I really wish I had a wireless router, because I was sitting in bed the other night, head spinning from too many ideas, and I started composing this post that was really funny. Of course, can I remember it now? NO.
Anyhow, so.. my dress story!
I am an engineer by trade. I am also of the feminine gender. So combine the two, and you get a woman who likes girly stuff, but who is practical about it, it seems. I have never been one of those little girls who swanned about her house holding a pillowcase to the back of her head, pretending to be a bride. I have never thought about flowers, or colors, or my dress.
That is, until I realized that my then-boyfriend was "the one" and then I went all gung-ho on getting ideas and such. I read weddingbee and style me pretty and other wedding blogs... signed up on the knot so I could look at dresses (which was hilarious when I started getting stuff from vendors in the mail)... started compiling pictures of bouquets and dresses and invitation designs and centerpieces and hair ideas ad nauseum for when I really got engaged. But as for my dress? It turns out that I didn't need any of them.
I got engaged on Valentine's Day when I was out visiting my boyfriend... and it just so happened that the Sunday after I got back, there was a large bridal fair. It was fate! I had to go! So I asked a friend who loves everything wedding-related if she'd go with me and she, of course, agreed. At this fair, I found out that a local bridal shop was moving, and had put quite a number of its stock 30% to 70% off. I like me a good deal, so I made a mental note to go.
This should tell you what a bridal novice I am - I showed up with dirty hair, wearing a bra with straps, and some pretty sketchy underwear (NOT my best day - I swear, I really am a hygienic person!). I wandered over to the "plus size" section - by the way, I wear a 16, but that translates to an 18 or 20 in bridal gowns. Thanks, wedding industry, as if women aren't hyper-conscious about their sizes already - and chose 5 gowns that I would like to try on. Keeping to that whole "good deal" mindset, I also tried to choose gowns that were somewhat less expensive. They had stickers for $199, $499, $799, and $999, I think.
So I try on the first dress, and it's got short sleeves made of satin, with a chapel train, and a lace overlay that was cathedral length. It was really pretty - I liked the idea of trailing lace, and bustling it up would be easy-peasy. But holy hell, that satin was HOT! Next!
Oh yeah - and it was at this point that I realized why girls always bring their mothers or friends with them - it's because those dresses are near-impossible to zip up on your own. And if you get a lace-up gown? Fugeddaboudit.
So I tried on the second gown, which was gooorgeous. Again, lacy overlay with train, but sleeveless with a v-neck. The only problem being, the bodice didn't quite fit me right (I'm short-waisted with long legs) and I couldn't figure out what kind of bra I could wear with it, because it dipped pretty low in the back too. Going braless is NOT an option for me (see: size 16 above). While I thought it was pretty, the logistics kind of ruled it out. Next!
Which brings me to my third dress. It fit me well, I wouldn't have to make any alterations to it, and it was long enough to allow me to wear about 1.5-2" heels (which is good, considering I'm already 5'8" as it is). I didn't have that whole "Oh, this is the ONE!" crying moment... maybe I'm too practical, maybe it was because I was letting the budget overrule the possibility of a longer dress search... but it flattered my figure, and the price was right. I now have a gown hanging in a white bag in my guestroom closet!
However, since I can't completely give up the whole "trying on dresses with friends oohing and aahing" experience, I have an appointment with David's Bridal this weekend that I set up at the bridal show. Whaaat! I got a $50 coupon for making the appointment, and they're having their ubiquitous dress sale - who says I can't have my cheap dress and the oohs and aahs too?
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