2010-03-16 08:00:00 by SMARTBRIDE
Bride-To-Be: Searching for my Holy Grail Wedding Dress
Everything was falling into place with our decorator and florist, so I decided it was time for my shopping. My search for the perfect dress started out casually in my hometown.
The Wedding Dress Search: Part 1
I thought I knew exactly what I wanted, a simple dress with shoulder straps and no pick-up. I began by trying on only this style of gown and I disliked all of them. To me these dresses felt like any formal dress, not the way I imaged my wedding gown would feel.
This is when I realized that the wedding gown saleswomen had a lot of knowledge and were an indispensible resource! They suggested that a strapless corset-style bodice would be the most flattering on my short-waisted body. This style would also require the least amount of alterations and would be easier on the budget!
They showed me a beautiful strapless DaVinci gown with lots of beading and details (the opposite of what I originally thought I wanted) and of course, I loved it. This was the first store that I went to, so I decided to keep looking.
The Wedding Dress Search: Part 2
A few months later, my mom and I went searching in Toronto. This time I stuck to strapless gowns with more volume in the skirt. I tried on what felt like a million dresses at the first store. Note: even though it is exciting, don't be surprised when many brides-to-be tell you that trying on wedding gowns is also exhausting!
After all of the searching, I had narrowed my options down to two very different styles:
The Classic or the Sexy Lace?
The classic dress was an ivory strapless gown with a champagne coloured bow and the sexy dress had tons of lace. Since I still had another appointment that same day, I left the store and moved on while keeping those two dresses in mind. When I arrived at the second store, I filled out a questionnaire describing my body type and the style of dress I was looking for. I mentioned that I liked dresses with a sweetheart neckline and a pick-up skirt.
I wanted to avoid the mermaid style because it would accentuate my hips and chest, but I still wanted the shape of my body to be seen in the dress. The saleswomen pulled about 10 dresses. Surprisingly, the two dresses I loved from the first store were at the very front of the group the saleswoman had selected. I thought, “If this isn’t a sign, what is?” I tried on all of their choices but still came back to the same two in the end.
My Holy Grail Wedding Dress
How did I know which dress was the right dress for me? Well, for starters, I didn't want to take off the ivory dress with the champagne bow so I knew it was "the one". I caught myself walking around the store looking at other items while still wearing this dress! This is a classic indicator that should not be ignored by any bride-to-be. If you don't want to take off a dress you've tried on, it's probably the perfect dress for you.
The dress fit me without being too tight, it flowed with my movements, and the corset-style back made it look like it was custom-made just for me. In this dress I finally felt the way I imaged a bride should feel. I could picture myself not only walking down the aisle, but also see myself comfortably wearing it while dancing in the evening.
It was time to talk price. The first store I had gone to charged roughly $50 less for the same dress, so I mentioned this to the saleswoman. I was ready to purchase the dress at the other store to save my mom some the money because she had offered to pay for the dress. The saleswoman then offered to throw-in the bustle if I bought the dress then and there. This offer saved me close to $150. I took the offer and couldn’t believe I had just bought my wedding dress!
*SmartBride Planning Tip:* Try to negotiate the price of your dress. Believe it or not, most stores are flexible on this. Many will not charge you tax if you pay in cash or offer some alterations for free to guarantee a sale. It never hurts to ask!
Spoiler Alert! The dress above is not my actual dress, as I want it to be a surprise until after my wedding! Stay tuned for photos of my 'real dress, after the wedding.
Check back every Tuesday for more of my wedding planning stories and wedding planning tips for smart brides,
Alicia
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About our Guest Blogger: Alicia Mason
On December 23, 2008 I got engaged to my best friend and soul mate. We set the date for September 25, 2010 and for the past year I have been sleeping and breathing everything wedding including; the venue, food, flowers, decorator, invitations, and finding the perfect dress…all on a budget!
While I didn't go crazy meeting with 10 florists and 10 decorators, I put a lot of thought into each decision and was able to find great deals along the way. I am thrilled that the SmartBride Boutique ladies have asked me to be a guest blogger in order to give you details about my wedding planning. While the planning isn't easy, it is exciting and I hope as you plan your wedding, you'll find my experiences helpful.
More posts from Bride-to-Be Alicia:
