Wedding Blog

(I’m officially starting my vendor reviews….NOW!.  Hope this helps another Kansas City-area bride!)

My wedding gown: The Bridal Shoppe, Kirksville, MO 120 N Franklin St, Kirksville, MO 63501 (660) 665-0122

I thought I’d start my vendor reviews with one of my absolute favorite vendors. In June 2006, my parents were visiting me for an afternoon in my college town. I mentioned to my mom that there was a dress I’d liked in the window of the local bridal shop, so we went down to check it out. We’d already had one massive marathon dress-hunting expedition, and I didn’t find anything I really loved. So even though it seemed like a shot in the dark, we headed over to the small bridal shop.

At that time, I thought I wanted a very very simple gown, with no beading or detailing of any sort. I didn’t want any ‘pouf’ or any train whatsoever, and I didn’t want it to be strapless. The gown in the shop window met my every requirement. Only one problem: once I put it on, I looked like Lady Liberty. The shop’s owner listened carefully to what I wanted, and brought me more, similar dresses. None of them really did much for me. I was just about resigned to continuing my search elsewhere, when Shawn (the owner) told me “I have one more I want you to try on. It’s completely different than the others, but I think with your skin tone you might like it.” That gown she brought out was Maggie Sottero’s “Catalina” in diamond white and gold, and as they say…it was meant to be. I never wanted to take my gown off. And as for my ‘requirements’? Simple? Hardly. No beading? HA! No pouf? Check! No train? Definitely have one of those… Not strapless? Uh… The dress broke all but one of my little rules, and it was *perfect*.

Over the next 11 months I went back to visit my gown periodically, dragging in all my girlfriends to look at it. I only had two rounds of fittings: one for the hem and to take in the sides, and one for the bustle. Shawn helped me both times. At my first fitting, I brought in the shoes I’d found at DSW, jewelry I’d bought at a local bead shop, and veil I’d bought at the Bridal Shoppe. Once I put it together, I was indifferent to the look. So ultimately I changed it *all*. Shawn pretty much dressed me for the day—her every suggestion was spot-on, not only for what looked good with the dress, but what fit my personality. She chose my beautiful shoes, jewelry, and a longer, more elaborate veil.

Six days before the wedding I went in to pick up my gown and head down to Kansas City (a three hour drive from Kirksville). I was so sad to no longer have an excuse to go back to the Bridal Shoppe; I may put in a part-time job application there .

I couldn’t imagine getting married in any other gown, and I love that I was able to support such a wonderful, small-town business in the process. I know most of my readers aren’t in Kirksville, but if you happen to be in the area I definitely recommend checking them out.