Weddingbee Blog

I call her Ophelia because a) she is floaty (just like I wanted) and b) I feel kinda crazy (in a happy way) when I wear her. And, I love Hamlet.

Moving on. So, like I said in my last post about my dress, the wedding dress buying expedition was a kind of spur-of-the-moment thing but it ended up being a very good decision. Off we went: Mr E, his mother, and I. Yes, Mr E came and helped me choose my wedding dress. Some people may find that nontraditional but actually, my father helped my mother choose her dress 20-odd years ago so it was like we were continuing a tradition started by them. And because my own mother wasn’t there (we were sad about this but it couldn’t be helped and she has been amazing with everything to do with the wedding), I just couldn’t have made the decision without Mr E’s input.

We went to David’s Bridal. Now, you American brides are going to laugh at this… but I had never ever heard of David’s Bridal before that day.

Also, I now know that there can be stigma surrounding the name David’s Bridal. Yes, the dress I bought wasn’t designer, it wasn’t unique and handmade. I bought it from a place that almost embodies the WIC (Wedding Industrial Complex). But do I care? No I don’t. It was my decision to make and a nice kind one on my wallet. Plus, if I were in America I might be worried about the amount of other brides who have “my” dress. But here in NZ? I’m unique! Bonus.

We were not paid the most attention when we first walked in and were left to rummage through the dresses ourselves. I was having a hard time knowing what I was even looking for.

After a while, a saleswoman decided we were legitimate customers and sat us down, handed me a catalogue and told me to circle every dress that looked nice and that I would like to try on. As I did this I started to realise that I was circling the same “type” of dress every time: chiffon, strapless, empire waist. Oh, and a couple dresses with lace-up backs because they are so darn pretty!

We went to the dressing room, and I tried on five dresses, one after another. I fell over at least three times in the mirror-less box they called a dressing room and bruised my elbow. Mr E reassured Future MIL that I wasn’t killing myself in there. Dress number 2 was lovely, but nothing had convinced me to part with my money yet.

Then it was my FMIL to the rescue. “What about the dress I saw on the mannequin when we first walked in?”  I didn’t remember this one, so she showed me a picture of it in the catalogue. I hadn’t circled it because I HATED how the model looked in it in the picture, but I decided to try it on. Too bad the girl in the dressing room next door already had it. I glared at her not-so-subtly until she discarded it and the saleswoman let  me have it. It was way too big. But I came out to show Mr E and Future MIL and I could see on their faces that this one was their favourite. I looked in the mirror, and it was my favourite, too.

Wanna see?

Here it is on the model in the catalogue first:

David’s Bridal

On me in the store:

(Photos taken by Future MIL on my crappy camera)

It sat in Mr E’s wardrobe for a couple of months before he moved to NZ and now it sits in his wardrobe here with strict instructions from my mother not to let me get my “sticky fingers” on it too often.

But of course, I had to try it on when I saw it again, right?

In one of our cramped bedrooms at the University hall of residence:

It fits much better (sorry for the lighting!). It’s still a tad big around the boobs though

A close up of the beads on the bodice (I also got DB to make the neckline slightly sweetheart):

And finally, a close up of the beaded rose lace that goes all the way down the train:

Yeah, it’s not the best quality of photos but you get the idea!

Did you find your dress on your first shopping trip?