I can blame it on Barbie. Like all young girls in the 1960's, I had a Bridal Barbie. She and Ken (in his dapper tux) often locked lips (or at least banged their plastic faces together). Sometimes Barbie hung out with my brother's GI Joe. It was complicated, as they say in Facebook.
As I progressed into my teen years, I became something of a hippy and a "women's libber", and was more comfortable in ripped jeans and a tee shirt than a puffy dress. I think the only item of white clothing I owned was a tank top. But suddenly, I found myself in Kleinfeld in 1982, with hundreds of other "brides-to-be," trying on over-priced, itchy dresses with faux pearls, lace, and bustles. What was that all about?
As many recent chick-flicks depict, women of a certain age tend to go a bit insane when faced with the planning of nuptials. I didn't really start out thinking that I was going to have an elaborate shindig, fingerless gloves, and a giant chocolate mousse cake, it just sort of turned out that way. I did, however, walk myself down the aisle, as the thought of someone "giving me away" (even my beloved Dad) seemed odd.
If I were to get married today, I think it would be a simpler affair. I'd forego some of the fluff and the fingerless gloves. (In fact, I'd ditch the pointy shoes too.) I would have the Internet to help me plan, saving hundreds of dollars on bridal magazines. Kleinfeld moved to Manhattan from Brooklyn (probably because they were able to afford higher rents as a result of women like me). But Bridal Barbie is timeless. In fact, more than ten variations of her appear on the Barbie website.
Bizarre but true fact -- Japanese women can buy a life-size Barbie bridal gown.
The Knot: The ultimate wedding planning media company...wish I had it in 1983!
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