The Wedding Dress Story

Wedding dress shopping. Where to even begin? There are all of the TV shows where the brides find their dresses and start to cry because the know exactly the dress they want after trying on 25 dresses or so, and there are the tv shows where the brides and all of the guests cry or fight or pull each other’s hair out. Dramatic. You can imagine my nervousness before I went in to the shop to get my wedding dress a week ago.

First of all, the shop I went to had all of these warnings to heed before you go to purchase your dress that made me weary:

“Save the group shopping for the mall…”     But I want to bring everyone! I did not heed this warning. I brought 7 people with me. Don’t get me wrong, I understand why they are saying this. If too many people go and everyone has different styles, they might bicker back and forth and never agree, making it more stressful on the bride. I had a great group with me so I wasn’t worried about this happening. Plus, I’m stubborn, so even if they hated what I liked, I would get it anyways. Problem solved, make your own choice and save yourself some stress.

“Wear appropriate undergarments..”  WHAT? Are they going to watch me change? This worried me. I’m not in my tip top wedding shape! Plus I don’t own a strapless bra. Shouldn’t these dresses take care of that problem? I shouldn’t even need a bra. (This worry was for nothing, a bra was not necessary, and they did not watch me change..phew.)

“Be prepared to give us your budget…”   I don’t know my budget. I don’t want to know my budget, I don’t want to get disappointed (which is exactly why they ask this question in the first place..I get it.) Shockingly, the dress I picked was about 700 dollars cheaper than I expected. I could not believe my eyes.

There was also that battle of “ivory, champagne, or wedding white.” Wow, let me tell you, I didn’t know the difference between the three and I surely didn’t know how distinct the differences are until I stood there in my ivory gown next to a bride who had on a wedding white gown. Holy smokes, let me just tell you, there is a world of difference. Both beautiful, but that ivory just left me a “vintage bride” feel which is what I was looking for. Once again proving my theory that I’m a horrible excuse for a bride. =)

The day started off well. I got up, had a mimosa with the husband to be (to calm the nerves of course), got dressed, headed to the bridal dress shop and met with my entourage. I tried on the first dress which “set the bar”. It was a GORGEOUS dress that I thought was going to be hard to beat. I tried on the second dress, no comparison. It was awful (it literally looked like a wedding cake). I immediately took it off and went to try on the third dress. My face lit up as soon as I put it on, I walked comfortable, I knew right then that it was THE one. I tried on 6 more dresses I believe, and none of them brought that smile to my face. I still wanted to try on that first dress though, because I loved it as well. I went to re-try on that first dress and knew instantly that it was not my wedding dress. As soon as I put the dress I chose back on to get fitted, that huge smile returned to my face. I did have that “AHA” moment; I knew I was going to choose this particular dress. I did not cry though (although my fiancés mother did three times). It was a very emotional day, but not the dramatic scene that kept playing in my head. After we bought the dress, we had a champagne toast (I felt so classy and sophisticated and grown up, it was great), we all went to a “girls lunch” where we discussed wedding plans.

So far, I haven’t had too much stress with planning this wedding. Maybe because I’m not a typical bride? I’m not really sure. Everyone makes it seem like it is the most stressful time of your life but I just can’t understand that. It’s wonderful! I feel like a princess! Well, more like I feel important, and it’s making me a little bit saddened that I don’t get to be a “bride to be” or a “fiancé” for very much longer (granted, I get to be a bride and a wife, which I am sure will be even better).

Stay tuned. The next posts will be all about bridal fairs and Save the Date cards!

Until then, xoxoxo

Michele