Of all the milestones that come with being a mother, I didn’t expect shopping for my daughter’s wedding dress to feel quite so magical. Yet from the moment we gathered—five bridesmaids, close friends (the ‘durls’), her older sister as maid of honour, and me, the mother of the bride—it felt like stepping into a day suspended outside of ordinary time.
There was laughter before we even reached the racks, that fizzy sense of anticipation, the quiet knowledge that we were there not just to shop, but to witness something precious unfolding.
Dress after dress came and went, each one telling a different story. There were gasps, knowing smiles, and the gentle choreography of zips and mirrors and soft fabrics catching the light. Champagne glasses clinked, nerves settled, and the room filled with that rare kind of joy that comes from women gathering around love, hope, and possibility. I watched my daughter’s face as she caught her reflection—sometimes thoughtful, sometimes unsure, sometimes glowing—while her older sister stood close by, offering reassurance, laughter, and that deep, unspoken bond only sisters share.
When the dress appeared, time seemed to slow. The chatter softened, eyes welled, and my heart swelled in a way words barely touch. It wasn’t just about silk or lace; it was about standing beside my daughter as she stepped toward her future, with her sister at her side and surrounded by people who adore her.
That day of dresses and champagne will stay with me forever—not because it was perfect, but because it was full. Full of love, laughter, sisterhood, and the quiet, extraordinary privilege of being a mother watching her child begin a new chapter.
Denise McHugh is an experienced educator in Tamworth. She is Chair of the NSW ALP Education and Skills Committee and Deputy President of the Independent Education Union (IEU).
Got something on your mind? Go on then, engage. Submit your opinion piece, letter to the editor, or Quick Word now.