Ladies, let me tell ya, if you're needing a boost of confidence, it's time to go wedding dress shopping. I have been known to shed a tear or two at the mall, searching for a bra, swimsuit or pair of jeans that fits, but I am having a blast looking at wedding gowns. First of all, these things are made to be the most beautiful item you will ever wear in your entire life. They are created for the express purpose of turning you into a goddess. Everyone knows all eyes are on the bride as she walks down the aisle, and bridal designers work some incredible magic to make that experience perfect.
In other words, even if you don't find "the one" right off the bat, you are going to look darn good in something that you try on.
Secondly, the salespeople at most of these stores work on commission. Yes, I'm sure there are many out there who are snooty and pushy, but at the end of the day, they are all trying to make a sale. It benefits them tremendously to be very very very nice to you, so that you will like them and buy from them. This also means they will compliment you a lot. I highly recommend basking in that adoration. Not to mention, other people in the store (usually mothers) who are sitting around waiting for their bride to be transformed into a fairy princess will happily give you their opinions and praise, too.
Third, no matter how you feel about girly frou-frou accessories, a veil, a tiara and a pair of totally kickin' shoes are bound to make you look and feel gorgeous. Nobody but brides wears all that stuff on their heads these days, so putting it all on is a dramatic change from the humdrum jeans and t-shirt routine. And if, like me, you live in flats and tennies, fancy heels will make you feel like a movie star. Unbelievably, these things bump the already-beautiful dress up a couple notches until you can hardly believe you are staring at yourself in the mirror.
In case you couldn't tell, even though I haven't found a dress yet, I am having fun looking.
And thus concludes the silver lining part of the story.
On to the storm cloud...
Wedding dresses are expensive. Not just a little expensive, either. I don't mind spending money on something I really really want and will be really really happy with, even if it is just for one day. But these big bunches of fabric are a LOT expensive.
There are (relatively) cheap gowns out there, but I don't want to settle for something that isn't flattering or doesn't fit my sense of style. I like a little embellishment, and that costs. But even the dresses with very simple, modern lines can be thousands of dollars.
That does not include the aforementioned veil ($50-500), headpiece ($20-100) nor the shoes ($50-150). Additionally, almost everyone wants alterations (easily $100-300) and fancy bras ($30-80) to make sure this ridiculously costly garment actually fits right.
I'm particularly miffed about the cost of the veil. It appears by far to be the simplest thing to make. Maybe I'm wrong, but how hard is it to take a piece of mesh, sew some little doodads around the edges, attach a hair comb and call it a day?
But, like a million other girls out there, I will most likely get suckered into paying way more than I ever wanted to, just to have that wonderful feeling of looking way better than I ever thought I could. It might be possibly be worth it after all.
But I doubt it.
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u can walk down the aisle wearing a trashbag, galoshes, and a stocking cap. i'd still marry you. well, maybe.
ReplyDeleteAw, sweet comment, Andy. I totally agree with you on wedding gowns! I'm not so much of a dress-up person on a daily basis but went all out for our wedding. There are definitely ways you can trim the costs - I found some gorgeous shoes on the Payless website for about $25, had my mom do the hem alterations and then found a private seamstress to do the back part to hang up the dress (what is that called??). I bought my veil, but if I had to do it again I would absolutely make my own. I bought the slip but just wore one of my regular strapless bras and it worked out just fine. I figured the more I was familiar with, the better. ;-) Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI'm so jealous. If I could wear a different wedding dress everyday, I would. They're so flattering especially when they have a corset! I also remember gasping at the price tag, but didn't want to settle for one of the "cheap" dresses that felt like something I could have sewn. I say splurge on the dress and find ways to save on accessories. Enjoy every second of it...it goes by so fast!!! =D
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