Wedding Blog
When you first get engaged, everything is so freakin’ exciting!! It’s like the doors opened to a whole new wonderland that you had no idea existed.
YET there was one part about wedding planning that I totally feared: Dress shopping.
I know that to some, dress shopping is the most exciting part—so exciting that Sister Peep couldn’t wait to take me to all the best places in San Francisco ASAP. But me, I was scared *#$%-less to go.
Why? (Insert ridiculously honest blogging moment here): I was so scared that nothing would fit, and I was even more terrified of what a big white puffy dress would look like on my body. I had heard about dress shopping from Sister Peep and SIL Peep, and it didn’t sound pretty to me:
They have one sample size, they come into the dressing room with you to help put it on, and ’make’ it fit you.
Nothing is petite or small on my body, not even my elbows or calves, and especially not my assets!! It didn’t help that I had recently gone dress shopping with a good friend who is a street size 0—and she ordered a size 8 wedding dress. UGG. What size would I need to buy??
But, shortly after I got engaged and found the wedding blog mecca that is Weddingbee, I read a blog post from Mrs. Kiwi: Her Regret. It hit me. I needed to embrace myself—extra assets and all—and find myself the most perfect wedding dress for me!!
It still took me another FIVE months to set a date with Sister and Mama Peep Toe to go dress shopping (and even that was under a bit of protest!!), but I did it. I tried on the good, the bad, and the ugly. And yes, all of my worst fears about dress shopping did come true at some point, but I let it roll off my back because I found ’it’—the dress I felt beautiful in!! Mrs. Kiwi—I don’t know if you still read Weddingbee, but your post helped me embrace my biggest bridal angst, so I thought I would write this in case there is another bee in the hive who is also dreading trying on big white puffy dresses.
Up next, I wade through sequins and puffiness to find the one.
Mr. Peep—you are officially banned from reading Weddingbee until I say otherwise!
Anyone else out there have bridal dress shopping angst?
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Yup, but the first place we went was Haute Bride in SF. Meghan was amazing and put me right at ease. I had a few bad experiences mixed in there too, but am so happy that I stuck it out and waited until I found the right dress!
Can’t wait to see yours. Where did you end up getting it?
Thanks for being honest about your dress-shopping fears, Miss Peep. I felt exactly the same way, and no one understood why I wasn’t super excited to find my “dream dress.” I wasn’t one of those girls in the bridal salon weeks after getting engaged - it also took me 7 whole months to get up the nerve!
I felt like there was so much pressure to find “the one,” and I feared I would never find it, or that I would hate how I looked in a white dress. But after trying on a few dresses, it started to become fun, and then before I knew it, the experience was over and I was left wanting more!
You only get one chance to do something like that, and I wish I hadn’t been so anxious about it, so I could have fully enjoyed every moment. And in the end, it was not the dress itself, but the bonding time I had with my mom that ended up making my search truly special 
Can’t wait to see your dress, Peep!
Whew! I’m glad you made it through AND found a dress you feel good in! Can’t wait to see it!
I found only one salon (out of about 6 that I visited) that had dresses in a variety of sizes. In fact, they even had an entire plus-sized section. The manager (who helped me) said that they find it’s much better because everyone gets to try on at least a couple of dresses that fit, and that always looks best (and makes for an easier sell). I actually had the opposite problem. I’m very petite and the samples were huge on me, making it very hard to picture what the real thing would look like. It was wonderful to be at that one salon and have one fit like a glove! I wish they’d all do it.
I felt the exact same way! I waited until the last possible reasonable minute to go dress shopping - I just thought it would be such a horrible experience. But, you just have to be open and willing to try anything and everything until you find one you like.
Another terrified sample size bride over here! I only went to 1 store and promptly bought a dress and hauled ass out of there. Making girls get into a dress that doesnt even come close to zipping up is absolutely mortifying. But I totally regret rushing! I’m glad you took the time to think about it and realize that it’s definitely an EXPERIENCE that all brides should have, no matter their size!
Dress shopping is definitely nerve wracking; I’m so glad you persevered and are motivating others to face the fear head on!
ugh, this one lady made me feel so horrible, that I am a street size 12 (I’m 5′10″!) and a cheapskate for only spending 1K! we need to form some sort of revolt!
See I think that any sort of dress shopping is horrifying. I am petite but I have a chest, which clothes makers don’t seem to think happens. I usually end up in skirts and a top so knowing that this dress even if it didn’t fit right when I got it would be altered to fit me helps. Also having a consultant who knows what they are doing and listens to you.
good for you girlie for tackling that fear. i was terrified of dress shopping so i just bought something from the place i wanted to for the cause. i never loved my dress, and i so envy those who do! you go girl.
I didn’t have an “aha, that’s the ONE” feeling, but I loved my dress. I found my dress at Amy Kuschel in San Francisco, where every dress is custom-made to your measurements. They only have a couple sample sizes but they really did make shopping a pleasant experience. And in the end, my dress fit my body perfectly!
I never intended to go dress shopping and hoped to skirt the whole process altogether. I found a dress I love on etsy even before we were engaged. It’s custom, too, so no worrying about it not fitting me!
Unfortunately it turns out that people like my mom WANT to go dress shopping (go figure, first born getting married), so despite already having a dress picked out I caved because she’s my mom.
Thanks for all the support.
@Doctorgirl and BD- Wait until the next post- you’ll like where I went!!
@Pengy- I LOVED your dress and you looked so fantastic in it!!
@peachypear- seriously more places should carry a range of sizes!!
@yoyo- My sister and mom forced me to go dress shopping. My mom even said, “this isn’t about you!” So I totally understand it!! And I am the youngest!
Yes, dress shopping was super stressful! I made the mistake of trying to shop simultaneously for the bridesmaid dresses… I ended up being so stressed about those that when it cam time to try on wedding dresses I was in a tizzy! Can’t wait to see what you try on.
I will be dress shopping in April and I cannot wait…but I def am a little nervous! But I am super excited as well!!! I cant wait to see pics of your dress!
i waited for months to go dres shopping because we’ll end up with a 19 month engagment….when i FINALLY decided to go, i was SOOOO worried about things fitting like you say! and, of course nothing did, except for the dresses 2-3 sizes bigger than my street size, but i found it. granted, the woman at the shop had to LACE me into the corset back dress with some random piece of string she found….but it worked. and i could tell it was the dress for me!
i waited for months to go dress shopping because we’ll end up with a 19 month engagement….when i FINALLY decided to go, i was SOOOO worried about things fitting like you say! and, of course nothing did, except for the dresses 2-3 sizes bigger than my street size, but i found it. granted, the woman at the shop had to LACE me into the corset back dress with some random piece of string she found….but it worked. and i could tell it was the dress for me!
I totally get where you’re coming from, I’m no size 0 either. I had to endure the embarrassing walk with the back of wedding dresses unzipped because they didn’t fit, but I toughed it out because I REFUSED to feel that bad on my wedding day. After 25+ dresses, and plenty of hits to my self esteem, I totally succeeded in finding THE dress. Just remember, on your wedding day the bride is always the most beautiful girl in the room.
I tried on probably literally 50 dresses and finally just bought one of the last ones because I was out of time & didn’t want to pay crazy rush fees plus the people at the bridal place made me feel like they didn’t know what else to do with me. Seriously, it was the worst part of wedding planning & still one of my saddest regrets…the dress cost WAY WAY too much and I didn’t even love it. I would do anything to be able to redo that decision.
This definitely quells my nerves a little, being a street size 12/14 and bra size G… good friggin luck finding a sample that will fit this brickhouse. Glad to hear that you had some luck and that you were successful! Can’t wait to see what you got!
I have to agree– hearing from Mrs. Kiwi some time back about her wedding dress issues was inspiring.
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Mrs. Peep Toe, San Francisco
Age and Occupation: 29, Policy Analyst
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 36, Olive Oil Production Manager
Engagement Date: December 16, 2007
Wedding Date: May, 2009
Blogging Since: November 26, 2008
Venue: Hotel Vitale
About Me: I am a west coast lady who loves the San Francisco Bay Area. I love living with Mr. Peep and our animals: Huck the Dog and Ferris the Cat. I work to save the environment in San Francisco, while Mr. Peep makes ridiculously delicious Olive Oil. On any day you can find me reading the latest book I have gotten my hands on, eating Swedish Fish, and perusing wedding blogs! We are both champagne drinking foodies on a Bud Light budget. We are planning an eco-chic, intimate, and interfaith San Francisco City wedding.
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