BERLIN, Conn. — In a heartwarming tribute to her mother, a Newington bride-to-be has repurposed her mother’s wedding dress for her bridal shower, honoring a tradition and creating a memorable connection between the two.
Thirty-four years after Lisa Bielesc wore her wedding dress, her daughter, Emily, transformed it into a stunning bridal shower gown — a dream she had long held. “I knew her dress was beautiful, and I wanted to pay homage to my mom and everything that she’s done, her relationship with my dad, and how long it’s lasted. Clearly, it’s all in the dress and it’s beautiful,” Emily Bielesc shared.
Emily, alongside her mother and sister, visited Bridal Bells Boutique in Berlin for her bridal shower dress fitting, where the timeless gown was altered to suit the occasion.
Lisa Bielesc’s joy was evident when she saw her daughter in the very dress she had worn on her wedding day. “When I saved my dress, I did save it with the anticipation that I would someday have a daughter and she would use it,” Lisa said. “So to have it come full circle 34 years later feels amazing.”
The trend of repurposing family wedding dresses is growing, according to Bridal Bells owner Barbara Stasiack. “We reconstruct the dresses. We can make bags, little dresses, christening outfits, and now lately, the trend is that the girls are wearing their mother’s dresses to their bridal showers,” Stasiack explained.
While Emily initially wasn’t sure how her mother would react, she was pleased with the positive response. “I’m glad she was really happy with the end result,” Emily said.
Lisa Bielesc expressed a deep emotional connection to the gesture. “I love my kids to the moon and back, and to have her really want to use the dress in such a special way was just unexplainable, really,” Lisa said. “She looked beautiful in it. Her dress that she picked out for herself is beautiful. She’ll make a beautiful bride.”
