My First Time

I had my first experience bridal gown shopping yesterday. Big sister (aka Maid of Honor) and her boyfriend (BAH!) went shopping with me to a couple places in Old Town. Not gonna lie…it was kind of fun.

We first stopped at Le Star Bridal on King Street. I wasn’t planning on trying any dresses on, so I hadn’t made any appointments. The woman there was very helpful however, the one dress I found, she took off the mannequin, and helped me try it on. We weren’t supposed to take pictures, however my sister and I each got one while it was still on the mannequin.

As I mentioned before, I was looking for simple…no lace, no frills. This dress had a minimum amount of lace around the bottom and in the bust line with a sash around the waist. It had a bunched skirt and when i tried it on, it was…perfect. But I wasn’t ready for perfect yet. I can’t get the dress out of my head, but oh man…it might be the dress (Fiancé if you click those links I’ll beat you down)

Next we went to Ellie’s Bridal on Washington Street. I didn’t see anything there. There was one girl there trying dresses on, so we just browsed. Gossypia was similar in the strike out department. I wasn’t discouraged because we still had one more left, i had read some pretty terrible reviews of Hannelore’s but I figured “since we’re down here…” So i go in, fill out the information card, and a short, Latina woman comes to help me out grabbing a few dresses right away – strapless, embossed dresses. Dresses that were nearing on the line of “too expensive” but try them on? Sure why not. There were a couple that i liked well enough but because the woman was a little pushy and rude, I probably won’t go back there when the mothers are down.

Until she insisted I try on a dress with a v neck, wide straps and crinoline that just kind of hung on me. It was pretty hideous, and went for about $3200. It was…wretched. My sister found a dress on sale for $900…it was pretty, but the lady wouldn’t even LET me try it on…”it won’t fit her. It’s too small” !!!!!!! NONE OF THE DRESSES FIT LADY! I mean…really, I didn’t expect them to because I know they take your measurements and then order it after…but really? Not even letting me try it on? Telling me it’s too small and won’t fit? Is that really something you should be saying to a bride to be when she’s trying gowns on??? Probably not….just sayin’.

I brushed the dirt off my shoulders, tried on a couple more that big sister picked out for me then we left, I said I’d be in touch next month (which I won’t likely) and we headed back to the apartment to meet Fiancé for drinks at Finns.

All in all, I have a better sense of what I want. “Simple elegance” is along the lines of what I’m looking for…I’m no longer entirely opposed to lace, but in small amounts. I still have at least three more places to look for dresses at before the mothers come down in September. But at least I can rule places out!

Tagged as: gowns, shopping, wedding