Gorgeous and Outrageous: St. Louis Has It All

By Elaine Viets
The public has spoken! The St. Louis Bridesmaid Dress Contest took place Thursday, Nov. 15, to a packed house at the main St. Louis County Library. More than 200 people attended.

To celebrate Josie Marcus’ wedding to veterinarian Dr. Ted Scottsmeyer, I held two bridesmaid dress contests – a national contest, and a special contest for my hometown, St. Louis.

The contests have two categories: Most Gorgeous Bridesmaid Dress and Most Outrageous.

The St. Louis contestants were flashed on a big screen in the library auditorium. The pictures were a revelation. I thought the older bridesmaid dresses would be the ugliest.

Clearly, I was wrong.

You’re looking at the first place winner for the St. Louis Most Gorgeous Bridesmaid Dress Contest. Betty Jean Funk wore this gown, fit for Cinderella. Betty Jean didn’t expect to win. Her daughter entered her photo in the contest.

I hope Betty will invite her to share the prize: a chocolate tasting party at Kakao, 7272 Manchester Road in Maplewood. Josie Marcus lives in Maplewood and loves Kakao’s sea salt caramels. Her best friend Alyce thinks the marshmallow pies are amazing.

Anna Gulliford is a perfect example of my theory that the newer bridesmaid dresses deserve another wearing. The library crowd voted her pink dress second place winner in the Most Gorgeous category.

Maybe she can wear that dress when she enjoys her prize. She won dinner for two at The Fountain on Locust, 3037 Locust Street in midtown St. Louis. You can see why the Fountain is one of the most photographed restaurants in St. Louis. Have an ice cream martini for me, Anna.

Now, on to the Most Outrageous St. Louis Bridesmaid Dress. Barbara Chambers actually wore this red 1976 bridesmaid dress to the contest at the St. Louis County Library, an amazing achievement after 36 years. Barbara said a friend duct-taped her into the dress for the event, but I sure couldn't tell. Barbara cheerfully modeled the dress for the audience, who overwhelmingly voted her the winner.

Barbara doesn’t regret wearing this dress. In fact, she wears it during the holidays. "After my children were born, I always had a  Mrs. Santa Claus dress," she said.

 

 Barbara won first prize for the Most Outrageous Bridesmaid Dress in St. Louis. That’s a VIP Tour for ten to the Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Ave., in Josie’s hometown of  Maplewood. Ted and Josie both like Schlafly beer.

Karen Grace won second place for this Outrageous St. Louis Bridesmaid Dress. That dress may have been pretty in the 1970s, but Karen says that flower print belongs on a couch now.

Karen can take comfort in her prize, a gooey buttercake from Gooey Louie’s, 6483 Chippewa Street in  St. Louis.  Gooey buttercake is a rich St. Louis coffeecake.

Want your chance to vote? Check out the National Elaine Viets Bridesmaid Dress Contest. You can vote through Nov. 30. You get one vote in each category –- Most Gorgeous and Most Outrageous. We’ve got some doozies.

 

To see the entries and to cast your vote, click on this photo of my bridesmaid at www.elaineviets.com.

May the best – and the worst – dress win.

Comments

[Charlaine Harris]

No one is more fun than you.

[Elaine Viets]

Can't do it alone. My readers are the ones who make this contest fun.

[Mario in DC]

Interesting. To me, Barbara Chambers's red dress is gorgeous. The pink dress Anna Gulliford wears, however, makes me shudder. Obviously, I just ain't got no fashion sense. (^_^) -- Mario R.

[Elaine Viets]

I guess beauty (and ugliness) is in the eye of the beholder, Mario. I did see Barbara's dress in person. It's a bit overdone.
I liked the pink dress, and Ann has the shoulders to wear it.

[Mario in DC]

I certainly didn't mean to criticize your choices -- mine was, indeed, an "eye of the beholder" comment. And, as you suggest, I didn't see the dresses in person. I'll stand by my "I ain't got no fashion sense", though, since that is indubitably true. It's got me into trouble more than once.--Mario R.

[Elaine Viets]

No offense taken, Mario. The categories were chosen by the women who submitted the dresses.
As for fashion sense, I'm relieved that photos of me from the 1970s have thankfully disappeared. When I think of all those poor polyesters killed so I could have clothes . . .

[Alan P.]

The 70's did not fair well that night. It was a packed house! probably 150 people.

[Elaine Viets]

If you think the 70s are bad, Alan, take a look at the 80s bridesmaid dresses in the national contest at elaineviets.com
Choosing the most outrageous will be difficult.