Weddingbee

Picture courtesy of Chicago Magazine

I always knew that I would be wearing an Indian outfit for my wedding. Growing up, I definitely indulged fantasies of donning an elaborate Vera Wang gown for my nuptials (with Will Smith as the groom of course!). But I think I always knew that wearing an Indian bridal outfit, something that really honored my background and culture, was very important to me.

Unfortunately, the experience of trying on Indian wedding outfits is not as luxurious as that of trying on American wedding dresses (more on that to come in a later post). I felt that I was missing out on the ultimate American bridal experience: wedding dress shopping. I decided to visit a bridal salon in Chicago to see what all the fuss is about. And what better place than Vera Wang?

I made an appointment at the Vera Wang Bridal Boutique in Chicago, which had been scarcely open a few weeks at the time. I arranged it so my appointment was during my parents’ visit to Chicago, so we could make it a real mother-daughter outing.

The interior was all white, with plush white seats. Vera Wang’s books and china collection were on display. Oh and the gowns. The room was surrounded on all sides by the most beautiful wedding gowns and I had ever seen. I was blown away by all the lovely white confections hanging around the boutique, all lace, and tulle, and satin. I started to feel uneasy: would I change my mind about wanting an Indian bridal outfit? Was I going to be a Vera Wang convert?

My appointment was with Amy, who was right on time and sweet as pie. She explained the process to me and asked me to describe the look I was going for and what type of wedding gown I envisioned. Then we walked around the store, looking at each dress, and I chose five to try on. Amy was wonderful– she gave lots of great input on what dresses I might like and was completely sweet and bubbly. She asked me all about my fiance and how he proposed and she seemed genuinely interested in getting to know me, as opposed to just making a sale. She also really engaged my mother in the process. My mom was totally new to the whole American wedding-dress buying experience, but she had a great time and Amy was a big part of that.

As for the dresses– they are just exquisite. It would not be exaggerating to say they are works of art. There really is something to be said for the way a couture gown fits and Vera Wang’s dresses could make any bride feel like a princess. The prices, while certainly not cheap, are somewhat reasonable considering the attention to detail and craftsmanship of each dress. The dress I’m wearing below was my favorite. It made my waist feel small and the embroidered flowers were so delicate and lovely. When Amy put the veil in my hair, with the soft tulle draping over my shoulders, I was tempted to put down the Amex right then and there for the whole ensemble.

But I also knew, more at that moment than ever, that I still wanted to wear an Indian bridal outfit. I loved seeing the reflection of myself in the American bridal outfit, but I felt more like I was playing dress-up than a real bride. I realized how important it was for me to get married in an Indian bridal outfit.

Overall, my experience trying on dresses at Vera Wang was very favorable– they made it a really enjoyable experience for me and my mom. I would highly recommend any Chicago-area brides-to-be make an appointment!

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