Like Mother, Like Daughter: Then-and-Now Wedding Photos

Rachel Capo, 25, got married on October 11, 2014, and her custom-made Birnbaum & Bullock gown perfectly reflected her wedding style: traditional with a trendy twist. "I knew I wanted a lace mermaid dress, and the shredded organza skirt had that unique factor I was looking for," she says.

Rachel — the Fashion Advertising Manager at Bridal Guide — incorporated a lace sleeve from her mom's Eve of Milady wedding dress that she wore in 1983 into her all-white bouquet. Her younger sister plans to do the same with the remaining sleeve when she gets married someday.

"My mom is my best friend, and I don't know what I'd do without her. She gives me endless love and support — I'm so lucky to have her in my life!" Rachel says.

Stefania Sainato, 28, married her high school sweetheart on September 1, 2013 at the Regina Pacis Basilica in Brooklyn, New York, where her parents tied the knot 27 years earlier. "It was surreal,” the bride says. “Our joy was indescribable."

The bride wore a custom Ines Di Santo gown with a detailed sweetheart neckline and crystal-embellished sleeves. "I truly savored every part of the planning process but dress shopping with my mom at Bridal Reflections was my favorite part. Up until this point, getting married felt like a far-off dream, but when I tried on my gown and put a veil on, it was as if everything shifted into crystal-clear focus. I couldn’t help tearing up," the bride says.

Stefania's mother, Maria, wore an Eve of Milady gown with an illusion portrait neckline and cathedral-length train for her wedding in 1985.

When Stefania was a little girl, she would ask to watch her parents' wedding video on repeat and ask why she wasn't invited (she didn't realize she hadn't been born yet). In hindsight, that might have been the first sign that she would later become the Senior Web Producer of a bridal publication!

A satin and lace sleeve from Stefania's mother’s wedding dress served as a bouquet wrap, complete with crystal buttons.

Stefania took a sentimental snapshot holding her mother's bridal portrait.

"Abraham Lincoln put it best when he said, 'All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother,'" Stefania says. She is the first person that she wants to call when anything significant happens, happy or sad, and her guidance and enthusiasm for all of her daughter's endeavors is unparalleled. "I admire her ability to balance her marriage with work, friends, caring for her parents (my grandfather has Parkinson's Disease) and always being there for her kids, with Superwoman-like ease."

At her Sweet Sixteen, her mom gave a speech that she could achieve whatever she set her mind to, and the only limitations are the ones she placed on herself. Those words have served as a mantra throughout her entire life — and now that Stefania has her husband by her side, her mom believes that he is picking up where she left off.

The bride also gave her mother and father thank-you gifts: an embroidered handkerchief that read “I will always be your little girl" and cufflinks that said “I loved her first.” "There is nothing I could ever do to repay the love, support and guidance that my parents have given me throughout all these years," Stefania says.

When Amy Schweitzer, 39, got married on June 2, 2013, not only did she feel like the "prettiest girl at the ball" but she recalls "smiling for the entire day!" She wore a sleeveless fit-and-flare gown by Paloma Blanca. "It accentuated my curves, and the crystal belt added just the right amount of sparkle and elegance without being too dramatic," Amy, BG's Senior Digital Marketing Director, says.

Amy's mother, Marilyn, and father, Howard, have been married for over 50 years; here, they're pictured on their wedding day (June 25, 1961). "I have learned so much just from watching their relationship and seeing how they are still so in love. That it's important to be best friends and advocates, and to see each other as life partners," Amy says.

Her mom also passed down her sense of intuition, ability to be tough in a crisis, passion for learning, and stubbornness (which comes in handy sometimes). In fact, the pair are so close "I love that we often know what the other is feeling and thinking without having to say a word!"

Eriko Dunn, 30, selected a lace, fit-and-flare La Sposa wedding gown for her wedding on September 6, 2014. "I loved how it was soft and romantic, elegant, and unique all at the same time," she says. She accessorized with a bolero by Rosa Clará for the ceremony for a more conservative, formal look, which she later removed for the reception portion.

Eriko's mother, Tomoko, wed in Japan in 1984. She wore a white wedding dress for part of her ceremony before switching to a traditional Japanese kimono.

"I would have loved to do that, too, but it seemed like a lot of work! Instead, I decided to incorporate as many Japanese decorative pieces and traditions as I could," Eriko says. Her mother hand-made origami cranes to accompany her daughter's seating cards and guests' place settings. With her mom's creative help, the bride also incorporated paper parasols and fans, as well as a Japanese sake-tasting tradition into the ceremony.

Despite living 14 hours away from one another, Eriko says her mother continues to be "my role model and rock." She tells us that throughout her childhood, she thought she was the most beautiful and intelligent person in the world, and as an adult, her opinion remains the same!

"She loves to smile, laugh and experience joy with all of her heart. I like to think I inherited this trait from her," Eriko says. She also values her everlasting patience, deep intellect, keen insight, and ability to make everyone feel cherished in her presence.

The best relationship advice that Tomoko gave her daughter and son-in-law is to respect each other's differences. "Marriage involves two people who come from different experiences, traditions, and lineages that go a long way back. It's impossible for two people always to see eye-to-eye so differences in opinion will come up," Eriko says.

Growing into better individuals through being with and cherishing your partner is what makes marriage wonderful.

Erin Evelyn Sorg, 25, got married on January 3, 2015, and her vintage-inspired dress, fully beaded from top to bottom, was fit for a Downton Abbey bride. Her favorite part was witnessing her loved ones' reactions to the gown. "I'll never forget the breathless gasp of joy from my bridesmaids, the tears on my mother's face, or my husband exclaiming 'Oh my God!' when we did our first look," she says.

She accessorized with her mother's pearls; when she was a little girl, she would dress up in them and say "Someday I'm going to wear these pearls when I get married, just like Mommy."

Erin's mom, Paula Jane, 46, tied the knot in 1988. The videographer was standing so far to the right that her dad's best man was blocking his view during the ceremony, so all you can see on their wedding video was her dad's nose. "My parents always joke that it looks like my mother was marrying my dad's nose in their video!" Erin says.

In addition to a great sense of humor, Erin loves her mom's fiery, loyal side, even though they occasionally butt heads. "I can come to her for anything, and her loyalty, love and support gives me the hope and determination to do what I need to do. She's the one who shines light in the dark places that I face," she explains.

Erin and her mom shared a mother-daughter dance to their favorite song at the wedding: "Best Day" by Taylor Swift.

Pepa Casselman, 33, is a self-professed jeans and t-shirt kind of girl, but she pulled out all the stops with her glamorous Maggie Sottero sheath at her wedding on August 23, 2014. Not only was it appropriate for her barn venue but the straps allowed her to be comfortable while dancing and the beading shimmered in the nighttime. "I just loved it. It kills me that I have it stored in a closet, and I can't enjoy it every day!" Pepa says.

Pepa's grandmother, Mary, helped raise her up until the age of 11 when sadly, she passed away. "She is the reason I work hard, strive for perfection, and use my creativity in everything I do," she says.

Pepa and her husband honored all of their grandparents, parents, and even aunts and uncles by displaying their wedding photos at their big day. The bride also put her grandmother's wedding dress on display. "I couldn't imagine getting married without her there in spirit to wish me the best of luck," Pepa says. She believes that her grandma would have adored her husband because he is warm and friendly, just like her grandpa was.

"If I learned anything from her, it was to marry the man that you truly love, and I can honestly say that I did," she adds.

"I really love this getting-ready shot because it was like having both of my moms there with me," Pepa explains

Taylor Elizabeth Morris-Metzger, 35, has always loved satin since she was just a child. Her grandmothers and mother would give her blankets or pajamas made from the fabric since she liked the way it felt on her skin.

So when the time came for her to get married on April 12, 2014, she stunned in a Kathy Ireland for Mon Cheri dress with a satin train. "I knew in my heart that it was The One," she says. Trying on her gown was the first time she truly felt like a bride.

Taylor would confide in her mom, Billie, about anything and everything, and she never failed to make her laugh. Sadly, she passed away before she could see her daughter tie the knot: "I miss her more than I could ever express in words."

The bride placed an “In Memoriam” chair in the front row of the ceremony with photos of her and her late mother so that she could be there in spirit with the couple on their big day.

Taylor carried a peony and rose bouquet with white ostrich feathers, in remembrance of her late mother. "After my grandmother had passed, she would always tell me that if I saw a feather, I would know that she was nearby watching over me. Feathers have had a special significance for me ever since," the bride reveals.

The most enduring lesson that Taylor's mom taught her was "You never know if you're going to make or break someone that day by how you treat them, so be nice to everyone."

The best marriage advice that Taylor's mom gave her before she passed was to "Marry a man who loves women and treats them with respect, especially their Momma." She also encouraged her daughter to read The Hard Questions: 100 Questions to Ask Before You Say "I Do" before getting married.

Francesca Culp, 25, is an only child, so her wedding was very special to her parents, especially her mom. She legally married her husband just two weeks after getting engaged since he's in the Air Force, and they wanted to make it official in case he ended up being deployed.

On September 5, 2014, they celebrated with a wedding reception in Nebraska, and the bride wore a La Sposa wedding gown for the momentous occasion. "I loved the mermaid fit, scalloped neckline, unique design at my waist, and that my dress was all lace. I was pretty comfortable in it despite the fact that it was very heavy," Francesca says.

Francesca's mother, Adrianna, immigrated to the U.S. from El Salvador when she was 11 years old because her sister Gabby needed to have surgery to fix a hole in her heart. In Latin America during the '70s, there weren't many opportunities for rehabilitation/schooling for children with disabilities — Gabby has Down's Syndrome — so her grandparents chose to stay in the states. Adrianna sacrificed her childhood to raise Gabby while her parents worked to put food on the table. Years later, when she gave birth to Francesca, they moved from Maryland to Los Angeles to help raise her daughter so that she could work and not have to pay for a sitter.

"I am grateful to not only my mother, but my grandparents and father as well, who have all sacrificed so many opportunities to allow me to succeed in life," Francesca says.

Francesca's mother, Adrianna, tied the knot in 1986 wearing a JC Penney dress. "Of course, she looked gorgeous and rocked those lace sleeves!" her daughter says.

"One of the things I love most about her is how giving she is. Ever since I was little, she's instilled in me not only the importance of counting our blessings but also serving those who are less fortunate," Francesca adds. For example, Adrianna runs reo bakpak, a company that donates school supplies to children's organizations in downtown Los Angeles.

Her marriage advice for her daughter was sweet and to the point: "Be good to him, and he'll be good to you!" Right now, Francesca's husband is stationed in Nebraska while she's finishing her clinical rotations as an occupational therapist in Los Angeles. "We can't wait to continue being newlyweds since we've been apart for almost our entire first year of marriage," she says.

Francesca asked her Aunt Gabby to be her maid of honor, just like her mother did at her wedding. "One of my favorite photos from my Mom's wedding is a picture of her and Gabby kissing, and I wanted to recreate that photo for them," she says.

Molly Garbe, 28, wed in Tucson, Arizona on March 7, 2015 in a Shareen Bridal dress that was elegant and timeless yet edgy and comfortable, all in one. The silk taffeta, A-line style featured a plunging neckline, thin straps, and an open back. "I felt like a princess ready to dance the night away under the full moon. I'm hoping to wear it again!" Molly says.

Molly's 26-year-old sister, Megan Padden, shares her boho-chic style; she got married the previous year on October 4th, wearing a Sarah Seven wedding dress with a lace corset bodice and an organza skirt. "I felt like a beautiful goddess!" Megan says.

In a creative twist, she accessorized with her mom's wedding necklace, which she styled as a belt. That wasn't the only similarity — Megan and her mom both married at venues in Connecticut that had wishing wells. "I knew we picked the right place to get married when I saw the wishing well, which I interpreted to be a sign of good luck," the bride says.

Molly and Megan's mother, Mary, was involved in the wedding planning process for both sisters; she offered her input and advice and accompanied them to appointments, including dress fittings. "She has the deepest faith in the ones she loves, and I wouldn't have gotten through my wedding day without her," Molly says. "I like to think I inherited her positive outlook on life!"

"She has so much love and compassion in her heart, and I can only hope to be as amazing as she is one day," Megan adds.

Leah Marie Smith, 30, channeled Beyoncé at her August 2, 2014 wedding in a glamorous trumpet-style Alfred Angelo gown with Swarovski crystals around the necklace and waist, and a lace-up back. "My seamstress added the belt at the last minute, and it made the dress even more fantastic!" she says.

Leah and her husband chose the same colors that her parents had at their wedding: the bridesmaids wore light blush pink dresses, and the groomsmen donned gray tuxedos.

"My 60-year-old mom, Stacy, is the epitome of class and grace, with a heart of gold. She has taught me so much about life and love, and I feel more than prepared to take this journey with my wonderful husband," Leah says.

The most valuable marriage lesson that Leah's mom passed down to her is to love unconditionally and be patient; this advice will certainly come in handy as her daughter prepares for the next chapter of her life: parenthood. Leah is expecting her first child, a son, in August of 2015.

Felicia Elise Macchi, 31, wore a Mori Lee mermaid gown featuring a sweetheart neckline and V-shaped back to her nuptials on December 6, 2014. "It epitomized everything I loved about our wedding day: it was gorgeous and romantic with a touch of sparkle," she says. She accessorized it with a beaded belt.

Felicia's mother, Patricia, eloped in 1978, and she and her husband threw a big wedding reception ten years later with family, friends, and their children to renew their vows. Her daughter was the flower girl at the festivities.

When it was Felicia's turn to get married, she honored her mom by asking her to walk her down the aisle and give her away at the ceremony. She and her husband also presented their moms with long-stemmed white roses at the ceremony as a symbol of their gratitude and love.

"My mom helped to shape how I give love and receive it, which has defined who I am. She has always been my constant," Felicia says.

Like her, she is passionate, loves karaoke and dancing, uses her hands a lot when she speaks and isn't embarrassed to scream the loudest for her siblings on the soccer field or after a theater performance.

Meagan Ashley Simpson, 28, dared to be different at her April 26, 2014 wedding with a taupe trumpet gown by Sue Wong featuring passementerie trim and delicate beadwork. "My favorite part of my dress was the color. I wanted a style that wasn't white or ivory, as well as something with a vintage vibe," Meagan says.

Meagan's mom, Linda Ann, was a quintessential Southern Belle at her wedding on August 15, 1982. Crazy fact: Her hat and veil accidentally caught on fire during the candle-lighting portion of the Greek Orthodox ceremony but thankfully, she didn't get hurt!

"I took this wedding portrait of her (sans accessories) in 2009 as an anniversary gift for my dad," Meagan says.

Meagan and Linda Ann often get mistaken for sisters, and they even sound a lot alike. Her mom taught her the importance of communication, as well as how to be less stubborn (Meagan tells us she inherited that trait from her dad!).

"Not only is she an amazing mother, but she's an incredible friend, and I am so thankful for our strong bond. She is one of the most patient and selfless people I have ever known," Meagan says.

Kristin Walker O'Neill, 32, collaborated with her friend Sarah Lowry to design the gown that she wore to her wedding on September 6, 2014. "When I stepped into it, I felt as if I was celebrating everything that was unique about me," she says. The plunging backline and silhouette were dramatic and bold yet the Chantilly lace showcased her softer, romantic side.

Originally, Kristin wanted to wear her grandmother Lura's wedding gown from the '40s but it was too small. The dress was handmade by a friend who was a professional seamstress — just like her granddaughter's dress, 73 years later! She paid $15 for the conservative, satin style, which was an extravagant sum at the time.

Kristin tells us that her mother and grandmother have molded her into the person that she is today. "I love both of them for allowing me to be my quirky self yet guiding me through life with their wisdom, kindness, and a dose of tough love when I needed it," she says. She's inherited their curiosity for life and passion for travel.

The best marriage advice she received from her mom was "You'll know when it feels right." "It never did before I met my husband, but now I know what she meant, and I thank her for that sentiment," Kristin says.

Melissa Mirgaine, 32, tied the knot on July 26, 2014, wearing a fit-and-flare gown by Allure Couture featuring lace appliqués. "I loved my gown; I wanted a long train and lots of sparkles, and when I tried it on, I knew it would complement my country-chic wedding theme," Melissa says.

Melissa and her husband got married in Little Rock, Arkansas, and their families flew all the way from France (where they currently reside) for the ceremony, including her mom, Annie.

On the morning of the wedding, Annie sewed her gold baptism pendant into her daughter's wedding gown corset so that she would be close to her heart as she walked down the aisle.

"She has a gigantic heart and always gives me the best advice, including giving love in order to receive it and making every day count. She is the best mother I ever could have wished for," Melissa says.

Allison Spoelhof, 26, chose a satin fit-and-fare gown by Kathy Ireland for Mon Cheri to marry her husband on September 27, 2014. It hit her figure in all the right places. The train was her favorite part: "I felt so sophisticated and glamorous as if I was in a wedding from the movies," she recalls.

She accessorized with the same bracelet that her mother wore at her wedding in 1983 at the University of Notre Dame, where she went to college. "The pictures always made it seem to me like she had been married in a fairy tale," Allison says.

Allison tells us there is "no way I would have been able to get through my wedding day (or the planning) without my biggest cheerleader by my side" — her mother, Mary. She gave her the same advice about marriage that she had emphasized throughout her entire life: always be kind, do all you can for others and stay true to who you are.

Caroline Teunis, 27, fell head-over-heels for her Wtoo ballgown from the moment she tried it on. "It was simple, classy, and beautiful, but it didn't take away from the person wearing it, either," she says. Bonus: It even had pockets! The bride said her "I dos" on August 8, 2014.

Caroline wore her mother's pearl necklace and bracelet on her big day. Her "something old" was a diamond brooch that belonged to her grandmother on her mother's side, who passed away a year ago.

Caroline describes her mother, Gillian, as being quiet, shy, insanely smart, independent and wise. She's the type of person who will find something positive to say about everyone, even the people who deserve it the least. "I'd like to think she raised a kind, strong, smart, and loving daughter. Also, I'm pretty sure she passed her chocolate/dessert addiction down to me, too!" Caroline says.

"My mom always taught me to believe in myself, stand up for myself and most importantly, she taught me what real love is leading by example. There’s no greater relationship than the one a child has with their mother. She's my mom, but she's my truest friend, too," Caroline says.

Jennifer Ash Barak, 42, got married nearly 13 years ago, but she still remembers how she felt wearing her satin and tulle Oleg Cassini dress. "At least once in your life, you should be able to dress up like a princess and have all eyes on you in excitement for the occasion. Yes, things might have gone wrong, but at the end of the day, I was married, and it was surreal," she says. Jennifer loved that the gown was within her mother's price range, as it meant a lot to her to buy it for her daughter.

The bride accessorized with pearl earrings that had been passed down throughout the generations.

An elegant sense of style runs in the family: Jennifer's mother, Candybeth, walked down the aisle in 1968 wearing a crepe sheath with beaded trim.

"My mother's ability to be strong in any situation is the trait I love the most about her. I've inherited her frugal side, and even though I am successful, I still look for what is going to make me happy that will also leave a little change in my pocket," Jennifer says.

She also credits her mom with teaching her the value of being true to herself, not sweating the small stuff and spending alone time with her husband.

Chantale Brady, 31, felt "more beautiful and comfortable in my skin than I ever imagined possible" in her striped organza Hayley Paige gown. As soon as she tried on the dress, she couldn't wait to show her fiancé her more glamorous side at their wedding on August 23, 2014. (She typically wears hospital scrubs for work and jeans and a tank top when she's off-duty.)

Chantale's mother, Donna, got remarried in 2000, and she was one of her bridesmaids. "There are no words to describe how lucky I am to have her in my life as she is a constant inspiration to me," she says.

Despite putting in long hours at the office, this hard-working businesswoman always manages to find the time to support everyone else. Chantale chose to honor her mom at her wedding by having her accompany her down the aisle, along with her father. "Since I was little, she has always supported my choices and encouraged me to follow my dreams, so who better to be by my side on this journey?" Chantale says.

Dana Aschman Barry, 27, got married in a Disney-themed celebration on June 21, 2014. When she discovered her Martina Liana dress, the moment was even more magical than she had anticipated: "I couldn't stop turning and staring at myself in the mirror! I felt elegant and sophisticated just like the city of Charleston (where we tied the knot). I knew it was the one for me." The modified A-line gown featured lace straps and a keyhole back with buttons. The bride added a beige sash to make the dress "pop."

Dana and her mother, Kimberly, had very different wedding styles; she still teases her about the hat that she wore to her big day in 1987. Her father's fraternity brothers performed a special dance at the reception that culminated with mooning all of the guests! They couldn't have anticipated that decades later, choreographed surprise wedding dances would become mainstream on YouTube.

In addition to inheriting her mother's blonde hair and brown eyes, Dana tells us they're both social butterflies, and when it comes to planning trips or vacations, they handle all of the coordinating. Growing up, Dana's father often had to travel for work, and her mom juggled caring for three kids and studying for her real estate licensing exam. "She loves and supports us kids wholeheartedly in anything that we do. This model of strength and independence has helped me become the woman that I am today," Dana says.

The best marriage advice she received? "Never go to bed angry!"

Polina Vadeika, 23, got married on May 28, 2014, in Pawley's Island, South Carolina. Her wedding was incredibly intimate, with 10 of her nearest and dearest in attendance, including her family from Russia and her husband's family from Lithuania. The bride helped design her wedding dress, which was made in Europe and featured a tulle overskirt and strapless bodice.

Polina's mom Irina Pogulyay had a very modest wedding on April 26, 1991. Her marriage advice to her daughter and son-in-law was to "Love and respect each other unconditionally."