There she was, Adele Larson, radiant in a satin wedding dress, ready to say yes to her beloved Roy Stoneberg. It was September 16, 1950, and this beautiful dress, which she had carefully selected at Marshall Field department store in downtown Chicago, would become much more than just a wedding dress.
It became the start of a heartwarming family tradition that continues to this day.
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From generation to generation
After Adele, it was the turn of her sisters, Eleanor “Elly” Larson in 1953 and Sharon Larson in 1969, to shine in the same dress. Without realizing it, they started a beautiful tradition. Their daughters would also later wear this dress on their big day, from the 80s to 1991, 2013 and finally in 2022.
Then it was Serena Stoneberg, the granddaughter of the late Adele Larson, who followed in her grandmother's footsteps. She wore the dress in the same Chicago church where her grandmother once married, Ebenezer Lutheran Kerk.
Caring for a precious treasure
Over the years, the Larson family has done everything they can to keep the dress as beautiful as possible. They had the dress professionally cleaned and stored it carefully. Each also added her own personal touch by wearing unique accessories to her wedding. This careful maintenance speaks volumes about how much the family cares about this special dress.
A precious tradition
What started as an ordinary choice for a wedding dress in the 50s grew into a tradition that warms the hearts of family members. With every new bride who wears the dress wore, the realization grew of how important it was to preserve it.
“My mother Sharon, a talented seamstress, took on this task,”
says Julie Frank Mackey, a niece of Adele Larson.
More than just a dress
The dress is not only beautiful, but also means a lot to the family. It symbolizes their mutual connection and the appreciation for their shared history. Each woman who has worn the dress has added her own story to the legend of the dress, as they... loving and celebrated long-term marriages.
A new generation, the same story
In August 2022, Serena Stoneberg Lipari followed in the footsteps of her grandmother, Adele Larson. On her wedding day, she wore her grandmother's dress when she married Chris Lipari at Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Chicago. The whole family watched with emotion as Serena looked at it altar walked into the same church where her grandmother was married seventy years ago.
Eight brides, seven decades and one wedding dress. This dress is much more than a garment, it is a symbol of family, love and tradition. It is a story that is proudly passed down from generation to generation. And that makes it a particularly beautiful and moving story.
Authentic sources: abc7news.com, brides.com