Weddingbee Blog

With plenty of time to go, I have almost everything booked. I am incredibly proud of this achievement, considering I started planning this year with only a handful of Saturdays at my disposal.

Even with so much organized already, the one thing that everyone asks about is the dress. To be honest, it is a question I often dread. Mainly because when I explain what I intend to wear, I often receive slightly negative responses like: “but you can’t wear that!” I first encountered this response when I did an initial exploration of nearby bridal stores. While I didn’t quite expect to find the right thing at a bridal store anyway, I figured it was worth a look. Apparently I should have stuck with my initial judgment. With my determination not to wear something that resembled a traditional bridal gown, I managed to frighten away a few shop attendants. I think I was too “difficult” a bride for them. I think I should have found a better way to describe my request to “not look like a bride”.

In the end, I resigned myself to having something made. Something I don’t really believe in, either.

This is only really because I am incredibly indecisive and with a whole world of dress patterns out there, the concept was just too overwhelming. And so up until now, I avoided the matter completely.

But then, when I least expected it, I found something. It isn’t perfect by any means. It’s a little shop soiled, and could do with some tailoring. When I tried it on, it fitted. I didn’t get all teary eyed about the whole thing, either. I simply stood in the ordinary cubicle, in an ordinary women’s store, after a long day at work, while my fiance waited patiently with all our groceries. The whole thing was rather practical, just like, well… me.

I don’t want to look like a bride. I want to look like me. I don’t need an expensive, hand beaded masterpiece that will only be worn once. I just wanted something simple and elegant, with a touch of whimsy. The dress is a work in progress. It’s simple and reasonably elegant and in I intend to find it a “touch of whimsy”. I’m thinking something vintage.

I tried to find something similar online to post alongside this entry. But the best I could come up with was this Jenny Packham dress. I love Jenny Packham. If I wasn’t all the way in South Africa I would have thrown out all my budget savvy practicality for a Packham original. Her dresses are THAT beautiful. The dress I bought is a simple empire line, like the image. I plan on having mine taken in a bit to prevent the whole “pregnant look” these dresses can create. With me being so young as it is, I don’t want to get that rumor mill started.

Oh, I forgot to mention… the dress only set me back R450. That’s about $50. Apparently,the bargain gods are on my side!