When my parents sold their house, my mom asked me if I wanted my grandmother’s old cedar chest. I absolutely did, and immediately put it in my bedroom at the foot of the bed. It’s a bit scratched but is overall in great condition.
My gram bought it in 1952, when my mom was two years old. Even though it’s over sixty years old, it still smells amazing.
My plan was to put my sweaters in the chest, but when I opened it I discovered it already had items inside. Carefully placed in the bottom of the chest were the wedding dresses of my grandmother, mom, and Aunt Kathy, along with my mom’s wedding hat and my aunt’s veil. Wedding-obsessed Annabel went crazy with excitement.
“Can I wear it? They’re so beautiful! Can I touch it? Can I wear it?”
I thought about it and decided there really wasn’t any reason why she couldn’t try on the headgear.
Just like her Gramma.
She adored my aunt’s veil, especially since she still hasn’t gotten over my not wearing one.
She was so cute parading around in the hat and veil. Then I had an idea. I surprised her and brought out my wedding dress. She couldn’t believe it.
“Mommy, I look just like you!”
It was obviously enormous on her. She had to keep her arms at her side, or the dress would fall down. But she loved it. LOOOOVED. Even though the dress weighs about fifteen pounds, she didn’t want to take it off.
I said, “Annie, what are you thinking about?” And she replied, “All the boys I want to marry.”
That sounds expensive.
Becca Masters says:
Oh. My. God. She looks amazing in your dress! God, she’s going to be a stunning bride!
These photos are awesome, and you totally have to have them on display at her wedding when she gets married
Jana says:
Exactly what I was thinking!
Ninabi says:
She is precious!
Has the latch been replaced on the cedar chest? There’s a safety issue with antique cedar chests and kids. Lane had a recall of all chests made from 1912 onward. The company was offering free latch replacements.http://www.lanefurniture.com/CustomerService/Lock-Replacement.aspx
Sue says:
Love, love, love these beautiful photos, Heather!
Maris says:
Love love the pics!:)
Kristi says:
She looks so cute in your dress. That girl is adorable!!
amourningmom says:
Annie is so adorable! You are going to have some many great pictures to make a graduation or wedding slide show/video (who knows what they will be calling it then!).
I put you on the list for the Sunshine award. I am sure you all have been nominated several times but I just wanted you to know that you and Mike have definitely brightened many of my days. Thank you both. xo
Kitty @ LambAround: Life with my Sexy Nerd says:
This is my new favorite post. One day, you can show these photos in Annie’s wedding (if she ever narrows her many choices down!)
Jessica says:
My Nana has the same exact chest! She got it as a graduation gift in 1956. She also keeps her wedding dress in hers
Annabel is too cute!!
Tina says:
I just did the same thing with my daughter who’s two and a half. Plus she got to wear my tiara with her Belle costume for Halloween. It’s awesome to see them in your dress isn’t it?
Jenn says:
A BEAUTIFUL Dress for a BEAUTIFUL little girl!!! xo
Aimee says:
When my daughter was her age, I shopped at second hand stores for super fancy dresses for her, dresses little girls had worn in weddings and such. I would buy them a few sizes too big and let her wear them as dress-up clothes whenever she wanted. They were cheap, and sometimes not in the greatest shape,and I didn’t worry if she was rough on them. She loved them and loved that she could be a mud pie baking princess in them.
alimartell says:
I LOVE this. All of it. Especially that first one of her in the dress. Gah.
Pattie says:
She looks ADORABLE in your wedding dress (which you looked gorgeous in). That’s hilarious that she is hinting at multiple weddings. Good luck with that!
TamaraL says:
She is lovely! And hilarious.
I received a Lane cedar chest for my 16th bday in 1988 so it is now 25 years old. It is in okay shape, aside from some scratches, and it smells wonderful!!
Allison says:
She is so stunning! That picture of her next to your portrait, she looks like she’s 20 yrs old.
Jodi says:
We bought a fancy flower girl dress and veil from a garage sale and my daughters play dress up and wedding day all the time. They have so much fun and I enjoy watching them use their imagination.
Jennifer says:
Wow, you look like your mom! I had a veil on the back of my head piece but not on the front in my face. Annie is so awesome!
Jennifer says:
OMG – your aunts veil and your dress!! She would look stunning!!!
Glenda says:
Love Annie in your dress! and I love your aunts veil!
Shea says:
She is so adorable! And I agree that you’ll definitely have to hold onto these for later. My mom surprised me at my rehearsal dinner with a bunch of framed pics of me in a wedding dress at about Annie’s age — they were a big hit
Nicole says:
I don’t know if I can still blame postpartum hormones seeing as how I’m 5 months postpartum, but that first picture of her in your dress totally made me burst into tears. I’m a mess. But she is gorgeous and I love that you let her wear your dress!
tami says:
OMG..I Love the pictures of Annie in your dress. She is going to be one beautiful bride when she grows up! Hmmm I wonder if she’ll be wearing your dress??
Kirsten says:
I’ll bet Mike had to breath into a paper bag after seeing these pictures! She is stunning
Nanette says:
Ohhhhh! Swoon!
Joelle says:
The last photo would make the cutest wedding shower invitation!
Michelle H says:
I’ve seen people do photo shoots with their young daughters in their wedding dresses. They make beautiful photos. You should definitely do one with Annie. She’s have so much fun!
Jeanie says:
How beautiful they all are. And Annie looks like she’s trying to be so careful.
Amy says:
I remember I was a wee bit older than Annie when my Mom let me and my older sister try on and pose in her wedding dress I felt like a Princess!
Amy says:
BTW what a tremendous gift you were given, the chest as well as contents. You are very fortunate.
(You might try a wee bit of lemon oil on the chest, works wonders on scratches!)
Christa says:
I’ve been following your blog for awhile but never commented until now. My mom passed away three weeks ago, only five weeks after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and so my brother and I are having to go through our childhood home and pack everything. One thing we are trying to figure out where to store is my great grandmother’s hope chest that it is filled with all sorts of mementos from my granddaddy’s family as well as all well as baby things from my mom’s oldest brother who died at 9 months old. I tried to explain to my brother why I wanted it and he couldn’t take the chest and just empty it, not sure he understood though haha. It was always special when my mom and I would open it up and go through all the treasures in there and they would be infused with that wonderful smell, and I hope that one day when I have kids I can do this with my kids and they get as much joy out of it as Annie obviously did
Heather says:
Oh Christa, I am so terribly sorry to hear about your mom. My heart goes out to you. I’m glad you are getting the chest! It’s so special to have those physical reminders.
I am thinking of you, if I can do anything please let me know.
xoxo
edenland says:
She is GORGEOUS.
So’s that chest. Dave always says that cedar is the best, strongest kind of wood. Back in the day people chopped it up all the time but I don’t think they’re allowed now.
xxxxx
Paula says:
“That sounds expensive.” LOLOL! Sure does because it sounds like she’s going to be marrying “boys”. LMAO!!
Anna says:
What a beauty!
Kate says:
Heather!!! Annie is a beautiful girl inside and out! I really do see a photo shoot of her in your dress in your future!!!
lori says:
i inherited my MIL’s cedar chest when she passed and it’s a treasure! like yours, it has some scratches but i don’t care-i used a bit of liquid gold on it. the main reason im commenting is that i would hide my daughter’s christmas presents in it! she never figured it out =) it has a small lock but i just placed plants on top of it and i guess she didn’t pick up “the cedar wrapping paper scent” hahaha…
Jess Z. says:
Totally adorable!