Traditional Spanish Wedding Gowns
Summary: A very classic bride look is accomplished by wearing a traditional Spanish wedding gown.  I was able to participate in my friend Susan’s wedding.  She was of French descent but wanted to appease his family by incorporating his Spanish culture throughout their ceremony.

Susan’s mother –in-law to be was flying in from Spain.  This would be the first time Susan met her and she wanted to make a good impression.  Susan’s mother was brining a mantilla for Susan to wear.  When Susan first heard her new mother was going to do that Susan said great and after the conversation, quickly turned on the computer, went online and searched the definition.

A mantilla is a Spanish tradition, and is similar to a veil. It fits over the head without obstructing the face and often has lace around the edges.  My friend saw pictures with this on the internet and realized her dream of an ultra modern wedding dress was going to change.

She spent the entire next month searching for the perfect traditional Spanish bridal dress.  There were many choices of dress; most of them had the same type of characteristics of ruffles, lace, and fans for accessories.  She flirted with the idea of getting a Mexican wedding dress which borrows elements from the Spanish style but figured her fiancées mother would recognize it instantly.

Her final gown was a vision of ivory Spanish splendour.  She was very tall, but luckily she found shop with dresses in her size. The gown bodice was simple; it was fitted with a sweetheart neckline.  The top was also strapless. The skirt itself was layer after layer of ruffles, each layer puffing out larger than the first.  It was a very beautiful and dramatic effect.  Susan never told me the price, but I believe it would have shocked me.

Susan’s mother-in-law showed up a few days before the wedding and made her do a short modeling session in the new dress.  Try as she might she could not find a flaw in the workmanship or style.  Susan even thinks she might have seen tears in her eyes.

The mantilla she received fit perfectly with the dress.  She had not known that the color of the lace on the edge would not be ivory or white but instead it was a gold tone.

The reception at Susan’s wedding was a true fiesta.  There was drinking and dancing to the wee hours of the night.  A few of her new relatives even put on a Flamenco performance.  It was quite amusing to see Susan in her beautiful dress trying to follow along.  I am sure she will have plenty of laughter every time she watches that part of her wedding video.

Although Susan was pretty much forced into a traditional Spanish wedding dress, she did look absolutely stunning, and I am not convinced she would have chosen a much different style if she was left to her own devices.