Miss Congeniality
Back in the early 50s, my grandparents got married in an intimate church ceremony. Grandma sported a classic bridal ensemble, full of Grace Kelly flair, high collared and all. Her bridesmaid troupe had somewhat replicas of her dress but in a cap-sleeved, mid-length version, and obviously in a different color.
But one of her bridesmaids pulled off a spontaneous red carpet look at the wedding instead. Instead of the regular dress, she arrived in an extravagant pageant-style gown, oozing glitz with shiny satin fabric and a low-cut neckline (really daring for the time). That was far from all. To top it all off, she also had a tiara and a huge bouquet.
Well, in her typical cool and collected way, my grandma didn’t let this throw her off. She chose not to confront or comment on her friend’s fashion at all. She didn’t want to give her the satisfaction of a reaction. In fact, the story was kind of a a family secret until recently.
My cousins and I stumbled upon some vintage wedding photos and spotted the standout bridesmaid, so we asked why the heck a Miss America look-a-like crashed grandma’s big day.