Here comes the bride

The Grand Tradition ballroom was packed with enthusiastic members of the Fallbrook Garden Club and their guests on February 11 for this year’s “Hearts and Flowers” fundraising luncheon and program.

The theme showed up in everything from the luncheon plates and dessert to the array of “brides” who modeled wedding gowns and fashions from the 1940s through 2002. As the models descended the stairs to the ballroom level, bridal narrator Bernie Dennett told of the gown that was being shown, providing insight to the year of the wedding and some often surprising personal details of the event.

All of the wedding gowns had been originally worn by Garden Club members at their weddings. Remarkably, the aging gowns fit the models beautifully “with very few alterations.” Floral bouquets for each were designed to fit the era and style of dress. On display in an adjacent room were several additional gowns and a collection of Garden Club members’ wedding photos.

During the luncheon Pat McDougal provided piano background music and also accompanied Clarice Bellino, who provided three vocal selections. Garden Club members David Ashton and Art Nied served as ushers and consorts to the models as they were presented.

Funds raised by this February luncheon and silent auction are used for scholarships that assist local high school graduates to go on to college to pursue careers in fields related to horticulture.

Many in the audience would agree with one of the men I spoke with who conceded, “I got almost teary-eyed” seeing the array of these gowns from years past being displayed in the Grand Tradition setting. Few locations — if any — are so romantically ideal for joyful occasions.

The rainy day seemed to enhance the beauty of the gardens and lawn that surround the lake, and the graceful swans kept right on swimming. What a place for a wedding — even if it is a second showing of time-mellowed gowns!