I've been shopping for a wedding at the end of August off and on for months. I've showed you some photos and appreciate your advice.

A few weeks ago the couple (our step-grandson) called us on Skype and asked my DH to officiate. He promptly went online and became an ordained minister. (He actually performed a couple of wedding ceremonies decades ago in a different country.) Later it occurred to me to ask the bride if she wanted DH to wear his tux. She does. The wedding party will all be in tuxes and long dresses.

I decided a knee length dress wouldn't be quite appropriate for me to wear, although the two dresses I did buy will work well on a cruise or cocktail party. After looking at and trying on hundreds of dresses I came up with two. I wanted long or cocktail length. One is a Komorov, a designer I wore to another step--well, blended family wedding 6 years ago. The last photo is the one.

The new dress is not suitable--don't like the length, a bit too girlish I think, so that is packed and ready to go back. The 2nd is JH Collections and I am keeping it. (Arrived today.) I will need a new long-line bra for support and some new shoes. It is a bit long and depending on the shoe height, I may have to have it hemmed. It is sleeveless, but it shouldn't be hard to find a stole or jacket--in fact I have a dressy black jacket. I have some David Yurman jewelry bracelets--I show one in the photo. I got the bag from Neiman Marcus Last Call on really really last call. It's a dark eggplant color.

AND the really good news is that I won't need unspeakable shape wear Spanx or other, or pantyhose. I can feel relatively relaxed. Bride's mom is wearing navy, groom's mom a gorgeous purple color dress. Bridesmaids in Aqua.

No makeup, but just got hair done--more highlights now, fewer lowlights. (Still don't know what color my hair will be in the end of the conversion to gray.) Also, I have a red neck from the pre-skin cancer cream treatment. That will be gone by then.

So excited about posting I forgot to tell you what you are looking at:

#1-3 JH dress, bag and DY bracelet.

#2 recently returned Komorov dress. I will say that it is a very pretty print and it doesn't show up well in photos.

#3 Kay Unger dress--I have worn her things to other weddings. 65% off.

#4 Adrienne Pappel dress with shutter pleats. It actually looks better in the photos.

#5 Komorov dress at 2008 wedding. The hotel supplied the umbrellas--beach wedding--in the rain as it turned out. San Juan, Puerto Rico.