Day of the Wed (Part 1)

This week we celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary by hiking and Jeeping in Big Bend National Park…and had a planned but impromptu photoshoot. Nothing fancy; just the two of us, a tripod, my iPhone, and some curious onlookers (other park visitors). Before I share the photos from the shoot, which I haven’t even seen yet, I wanted to share a fun preview/selfie we took on my iPhone as well as the making of the skeleton dress that would compliment Jerome’s Day of the Dead costume from the film Spectre.

[Related: Day of the Wed (Part 2)]

Here we are at the Santa Elena Canyon Overlook with Mexico on the left (behind me) and Texas on the right (behind Jerome). The temps were in the 40s and it was windy! Despite the chill and the sleeveless dress I’m wearing, I did appreciate the complete cloudy overcast, as opposed to the harsh sun we had the day before on our actual anniversary. We intentionally waited for good lighting conditions and I literally did my make-up in the Jeep and changed clothes in a campsite restroom.

[Related: A Return to Big Bend National Park: Lodge Edition]

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I got the idea for a gothic wedding photoshoot while scrolling Pinterest (as one does). I came across a gorgeous black gown with a dragon skeleton down the back and train, as well as some other black dress wedding photos that would make me pause, almost envious we had a traditional wedding. So for years I had grand plans of painting my wedding dress black, painting a dragon skeleton on it, and having an epic re-shoot of that special day. Thing is…my wedding dress is a form fitting mermaid size 6, and I am not. I starved myself before the wedding, and I don’t ever want to do that to my body again. So I ordered a more flattering dress (Ever-Beauty Womens Long Strapless Satin Prom Dress) in a size 8 (with pockets!!) and altered my skeletal plans to a human rib cage instead of a dragon.

[Related: A Chic Wedding that Didn’t Cost a Gazillion]

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Instead of using the pattern I digitized for Jerome’s Spectre costume (or a dragon, poo), I used front and back rib cage figures from Gray’s Anatomy of the Human Body (20th ed. 1918). I did paint the rib cage with the same paint layering so it would match, but not match identically. I would have painted a pelvis and legs on the dress if it weren’t for the large pleats. In my opinion, that would’ve looked forced and weird.

[Related: Costuming James Bond from Spectre]

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The look that I was envisioning for myself was simply a female version of Jerome’s skeleton suit, but that evolved as I found myself inspired by two toned dresses with tulle and lace. Besides, I wanted to make sure the rib cage wasn’t the focus, nor did I want it to look like an alien face hugger. To soften it up, I ordered two sets of black lace appliques (beaded flower sequence lace applique motif sewing bridal wedding 3in1 A5 3D (Black)) and a tulle skirt (WDPL Women’s Long Tutu Tulle Skirt A Line Floor Length Skirts). I removed and discarded the skirt liner, and removed one of the four layers of tulle, sewing it into a barrette to create a veil. Wanting a pop of color, I dug out my flower headband from my own Spectre costume.

[Related: Costuming Mexico City Bond Girl from Spectre]

And finally, I booked a make-up class with my dear friend Melissa at Sensia Studio & Japanese Day Spa. She designed the color palate that would compliment the flower headband and grey wig (Annivia Dark Roots Ombre Grey Lace Front Wig), and taught me proper contouring and make-up application. I planned to wear the same pearls I wore in our wedding, so I brought these all of these accessories to the salon.

Here’s me shoved in the Jeep on the way to the Overlook. Do I look awkward and uncomfortable? I was!

Day of the Wed (Part 2)

Inspiration for our Day of the Wed is collected in my Pinterest board if you’d like to connect there: https://www.pinterest.com/RedShoesRedWine/day-of-the-wed/