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The historic Bride’s Choice mural was unveiled on Monday, Dec. 11. The mural is located on the side of The Mulberry House that faces Respess Street. 

The mural was originally painted in the 1960’s by Whiting Toler for Bride’s Choice, a bridal shop that once was located in the same space where The Mulberry House is now. 

Samantha Brinson, a local muralist, restored the 10ft-by-12ft. mural in about three-and-a-half months. She put her own spin on the mural by making the bride look more modern than one from the 1960’s. The bride’s dress, hair and makeup were changed to reflect today’s bridal trends. 

“Thank you to everyone in the City of Washington for supporting me, all of this process to being here and cheering me on,” Brinson said. 

She hopes the mural will “brighten” people’s day as they travel east on Main Street. She also hopes it will inspire more couples to get married in Washington and take pictures by the mural. 

Toler attended the unveiling on Monday. He was not expecting the attention the restored mural is receiving, but appreciates it. 

“I didn’t expect people to pay this much attention,” Toler said, “but it certainly is nice and I appreciate it.” 

Toler joked that seeing a mural he painted be restored about 60 years later makes him “feel old.” 

“It’s really interesting,” Toler said about the mural being restored. “It makes me feel very old that they’re restoring some of my work,” he said laughing. 

Toler also designed and built the water droplet pinball sculpture in the North Carolina Estuarium on Water Street.