Check Out This News Story

[Wish Upon A Star]

When watching the news tonight I found this . . . My opinion of it is that it is totally insane . . .What do you think?


March 11, 2004

Church balks at 'risque' wedding gowns

(Waterbury-WTNH, Mar. 11, 2004 5:58 PM) _ Choosing bridesmaid dresses is never an easy task, and now Waterbury's oldest Catholic church is making it even harder for brides-to-be. The priest thinks dresses are getting too risque.

Watch the story by News Channel 8's Sarah Parker
The search for the perfect wedding gown. For bride's to be, before "I Do" there's the dress.

"It's just everything I was looking for," bride-to-be Jessica Coughlin said about her dress. "The glitz. It's the Cinderella, it's everything."

Coughlin found her princess dress for her fairy tale day, but even this modern bride was a little skeptical about the strapless style.

"When I tried it on, it was just beautiful," she said. "Now I can see why girls love strapless dresses. They're just amazing. It's just a beautiful style."

But it's sacrament over-rules style at Waterbury's Immaculate Conception Church. The city's oldest Catholic church is banning risque dresses.

A recent church bulletin puts brides and bridesmaids on notice. Strapless, backless and spaghetti strap gowns are "not appropriate church attire."

The Reverend John Bevins wouldn't speak to us on camera, but tells News Channel 8 he made the policy because "people were coming in half dressed. I think there should be more respect for the church and the holy institution they're entering into."

The year-old policy has already dropped the number of annual weddings per year at Immaculate by half. Bridal shop owner Delia Demirali says she's not surprised. Brides want to wear what's "in," and nowadays less is more.

"90 TO 95-percent of the style is strapless and girls have to go with that because it's all they see," she said.

But you don't have to sacrifice style on your big day. Bridal shops have trendy coverups for church that you can take off after the ceremony, from an organza shrug to a satin shawl.

"We can make it like that or like a little jacket which looks pretty and your shoulders are covered," Demirali explained.

It's a compromise and a dress fit for a princess-bride and her happily ever after.

________

Church of the Immaculate Conception
http://www.theimmaculate.com/

 

[lilboo]

I thought that this had always been an issue with church weddings...?

As the article states, you just need a coverup for the ceremony and can shed it for the reception, if you insist on a strapless. Or some brides have two different gowns.

 

[phillybeth]

My church (catholic) had a no-bare-shoulders rule when I got married 9 years ago. Many churches in this area do, and I agree with it- it is a matter of respect. My church was totally upfront with it, I didn't have to bring in a picture of my dress but the priest let it be known that if my attire did not meet the dress code I would be wearing my DH's tuxedo jacket or I wouldn't be getting married. If you don't like it, get married by a JP wearing whatever you want (or nothing at all ) And I find it hard to believe that 95% of the wedding dresses out there are strapless.

 

[DocRafiki]

I'd find some other place to get married.

 

[jennyanydots]

I thought most churches and synagoges required a coverup during the ceremony if the dresses are strapless.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Ah yes, like there aren't more important things for the Catholic church to worry about, watch out for those bare shoulders.

 

[Samandmom]

Sorry but I agree with the article. Wear a cover-up for the ceremony. I got married on a HOT August day. I wore long sleeves because I thought that it was beautiful.

 

[phillybeth]

Originally posted by palmtreegirl
Ah yes, like there aren't more important things for the Catholic church to worry about, watch out for those bare shoulders.

It's a matter of respect, as I said. Not only respect for the church, but respect for its rules. If you can't do that, then get married somewhere else, otherwise suck it up and wear the darn stole or wrap. BTW, it's not only catholic churches- I know more than a few protestant churches and synagogues that have the same rule. It's not like you get to the altar and all of a sudden they spring it on you- we were told at our first meeting with the priest about the dress code.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Originally posted by phillybeth
It's a matter of respect, as I said. Not only respect for the church, but respect for its rules. If you can't do that, then get married somewhere else, otherwise suck it up and wear the darn stole or wrap. BTW, it's not only catholic churches- I know more than a few protestant churches and synagogues that have the same rule. It's not like you get to the altar and all of a sudden they spring it on you- we were told at our first meeting with the priest about the dress code.

I understand the reason the church gives for the rules, I just don't happen to agree with them.

 

[mrsv98]

I agree with the policy. Strapless dresses can be pretty, but I don't think they are appopriate for a church. My dress had straps and I paid to have the seamstress make sleeves. I would have felt very strange walking down the aisle so bare. Also, I am Lutheran, so it isn't just an issue with the Catholic Church. Besides, the church is being upfront about the policy, if the bride doesn't like it, she can get married somewhere else.

 

[holycow]

I don't happen to think it is insane...there is nothing wrong with modesty....it can still be in fashion...even in a CHURCH of all places.

 

[Octoberbride03]

This is not a new concept. Though that may be news to the reporter. Many churches and synagogues across the country have this policy. And the dress designers know it. Many offer optional bolero jackets or wraps that nicely compliment the gowns. If the brides are not told this when looking at dresses then that's the fault of the salon they're in. And while many gowns are strapless, there are quite a number of gowns that aren't. I just got married in October, and believe me, the number of sleeve options was actually increasing again. And yes, I agree with the policy for the most part.

 

[swea_pea1]

Originally posted by palmtreegirl
Ah yes, like there aren't more important things for the Catholic church to worry about, watch out for those bare shoulders.

A totally unnecessary, unrelated comment. There's not much I don't like about the DIS but bashing for just the pleasure of it is one of those things.

 

[robsmom]

My priest told me the same thing when I got married and I had no issue with it. The fact that marriages dropped by 50% at that church really just indicates that the 50% who left shouldn't have been getting married there in the first place. If someone's dress is the most important thing about the ceremony, the church is probably not the best setting for them anyway.

 

[Dreamer04]

This isn't news to me, either. My church has the same rule and I agree with it.

 

[barrett7890]

I have to agree with most of the other posters. I think this article is right, when i got married the bridesmaids all had strapless dresses and mine was spaghetti straps, as we were getting married in church, i bought us all lovely wraps to keep our shoulders covered during the ceremony.
It was a mark of respect.

cami
x

 

[WDWLVR]

Just me opinion, but I agree with the article. To me there is something wrong with couples who care more about how they are dressed than the actual ceremony.

I'm not a big fan of people who have big fancy church weddngs and haven't stepped in the church for years before and won't for years after.

I wanted, and got, a very formal religious ceremony which was a full Nuptial Mass. We followed that with a great family-style party.

I agree with the poster who said if it means they will walk away from that church then it just means that the church wasn't for them. To each their own.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Originally posted by robsmom
My priest told me the same thing when I got married and I had no issue with it. The fact that marriages dropped by 50% at that church really just indicates that the 50% who left shouldn't have been getting married there in the first place. If someone's dress is the most important thing about the ceremony, the church is probably not the best setting for them anyway.

I TOTALLY agree. ALL churches should come with RESPECT, both for yourself and religeous beliefs. If you don't have either of these, then don't get married in a church. Find a justice of the peace somewhere and get married in a park.

 

[KJo719]

I completely agree with the article. When I got married this summer I wore a strapless dress and I chose to cover my shoulders for the ceremony. My church does not have a written policy about this, but I felt it would have been disrespectful to not cover my shoulders.

 

[helenabear]

This isn't anything new to me either, and I also happen to agree with it. It's not a big deal at all to wear shawl or cover up of some sort at a wedding. Actually for my sister's wedding, I had a strapless dress that *I* chose to wear a wrap with to cover my shoulders. I didn't wear it for the reception but I thought it was more appropriate to wear at the wedding. I have a spaghetti strap dress for another that I am in that I most likely will do the same with. I think it is all about respect... on many levels too.