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    The Wedding Dress
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    The Wedding Dress
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    The Wedding Dress
    Audiobook9 hours

    The Wedding Dress

    Written by Rachel Hauck

    Narrated by Eleni Pappageorge

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Four brides. One dress. A tale of faith, redemption, and timeless love. Charlotte owns a chic Birmingham bridal boutique. Dressing brides for their big day is her gift-and her passion. But with her own wedding day approaching, why can't she find the perfect dress-or feel certain she should marry Tim? Then Charlotte purchases a vintage dress in a battered trunk at an estate sale. It looks brand-new, shimmering with pearls and satin, hand-stitched and timeless in its design. But where did it come from? Who wore it? Who welded the lock shut and tucked the dog tags in that little sachet? Who left it in the basement for a ten-year-old girl? And what about the mysterious man in the purple vest who insists the dress had been "redeemed"? Charlotte's search for the gown's history-and its new bride-begins as a distraction from her sputtering love life. But it takes on a life of its own as she comes to know the women who have worn the dress. Emily from 1912. Mary Grace from 1939. Hillary from 1968. Each with her own story of promise, pain, and destiny. And each with something unique to share. For woven within the threads of the beautiful hundred-year-old gown is the truth about Charlotte's heritage, the power of courage and faith, and the beauty of finding true love.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOasis Audio
    Release dateApr 3, 2012
    ISBN9781608149919
    Unavailable
    The Wedding Dress
    Author

    Rachel Hauck

    Rachel Hauck is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestselling author of The Wedding Dress, which was also named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times and was a RITA finalist. Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and pet and writes from her ivory tower. Visit her online at RachelHauck.com; Facebook: RachelHauck; Twitter: @RachelHauck; Instagram: @rachelhauck.

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    Reviews for The Wedding Dress

    4/5

    162 ratings29 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Loved this story! Three generations interwoven into one story in a very creative way.
    • 5/5
      I Loved this book about "Love", it is so very heartwarming and refreshing. The story begins in 2012, but again it begins in 1912. The book keeps unfolding, and the beautiful wedding dress is at the heart of this story. Four different brides! Yes, Love is everywhere, enduring! You can just picture this beautiful dress, and then picture each bride in it. I never really expected the ending in this book, and it is such a great story, that seems to have really happened just as it is written.We live in the lives of all of the characters with the help of Ms Hauck...I wanted to be back in 1912, and them again at each of the three other weddings.I would read this book again and again. I highly recommend this historical fiction book!I received this book from the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.
    • 4/5
      This was a story that took me by surprise and after figuring out where the story was going, I was hooked. I would like to copy the author's note at the back of the book as it was precious: "As I prayed over this book, I began to see the wedding dress as a symbol for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It never wears out. It fits everyone who tries it on. It doesn't need to be altered. And it's always in style. The truth and love of Jesus is alive today. It is for everyone. Whether you've been hindered through culture or family like Emily, or gifted with the Gospel like Marcy Grace, or wounded like Hillary, or lost and looking for redemption like Charlotte, Jesus provides the healing and answer we are all looking for. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Not for a select few. But for each one of us."Charlotte owns a Birmingham bridal boutique and does a great job of finding the perfect dress for her brides. She just can't seem to find the time though to plan her own wedding to Tim; so it shouldn't have surprised her when Tim wants to back off from the wedding date and take it slower. Charlotte will find an old but in perfect condition wedding dress in an old trunk to bids on at an estate sale. This will begin her search to discover the story behind this dress. You will meet Emily the original owner of it from 1912, Mary Grace from 1939 and Hillary from 1968; and all three ladies will have a different story to tell that is precious and endearing. And Charlotte will discover so much more about herself, her family and her feelings for Tim along this great journey, all about 'the Wedding Dress'. Great job Rachel Hauck! This story is a keeper on my bookshelf.
    • 2/5
      Interesting premise- but too sappy to really enjoy.
    • 2/5
      The story is endearing, but too simple and unbelievable at times. The story of a wedding dress designed by a black designer and magically worn by four brides, with the three of bride related to one another. The flipping from bride to bride and story to story became tedious and confusing at times. The relationship of the first bride and the fourth bride is revealed in many clues throughout the story. The last relationship seemed very stiff and emotionless. A story such as this would ensue a crying spell, but this emotion never presented itself.
    • 3/5
      The Wedding Dress was a sweet story overall, but one that I never really considered giving more than three stars to. I liked the idea of the wedding dress that gets passed from woman to woman and magically fits them all without alterations (think: the jeans from the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, only with the dress passing through time and between relative strangers rather than going by mail among the four friends), and for the most part enjoyed the back-and-forth perspective in the novel between the current heroine (Charlotte) and the dress's original owner (Emily). I even enjoyed seeing things from their significant others' viewpoints as well (Tim and Daniel). The few times it went beyond that, though--especially the solitary time we saw things from the point-of-view of the dress's second owner--seemed more forced. In that instance, it really seemed as if the story could have been just told by the character to Charlotte in the present (which is actually how Charlotte learned the story anyway, so it would have made sense to do it that way.)

      I'm not quite sure I exactly understand who the man in purple is supposed to be--I gather he has something to do with the passing on of the dress, and imagine there must be some sort of Biblical/religious reference that I'm just not getting--but I almost feel as if the story would have been stronger without his involvement in it. He didn't do much more for me beyond making me scratch my head a bit, wondering just who he was. This book too was a bit heavier on the Christian aspect than I am usually comfortable with, though it was fairly secondary until the end, when I felt like I was getting bashed over the head with the "This is Christian Fiction!" stick.

      One of my favorite parts of the story was the history of Birmingham as seen through Emily's portions--they offered a fascinating glimpse into the pre-Civil Rights era South. I thought that bit was very well done.

      Overall, I did enjoy this book. People who appreciate Christian fiction with a historical fiction twist as well should find it a solid read.
    • 2/5
      Read this on the recommendation of a friend after a discussion about Christian literature. My standpoint is that much of it is hard to stomach -- that true spirituality can be conveyed without being heavy-handed. She said this book wasn't hard-sell, and was good. I found it syrupy and that the religious aspect interfered with the story.
    • 4/5
      Review originally published on my blog: AWordsWorth.blogspot.comBook provided by publisher for review, via BookSneeze programWhen Charlotte suddenly found herself the new owner of a beat-up old trunk at an estate auction, she never expected to find a wedding dress inside. She's not even entirely sure how she ended up buying it, but feels an undeniable draw to the trunk. The dress inside is not just any dress - it is The Dress. And Charlotte knows wedding dresses (she's the owner of a chic bridal boutique). The dress, and the mysterious circumstances surrounding its acquisition, tempt Charlotte into tracing the dress's history - slowly and steadily following the threads of history, little clues, to a most unexpected source. The research is a welcome distraction, as Charlotte's own engagement dissolves, and she struggles to make sense of love - while also battling an intense longing to find her father, some sense of family identity.But this dress has four stories to tell, and while Charlotte is slowing weaving together the clues, Rachel Hauck lets us see into the past. Beginning with headstrong, passionate Emily in 1912, the dress has a way of bringing out the best and truest in people's heart, particularly the best and truest of its brides. Emily, Grace and Hillary all have unique stories of their own: romance, discovery, growth, heartache, wrenching decisions. The dress finds them as they need it, touching their hearts, leaving a mark, and then showing them who needs it next.I loved the intricacy of the story, the complex layering that added a touch of intrigue, a taste of the fantastic even, without overwhelming the main story - Charlotte's story. There's an attention to detail, and a sense of careful craftsmanship that fits neatly with the idea of a handmade designer wedding gown. It's a thoughtful read, without being heavy or weighty - just right for a summer evening.
    • 4/5
      Charlotte Malone falls hard and fast for for her fiance and their wedding day is fast approaching but for some reason neither one of them seems to be doing all the things a bride and groom do. Which is especially odd for Charlotte - she owns a bridal salon and she has not even started looking for a dress for a wedding that is two months away. On a "mental health" day trip to a favorite spot she finds herself bidding on an old trunk. The trunk contains a timelessly beautiful wedding dress and her search for its history teaches her quite a bit about herself.To truly enjoy this book you have to just let reality go a bit and lose yourself in the story. If you do that you will find yourself well rewarded with a very sweet tale of a wedding dress that has stood the test of time to grace four beautiful brides.Charlotte is a well developed character; she lost her mother as a very young girl and was raised by a family friend. She never knew who her father was. She loves the big family of her fiance but doesn't feel welcomed by all of its members. She has worked very hard all her life and has built a very successful bridal business. She has a gift for finding the perfect dress for each bride - except for herself. Then she finds the beautiful dress in the trunk - at first she does not believe it is for her. She refuses to believe it is for her. She just wants to learn its history and the book tells that history in flashback. The dress has been worn by three special women - two of whom have become friends to Charlotte. And the third? I won't spoil that surprise.It's an easy to read tale, in fact I read it in one sitting while at a fire scent to tell the truth. I was heading home with the hubby when the whistle blew. I was happy to have such an engaging book to read while he and his firemen fought the fire. They put it out! The book kept me very engaged and it was a delight to read. It's part romance, part historical and part mystical and well worth reading.
    • 5/5
      Charlotte Malone is the proud owner of Malone & Company, a bridal salon that features in something besides the ordinary wedding dresses the local chain stores carry. If you're looking for something truly one of a kind and unique, then you will want to shop at Malone's, where Charlotte guarantees she find the perfect dress for you.However when Charlotte finds herself avoiding locating her own perfect dress and attending to her upcoming wedding details, she wonders if perhaps her engagement isn't to Mr. Right after all. When Charlotte attends a local auction at the Ludlow estate, she finds herself bidding on an antique chest that is welded shut. The problem is that she doesn't have the money in her budget to make such an extravagant purchase yet when she learns that some of the higher bidders plan on using it for parts, she outbids them all.Now if she can only figure out what it may contain and why someone would want to weld it shut. When she does get it open, she discovers an extraordinary dress that appears to be perfect preserved after being locked away in the chest for 100 years. Wondering about the original owner of the dress, Charlotte finds herself wondering just what stories the dress could tell if it could talk, and maybe, just maybe she'll find out.The novel, The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck is enchanting because its divided into different chapters moving forward and backwards in time returning to the dresses origin in 1912 where another soon-to-be bride is facing a similar situation as Charlotte herself is dealing with in modern day times. What Charlotte will soon discover as she researches the dresses origin is that it belonged to three different women and they each have a story to share with her, one that will help her move forward and hopefully find the love we all search for in the end.I received, The Wedding Dress compliments of Litfuse Publicity for my honest review and being a hopeful romantic knew I had to read this one. I was not disappointed and found the storyline to be unique and engaging as you discover the women who wore the dress and what lessons they learned along their own romantic journey. I rate this one a perfect 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a great historical romance!
    • 1/5
      The ending of the audiobook was completely cut off. It was replaced with a section from the beginning of the book. At least a few chapters are missing so I didn't get to know how the book ended.
    • 1/5
      Might be interesting for simple minded readers who like cardboard characters.
    • 5/5
      Wonderful book. Great character development. Was so intriguing. I will read this author again!!
    • 5/5
      Sweet. A bit strange to read a religious romance but it's not bad. Happy endung.
    • 4/5
      I'm not usually a big fan of the Romance genre but this one really got my attention. It wasn't syrupy sweet and there was some depth to it as well. This was one of the first times I have read this author and I'm not even sure why I picked it but glad I did.
    • 5/5
      Loved this book. There was even a passage that gave me chills that I read and over and over because it was very powerful. Excellent story, I loved all the brides and the way the story was crafted together.
    • 3/5
      Cross generational story of a wedding dress, improbable romance, fun read.
    • 5/5
      The Wedding Dress by Rachel HauckBook #1: The Wedding CollectionSource: Overdrive Audio/Public LibraryMy Rating: 5/5 starsThe Wedding Dress was mu first Rachel Hauck book, and the second I finished it, I went to Netgalley and my online library and requested everything else I could find! I absolutely adored this book and can’t believe I haven’t been reading/listening to Rachel Hauck prior to this. Here’s the skinny: Charlotte is all about weddings and pairing the perfect dress with the perfect bride. In fact, Charlotte has something of a gift for getting a bride into the dress that was simply made for her. Her business is tremendously successful and if she could just get her personal life on track, everything if her life would be, simply perfect. Then one day, everything changes when Charlotte buys an old trunk with a stunning, well-preserved wedding dress inside. From the moment the dress arrives in Charlotte’s life, nothing is the same. The dress is gorgeous, perfectly preserved, masterfully crafted, and has little in the way of information about who it belonged to and who made it. With the few clues that remain, Charlotte embarks on a fact-finding mission that will lead her back more than a century to the original owner and creator of the dress. Along the way, Charlotte meets a small group of people with their own history with the dress who not only help her continue to trace the dress’s history, but also become invaluable members of Charlotte’s small circle of friends. Every new clue, every new person, every new story only further convinces Charlotte of how special the dress is and how happy it is going to make the woman she eventually pairs with the dress. The Bottom Line: I truly have no idea how this book has such a low overall rating on Goodreads! I found this story to be a wonderful weaving of the past and the present, with interesting stories, absolutely endearing characters, and truly fantastic storytelling. Though Charlotte seemingly has her life together, she really doesn’t until the dress comes into her life. The dress seems to focus Charlotte, to give her a direction which ultimately balances and soothes her heart, her mind, and her life. I found every aspect of this book to be, quite simply, excellent and unreservedly recommend it to readers who love sweet, low heat, past meets present reads.
    • 3/5
      Romance abounds in this book--not only in the relationships the leading ladies have with the men who are interested in them, but also in the mystery that surrounds a vintage wedding dress discovered by Charlotte Malone, the owner of a Wedding Dress boutique. The mystery of the dress may be unknown to Charlotte--but not entirely to the reader, who is also hearing the story of Emily, a young woman from 1912 who originally had the dress made. While these young women are separated by time, they both have headstrong personalities, struggle with the men in their lives, and find support in their faith. Lovers of the romance that goes along with wedding dresses will enjoy this, and also readers who enjoy strong female characters.
    • 3/5
      This book spans 100 years and the 4 women who wore The Wedding Dress.

      Charlotte, owns a bridal store, is engages to be married. This engagements falls aparts after she buys a trunk at an auction. Once she opens the trunk and finds a perfect wedding dress that is over 100 years old. This is the dresses story and 2 of the 4 women who wore it.

    • 4/5
      A 100 year old wedding dress is at the center of this story. Where it came from, who wore it, and how it magically fits each bride with no alteration are the mysteries that need to solved before Charlotte can find happiness and peace.
    • 5/5
      Ah, connections through time--one of my favorite themes, and well-executed using a wedding dress as the object bridging the lives of the women who wore it. Ms. Hauck has a lot of fun with the wedding imagery of the Bible as well as the inherent romance of weddings. A great, satisfying read.
    • 4/5
      I really liked this story. My only complaint here is that I never felt true love between the two love interests. It aS as though they approached things from a more logical standpoint. The story line was original and I was invested heavily in the outcome.
    • 3/5
      When Charlotte Malone, the owner of a high-end bridal boutique in Birmingham, Alabama purchases an antique trunk at a charity auction, she questions her impulses. Especially when she has to tell her fiancé that she spent $1000 on the trunk. Charlotte stows the trunk in a corner of her home while she questions her own life and engagement. In the end, the trunk presents its treasure to Charlotte – a beautiful wedding dress fashioned in a timeless style.As readers we are treated to the history of the wedding dress that somehow manages to find its way into the hands of exactly the right bride(s) over a period of over one hundred years. The magical thing about the dress is that it seems to shimmer from a light that is sewn into it while it has the capability to fit the next bride without alterations of any kind.When I picked up this book I was intrigued to find that the history of the dress spanned such a long time period. I was enthralled with the story of the dress’s first owner – the woman for whom it was made initially – and how this young woman found the courage to follow her heart. To me it seemed as though this part of the story was set out in great detail and flowed easily. The stories of the next two owners of the dress seemed a bit choppy and I would have liked more detail. Charlotte’s own story was sprinkled between the stories of the other dress wearers and although it was easy to follow it didn’t seem to move forward; at times it felt as though I was stuck in Charlotte’s mind as she waffled between her independence and her not being able to call off her own wedding.I would recommend this book for lovers of historical fiction/romance. There were places where the story did not hold my interest.
    • 4/5
      a story that draws you in from the cover to the conclusion!
      pure loveliness...
      you'll be pleased you made time in your reading schedule for this one ~

      “One dress. Four women. An amazing destiny. Charlotte Malone is getting married. Yet all is not settled in the heart of Birmingham’s chic bridal boutique owner. Charlotte can dress any bride to perfection-except herself. When she discovers a vintage mint-condition wedding gown in a battered old trunk, Charlotte embarks on a passionate journey to discover the women who wore the gown before her. Emily in 1912. Mary in 1939. And Hillary in 1968. Each woman teaches Charlotte something about love in her own unique way. Woven within the threads of the beautiful hundred-year-old gown is the truth about Charlotte’s heritage, the power of faith, and the beauty of finding true love” ~ publisher
    • 4/5
      I enjoy reading books about women who find themselves and who make good decisions about their lives. I do not tend to enjoy reading Christian literature as it frequently is off-putting to me in that it feels preachy instead of uplifting and there is a very real difference to me. I enjoy being uplifted. I do not enjoy being harangued. I enjoy feeling like there is a commonality among believers and that they can take joy in that. It pains me when someone must be browbeaten into listening when they may not have expected to do so or may not have wanted to do so. I was offered The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck by Booksneeze as a freebie to read and then to offer my honest review. Booksneeze books are of the Christian nature so I knew what I was heading into when I took the book and expected to feel a bit put out by the novel.Instead, I was uplifted and felt gratified in that the novel, while touching on the better aspects of being a believer, did not beat me over the head with why certain characters were overtly right or wrong. It had a Christian tone, a lack of foul language or inappropriate tones and it made me feel like it struck the right balance in what current Christian literature could represent. The Wedding Dress is a novel that focuses on a Wedding gown that mysteriously appears for the “right bride at the right time.” The backstory behind the dress fascinates each bride and draws them all together so the final story of the gown can be told. The courage of each woman in her story is beautifully done and I think that rather than feeling heavy, the book had a light cadence that kept me with it and wanting to read it to find out what would happen.The Wedding Dress is a book that could potentially cross the gap and draw in readers who would not otherwise consider Christian based literature. I enjoyed this novel and while it may not be for everyone, I did not feel that the Christian tones would be off-putting for those that are non-believers or who are not inclined to read this type of novel. The story was compelling and the author was thoughtful. A great read. I’d give it a 4 out of 5.
    • 5/5
      Brought Me to TearsCharlotte owns a wedding dress boutique, and has a true gift for finding the perfect dress for every bride that comes her way, that is except herself. Somehow, she just cannot move forward with her wedding plans, so she visits a local historical estate for peace and quiet, but instead discovers they are having an antique sale to raise money for the foundation. She finds herself bidding on a trunk, then discovers that it holds a beautiful wedding gown, thus she begins a journey to discover who owned the gown before even though it appears unworn. Her journey takes her through one hundred years, connecting her life to this who lived gone before and opening her eyes to her own choices. The beginning gave the impression that this book is a simple romance, but it proved to be so much more. Reading about the struggles and the lives of those who wore the dress made me smile and cry as the women found their way to the man that God had chosen for them, along the way growing in faith and hope. Anyone who enjoys a beautiful love story or a story of women seeking God’s will, will love this book. Received Galley from NetGalley.com
    • 4/5
      Charlotte Malone falls hard and fast for for her fiance and their wedding day is fast approaching but for some reason neither one of them seems to be doing all the things a bride and groom do. Which is especially odd for Charlotte - she owns a bridal salon and she has not even started looking for a dress for a wedding that is two months away. On a "mental health" day trip to a favorite spot she finds herself bidding on an old trunk. The trunk contains a timelessly beautiful wedding dress and her search for its history teaches her quite a bit about herself.To truly enjoy this book you have to just let reality go a bit and lose yourself in the story. If you do that you will find yourself well rewarded with a very sweet tale of a wedding dress that has stood the test of time to grace four beautiful brides.Charlotte is a well developed character; she lost her mother as a very young girl and was raised by a family friend. She never knew who her father was. She loves the big family of her fiance but doesn't feel welcomed by all of its members. She has worked very hard all her life and has built a very successful bridal business. She has a gift for finding the perfect dress for each bride - except for herself. Then she finds the beautiful dress in the trunk - at first she does not believe it is for her. She refuses to believe it is for her. She just wants to learn its history and the book tells that history in flashback. The dress has been worn by three special women - two of whom have become friends to Charlotte. And the third? I won't spoil that surprise.It's an easy to read tale, in fact I read it in one sitting while at a fire scent to tell the truth. I was heading home with the hubby when the whistle blew. I was happy to have such an engaging book to read while he and his firemen fought the fire. They put it out! The book kept me very engaged and it was a delight to read. It's part romance, part historical and part mystical and well worth reading.
    • 5/5
      Bridal shop owner Charlotte is planning her own big day when she unexpectedly comes into possession of an antique wedding dress. Driven to learn the history of the dress, Charlotte uncovers the stories of the three women who wore the dress--and in the process, she learns about her own history.My take: This book turned out to be nothing like I expected ... and I loved it! After reading the back of the book (when will I learn not to do that?), I assumed that Charlotte would break up with her fiancé and end up with a wonderful new man. I was way off in my assumptions, though I won't go into specifics and spoil it for anyone reading.I loved the characters of Charlotte and her fiancé Tim. And while I didn't like her, I did understand Katherine, Tim's sister-in-law who believed Tim could do better for himself that Charlotte. (As a big sister, it's very easy to convince myself that I know what's best for my siblings, when in actuality, I don't know as much as I think I do!)Most of the story flips back and forth between Charlotte in the present and Emily (the original owner of the dress) in 1912. For me, the Emily story line wasn't quite as good as everything else. It was written well, but I simply could not connect with Emily or understand her choices. For example, Emily has ample evidence that her fiancé is not as wonderful as he seems, but she chooses to ignore the truth and continues planning the wedding. I could understand a weaker woman just going with it. But Emily? She's no weakling, so her actions (or really non-action) toward her fiancé just don't ring true.In the end, though, Emily's story is satisfying enough--and the way Hauck weaves Emily's story into Charlotte's is pretty masterful. Despite my qualms about Emily, I really did enjoy reading the book, and I definitely recommend it! 4-1/2 out of 5 stars.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.