The Dress: The Trunk Show

Now don't get too upset with me, but I am not going to give much information about my second experience during wedding dress shopping day number one.  I was VERY excited about this second place, and had heard that it was fantastic.  However, the owner of the salon got on my bad side fast.  Let's just say that she... had a lot of strong opinions.  Pretty much every comment out of my mouth was wrong, and she knew much better than I did about every aspect of my experience.  And the one thing she knew for sure, was that all brides love sparkles.  When I tried to explain that they just aren't for me, she told me that I was too far away from my wedding day.  "The closer it gets, the more sparkles all the girls want!  They'll have to cut you off come next January!  You'll want sparkles everywhere!"

Strange.  Six months out, and I am still not a huge sparkle fan.  Maybe this phenomenon kicks in after the six month mark?

Needless to say, I felt that experience disappointed.  So my hopes were back on the Jenny Lee trunk show.

Jenny Lee

I was foolishly hoping that my dream dress was going to not only magically appear, but magically appear in my price range.  Yeah... Not so much.  Jenny was amazing to meet- extremely nice and very helpful.  Having her drape and pin a dress exactly to fit my body was insane, and definitely (for me at least) a really cool, once in a lifetime type experience.  (Listen, I don't get out much.)

But alas, the dresses were still beautiful but not giving me butterflies, and were still not affordable.  I left feeling more than anything really stupid that I had let myself get all excited about something I couldn't afford.  I searched PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com and found one of the two I loved, but at $1750 plus shipping it was still more than I could stomach.  (I was shooting for as inexpensive as possible, but ultimately under $1000.)

I kept telling myself that I was glad; I had gotten a perfect idea of what I wanted.  There had to be something out there like these dresses that was inexpensive, and when I found it I would get that 'The One' feeling, and life would be fantastic.  I decided to quit dress shopping for a while, and wait until my Mom and sisters were in town to shop with me.

The Dress: The Search Begins

After getting engaged, I was very eager to begin the search for The Dress.  This struck me as the ultimate moment when it would become real- I would see myself as a bride.  I had done a pretty extreme amount of research into wedding planning before getting engaged, and there were a few things I was massively skeptical about when it came to The Dress.

First: What makes a designer dress so freaking special?  Besides that I find it completely ridiculous to spend an excessive amount of money on something you will only wear once, WHY were some dresses so much more outlandishly expensive than others?  Was it the name?  Was it the fancy salon?  Was it the material?  Could anyone actually tell?

Second: Is there really a 'The Dress'?  (Yes, bad grammar, I know.)  I had a very very very hard time believing that I would 'just know' when I found the right wedding dress.  It's a DRESS people!  Does fate arrange for me to lose my sanity temporarily and fall in love with a dress?!

Now don't get me wrong.  I was VERY excited to go play dress up with my fr

iends.  Nervous and shy, but excited.  So I did what appeared normal to my completely inexperienced self.  I sent an email inviting three of my close friends in Atlanta to come play dress up with me.  (It just so happened that all three of them were engaged, so I knew they would enjoy the setting as well.)  Then I researched the discover the 'Best' Bridal Salons in Atlanta, and made appointments at two of them.

Kelly's Closet

The first appointment I made was at Kelly's Closet.  Before I say anything else may I just tell you- my experience here was FANTASTIC!  If you want to hang out with fun, supportive, and loving girls, try on insanely gorgeous dresses, and be treated fantastically- make an appointment here.

It was here however, that I was introduced very quickly to the world of expensive designer wedding gowns.

I was almost shaking because I was so nervous to try on a wedding dress, and Sarah, the girl helping me was incredible.  She just kept me laughing, telling me I didn't have to wear a princess gown to be a bride, and telling me how hot I was.  (Before you laugh at how nervous I was, realize that new things are really hard for me!  And this DEFINITELY is classified as new.)

I didn't have a complete idea of what I wanted, but I knew that I didn't want a princess dress (no offense, they just aren't me!) and I was curious to see something all lace.  In my imagination, that is what I would get married in- something somewhat fitted, and all lace.

However, when I tried on something all lace, I felt all wrong.  Too unlike myself; too girly.  It made me uncomfortable.  Instead, here are the two incredible gowns that I left my appointment loving:

Jenny Lee #601

Jenny Less #503

Being that I loved these Jenny Lee dresses so much, Sarah encouraged me to come back the following weekend for the Jenny Lee trunk show.  Without realizing what I was getting myself into, I agreed.

I had managed to begin to understand the complicated and overpriced world of designer dresses (of which I never could and never would choose to afford- but had fallen in love with), but the concept of 'The Dress' still escaped me.  As stunningly gorgeous these two gowns were, and how beyond incredible I felt in them- I just didn't get some lightning bolt wake up call that said 'I am the One.'

So I left my first attempt at wedding dress shopping feeling like I had massively enjoyed myself, but unsure as to how to proceed.

A (Slightly Edited) Letter to my Bridesmaids

With less than seven months to go until my super sweet wedding, I thought y'all might be dying to know what I would like you to wear!

DRESS: 

from JCrew

CEREMONY SHOES: Any BLACK or BLACK-ISH heels that you find comfortable

RECEPTION SHOES: ANY shoes (including and especially flip flops) that you love to dance in

JEWELRY: Any non-obnoxious metallic jewelry of your choosing that makes you feel beautiful.  (I also support the wearing of pearls, but of course do not require it.)

COAT: If it's cold, you best be bringing a coat!  I don't want anyone to freeze!  And no, I don't care what it looks like, as long as it makes you feel snuggly.

REMINDER: No, Abby, you cannot wear red heels in the Cathedral.  But bring those red flops to the reception.

If anyone doesn't know what non-obnoxious means... wait, then why are we friends?  Just kidding!  Use your best judgment, I am not super picky.  Or just ask!

I love you all and I so appreciate you agreeing to this torture and letting me pick out your clothes!

Victoria's Secret Bridesmaids?

found here

What do you guys think?  Can dresses from Victoria's Secret be Bridesmaids Dresses?

Mary's Shoes?

Found these on the Steve Madden website... I especially got a good laugh when I saw their name was Tinkle.  Are these the shoes you bought, Mar?

found here

Bridesmaids Dresses: Part 2

Update on the Bridesmaids' Dresses: Mar went and ordered her dress with Mom to see how it fit and whether they liked it.  They had a short time schedule as Mary is about to start an awesome internship and therefore is headed to NJ for the rest of the summer starting tomorrow!  So after rush shipping it I believe, here is the result:

front view

side glance

back

How beautiful does she look???  And I called to confirm: she promises she FEELS beautiful too!  (Which is what we are going for here!!!!)  And apparently, the shoes are to die for: Steve Madden I believe?  I will have to do a little research to find a better picture.  But what does everyone think?  I think we have a winner!!  (If you are a bridesmaid, no worries, more details to come.)

And in case anyone already forgot, the dress can be found here: www.jcrew.com

Bridesmaids Dresses

Your mission, should you choose to accept it: finding a non-expensive, black, knee length dress that six of my friends would actually wear again.  You're laughing, aren't you?  My math brain really loves matching dresses!  Plan B: Have everyone buy a black dress they love and be done with it.

So to implement my plans I have two options.  Either: Scour the entire online and physical world to find something that is as close to a nice, flattering, non-expensive dress and ask my girls in a very sweet voice to humor me, or... get over my love of matching.  (I will try option one first, and upon admitting defeat will attempt option two.)

After giving a half-hearted attempt at forcing my two younger sisters to put on every potential option we could find in two bridal shops,  I return to my first love: JCrew.

from www.JCrew.com

I love this dress.  I would wear this dress one million times.  But would my friends?!  Said dress is $165 (in chiffon).  Not bad, you say?  Everything is bad when you're a grad student or fresh out of grad school.  (Shout out to recent Masters grads like me!)

So- I ran the dress by Mama and the two amazing and patient younger sisters (maid of honor and bridesmaid).  And they all liked it!  Then Mama called JCrew and verified that this dress would be flattering on all different shapes and sizes of girls.  Score!

I believe the current plan is for Mama to order the two younger sisters dresses, and see what they think in person.  If they like them, I start the begging process with the other four brave souls who have agreed to sign over their time, love, and money to my marriage process.

PLEASE comment supportive thoughts about how beautiful JCrew dresses are in person to inspire my girls to agree!