"Does That Come in My Size?"
Like every girl growing up, I tied white sheets around me at the wee age of six and paraded around our townhouse in Northwest pretending I was wearing the most lavish and beautiful gown in existence. Beading, train, the works!
Even when I was small, I was convinced my dress would be nothing short of fabulous. We all do this. We dream of THE dress, as if it's some ethereal other-worldly creature that doesn't exist on our plane of reality.
Let us flash foward to today. As with every bride, we never quite lose that little girl within, twirling around in sheets. We are different people, though, and to be honest, I was concerned.
I'm a girl that boasts a large personality, but underneath just wants to be happy with what she sees in the mirror, or something equally After School Special.
When it came to finding a dress, I knew it was going to be a challenge, and I almost dreaded the task. I'm just shy of six feet tall, and I am completely in shape, if you consider somewhat round a shape. In addition, I feared that the size of my chest would make strapless dresses impossible.
I made calls, and initially came face to face with my worst fears. Larger sizes would have to be special-ordered, but none were available in my size (or near it) to try in the boutiques. I heard this over and over again, and began to feel very discouraged. I literally had nightmares of going into stores feeling completely awful about finding a dress.
Finally, I caved.
I called David's Bridal - White Flint in Maryland. (Metro accessible: White Flint Stop on Red Line; located in Metro Pike Center, 2nd floor.)
I was hesitant to call. I've heard mixed reviews. Some had horrid experiences, warning people away. Some hated the fact that it was a chain. The positive stories were few and far between, but I cracked because I knew they would carry a good selection in my size to try on.
I took one of my best friends (Miss Gallery Place) with me on my first trip there, as we're both getting married, along with Mr. JeffMemorial. Miss Gallery Place was a peach and helped me with my insecurities and gave great dress advice.
How would I rate my experience? Incredible. Not only that, but I found the dress:
This picture was taken this past weekend, as opposed to my first trip a few weeks ago.
My review of David's Bridal at White Flint is nothing short of a rave. My bridal consultant was sweet, attentive, and really helped me feel comfortable even though I am a plus size. In addition, when I went back, she remembered me, inquired after my family, as well as remembering all of my sizing information.
Not once did I feel pressured or have an unpleasant experience with any of the staff. Also, the prices were very reasonable. My dress actually has gone down in price.
In addition, I'm all smiles about the dress. It's something I never imagined I would have. As soon as I put it on, I knew. I honestly thought I would end up with something a little more on the plain side and most definitely not strapless.
Moral of the story? Just because something is a chain store doesn't mean it's a bad thing. In addition, just because your butt might be bigger than your budget doesn't mean you should have to settle.
I will be buying the dress in November.
Even when I was small, I was convinced my dress would be nothing short of fabulous. We all do this. We dream of THE dress, as if it's some ethereal other-worldly creature that doesn't exist on our plane of reality.
Let us flash foward to today. As with every bride, we never quite lose that little girl within, twirling around in sheets. We are different people, though, and to be honest, I was concerned.
I'm a girl that boasts a large personality, but underneath just wants to be happy with what she sees in the mirror, or something equally After School Special.
When it came to finding a dress, I knew it was going to be a challenge, and I almost dreaded the task. I'm just shy of six feet tall, and I am completely in shape, if you consider somewhat round a shape. In addition, I feared that the size of my chest would make strapless dresses impossible.
I made calls, and initially came face to face with my worst fears. Larger sizes would have to be special-ordered, but none were available in my size (or near it) to try in the boutiques. I heard this over and over again, and began to feel very discouraged. I literally had nightmares of going into stores feeling completely awful about finding a dress.
Finally, I caved.
I called David's Bridal - White Flint in Maryland. (Metro accessible: White Flint Stop on Red Line; located in Metro Pike Center, 2nd floor.)
I was hesitant to call. I've heard mixed reviews. Some had horrid experiences, warning people away. Some hated the fact that it was a chain. The positive stories were few and far between, but I cracked because I knew they would carry a good selection in my size to try on.
I took one of my best friends (Miss Gallery Place) with me on my first trip there, as we're both getting married, along with Mr. JeffMemorial. Miss Gallery Place was a peach and helped me with my insecurities and gave great dress advice.
How would I rate my experience? Incredible. Not only that, but I found the dress:
This picture was taken this past weekend, as opposed to my first trip a few weeks ago.
My review of David's Bridal at White Flint is nothing short of a rave. My bridal consultant was sweet, attentive, and really helped me feel comfortable even though I am a plus size. In addition, when I went back, she remembered me, inquired after my family, as well as remembering all of my sizing information.
Not once did I feel pressured or have an unpleasant experience with any of the staff. Also, the prices were very reasonable. My dress actually has gone down in price.
In addition, I'm all smiles about the dress. It's something I never imagined I would have. As soon as I put it on, I knew. I honestly thought I would end up with something a little more on the plain side and most definitely not strapless.
Moral of the story? Just because something is a chain store doesn't mean it's a bad thing. In addition, just because your butt might be bigger than your budget doesn't mean you should have to settle.
I will be buying the dress in November.
Labels: david's bridal, Miss JeffMemorial, Wedding Dress
posted by Miss JeffMemorial at 12:09 PM
5 Comments:
By the way, not that you need to know this because you've already found a gorgeous dress, but Columbia Bridal Boutique in Columbia, MD has a whole rack of plus-size gowns to try on. Not tons and tons of options, but I tried on quite a few. I wound up buying my dress there, but it was actually one that was too small for me to try on. Still, a good place for plus-size DC brides to go if they want to actually try gowns on.
@jess: Hey Jess! It's What Liz Said. Yea, I wanted to look there, but our car is no longer in commission and I didn't have a way to get there. The sad fact is that without a car, the plus sized bride can be limited in store selection.
Although I'll second the great things I had heard about that place, and I was sad I never got to check it out.
Congratulations! It is really gorgeous. as a big busted girl I was a little worried myself. I have a large chest but am not a large person, one place, when I tried on a dress told me "well, just imagine yourself thinner in this dress" Are you F**KING KIDDING me???? Finding a professional, helpful, consultant, that makes you feel great about your self - at any size - is the best find. Your dress is gorgeous and you will be stunning!
My cousin just got married this past weekend in CA. Her dress was from David's Bridal and it was absolutely GORGEOUS!!! I think it often gets a bad rap, but seriously... you found the dress and its gorgeous! CONGRATS!
I know it's you! I love that my regular reads are taking over this site (by which I mean, I read two of you elsewhere). And yeah, I'm lucky I had my sister to drive me around to bridal shops, because otherwise I'd have been screwed.
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