Weddingbee Blog

“I don’t design clothes. I design dreams”

- Ralph Lauren

{via Utterly Engaged}

The fitting room.

Oh man, I am not a fan.

I’m the type of shopgirl who sees something, loves it, and buys it on the spot. Why? Because there is nothing I fear more than trying on clothes in the fitting room. It’s weird, I know. I feel awkward and embarrassed…and that fluorescent lighting! Oof!

For this reason, I held off on looking at dresses for our big day…for six months. The thought of having an audience while I was on my quest for this dream dress was daunting. And when the year mark finally rolled around…what did I do?

I shopped online.

I’m crazy, I know. But I promise on everything holy that I was able to find the perfect dress without ever stepping into a bridal salon. It did, however, take a lot of magazine browsing, online shopping, and picture sharing with the wonderfully supportive Mother Ostrich and my closest fashionable girlfriends.

One thing I knew off the bat—no strapless dresses (unless it was a knockout sweetheart neckline and I couldn’t find anything else!).

Why? Just a personal preference. I adore and admire strapless dresses on others, but ever since I was a young, formal-going Ostrich, I have never donned a strapless dress. Spaghetti, halter, and one shoulder have always been my cup of tea!

And for us bees who have attempted to find a wedding dress with straps, in theory this seemed like a relatively easy task.

Oh, it was not easy at all!

As my dress-shopping extravaganza began, all of the pretty designs seemed to be strapless. And after what seemed like forever, it got to a point where I was so exasperated I considered just buying a sweetheart gown and adding straps to it. (And I made a vow to start a bridal line specializing in dresses with straps!)

But then, I discovered and was dazzled by these dreamy dresses from bridal designer extraordinaire, Jenny Packham.

{source: Jenny Packham}

Many of you style-savvy bees know of Ms. Packham. She is an ethereal yet cool Brit designer who is after this Ostrich’s heart. And her non-bridal styles are equally stunning. What is there not to love?

And just like the classic dress-shopping experience, the moment I saw the dress, I knew it was the one. And apparently, so did everyone else!

*** Mr. Ostrich, if you are reading this, STOP HERE. SPOILER ALERT! ***

Here it is! THE dress, also known as “Papillon,” by Jenny Packham.

{source}

{personal photos from my dress’s first owner}

And the most serendipitous part? Knowing this budget bee couldn’t afford to order a brand new couture gown, I hunted pre-owned-dress sites and, in literally one day, found this lovely item on PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com…for 70% off! No damages, clean and pristine, and in my size…worn once by the most charming newlywed who was expecting their first child in a few months.

I have a feeling this was meant to be…

My sweet brides-to-bee, how did you search for your dream dress? And for my strap-loving bees, what dresses do you love most?