By Erika Lynde
Vacations are an escape from reality. They’re a chance to relax, put your head in the clouds and whisk away mentally. But not for this bride. I saw a vacation as an opportunity to uncover treasures I couldn’t find at home. Although many of my hours last week in South Carolina were spent sipping margaritas and lounging poolside, I also made sure to scour the land for creative inspiration. Most of the areas we visited were tourist traps lined with palm trees and cobble stone. The streets were crowded with bright colored hats, long summer dresses and trolleys headed off to explore the haunted South.
A few days into our vacation we took a short ride to Belk, my grandparents’ favorite store in Savannah. I’m a little unsure if we have any up here in New England. The showroom reminded me of Macy’s but with pretty much everything on sale. Our main reason for shopping this particular store was in hopes of tracking down my daughter’s flower girl dress. With our fingers crossed we stalked the racks hoping to find the ideal gown for Myla. Having no luck finding what we were looking for, we strolled around hoping something else would strike our fancy. I’m glad my disappointment didn’t shake me, because it happened again — off hunting for one thing and instead I found another: My SHOES! Oh I love them! These small cream-colored oxford flats with lace sides were just what I envisioned. Now these are shoes I can dance in all night. With just a tiny heel to make them girly and fun, they are easy, adorable shoes I know are the perfect fit for my vintage dress. After trying them on I made a mad dash to the counter to purchase my unexpected discovery. My gracious grandparents smiled as they footed the bill and handed me my wedding shoes. I felt like a queen for the rest of the day.
I knew in my heart that the South held unforeseen wedding wonders, I just wasn’t sure what they would be. It’s amazing how the universe works in mysterious ways, and I’m looking forward to breaking these babies in.