Fourteenth: My Bride of a Lifetime
As I journey through life, I look back on many things that have influenced my life. My friend, Maureen, I count as one of my closest friends. We both discovered love at a young age, and to this day, we hold each other dear.
We were young in this photo. The year was 1981 and the beginning of our friendship. I was engaged to Jeff, and Maureen was dating Jay. Jeff and Jay were best friends and roomed together in college while playing basketball for Fairleigh Dickinson University. A few months later, Jay proposed to Maureen.
“It was only natural for Jay to be a groomsman in our wedding, along with my brothers. He has always been like a brother to me.”
Jay and Jeff’s brother, Halsey, escorted my mom down the aisle.
On June 19th, 1982, Jeff Hunt, Roy Hunt, and Jay Jorgensen caught a glimpse of the bride at the end of the aisle.
My Dad took me on a once in a lifetime walk.
“With our friendship so new, Maureen and I were not bridesmaids in our weddings, though we were definitely there for each other. ”
At her bridal shower, I gifted Maureen with my final garment design while specializing in lingerie at the Fashion Institute of Technology. It still fits her beautifully today!
“The next thing I designed for Maureen was important to both of us. I offered to make her headpiece and veil for her wedding. Little did I know this would be the first step towards an amazing career and the eventual opening of Headpiece.com.”
Maureen’s Wedding Day ~ 6/11/83
Maureen’s wedding day style had a Gunne Sax flair; classically soft, romantic, fluttery, and feminine. Her headpiece and veil design complimented the feel and flow of her gown. Poufs were in fashion in the 1980s. Some styles were so extreme that brides might regret their decision today. Not Maureen. We chose to design her a subtle pouf for use as a blusher.
Maureen’s sister, and maid-of-honor, Patty, wore a soft yellow.
Maureen’s beautiful mom was escorted by her sons.
Jeff escorted Jay’s mom down the aisle.
“I knew I wanted something simple. I wanted that moment when my dad lifted the blusher right before Jay took my hand. I don’t remember exactly how the design was born, but I had a wreath of silk roses. Marie and I went to the flower market to buy them. My blusher was completely unique, and that was all Marie!”
While I don't think my millennial brides are ready for 80s poufs, I will be bringing this beautiful blusher style back in some form this spring to go with more casual wedding day attire.
“As a veil designer, I am a lover of veil photos. They are so beautiful when a veil is in its natural form. I don’t like when a photographer stages or poses a veil. Let it live its life, and beauty will surely follow. ”
The following week Jeff and I celebrated our one year wedding anniversary!
Maureen’s Mom’s Wedding Day ~ 2/27/60
Maureen Ann Drake and Eugene Edward Corrigan married at St. Aedan’s Church in Jersey City, NJ.
“My mom was beautiful and brilliant, but she was so much more than that. She had a lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. She started nursing school when she had five young children and graduated magma cum laude two months after giving birth to her sixth child. My mom is an inspiration. No challenge was too great for her fierce determination. She is truly my hero.”
I am a collector of vintage wedding photos and display them in my shop. This photo is my favorite. It looks straight out of an old Hollywood movie.
I had the pleasure of knowing Maureen’s mom. Today would be her birthday. I think she would be so happy to see this blog on Valentine’s Day. I thank Mr. Corrigan for loaning me this wedding album for this story.
Maureen’s Mom’s Headpiece
“My mom passed away on December 31, 2005. After her passing, my father gave me some of her things, including her headpiece. When my son, Bobby, got engaged, I told Marie about my mom’s headpiece. I knew she designed pieces from vintage wedding accessories. I thought I would like to use my mom’s crown to make it into a mother-of-the-groom accessory. It was like my mom was at the wedding in some way.”
This 1960 pearl crown is a gem, and Maureen is so lucky to have it. Often pieces that are tarnished and tattered get tossed. The wire is completely blackened and broken in some spots. For this headpiece to be fully restored, I would need to deconstruct it and make it again from scratch.
Maureen left the design up to me. Her only request was to try to preserve the original details of the piece. I did a sketch of the original pearl patterning so I could follow it in the new design.
Maureen chose a navy gown for the wedding, so I suggested we make some accent pins in blue hues. I added a touch of clear crystal to create some added sparkle while keeping her accessory understated and elegant.
“Marie’s talent has always inspired awe in me. She is an incredibly talented designer, with a vision I cannot even imagine. More than that, she is a wonderful, loving friend, and such an important person in my life.”
The Wedding Day ~ 1/16/21
Wedding Photography by Vanessa Joy Photography
Bobby married Dana just a few weeks ago at a small family church wedding in New Jersey.
Maureen’s hair is by Kimm Dotro at Moda 330 the Salon, Rahway, NJ.
Jeff and I look forward to celebrating with everyone at their wedding reception in June.
As couples, Jeff and I have experienced a remarkable forty year-long friendship with Jay and Maureen. We have so much to look back on and still so much to look forward to as our families grow.
Once, we were two young girls, giddy in love and ready to walk down the aisle to marry our guys. Now we are seasoned in friendship and life. Maureen, you will always be “my bride of a lifetime.”
And one last question, ”Will you be my bridesmaid?” <3
Next month on the Fourteenth:
The Headpiece.com Hall of Fame