Weddingbee Blog

I hated dress shopping. The attention, the price tags, the sales people, the stage with special lighting, the awwww’s from strangers were all just entirely too much for me to handle. I envy those of you who have/had great experiences filled with fussy, teary, bonding moments. I came to grips with reality long ago though and realized I would not have those. So it was all good, and I moved on.

I found out Brides Against Breast Cancer had a gown sale in town back in February ’07, 3 months after our engagement. The idea of that inevitable payment for a wedding dress going towards a good cause thrilled me. I had no expectations of falling in love with my wedding dress, for I do not think it’s possible for me.  I was simply looking for something that worked. My criteria included 1. champagne color, 2. fit me.

My MOH and I arrived at the event and found a room full of gowns and volunteers.

Image courtesy of BABC

The set up and ’sales force’ were super minimal, just how I like it. We went through the gowns in my size, picked out a few, and went into the dressing room. The dressing room was simply a big separate area with racks scattered, completely open.

Image courtesy of BABC

I was trying on dresses with many other girls in the room. Most brought company as I did, and those who went alone got plenty of friendly help from the rest of us. After many hours of trying dresses and narrowing down the choices and trying them on again, we ended up with this (both blurry pics and no frill pics included) :

She is by Maggie Sottero, but I do not know her name. When I found her on the rack she had tags on, everything perfectly zipped, tucked, and buttoned up, as if she had never been touched. She cost $750, which I was assured would go directly towards flying family members to see their loved ones suffering from breast cancer.

Is it horrible that I don’t feel the connection that most brides seem to have with their wedding dresses? I mean, I think the dress is gorgeous… for somebody. It’s just that strapless, poofy, long train, sparkles everywhere… none of it is really me. As a matter of fact, I had it on when I showed my brother (who knows me very well and whose opinion I do not take lightly) for the first time, and he was all surprised.

Me: So what do you think?
Bro: ehh… it’s a really nice dress
Me: So you don’t like it
Bro: No, I just never pictured you choosing something like this
Me: Shat did you picture me in?
Bro: Something more modern looking, not all poofy I guess
Me: Me too…

It’s done, the purchase had long been made and I sure ain’t throwing another penny on a dress. Could I have found a cheaper dress that I liked more than this? Probably. It’s actually really unlike me to make such a decision so quickly without shopping around. Though not tax deductible, I thought of the dress payment as a donation. It was the only way I could justify spending so much money on a dress I wear once. I drool over gowns by Claire Pettibone all the time, I can’t help it. But that’s it. While I’m envious of those who get giddy just thinking about their dresses, I have to say that I would probably do what I did again. I’m not an altruist, I’m just practical and the wedding dress is much lower in my priority ranking compared to most brides. Oh and, bridal sales people scare the crap out of me.

Anywho that’s my dress story.

How important was your wedding dress to you?