***CAROL, these photos are all in the filler photos file; they shouldn’t be in there… Sorry!

CUTLINES FOR “DRESSING THEIR OWN, FOLLOW-UP”

(Wilder – Nicole with parents)

Nicole Ragozzine found her wedding dress at Julie Allen Bridal’s, having good luck with the same bridal boutique her mother found her own wedding gown at the Newtown bridal boutique nearly 30 years ago. Nicole’s gown was by Maggie Sottero. The dress Nicole’s mother wore when she watched Nicole walk down the aisle last summer was also purchased at Julie Allen; it was a Bill Levkoff design.

—photo courtesy Nicole Wilder

(Wilder – Nicole alone)

Nicole is wearing a gown by Maggie Sottero, one of the designers featured at Julie Allen Bridals in Newtown.

—photo courtesy Nicole Wilder

 

(Wilder – Nicole with attendants)

Nicole selected bridesmaid dresses from the Jim Hjelm Occasions. The A-line tea-length gowns with spaghetti straps are ivory organza over a sage lining with square neckline, dropped waist and ivory ribbon belt. This style is also available in floor length.

—photo courtesy Nicole Wilder

 

(Marta Follow Up 2 – shows groom and bride)

Peter Delgado and Kristen Snopkowski were married on July 31, 2004.

—photo courtesy Nicole Wilder

(Marta Follow Up 3 – shows bride’s parents)

Marta and Paul Snopkowski, the parents of Kristen (Snopkowski) Delgado. Marta purchased her wedding gown at Julie Allen Bridals back in 1975. Last year she was thrilled when her daughter called to tell her she had found her own wedding gown at the same location.

—photo courtesy Kristen Delgado

(Marta Follow Up – shows bride alone)

 Kristen selected a silk Duchess off-white strapless gown for her wedding last July. It was just perfect for her shape and coloring. The Matthew Christopher design features a lace-trimmed corset-lined bodice, and satin covered buttons on an alencon lace-trimmed chapel length train.

—photo courtesy Kristen Delgado

Where They Dress Their Own, A Follow-Up—

Falling In Love At First Sight With A Wedding Gown

By Shannon Hicks

As readers of The Newtown Bee’s bridal section learned last year, while no two people are ever going to agree on everything, when it comes to choosing where to go for wedding dresses sometimes mothers and daughters do think alike. With weddings this sometimes means a mother will pass her wedding gown on to a daughter. If that doesn’t work, Mom can offer her daughter something else: A shopping tip.

When Kristen Snopkowski became engaged to Peter Delgado early last year, she followed in her mother’s footsteps when it was time to purchase her dress. Kristen’s mother, Marta Snopkowski, had purchased her wedding gown at Julie Allen Bridals & Tuxedos, LLC, in 1975.

“It was ivory satin, and I remember I tried it on and thought it was perfect,” Mrs Snopkowski told The Bee last year of the moment she found her wedding gown.

A former employee of Julie Allen’s, Mrs Snopkowski still remains in touch with Melanie Mattegat, who currently owns the business her mother started in her Newtown home in April 1970. Mrs Snopkowski told The Bee last year that she was thrilled when her daughter called to tell her that she had found her own wedding gown at the Newtown store.

A first grade teacher at Sandy Hook School, Kristen Snopkowski and a friend visited Newtown’s only full-service bridal boutique in February 2004, and found the dress that she would wear on her wedding day five months later. It was one of only three dresses she tried on.

“She saw a gown and fell in love with it. I remember she called me that night and said ‘Mom, guess where I am?’” Mrs Snopskowski said.

Like a good fairy tale, Kristen fell in love with her dress at first sight. It was a Matthew Christopher design, an off-white strapless gown with a lace trimmed corset. For Kristen, the dress was indeed picture perfect.

Kristen and Peter Delgado were married on July 31, 2004. Their reception was at Grassy Hill Country Club, and they honeymooned in Europe.

Likewise, Nicole Ragozzine had very good luck when she visited Julie Allen Bridals last year, just as her mother had had a positive experience with the bridal shop 26 years ago.

For her July wedding to Nathan Wilder, Nicole found her wedding gown after trying on just three dresses. The third time was a charm. Hers was a strapless ivory design by Maggie Sottero.

Nicole also found her bridesmaids’ dresses, and the dress for her mother — and Nathan’s and his attendants’ tuxes — within the inventory of Julie Allen Bridals. Nicole’s mother, Marilyn, wore a two-piece design by Bill Levkoff, and her eight bridesmaids wore Jim Hjelm Occasions dresses.

Nicole and Nathan were married on July 17 in Brookfield, and celebrated with a reception at The Fox Hill Inn, also in Brookfield.