Tulle, taffeta, and all the trimmings

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As I mentioned in a previous post, two weeks ago my mom was in town, and we were on the search for “the dress.” We went to a total of five bridal shops in the Charlotte/Lake Norman area, one of which I described for you in “Shrinking Hips and Growing Confidence.” I was hesitant to go to that many, and almost refused more. Indecision is fueled by too many choices! I didn’t want to shop myself into an oblivion that caused me to hate sweating through another dress trial.

As it turns out, on a whim and without an appointment, I stopped in to Classic Bride and Formals in Cornelius. The owners of the shop were incredibly accommodating, and the store had a variety of dresses that were in sample sizes that worked for me (i.e.: size ten and up!). I was incredibly impressed with the help I received from Kerith and ended up coming back again with a friend to try on more gowns.

Though I consider myself a strong and independent person, I’m not always a decisive one. So I’ve learned in wedding planning to come up with a list of “must-haves” before choosing any important elements.

For example, when choosing a venue, it had to be near water, suit my budget, accommodate 175, and have an indoor ceremony with an outdoor reception, preferably at the same place. For the dress, it had to be light-weight, somewhat simple (no frills/flower appliques or excessive rhinestones), and it could not be strapless. That was the difficult stipulation! In fact, I read an article in the Observer a few months ago about how problematic it can be to find dresses that aren’t strapless, and I found it to be true.

I had a very strong image of what I wanted when I started. I did not like satin, chiffon or true-white. I was thinking lace over a sweetheart neckline, a vintage feel, and possibly even tea-length. Everyone warned me that what I want may not be what I get. You guessed it -- this was true too!

I ended up with…something unplanned. Despite skipping all my “wants,” I got my must-haves -- it’s not strapless! Even better, it was a discontinued sample, and I got a spectacular deal. Saved enough of my budget to make a dent in the honeymoon!

I feel beyond pleased with my choice. I’m not the bride who had a big tearful moment when making a decision, but my friend/bridesmaid did! After watching hundreds of episodes of “Say Yes to the Dress,” I know that someone has to cry for it to be the one! I felt confident, comfortable, thin, and even a bit sexy! The one kicker? I have about four more inches around my abdomen to lose in order to get into the dress! I have some work to do! One more piece of motivation for getting fit!

Celebrate defying and exceeding expectations with me this week… and buying THE dress!

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