In my church, we are given what are called callings, which are basically our jobs to help make things run smooth. I am in charge of girls camp this year which is (IMO) a HUGE responsibility. Girls camp is something that I have THE best memories of. So when I was asked to be in charge of it, I decided that I would spend half of my time in the women's meetings and half of it in the young women's (12-17 in age) meetings so I could get to know the girls really well and not have camp be the first time we really spent time together.
Well, I've come to love the young women in our ward. (LDS talk for the church branch I attend.) When Monica was talking about her prom coming up and how her mom was working while she would be going out the door, I jumped up and down and practically begged her to let me take pictures!
We took pictures at her house, then went to her mom's work and took pictures there, then went to the park and took pictures there.. It was so fun-training for Eliza's big events. :)
I love how Monica's dress isn't showing ample amounts of cleavage or skin but she still looks lovely. When I was in Pittsburgh for Market a few weeks ago, prom was going on one night and I have to say, I was appalled at what 90% of the girls were wearing. And the guys all looked like they were ready to pimp the girls out, not take them on a nice date. I'm no prude by any means but seriously, what is it with what teenagers are wearing these days? Did their parents really let them out of the house like that? You mom's out there with teenagers- how do you deal with it? Without causing war at home I mean. I thought Monica looked beautiful and I just wanted to share her with you guys! And notice Edward's lack of a sideways baseball hat to accompany his tux. (I'm serious..)
what great pictures and they are soo cute!!! Such a nice keepsake for them to have...
Posted by: hollie | June 19, 2009 at 08:18 AM
Wow, she looked amazing.
Posted by: Laura | June 19, 2009 at 08:35 AM
What a beautiful young woman and a nice young man! I have work in a middle school for years and I think parents have just lost control! Hopefully it will turn around. Good luck with your girls' camp and enjoy reading your blog!
Posted by: Barbara | June 19, 2009 at 08:42 AM
Beautiful gown!! Why can't girls realize showing less is so much more intriguing then putting everything on display? She is a beautiful young woman and of course exceptional photos. Have fun at camp. What a great thing to be a part of.
Posted by: Ronda | June 19, 2009 at 08:46 AM
She is so very pretty! What a lovely gown being worn by an even mory lovely young women! They look so cute and happy! Great pictures!
Posted by: Trisha | June 19, 2009 at 08:54 AM
My goodness. She is beautiful, her dress is stunning and the photos are inspired! I love it all. She is going to LOVE having these photos of herself. Her date looks great too. It's less exciting when boys dress up.
I agree on the entire dress/modesty rant. SHEESH.
Posted by: Erin K | June 19, 2009 at 08:57 AM
Beautiful pictures. She made such a great choice for a prom dress and the guy isn't bad either!
I started talking about modesty with my step-daughter when she was in 3rd or 4th grade. No 2 piece swimsuits unless they covered the stomach. No showing of stomach when wearing a shirt. Lift the arms. Check.
Now that she is 18, she is making those choices for herself and I am very proud of her.
Here is a link to my post about her prom
http://handbagsbyjen.blogspot.com/2009/06/tis-season.html
I think her dress choice is very classy and she loved it.
We need to instill a confidence in our young women that will assist them in being comfortable with the person that they are and not in the reaction that revealing clothes can bring.
Posted by: Jen | June 19, 2009 at 09:02 AM
What a lovely girl! Have fun at camp, those are the best experiences...
Posted by: Audrey | June 19, 2009 at 09:02 AM
beautiful pictures!!! I love it!!! And her dress is lovely!
Of course you are LDS, all my favorites in the fabric/sewing world and the digi-scrap world are. :) My mom went to girls camp for like 10 years... hasn't for a few and she's back again this year! I hope it's awhile before I get asked to go--hopefully having babies will prevent them from calling me. :) Good luck to you, that is a huge calling.
Posted by: Sarah E. | June 19, 2009 at 09:07 AM
WOW! Great pics! What a lucky gal to have you do this for her. And how sweet of you! Where do you find all this time?? You're amazing! And I agree, she looks fabulous without looking like she left the other half of her dress at home.
Enjoy your camp!
Simone
Posted by: Simone Howell | June 19, 2009 at 09:10 AM
She is beautiful, and your pictures are wonderful! I have to say that while I have awesome memories of my own girls camp years, the best was when I got to go back as an adult with my baby sister. Have a GREAT time! I can't wait until my little princess is old enough to go.
Posted by: Katie | June 19, 2009 at 09:13 AM
I totally agree with you on all counts. My oldest daughter just turned 4, and already we don't allow her to wear A LOT of the clothing you see on the racks at the store. For 4 year olds! Someday she's going to wear those fine white unders, and I don't want it to be a lifestyle change. Hopefully, as we talk about it now, it will never be an issue. (Who am I kidding?!--I remember being 17!)
Love the photographs! And have fun at camp! A new baby prevented me from going last year, and then they called a new president, so that's out.
Posted by: Mercedes | June 19, 2009 at 09:16 AM
Oh goodness I hear ya on that. I went prom shopping with my nieces in the past and could not believe what some of these girls were putting on...with their mom right there! No way in H-E-double hockey sticks would I let my girl walk out the door like that.
Love that first shot of her and she looks beautiful in her age appropriate dress. :)
Posted by: Stacy | June 19, 2009 at 09:19 AM
I teach Girls Young Peoples at my church and I find it so rewarding - I am sure you will do great with the Girls Camp. The pictures are great!!! She looks lovely - growing up it was sometime hard to find decent dresses and things now are so much worse - lucky my mom sewed and I hope to be able to sew my girls dresses as well.
Posted by: Heather | June 19, 2009 at 09:21 AM
What a beautiful dress and young lady (and handsome young man)! It is a challenge to get girl to wear appropriate clothing simply because few stores sell appropriate and it takes a lot of planning to mail order. I wish our leaders would take an interest in the girls here! My daughter is struggling right now not fitting in (she's 16 - a rough age anyway) - the cliques are so hard to deal with - the "richies", the "bandies" and the "dramas" and my daughter doesn't qualify for any so it often "sidelined" and no one sees her or seems to care - even when brought to their attention! I just keep telling her to remember this for when she is a leader and CHANGE THINGS! Again, great pics and have a WONDERFUL time at camp!
Posted by: Jenni | June 19, 2009 at 09:23 AM
Cute! I love how modest the dress is too. I think these days a lot of people just want to be "friends" with their kids and don't want to deal with the consequences so they let them do whatever they want. It's more work to be an enforcer than it is to just let kids do what they want so it all goes downhill. I'm glad you took the time with this girl to provide praise for making a good choice. She's lucky to have you in YW.
Posted by: Silver Scissor Quilts | June 19, 2009 at 09:24 AM
I know exactly what you mean. I've seen pics of friends kids prom and their dates, OMW. Shocking. On the other hand in our ward we have some very sweet YW. They all had modest prom dresses this year and I am so glad to have the good examples for my girls 10,8,and 6. We have a while to go till prom. I love her dress! It is so lovely. I'm collecting ideas as I have been asked to make a prom dress for my niece next year for prom. Good job on the pics they are so cute!
Posted by: Cassi | June 19, 2009 at 09:26 AM
Great pictures!! I love her dress...so pretty! How fun for you to help with her prom experience!
Posted by: lynette | June 19, 2009 at 09:27 AM
Hooray for modesty!!!
Posted by: Jamie Lamb | June 19, 2009 at 09:29 AM
They are adorable! I have been appaled at the hoochie clothes they put out there for girls since my daughter had to jump up out of the 6x's (when she was four) Once you get out of the little girl clothes the fabrics get skanky and no 7 year old needs that short a rise on her jeans. I take her to Osh Kosh at the outlet mall and tell her to pick out whatever she wants. Sad thing is she is only 7 and in a size 10 (she is amazon tall)and Osh Kosh only goes up to size 12. It only gets worse from there on up. I think Jen hit it on the head though- that we need to help our girls be confident so that they can make choices they feel good about and remain true to themselves.
Posted by: mo | June 19, 2009 at 09:30 AM
Fantastic pictures! I can't wait till I can take them of my own girls! I have 4! So lots of practice ahead :) hehe! Good luck with the girls camp calling I forsee lots of planning and spur of the moment changes ahead (or maybe already past) for you
Posted by: Hillary | June 19, 2009 at 09:30 AM
i wish i would have had pictures like this for my prom! these are fantastic!
Posted by: kristen | June 19, 2009 at 09:35 AM
The young woman, her dress, these photos--all sooooo beautiful and tasteful!!! My daughter's only 2 and I'm even a little surprised at some of the stuff out there for my little one. I'm hoping I can teach her that sometimes alluring=strategically covered. But not til she's like, 40. LOL. Not really, but I do hope that I can ingrain that concept (among many others). Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: Mrs. C | June 19, 2009 at 09:43 AM
Ha! I just knew you were LDS! Totally called that one. These prom pictures are amazing and I love love love her dress.
Its amazing people may dress scandelously but subconciously they know that modest is the hotest at my prom 5 years ago my dress was voted best dress, and it was purchased at Beautifully Modest :D Gosh I loved that dress.
Posted by: Lisa Peterson | June 19, 2009 at 09:54 AM
Beautiful photos! And I agree, she has a gorgeous dress that is both lovely and modest - good for her! I never attended a prom so I never had to go prom dress shopping. But I had 'fun' trying to find a decent-looking wedding dress. I eventually found one, but it is difficult these days trying to track them down. Obviously there isn't very much demand for them. Sad :(.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 19, 2009 at 10:06 AM