This past week was a pretty big one in the Dressed household – Mr. D and I celebrated our 10-year wedding anniversary. This level of togetherness usually involves a fair degree of extra (especially because the Mister and I are no strangers to going ALL out). However, circumstances being what they are, we had to scale the celebrations down several (thousand) notches. But, perhaps that’s the measure of true love – when you’re just as happy with a quiet night in as you are with fireworks and fanfare.
Shortly after our wedding, the Love of My Life and I hatched a plan – for our one-year anniversary, we were going to celebrate in style with a trip to Italy: a place I have always dreamed of visiting, but never quite made it. As life is wont to do, our plans were derailed. Instead of galavanting to Italy, we moved to Perth instead (whatcha gonna do, right?). But, never one to be thwarted, we decided Italy would be saved for something truly special: we would have our European adventure to celebrate 10 circles around the sun of unbridled, married awesome.
So, you know the saying…Woman plans, COVID laughs?
Sigh.
Ten years ago on Friday, I married my best friend in the world. Sometimes it’s hard to believe how fast time has gone. But, I will say that we have managed to cram a lifetime into the span of a decade. We moved around the world (twice), bought our first home together, started two new jobs (me), started a new company (him), and somehow have managed to still like each other by the end of it.
Our Italy plans were in full swing at the start of January; but, as coronavirus became a very stark 2020 reality, we knew it just wasn’t meant to be. Despite being royally bummed not to be eating fresh pasta and Italian wine, we still celebrated social-distancing style. My beloved went out of his way to make the day special – he took me to a drive in movie, complete with picnic hamper full of meats and cheese and those ridiculously cute mini bottles of champagne. He remembered the personalized M&M’s we had on our wedding day, printed with our anniversary and photos of the two of us, ready as movie snacks. He even got us to the drive-in early in true subterfuge, telling me it was to get the best parking spot; but really because he had cued up our wedding video on the iPad, to watch before the credits started to roll. And when we got home he surprised me with the sparkliest necklace I’ve ever clapped eyes on. Seriously – you shouldn’t look directly at it or else it might burn your retinas.
It may not have been Italy. But, it is a night I will never forget – because when we are together, I forget the rest….
I fell in love
the way you fall asleep:
slowly,
and yet all at once.
John Green, The Fault in Our Stars
There are a lot of decisions in life that we can question. Wondering about a different path, a different you. But there are a few things in my life that I am absolutely certain of: That science is the mark I will leave on the world. That 1950’s vintage calls out to my soul. And that I knew within one week of meeting my Mister, that he was the right one for me. And even though I thought at the time I was crazy, that I could never know someone was The One so early, I spent the next 10 years proving myself right.
To commemorate such an auspicious day, I’ve been saving the most special dress I have ever clapped eyes on. This beauty was handmade for me by the insanely talented Antonio Lucero – someone who I feel I can call both an artist and a friend. My love of 3D appliqué knows no end, and when I saw another of his creations, with a bustier festooned with blooms and butterflies, I knew it was meant for me.
I tracked down the perfect border print from Spoonflower and Antonio set out to create his magic, with a basket waistband that molded to my shape and a flutter of butterflies taking flight from my heart. And the minute it arrived and I zipped it up, I knew. I knew the way you just know when you found your soulmate. You don’t need exotic adventures or fanfare or plane tickets or the Colosseum. You don’t need to shout it from the rooftops or have your names in lights. You just need to dance in the perfect dress with the perfect person. To munch on M&m’s while watching a cheesy movie, only to drive back home with his hand in yours. To sip the perfect latte in the morning with your feet tucked under his thigh for warmth, and a kiss upon your forehead before you start another quarantine day in your dining room. A glance backwards at how many miles you have traveled together, and a hope for all of the adventures you have to come….
Turns out, true love needs little more than Us.
xoxo
Outfit Details:
Dress: handmade by Stinky Vintage, fabric from Spoonflower
Butterfly clips: gift (similar)
Bracelet: gift, Swarovski (similar)
Watch: gift, Betsey Johnson
Handbag: gift, Trashy Diva, sold out (similar)
Shoes: Lulu’s, sold out (similar)
Lip Color: Schiap
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Any items marked with a “c/o” (courtesy of) a retailer mean I was provided with an item for free in exchange for a review and/or feature on my blog. I always provide my honest opinion of any item I’m reviewing, regardless of whether it was sent to me as a courtesy item or if I purchased it myself. In addition, this post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you click and/or make a purchase through certain links or ads on this site, I may make a commission from that click and/or purchase at no cost to you, which helps with the day-to-day running costs of my blog.