary. Your Nana reminds me of my great grandmother, and I love that you went for drama with your veil. I recently sent the family videos to be digitized and am anxiously awaiting news about them. Maybe I should try the system you’re using for the photos because SO MANY ALBUMS!

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    1. Yeah, you can’t do them all! You have to be selective. I’ve discovered that some of the old photos are just as good (or better) when you take an iPhone pic of them. The Google PhotoScan app is good if they’re still clear—it takes out the glare of a glossy print.

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