I GOT IT!

So yesterday evening, I was talking to Teri about David's Bridal, and how my mom told me that they were running their $99 Dress Sale. She said that I should go check it out, but I was a little weary because I have scheduled "Dress Day" for October when my cousin is coming down with her, Heather my mom and sister. She said I should just go and see, so I called them to ask them about the sale and the saleswomen said that they would only be running it through the end of the month and that they only had a few dresses left. Well, that did it. As I was leaving, Teri pushed me out the door (haha, cheesy I know) and told me I better go down there. And since it's in the same shopping center, there really was no reason not to.

So let me tell you something about David's Bridal that you may or may not already know. They pretty much attack you when you touch the doorknob. Well, I was well prepared with my "I am just looking, I am not going to buy today, can you point me in the sale direction" speech, but when I walked in the front desk girl was already helping someone and I was able to sneak in without the others' noticing me right away. So I found my estimated size racks and started flipping through them. I have a very firm budget for every aspect of my wedding, so I skimmed right over the dresses that were more than what I could spend. There was barely anything that I could at longer than a second. My "price range" is the last three figure number that they sell regular price gowns at, so it's no surprise that there weren't many. After scanning the racks, someone finally approached me. After talking for a few minutes, she talked me into getting a consultant so I could try on some gowns because "you will never know until you try on, so let just get an idea.." After leaving this woman and sitting down with woman #2, who asked me all the same question, plus my name and address and phone number, I was then passed on woman #3 (Jenna?) who assisted me in the dressing area.

The first dress I tried on was the one I have been eying in the catalog and online, and I keep pages from Bridal mags that are of dresses similar. It was $100 more than my budget. I tried it on. This was the first moment I realize coming by yourself can be a challenge. You have to put your "wedding dress bra" (read: torso length super tight strapless bra) by yourself and it has, like, 12 clasps and you have to work really hard at spinning it around your body!!!! Then you put on your...I forgot the name, the skirt thing. Not too bad. Then the dress! Doable, but obviously would be better if your MOB or mom could drape it over you, instead of have to find the whole and drop it down by yourself. But I did it! (4 times).

Ok, so dream dress on, in front of the mirror. No smiles! I didn't like it! I was sad and shocked! What happens when you don't like the way your dream dress looks on?!?!? So, the consultant brought my another one, in my range. It was pretty, fit good, liked it. It had a weird tulle mesh thing, but over all it was okay. Then I tried on a third dress. No. So as I was looking at it in the mirror, I realized that she didn't have any other dresses held for me on the rack. I got a little discouraged, until my consultant came to me and said she would go look on the sale rack to see if she could find anything that met my criteria. I told her that if she found any in my size, to just bring them over and I would decide.

So, she comes back with the only dress in my size on sale. She showed it to me through the bag and I liked it a lot, so I went in to try it on. She said she would ask someone if there was still a sale going on (hmm...ok). Well, I put the dress on really fast so I could come out and get a good look. I don't want to say that there was that special moment of just knowing it was the one, but I was definitely surprised and happy with the way this one looked! She came back to help me zip it up and she told me that the dress was only $99!!! The dress is gorgeous!!! I am not going to divulge into it's details because Scott reads my blog :-) But as I am spending time in it, I realize more and more that this is the dress I am going to walk down the aisle in! It was an amazing moment. This was the other time that I was bummed that I was all alone, I didn't have anyone to share my excitement with. My consultant said though, that I didn't need anyone there to tell me what I already knew, which was that the dress is perfect for me! So, after a few discussing a few minor alterations (and one medium one) I decided to buy it!

I did not buy the $189 veil that matched, and don't plan on going back for it. I did not set up an appointment for my estimated $250 alterations. I took a deep breath and snapped a camera phone pic (Aren't you surprised that me, Mrs. Camera didn't have it with me? I was planning on buying my wedding gown, lol) and changed out of it. Then I just bought it. Just like that, that simple.

I want to put it back on!!! I feel SOOOO relieved that it's over and that I didn't pay a fortune. I might even get rid of the picture of my real "dream" gown from Priscilla of Boston. Or...I might not :-) I did miss the fact that my mom and my cousin and Heather and my sister weren't there like we had planned, but I guess I am non traditional. They are all happy for me that I didn't miss out on the greatest deal of my life! I will be telling my daughter or future daughter in law that I only spent $100 on my gown. It was a great night!

Sorry no pics, don't want Groomy to see it! ;-)