In 2016, 23-year-old Allie Livingwater discovered a priceless treasure sitting in a trash bag in her grandmother’s basement. She immediately knew the six-decade-old masterpiece would somehow become a part of her life.
Five years later, she made her dream come true, tying the knot with the love of her life, Timothy Livingwater, in the old wedding dress which her grandmother once wore on her wedding day 60 years back.
Allie could not be happier during the September 25 nuptials, which saw her surrounded by family, friends, and her new groom.
The bride’s beautiful grandmother, now 88, was glad to be a significant part of Allie’s wedding by contributing the “something old” and “something borrowed.”
Surprisingly, the dress, which had been stored properly, was in good shape and fit the new bride perfectly, needing no alterations. However, Allie decided to alter it a little by adding a hoop skirt underneath after a nice clean.
As she watched the new bride walk down the aisle at Turners Falls on her big day, the proud grandmother could not help tearing up. Allie described the beautiful moment as one she would treasure forever.
She shared photos from her big day alongside a pic of her grandma rocking the dress 60 years ago on Facebook. The Pharmacy student admitted her big day was a dream come true and would be cherished for the rest of her life.
Facebook users flooded the comment section with heartfelt congratulations to the bride and groom. Some commended Allie for performing such a symbolic act, thereby celebrating the bond she shared with her grandmother. A comment read:
“Beautiful Allie, the connection to your grandparents & their forever love just adds to it. Wishing you both a lifetime of adventure and bliss.”
Allie’s connection to her grandmother is deeper than most. The 23-year-old has lived with her grandmother since birth, as the family moved in with her following her husband’s death after 38 years of marriage.
Having never met her grandfather, the dress made her feel connected to him in some way, as her grandmother wore it during their wedding. She explained:
“My grandma couldn’t believe I decided to wear her dress. She stored it in an old trash bag because she didn’t think it was anything special. But to me it was.”
She proceeded to explain how sentimental the dress was to her, given its link to her grandad. To the new bride, the dress, which mirrored her grandparent’s successful marriage of almost four decades, paved the way for her own marriage.