Yep. Took me an hour to find it. I don’t know if it was luck, fate, or the fact that I was anticipating spending more money on a dress than “THE ONE” actually cost, but I tried on four wedding dresses before handing over the debit card and owning my very first wedding dress.
Did I say first? I meant only! 
End of the road for you, Mr Penguin, no peeky-peeky…
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Its a Jim Hjelm from the Fall 2006 Collection from the House of Fashion in Sacramento. I must say that my experience at the store was great. Consultants will pull dresses for you, help you in and out of them, offer advice and suggestions if you ask, but other than that, leave you alone to prance around as you please.
I really wanted to find a simple dress. Its very easy to confuse “simple” with “plain” but this dress carries a couple of particularly nifty features that really make it great. I particularly love how the chapel train begins at the brooch at the back, almost giving the dress a “peacock” look. Once I get rid of my belly (fondly referred to as my “food baby”) and get a good pair of Spanx, I’ll be Aisle ready. The veil I’m borrowing from Mr. Penguin’s step-sister also happens to be a perfect match for the dress!
Here’s some close attention to detail: The dip in the back, as well as the strapless sweetheart-ish neckline. This will be my first time ever wearing a strapless dress!
You’re loving the gratuitous boob shot, aren’t you? You’re welcome
How long did it take you to find “THE DRESS”?
That dress is so glamorous on you! It’s stunning on you, it’s simple but very elegant! It’s different that the train starts that high up on the dress, and the veil is a perfect match.
It took me awhile to find what I wanted, A-line, strapless, with lace. I started in June and kicked it into high gear in August. I put down a deposit last week!
Ooh! I love the Jim Hjelm dresses! I actually found one of his I loved right away but I don’t have the heart to spend that much moola on it yet. Looks beautiful!
that’s a GORGEOUS dress!!! i love it!
It took me about a half an hour. It was the second dress I tried on, but I was there about an hour in all.
Love the back detail!!
Mine was first and only, too! I love how people get so nervous with that, but I knew it was the one! Even before I tried it on.
I have to say…I gasped when i saw the picture with your veil on - it’s so beautiful! You are going to be stunning on your wedding day…:-)
You look absolutely gorgeous in that dress! It’s so stunning and beautiful!
Love the bustline with the points! (yes the dress and not the picture :P)
Mr. Penguin isn’t going to know what hit him!
You look stunning, and I love the long veil!
Took me 2 hours. I had no intentions of purchasing The Dress on my first shopping outing, was just ruling out likes vs. dislikes, but it was the 20th and last one for the day (phew). . . and it was just IT! Mom and I started crying.
Not another article where the author insults how she looks in the photo! (”Once I get rid of my belly…”) Please, ladies, stop this narcisistic self-scrutinizing criticism! You look MAAAAAAARVALOUS! We are allowed to eat and be adult women with adult women’s bodies.
I love your dress! I found my dress the first day we went shopping. It was the very last one that I tried on.
You look amazing! I was looking back at your “mood board” of wedding dress styles and we have the same taste - HI FIVE girl! But that dress is GORGEOUS ON YOU!
btw - it took forever - about 5 trips before finding “THE ONE.”
You look stunning in that dress! I love the picture if you with the veil on…. very bridal.
i love your dress! especially the detailing. that’s the look i’m going for…that or maybe a little lace. anywho, you look amazing! i agree, i do love how the train starts at the brooch, that was one of the first things i noticed. great pick!
Gorgeous! It’s no wonder why you stopped right there.
I bought my dress in an hour too. I tried on seven in total and since it was a sample sale I had to buy it right then and there.
You look absolutely beautiful.
I kind of found two dresses. I went dress shopping just for fun a week after getting engaged, not thinking I would find anything. I ended up finding this perfect dress that I LOVED. It was $1700, way over my budget. I did tweak the budget so I could afford it, but it would have been tight. My mom encouraged me to go dress shopping again just to make sure before we plunked down that kind of cash, and we ended up finding a VERY similar dress for just $1050 that gave me almost the same feeling of “this is the one,” so that was that. I got the cheaper dress and I’m happy with my decision. I do still think that the first dress would have still been my first choice, but I really didn’t think it was $700 nicer than the one I bought. Maybe I’m too practical!
You look beautiful in that dress.
For those of you that love this dress, I am selling a Jim Hjelm that is very similar. Please take a look at the classifieds section (for sale) to see pics and my post. It was never worn and never altered…truth is, I just found another dress that I loved more.
Thanks for looking. Please feel free to contact me or give me an offer.
that’s gorgeous on you!!! i love the veil shot!
took me forever to find the dress i purchased. it’s one of those, i love it but not in-love with it. but i was exhausted and just wanted to be done with it. i do wish i had more time and patience to peruse and shop, but FI wanted to get married in 8 mos!
LOVE IT!! front, back, detail, everything! simple, yet stunning. my kinda dress! ^_^
I gasped when I saw it– BEAUTIFUL!!! I’m sure the rest of the people in this library appreciated that…
What a gorgeous dress! You look stunning
The details… I love rhinestones.
It took me literally…. 5 minutes to find my dress.
I went into a bridal shop. tried on the first dress…and it was THE ONE! I was afraid that I would like other dresses… but I am so in love with mine, that there is no way I will change my choice.
Congratz on finding your dress … its Beautiful 
That dress is so lovely on you. Really suits you and is very flattering. I’m a sucker for the beautiful detail on the back — not too much, not too little, it’s just right!
It took me about 6 months to find my dress — I didn’t really know what I wanted and ended up with a totally different dress than all the photos I’d taken out of magazines, but in the end I loved it which is all that matters. Congrats for getting this HUGE task out of the way. Now — DO NOT look at other dresses. Just stop now. You don’t want to have any dress envy down the road.
I’m still in the search for the dress. I’m not worried; I’ve got 13 months.
I too refer to my pooch as my “food baby” HAHAHA!
Stunning! I love the simplicity of it! You’re going to look gorgeous!
The One for me was the 3rd dress I tried on…but just to be sure, I went and tried on another 20! =)
Gorgeous!! I also got my dress at MoF! I found it a great experience, my helper was Yvonne this lovely older woman who seemed sooo excited to help me.
It was my second shop, and about halfway through the session I found the dress! I ended up getting the ever so popular, Maggie Sottero “Grace” I actually didn’t realize how popular it was until I was looking online after getting it - still its everything I want in a dress and the gold satin version works so well with my chocolate bridesmaids dresses!
Simply gorgeous, Ms. Penguin! Love it!
It took me about an hour as well. I went to two total salons - tried about 10 dresses - chose THE ONE even though I technically hadn’t chosen a date or venue. Pshaw. It’s all about the dress, anyway.
Only a few (6) months until our dresses are hanging out together in the basement at House of Fashion, just waiting for us to come rescue them!
I spent almost 2 months trying to find the dress before I found it. When I put it on, I had this feeling in my tummy that I had with no other dress. I didn’t cry but I felt extremely emotional. I was sure it was pricey but to my surprise it wasn’t.
Congrats!!
i had gone to House of Fashion a few months ago and i didnt see that dress =(
but nonetheless you look GORGEOUS! and probably much better than me hahaha it looks so great on you!! i cant wait to see you in it for the big day!
I loooooooooooooove your dress! it’s fabulous! the brooch, the train, the back-v, the front. it’s ALL perfect. congrats!
mine was the second dress I pulled from the rack, at the third store. so a little bit of time, but when i saw it, I knew it was mine
I’m impressed!
I’ve spent hours on multiple days in HOF–and I haven’t even started looking for my dress yet! (ok, so it was shopping for a friend’s wedding…)
Wow, that dress looks magnificent on you! I say you made a good choice
You look spectacular, especially in that second picture!
I found mine two weeks after we got engaged, when I went to a Filene’s Running of the Brides sale on a whim–we hadn’t even set a date yet. Two hours of frenzy later, and I had THE ONE. My fiance joked that I had really had it hanging in my closet for ten years waiting for someone to just *ask* me!
A couple of hours on the net… I haven’t actually tried ANY dresses on as I’m having mine made for me and no shops I’ve been to carry anything like it. It’s an “Algarve” from Pronovias’ 2005 collection
gorgeous!
Beautiful! Would you mind sharing how much Jhjelm prices run?
very pretty! i took notice of that dress when i saw it in ads. i think i tried on at least 10-15 dresses before finding ‘the’ dress.
[...] visiting my dress today, and of course, I’m nervous as ever. The sales lady ordered the sample size that I tried [...]
I went to David’s Bridal and tried on two dresses, then a few months later, I went back and tried on several, BUT the first one I tried on that day was “the one.”
Your dress is lovely!
Mrs. Penguin, Sacramento
Age and Occupation: 26, Video & TV Producer/Director/Editor
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Engagement Date: January 29, 2007
Wedding Date: June 7, 2008
Blogging Since: September 14, 2007
Venue: Winery in the Gold Country
About Me: I'm a silly mess of a girl who, above all else in this world, LOVES the Spice Girls. I eat sushi at least 3 times a week, and feel guilty about how much it costs the other 4 days a week. I love designer jeans and cheap accessories. I don't like sweets, but I love the UCLA Bruins!
It was the first dress I tried on! I was forced to try on several others and wait a day before I bought it…but I bought it! And one year later I am still glad that is the one I chose.