Nursing in my Wedding Dress

Ange A. R.
MN USA
From NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 19 No. 2, March-April 2002, p. 51

This past October, on a beautiful sunny day, my daughter’s father and I were married. It was just a week after Anela’s first birthday, and she was still breastfeeding frequently. We have always enjoyed our nursing relationship very much, and I knew that on the day of our wedding, with all the commotion, she would need her “nursies” to feel close to mommy often throughout the day. In my mind I saw her calling for me during our vows, and us having to sit right there on the altar to nurse. Knowing anything was possible, my mother, sister, and I brought Anela with us when we went shopping for my gown. I figured she could give anything I liked a bit of a test run. Of course, wedding dresses aren’t made breastfeeding-friendly, but the one I chose made the task manageable.

As expected, on the big day Anela wanted to be only in my arms the entire morning. I spent as much time as I could with her, and handed her off to Grandma while I got ready. I nursed her before putting my dress on, but shortly after finishing our photographs she was very tired and needed to nurse. We found a quiet spot in the bride’s room and had a very special moment right before it was time to walk down the aisle. My sister snapped this photo as a keepsake, and it’s one of my favorites from that day.

Anela was the best-behaved child at our wedding, and people commented on that often. At the reception we snuck away and nursed again, then we danced the night away. I am so grateful that I got to have these stolen moments on such a hectic day with my little girl. After all, it was her day too, and she needed to feel included and loved just as much as I did. Now, at 13 months, we are still enjoying our “nursie” time. Breastfeeding my child is one of the best parenting choices I made. Thank you LLL for all your support, and for making my choice to nurse my daughter beyond her first year an easy one!