Weddingbee Blog

The last time I was in David’s Bridal, I was on the hunt for accessories for prom. I’m among the first to wed in my group of girlfriends, so I haven’t had the pleasure of popping in to try out a bridesmaid’s dress or shop with a friend. It would seem that my rubber necking drive-bys did not prepare me for what was beyond the window display:

[images from David’s Bridal and The Knot]

Luxe-looking fabrics with thoughtful embellishments and the fluffy chiffon-tulle trend strumming my heart strings. That’s what awaited us beyond the DB franchise doors. It’s like they KNEW I had zero expectations and had made it their mission to prove me wrong.

My mom and I told the girl at the front desk that we were just looking at bridal party dresses—no need for a consultant or a dressing room. And within minutes we were back, tails between our legs, apologetically asking for some help with bridal gowns in the busy pre-spring Sunday rush.

One of the problems with shopping with my mom (and no, I’m not blaming her for what happens next) is that her delight is infectious. When we shop for me I’ll get honest answers about whether an outfit is flattering, and then when I put something on that strikes gold I hear a little voice telling me I have to get it. And it’s not in my head—it’s my mom on the bench behind me in the fitting room. She tried really hard not to do that at any point while we shopped for my wedding dress, determined not to sway me or force me into anything. But Oleg Cassini #CWG322 made her tough exterior crack; and I had permission to be swept up in newfound, out of left field dress love.

Too shocked by our find and confused to buy a second dress that day, I returned to New York and dragged NY MoH out to Northern Blvd in Queens, sans car of course, on a rainy Wednesday night for approval. She’s the one who had tears in her eyes and gushed over the Anne Barge dress last year, and I needed a voice of reason or approval. I got the latter—and we also got a rough cell phone pic that I’ll share because I heart you all:

Yeah, that’s our mess in the dressing room. Whatchugonnadoaboutit?

The next day I gave my madre the go ahead to order this tulle dream, and now I have two! Big oops.

This was not particularly economical {unless I sell dress 1, in which case we’ll have saved a bunch. Designers don’t come cheap, even if they’re samples}. It definitely isn’t green {although the money for the first dress still went to help kids whether I wear the dress or not}. This one is not second hand, not for charity, not made locally or with eco-conscious fabric. It just makes me smile a lot.

Rookie lesson: Swallow your pride and keep all options open.

Rookie Bride Slack: In the grand scheme of your life, it’s not the end of the world to get 2 dresses…

[but as a Rookie Suggestion, try to avoid the two dress tango if you’re not into triple-guessing and having two options on your hands.]

Any fellow two-dress brides ready to come clean?