22 Mar
Europe 2010: Pt VI
Finally.
Finally!
We made it to the point in my recaps where I get to talk about my SIL’s wedding day. I’m going to call her Z, and her husband K. Z and K were married in a town about 2 hours from the house where TH grew up, and we left T1 behind with a sitter for the weekend.
The two of them got ready (together!) in a room at the lodge where their reception was held. Z had a handful of friend buzzing around her doing her hair and makeup, and then all of the sudden it was just the two of them getting dressed (and me taking pictures of course). I told them that in America this almost never happens, and that the bride turns getting ready and the revelation of her wedding day beauty into a very big moment, but Z just laughed and said that wasn’t the way they do things.
Disclaimer: Sometimes I think things get lost in translation when I ask questions so take all of my interpretations of Polish traditions with a grain of salt!
I’ve never seen these before! This would make it a whole lot easier for the grooms at my weddings who are always asking me to figure out how to fold and stuff their pocket squares.
Z had her dress, sash, and jacket custom made for a few hundred dollars. She went online and found a dress she loved and had the seamstress make it from scratch for her. A similar purchase in America would cost 5X that much at least!
Although I love the drama of the American style wedding day first look, it was really sweet watching them help each other get dressed.
After they finished dressing we had a few minutes before it was time to go, so I asked her to let me take some portraits out on the deck.
A few minutes before we left for the church, both sets of parents came in and gave blessings to the soon-to-be-married couple. I wish I knew what they were saying, but it was very sincere and beautiful. I wish I had done something like that with my parents on my wedding day.
Off we went to a picturesque little Catholic chapel for the wedding!
Also:
I'm a farm-raised almost-crunchy stroller-pushing picture-taking lifestyle-blog-writing gastronomy-obsessed divine-seeking thrift-store-combing cheese-inhaling pavement-pounding laughter-sprinkling lover of individuality and taking chances.
What a lovely bride! And her hair - LOVE the gathered loose curls. It’s fun that you got to see a wedding in a different country - while I’m sure it’s largely the same, I’m sure there were also differences (like the couples helping each other get ready) that were fun to see too.
1Do you know if short dresses are more common in Poland, or if she was just a more casual bride?
2That bouquet is just stunning!
3I absolutely adore her blue sash!
4I think it is so awesome that you married into a family that has a culture so different from how you were raised. What a fantastic opportunity for T1 (and you too!)
5Loved her hair and the blue sash! Beautiful!
6Jenna, I think I’m confused on who speaks English and who doesn’t in TH’s family. You mentioned things being lost in translation..
If there are members of TH’s immediate family who only speak Polish- such as his mom, or sister- do you think it motivates you to learn Polish, or puts pressure on you because of working through translators? I know T1 isn’t talking yet, but do you guys plan on raising him bilingual, and will that include your studying Polish?
I feel like I may have asked before but I can’t remember if I did, or the answer, haha. My brain is a bit fried at the moment it seems
The pictures are absolutely gorgeous, as usual. I *love* her blue sash, it’s the perfect shade.
Jenna Reply:
March 22nd, 2011 at 8:03 pm
His dad speaks the best English, but his sister’s English is very good as well (her husband does). Most people our age in Poland speak English becaue they took it in school. Sometimes though, the questions I ask use colloquialisms or phrases unfamiliar to ESL students.
We hope T1 will be bilingual, but I feel that is largely TH’s responsibility and he has not taken ownership of that like he needs to. I guess we’ll see!
She is so beautiful! And that blue! Bah! Love it.
8her dress is beautiful. I love how it’s short and has the blue sash. it’s unique.
9