Say Yes to the Dress... I Did!!!!

I've always had an idea of what I liked and didn't like in a wedding dress. I actually had an exact dress picked out that I remembered ever since I saw it my senior year in college. Yet a couple of days before wedding dress shopping, I decided to throw that all out the window. I wanted the dress to find me. My mom and I had four places scheduled that we were going to on Saturday and perhaps one on Sunday. Our first appointment was at 11:30, and this boutique came highly recommended from everyone I asked (it's been around for 27 years). I was really excited, but still a bit nervous about wedding dress shopping in general. I knew it would be fun, but I wondered if I would find a dress I truly, truly loved.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by the owner. She told us about the store, the layout and the various designers. What I loved most was that my mom and I got uninterrupted time to go through the floor and pick out any and all dresses we liked. At first I wasn't seeing any, but then we were finding so many. I think we ended up with a dozen or so dresses to start with. We would hang the dresses on a hook as we selected them, and the staff took them to one of the three dressing areas for us. We worked with the owner the entire two and a half hours we were there, which was delightful. We laughed together the entire time. I liked that they had my mom sit outside of the dressing area so she could just enjoy. This was also really helpful in seeing what my mom's immediate reaction was to each dress.

The owner asked me which dress I would like to try on first, and without hesitation, I pointed and said this one. We put it on, and I walked out. Mom liked it! The owner asked me what I liked about it, and I named every feature of the dress. She asked me what I didn't like, and I couldn't name one thing - so that dress went on the keep list. Then we continued to try on dresses, and I found two more that I really liked as well. It's nice that as you are trying on the dresses, the owner sees what you like and will pull more suggestions for you. This adds many more dresses to the room too!

After a couple of hours, we had it narrowed down to three finalists. I liked each one for different reasons. I put each dress on again, and it was paired with a veil. I really liked them all, but then we narrowed it down to two, and I tried each one on again. I secretly knew which one was my favorite, but I wanted my mom to agree too. She wouldn't say because she wanted me to decide - so amazing she is!

I just loved how I felt in the very first one I tried on. I couldn't stop smiling. I paraded around in it, danced around in it, I was having so much fun in it. Then I finally said, this is the one! The owner and another staff member we had been working with confessed they knew it was the one as soon as I put it on. They saw it all over my face. They even whispered this to my mom right after I put it on that first time. When the owner asked if I was ready to take it off, I of course said no. I wanted to wear it all day!

I loved the owner by the way, she is a lady from my own customer service heart. Our personalities really worked together. She even gave us each a hug at the end - so sweet.

I still cannot believe my dress ended up being the very first wedding dress I've ever tried on. I am a love at first sight kind of girl - in all aspects I guess! When you know, you know. It just feels right. I still remember exactly how I felt when I first put it on.

I can't wait for you to see it on the big day!

*Yes this is a long post. I wanted it for my memories.