Saying Yes To The Dress

Over the past couple of months I have experienced a lot of raised eyebrows. I know with wedding planning in general people will always have opinions of what you should and shouldn't do. I am thankful for my family and friends who are helping me plan the wedding because without their opinions I would have no idea what to do! Then there are other opinions, specifically on me not having my dress yet, that were starting to stress me out. The conversations would go like this

"So do you have a dress yet"
"No, not yet, going to pick one out soon though"
"Wait when is the wedding? June? And you don't have a dress?"
(enter the raised eyebrow).

or

"So what does the dress look like?"
"Oh I don't have one yet"
(enter raised eyebrow)
"You do know that it will probably take six months from when you order the dress to when you get it, right?"

Jeez luiz! I know I am a deadbeat bride but I was beginning to feel like the fact that I didn't get my dress yet meant I would be wearing a burlap sack down the aisle.

Which is why I am pleased to tell you that as of last Saturday, I DO HAVE MY WEDDING DRESS!

On Saturday my MOH Andy picked me up and we headed to the shop, meeting my bridesmaid Jenn there. Now, I had some firm ideas of what I wanted in my mind. Simple. Elegant. Not strapless. Not too bridey.

The saleswoman who was helping us gave me really great advice right off the bat - don't rule anything out before you try it on. So I asjusted my expectations and decided I would do that. Any dress you bring me I will try on and not judge it until I am on the pedestal in front of the three way mirror.

Right off the bat I realized that I was dead wrong about not wanting strapless. I have seen wedding photos of brides (no one reading this blog, I assure you) who are curvy woman like myself and chose to wear a strapless gown and they ended up looking like the prow of a ship. Side-boob/ lots of cleavage at a wedding is just tragic to me. But what I didnt realize is that if you have a dress that fits you, strapless is actually very elegant and lovely!

And my "I want a simple" dress went out the window too because the simple dresses just did not suit me. I don't dress simply on a daily basis. I like a little sass. A little flair. So it makes sense that my wedding dress would have these qualities as well.

I probably tried on ten dresses and there were two that I loved, and was hemming and hawwing between. Then I tried on the last dress.

OMG

As soon as I put it on, before I even saw myself, I loved it. And when I looked in the mirror it was just confirmed. This was MY dress. And I never in a million years thought I would have that moment when you just know that this is your dress, I didnt realize I cared about the dress, until I had it on and realized this is the dress I am getting married in! It was such a cool feeling.

I couldnt have dont it without Andy and Jenn - and though I missed having my mom there I felt I was in good hands. I think the best part of the whole experience was at the end of all the fittings, this older woman who was there with her own daughter who was getting married, came up to me and said "I have seen every dress you tried on today and that last one was just perfect on you. Gorgeous". So even though my mom wasn't there, a mom approved of the dress. And when I sent my mom a photo of the dress minutes after purchasing it, she approved as well!

Even more proof it's my dress - it doesnt need to be altered AT ALL. It fits me perfectly the way it is and is the perfect length. So I actually have the dress at home now, in a garment bag, in a closet. And let me tell you it is taking all of my strength not to try it on and flounce around the house when Adam isn't home. I may take Andy up on his offer and have him keep the dress at his house to prevent the possiblity of having a pinot-fueled rehearsal by myself in the kitchen.

So now I welcome any and everyone to ask me "So did you get a dress yet" so I can answer emphatically "I SURE DID AND IT IS PERFECT!"