Before The Ball

In April of 2014, I got a phone call from my mother. I remember I was having a very hard week, but she had news that cheered me right up. I was asked to be apart of the 2014 Society of the Debutante Charity Cotillion. I was thrilled! The ball was set for December 28th- just days after Christmas. So many thoughts ran through my mind after the first meeting in June. What dress would I wear? Who would be my escorts and stags? All exciting and somewhat overwhelming thoughts, but I had time to think about it. Over the summer, my Aunt Emily very generously offered the dress she wore to her Debutante over 15 years ago. Once I saw it, I knew it was perfect. I couldn't wait for the night to come, I was dreaming of what it would be like. Ever since I was a little girl and I saw the photo of my mom and my Uncle Jack at her Debutante, I couldn't wait to have that night for myself.

December approached very fast. I had everything worked out and ready to go. Well, almost everything. It was two days before the ball, and I did not have shoes to wear. There were strict requirements that I had to follow, but I didn't think it would be hard to find. I went to four different bridal shops, but not one carried white-white, closed toed heels. Luckily, I found a shoe at Dillard's that would work quite well.

December 28, 2014, such an exciting day! I anxiously waited for 1 o'clock, when I could go over to my best friend Emily's house to get ready. We started with our makeup- covering every pore, making sure our cheeks were contoured just right, and that our eyelashes were perfectly long. Then our hair, how do we do it? I decided with a half up-half down curled. Her mom, Ms. Denise, a wonderful lady, helped roll my hair. After about a bottle of hairspray each, we were ready to go! I went back to my house and put on my cocktail dress and waited for my escort to arrive.

My father was presenting me, my younger brother Will, and my best friend since 5th grade, Conner, were my dashing escorts. My great friends Patrick and AJ, and my boyfriend, Kyle, were my lovely stags.

 The Seville Quarter limo bus picked us up at my house. My cousin, Lauren, her family, and escorts, were already in the bus, so we were on our way. To the Pensacola Yacht Club we go!

With my parents, right before we left for the ball! I bought my cocktail dress when I was in 8th grade from Banana Republic- it is one of my favorite dresses, can't believe I bought over 6 years ago!

Come back for tomorrows post to see how the ball went and for all the pictures!

Xo,

Claudia