Contessa Bridal Couture: Be Bold, Be Cutting Edge, Be Timeless

Last year was quite the whirlwind for me, and the most exciting part of it was becoming a bride. At seventy years young, I married my husband not once—but twice!

During our Italian vacation, last July, my husband and I enjoyed a beautiful private ceremony at Ca’ Sagredo Palace, a 15th-Century palace in Venice.

Though an intimate, private ceremony was important to us, Arny and I also wanted to share our happiness with our friends and family. We chose to host a reception in the States. Of course, as we planned the event, our creativity ran amok! What was first planned to be a somewhat casual recital of our vows followed by a festive reception, eventually grew into a full-fledged magical event (and I mean that quite literally).

Naturally, the cocktail dress I had originally chosen to wear for this second ceremony would not rise to the grand occasion we came to envision, so I began looking at more formal dresses. At my age, I never thought I would be wearing a long champagne gown with a train and veil. It didn’t seem quite appropriate. But I’m here to tell all the women over fifty that it’s perfectly acceptable.

While over the years I’ve seen many brides labor to find The Dress, my experience was much more enjoyable. I chose from the luxurious Contessa Bridal Couture line from Contessa Bottega, a high-end boutique and specialty shop located in Chicago’s Gold Coast.

Contessa Bottega offers a wonderful selection of items from some of the world’s finest designers including its owner, couture designer Contessa Helena. In addition to her fabulous sense of style, Contessa Helena showcases an eclectic mix of classic and exotic fashions by designers like Roberto Cavalli, Blumarine, Rocco Barocco, and Morgan de Toi, to name a few.

My dress was gorgeous, detailed with Alençon lace, delicate hand-beaded pearls, and Swarovski crystals on tulle with duchess satin and a gently flowing train.

Contessa’s white, ivory, blush, and champagne wedding gowns are made of a silky charmeuse satin with silk tulle overlays. Most are available with beaded lace overlays of Chantilly, Alençon, or Venetian lace treatments. These coordinate beautifully with the variety of head-adornments, veils, and other accessories offered in the boutique.

If you’re planning your wedding, or need an outfit for any special occasion, make sure to visit Contessa Bottega.