I REALLY WANTED TO BE THERE, to photograph my daughter, the bride-to-be, as she was getting her hair done on the morning of her Sunday, September 22, wedding.
But I couldn’t be in two places at one time. Setting up the rest of the reception venue, the part that couldn’t be done until the last minute, took top priority.
Thankfully, though, Amber’s bridal veil had not been put in place before I returned home to prepare lunch for the bridesmaids and personal attendants and the groom’s sister-in-law and my own family. I’d made barbecued pulled pork days earlier, had fruit cut up the evening before, cookies baked and only needed to throw together a lettuce salad at the last minute. My wonderful husband, Randy, assisted, easing the stress.
The first fitting of the veil.
In between, I stole away a few minutes to photograph Amber being fitted with her bird-cage veil. I think that’s the proper term for the veil she purchased second-hand, the perfect fashion fit for her second-hand vintage replica dress. (Click here to read about shopping for a bridal gown at Andrea’s Vintage Bridal in Minneapolis.)
My daughter is used to me moving in close with my camera.
As Alli, the professional hair stylist and a former classmate of Amber’s, angled the veil into position and then secured it, I literally got in my daughter’s face to photograph these moments in the upstairs bedroom she once shared with her sister and maid-of-honor, Miranda.
The bride, Amber, checks out the veil placement as her sister Miranda, left to right, future sister-in-law Stephani and mother-of-the-groom, Lynn, watch.
It was an emotional moment for me, for all of us in the room—Miranda and Amber and the groom’s mother, Lynn, and the groom’s sister-in-law, Stephani. And Alli, too.
Alli works the veil in to place.
Alli works her magic on Amber. Probably my favorite photo for the light and the serene look on the bride’s face.
We could feel it. We could see it. We could hear it. Pure happiness in the bride’s face, in her eyes, in her grateful words.
The lovely back of the bride’s hair do.
And later, after the others were done with their hair and lunch and most of them gone, and Alli was about to leave, I asked if she could do my hair. Last minute. So she pulled her tools from a cloth bag, plugged in the curling iron and I sat on the bathroom stool as she curled my hair.
Then, an hour before leaving for the wedding, I finally had time to sit down and polish my fingernails. Last minute, before slipping into my dress and heels for my eldest daughter’s wedding.
BONUS PHOTOS:
The maid-of-honor, my daughter Miranda, carries her sister’s wedding gown to her car.
Miranda carefully lifts the beaded replica vintage bridal gown for placement inside her car. Look at the incredible “do” Alli created with Miranda’s curly hair. Alli said it’s her favorite style of any she’s ever done.
The sisters, my daughters, load wedding item necessities and Amber’s belongings into the car. They joked about their plaid shirts.
The sisters buckle up and pose for one last photo before driving to church. I would see them two hours later, per the bride and groom’s request that the parents stay clear of the church until family photo time.
CLICK HERE TO READ my first wedding post. Please check back for more wedding photos.
© Copyright 2013 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Aw—she is beautiful. It made me teary eyed!!! I love the lovely pictures you captured. She looks so peaceful and serene and happy about her upcoming nuptials! What a perfect post, Audrey. I absolutely love it.
This mother-of-the-bride thanks you.
Serene is such a good word to describe the look on Amber’s face as she was getting her veil in place.
Sigh…….such lovely photos…..through “Mother’s eyes”…wonderfully happy moments!
Yes, I’m so glad I was able to capture this snippet of the wedding day.
Really am enjoying the photos of the wedding plans taking shape. Keep them coming. I love being able to see all of this. Really do wish we could have been there.
Love you, Aunt Dorothy
Oh, yes, more wedding photos will be published. We wish you could have been there, too, but understand. At least you are getting a glimpse of the wedding here.
Beautiful, beautiful words (and photo’s) from the mother of the bride. I can almost feel the emotions that must have been going on that morning 🙂
Thanks, Jackie. If my images show the emotions, then mission accomplished.
Beautiful Bride – love her vintage selection of her veil:) Now I want to see the DRESS more than ever – see the complete look – ha! Have a Great Day:)
Soon I will show you the dress…
CANNOT WAIT – that is the BEST part!!!
The suspense builds…
Looks like it was a lovely time together!
Yes, it was nice for the “girls” to have their hair done at home, in a relaxed and familiar (at least to my girls) setting.
So sad I couldn’t be there! It was a beautiful day and I can’t wait to see more pictures from you and their photographer!
p.s. Happy Birthday!
Yes, Amy, we missed you and Jon. Amber was stunningly beautiful. She and Marc are so in love and beyond happy.
Thank you for the birthday wishes.
So exciting and what an emotional time for you all. Thanks for sharing – I’ve been really looking forward to seeing your daughter’s big day xx
And I have lots more photos to share with you, so check back.