Say yes to the dress
Dear Bride,
You can create as many Pinterest boards as you'd like. Save every clipping from all the latest magazines like Modern Bride, The Knot, Southern Bride, Martha Stewart Weddings; even plaster your bathroom walls with ideas of your favorite dream wedding dress. But until you go try on these dresses you have absolutely no idea what style gown your heart and body are going to fall in love with.
I've heard it said plenty of times "It always turns out to be the least likely dress that you choose" and for me, it was exactly that. I made the boards, saved the magazines and fantasized about a long sleeved, lace, form-fitting, cathedral train, sexy yet classy wedding dress. I went to three wedding boutiques trying on many dresses with disappointments one after another. It wasn't until my last attempt to find "the dress" I made an appointment at Bridal Couture of the Palm Beaches. Initially, I had invited my mother and one of my bridesmaids however when the day came it ended up just being my bridesmaids and me. Things really do work out for the best because it allowed an opinion-free zone with just me and my feelings. After selecting the dress, I was able to come back to try on my dress for my mom, so she could have the experience of seeing her baby girl say yes to the dress.
Davita was a dream to work with when selecting my wedding dress. The store is glamorous and intimate, an extremely feminine bridal boutique offering only one on one appointments. She has gorgeous dresses! I had recently seen a picture of a wedding dress that caught my attention but was entirely different from what I originally had wanted. She instantly pulled out a dress that she thought I would love based off of what I was explaining and showing her. I saw it and thought 'I will never be able to afford this.' She selected some additional beautiful gowns, and I started trying them on. It was my first experience that I loved each one I put on. After wearing about three of them I couldn't keep my mind from thinking of the first one she pulled so we skipped ahead. That was it, it slipped on, and I became a bride! Just like that my face lite up, I couldn't stop smiling and doing the Julia Roberts swish; it was truly an unforgettable experience. That was it I found my dream dress completely unexpected but when you know you know. This is when you need to stop thinking about whether you should still try on the remaining dresses on the hanger on-no you should not. Whether there could be another style dress that you may like that you haven't tried on- do not try that on. Go with this once in a lifetime feeling and know that it happened because this is the dress! It's what makes you feel beautiful and most importantly, a bride. The dress you're supposed to walk down the aisle to your groom is the dress that makes you think of how excited he is going to be when he sees you. It is not about what anyone else thinks of the dress; you are the bride!
I didn't have a clue as to what designer I was wearing nor did I care. It turns out it is Morilee by Madeline Gardner. I also selected my bridesmaid dresses from there, however, every dress needed to be altered when they arrived which was very frustrating so I would recommend choosing the mother of the bride/groom and bridesmaid dresses elsewhere.
3 Things to remember when going dress shopping especially if you care about your budget.
1. If they say it's a customized dress, then your next question should be whether alterations are included. You should not have to pay for alterations unless you gain or lose weight if it is a customized dress. Be clear about that.
2. Be sure to ask if the wedding dress comes ready to wear, meaning you are not left with steaming it. You'd be surprised that places charge an extra fee for that. No way!
3. When you arrive for your first fitting, don't forget your undergarments and shoes. Also be sure to thoroughly examine your dress and speak up if there are any issues. If you tend to avoid confrontation at all costs and won't speak up, then you should bring along a bridesmaid or your mother who isn't afraid to speak her mind.
Best of luck to saying yes to the dress!!