Previously posted April 20, 2020 — My dear daughter has a friend from college who is soon to be wed. And Carrot Top Studio was commissioned to create the stole for the Priest to wear. The request of the commission was to honor the tradition of gold and white stoles for weddings in the Episcopal tradition and to include accents of fabric that were important to the bride and groom’s story. So, it was exciting to open this package from the bride-to-be and see what we’d be using for those special accents!

What was included? A shirt from the bride’s grandmother. The day this precious lady passed on the future bride and groom were on a date. The gentleman took such good care of my friend that shares she knew immediately he would be a good caregiver down the road too. Secondly, one of the bridesmaid dresses from the bride’s parents wedding was included to represent their longstanding union. The groom was raised by his grandmother and one of her shirts will represent this special lady. Lastly is the anil, Indigo dye fabric to represent Suchitoto, El Salvador where the fabric is created and the bride and groom met.

During the ceremony the Priest will wrap the bride and groom’s hands in the border (below) of the stole to recall all those who have nurtured them and to bless their years ahead. The gold circles represent God’s never-ending love and the stacked design of the accumulated fabrics is for the layers of the history of the people that currently surround and have gone before this couple.

And now in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic I can add a photo from the special ceremony with all attendees participating virtually. The report was that despite the unusual circumstances there was much joy in the special day! May God bless you Esther!