Finding THE dress

So I found the dress this weekend. Mama GP and FMIL were in town for the weekend and I included them in on the dress shopping experience - I kind of had to include Mama GP since she was buying!

I went to the David's Bridal up in White Flint where I had had a not-so-pleasant experience one other time, not horrible but just not the type of treatment you imagine when shopping for your wedding gown. The experience was replicated on Saturday afternoon with a twenty minute wait upon arrival and then definitely not the one-on-one attention that I should have received. It's funny though, because a pal of mine had a GREAT experience at David's Bridal, so I think mine was one of those that you hear about, but honestly, aside from the fact that the woman helping me was helping at least one other person and wasn't there when I needed her (often leaving me stranded unziped, untied, or just confused) I wouldn't advise people against David's Bridal - they have great dresses at reasonable prices, a great option for the bride on a budget.

So after trying on seven or so dresses - all of which were pretty, but left me feeling lukewarm, we headed up to I Do, I Do in Gaithersburg.

I was pretty excited since I had heard rave reviews - it's a bridal consignment shop, but they don't just carry used wedding gowns, they also sell new ones. It's one of the few places in the DC area you can find Alfred Angelo dresses. These were the dresses I've been swooning over since I got engaged back in June so I was pretty excited to finally make it up there.

The service we received at I Do, I Do was WORLDS difference than David's Bridal. I was the only bride in the store, I picked out four dresses. One was a dress that the woman helping me felt I should try on. So I did. Just for giggles.

No dice. I know what looks good on me and what doesn't. I know I have womanly curves, a slightly bigger bust than I had seven or so years ago. I don't deny this, so I know that certain dresses make my hips look about ten sizes bigger than they are and I know that spaghetti straps make me look like a linebacker. It's okay. I know this all.

Dress number 2. I come out and it's perfect. It's absolutely perfect. I admire myself in the mirror. No pictures allowed till you order but I knew, I just KNEW that that was THE dress. So I look over at my mom who's eyes are teary and red, and I start tearing up and it confirmed everything. So the cameras come out, the pictures are taken. They put a veil on and the woman takes me in to get my measurements.


I take a look at some more veils - still very undecided on that front, and Mama GP pays for the gown. It's ordered. It'll be in in January. Oh my God. I'm getting married and I have a wedding gown. Funny how little things like that just make it all sink in a little bit deeper.

They say that when you find THE dress, you just know. I didn't understand this until I tried on this gown, and I knew. It was the faster beating of my heart, the tears in my eyes and my mothers and the fact that as I looked in the mirror I saw myself on my wedding day in that dress, waiting at the end of the aisle with my father and mother looking down at Mr. GP.

I can not wait till September 12, 2009.