Wedding Blog
When my family visited Chicago in July, I took them to Devon Avenue. Devon is the “Little India” of Chicago: a street lined with Indian and Pakistani grocery stores, restaurants, and boutiques.
While shopping on Devon, we stopped at Sahil, an upscale Indian clothing boutique. I decided to look at some bridal lehngas just for fun. I hadn’t started my wedding outfit search yet, so I was excited to try on some options. Indian bridal shopping is very much like American bridal shopping in that most places don’t let you go through the racks yourself. You describe what you’re looking for and the saleswomen bring out different lehngas for your approval/disapproval. All of the lehgas are one-of-a-kind. For my wedding, I was looking for a burgundy and gold lehnga, heavily embroidered and beaded, but not gaudy.
After looking at several options that were brought to me, I saw it: a beautiful burgundy lehnga with a heavy gold border around the skirt. It was so lovely and very much what I’d imagined myself wearing. The price, while not a total steal, was not as expensive as I was anticipating. And I felt like a real bride when I put it on! I found myself in a tricky position: here was a gorgeous bridal outfit for a decent price– but it was 11 months before my wedding. And this was the very first shop I’d been to. What if I found something better?
Everyone agreed that it was gorgeous. My dad was convinced I should take it– although he’s not one for shopping around. 
My mom and brother were convinced I should leave it behind. My brother knows I’m notoriously fickle– he was sure I would find something I loved even more. My mom said I would regret not looking at other stores or seeing what she could find in India. I was torn and feeling very upset that I went into Sahil at all. The pressure to buy from the saleswomen did not help!
Finally, I decided to walk away. I didn’t feel comfortable buying my outfit almost a year before the wedding, especially from the first store I visited. The risk of regretting my choice was too high. Sometimes I wonder if I should have taken it, but I’ve accepted my decision. I’m just too much of a comparison shopper! I’m excited to see what my parents bring back from India, where the selection is vast. And on the off chance they don’t find anything, I can always check out additional stores in Los Angeles or Chicago.
Did you buy one of the first dresses you looked at? Any regrets? Alternatively, are you happy you snatched it up?
images courtesy of alibaba, utsavsarees, and jalsamall
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Share this post: Walking Away From The Dress
I bought the second dress I tried on at the first store I went to. The first one I only tried on because my MOH really liked it - I KNEW it wasn’t at all what I wanted, but I thought I would humor her. When I tried on the 2nd dress, I KNEW this was THE dress. It was exactly what I was looking for. I’m so happy I found it. The sales girl kept trying to push more dresses on me - but I said no. I didn’t try on or look at anymore. It was the dress I always wanted.
I actually did buy one of the first dresses I looked at, but not at the original visit. I had gone with one of my BM, and I wasn’t really loving any of the dresses, until I tried it on. I thought it was very pretty and flattering and I really liked it, but I didn’t want to commit right then, over a year before the wedding. So over the next few weeks, I went shopping with my mom, and compared every dress I tried on to that first one. I liked other dresses, but they all came up short. Luckily, the designer of the first gown was having a trunk show, so I went with my mom back to that first store, and bought the dress. It was still over a year before the wedding, but I have no regrets. I saw what else was out there, and I was tired of looking.
Aww, that’s a toughie, Miss Jasmine! Sahil does have gorgeous selections! Do you know if they carry more than one of that style lengha? Perhaps they could put this one on hold for a little while for you?
Gazella: They said it was one of a kind and I didn’t ask them about putting it on hold, since I didn’t have a time span in mind– I wasn’t sure how long it would take for me to shop around! And the saleswomen were just stressing me out– so much pressure to buy!So I just left it behind– I figured that if my parents don’t find anything in India, I can go back and see if they still have it. If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be
I did, I bought my dress the first morning shopping.
But then I didn’t have a whole lot of choice. With the wedding less than 17 weeks after engagement I bought at David’s Bridal, one of the only shops that could guarantee a dress ready in time.
I don’t regret it, I love my dress. And while I wistfully page through the Vera Wangs, and custom Chrissy Wai-Chings… I honestly would have never bought one even if I had the time.
miss jasmine, good additude! good luck, and i know you’ll be beautiful in whatever you choose!
attitude* i don’t know where my head is at this morning…
I bought my dress two weeks after getting engaged, at a Filene’s Running of the Brides sale I went to essentially on a lark: we hadn’t even set the date yet! It was my first stab at dress shopping, and I tried on a lot of dresses. When I found this one, I knew it was it–and it was a bargain to boot. While I have continued to look at ads for other dresses, and while I do kind of wish I had had that dress shopping experience, I have never regretted buying this dress. It sat in my closet untouched for eight months and when I finally pulled it out to take it to the seamstress for alterations, I was amazed all over again at how much I love it.
Well, I guess it just depends on how you feel. I went dress shopping one day, and bought the second dress I tried on. I just knew it was exactly what I was looking for. The way I see it, if I kept looking around, it would only make me more indecisive.
I bought the second dress I tried on the first bridal salon I went too! No regrets, I knew it was the one =). GL
i totally agree on the possibility of finding something that you love later on, but the thing is, when you know it’s “the one,” you won’t look anywhere else. my wedding is 18+ months away, but after trying on my mom’s wedding gown for fun…i know that that is the dress i’m going to wear…haven’t looked at other gowns since…
good luck on your search. you’ll recognize “the one” feeling sure enough!
Oh, those colors are magnificent…. I bought the third dress I tried on. Then again, I hated shopping for it, so I was just eager to be done with it!!
I bought the first real dress I tried on (I had gone to a sample sale and tried on a few but they were SO not me). I had done a lot of window-shopping online, and when I put on the dress, I knew it was the one.
Like you, I didn’t want to buy it just yet, but the sales lady made it worth my while with a few discounts. I knew I would’ve ended up getting it anyway, but I wanted to shop around some more!
No regrets from me about purchasing the dress as early as I did (11 months before the wedding). It’s all altered and everything, and I have 7 months to go. One less thing to worry about!
Oh my! That first one is amazing!
I think “my dress” was about the sixth one I tried on. I went to NYC and hit a large salon, RK Bridal. Went home to NJ and managed to find it cheaper after calling around, though many salons do not give out prices over the phone. I even had alterations included in the price (extra at RK) and because it’s NJ, no tax on clothing!
I bought the second dress I tried on at the first store I ever went to on my first and only day of shopping. I tried on two other dresses that morning, but it was pretty clear that this dress was the right one for me. I was all by myself, and at that stage had not picked a date or venue, so had no idea what type of wedding we’d be having, but I felt this dress could work in any scenario. We ended up picking a date only a few months away, so it was good to already have the dress on order. I also had moments where I wished I had had the experience of trying more gowns, but I never doubted the gown itself. And it certainly made life easier to have that decision out of the way. The weddiing is in two weeks, and I love the gown even more now than when I first saw it. I can’t wait to wear it!
I tried on a bazillion dresses, but my sister bought the first one she tried on. I know I have heard of others doing that…my guess is that it isn’t as uncommon as you think.
I bought my dress spring 2006 and I’m not getting married until spring 2008! I went to the bridal salon just to check out their trunk show, tried on a Badgley Mischka trunk show dress and knew it was “the one”!!!!!! It was the second dress I tried on there! I tried it on again a couple of days ago when I took one my bridesmaids to get fitted and it’s still perfect! I think when you know, you know.
Your parents will find much better stuff in India and you will probably get more for your money…plus they will have the most current styles…you really made the right choice so don’t give that other dress a second thought.
I love Devon…esp. in summer when they have coconut sellers on the street.
I liked my dress a lot when i first tried it on but still shopped around some more just to be sure. When I tried it a second time I was definitley sure.
Bought the 5th dress I tried on at the 1st shop I ever went to. I am pretty good about not having “buyers remorse” and the dress was under my budget so I really didnt have any qualms about it. I love my dress but I know going to 5 more shops would only confuse me, and I was afraid I was going to fall in love with a more expensive dress and waste money
I say if the price is right, just buy it, and stop looking of course, I’m not much of a shopper. I love finding a bargain online but I hate schlepping to stores. Hooray for the internet!
I’m late to this post, but I do agree that Sahil in Devon is a great place to shop. I’m not sure where in India your parents are traveling, but if you like Sahil, you’ll like Frontier in New Delhi. Sahil actually gets many of their pieces from there (I believe it used to be all their pieces, once upon a time).
We got many outfits for my sister’s wedding their (including hers) and that’s where I plan to shop for my wedding as well.
And did I mention there’s a jewelry store next door where they make fantastic matching combinations of bangles?
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Mrs. Jasmine, Chicago/LA
Age and Occupation: 25, Attorney
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Attorney
Engagement Date: March 24, 2007
Wedding Date: June 7, 2008
Blogging Since: September 20, 2007
Venue: Hotel on the westside of Los Angeles
About Me: I'm a happy-go-lucky, imaginative spirit trapped in the body of a lawyer. I love reading, shopping, dining out, and exploring my beloved adopted city of Chicago with my fiance. We're planning the wedding of our dreams in my hometown of Los Angeles and we're excited to incorporate our cherished Indian/Pakistani customs and traditions.
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