Spoiler Alert: Saying yes to the dress is not as glamorous as Randy makes it seem on TLC.
Every girl dreams of their moment of walking down the aisle in a white dress. Like many, my Pinterest board filled with wedding inspo was packed to the brim of gown options long before my now-husband got down on one knee and popped the question.
When the time finally came to pick out my wedding dress, I quickly realized that years of Pinterest prep was not the answer. While there are SO many stunning looks, there can only be one (or two if you're into that quick change thing) dress! And just because you like a photo of the dress, doesn't mean you'll feel like yourself when you're actually wearing it.
My first visit to a bridal boutique was the ever-so infamous Kleinfeld in New York City. Let me start by saying this... They know what they are doing at Kleinfeld. However, if you're indecisive and anxiety-ridden like me, prepare to be slightly overwhelmed!
After being brought back to a dressing room and talking briefly with a stylist about my wedding day vision, I was quickly swept away in a frenzy of tulle, lace and sparkle. Once my long-sleeved lace dream soon became a nightmare, my entire vision was flipped upside down.
As much as I loved the classic lace look sprawled across my Pinterest feed, in reality, it made me look and feel like an old lady trying to be "hip" (see evidence above) . I didn't feel like myself in the dream dress I had once envisioned! In my hour-long appointment at Kleinfeld, I threw away everything I thought I wanted in a wedding dress and proceeded to try on every dress type in the business.
Although I didn't leave my first appointment with my dream dress in hand, I left knowing what I did and didn't like on myself. I knew then that I wanted to feel like a full-out Cinderella princess on my wedding day! This made my life a whole lot easier moving forward.
I went to 6 more bridal boutiques after Kleinfeld before saying yes to the dress. After each appointment, I was emotionally and physically drained (while it's fun trying on dresses, it's also a lot). But... I eventually found THE DRESS!
So what made me say YES?
Here's my advice for any brides below.
Don't Second Guess Yourself
That "oh my gosh, this is it" moment might not happen to you. But you WILL have a warm, fuzzy feeling in your heart with at least a few dresses. Even if it isn't what you pictured in your mind, do not fight that feeling. There's a reason for it.
Try It All
No matter how certain you are about a particular style of dress, you only get one chance to play dress-up. You never know what will actually make you look and feel like a princess!
Listen to your Heart
While it's nice to have a small group of friends and family with you when wedding dress shopping, you have to remember that different people have different opinions. It's ok (and encouraged) to put your opinion first in this case!
Sleep On It
While you do need to choose a wedding dress about 9 months prior to your wedding date, don't feel rushed to say yes to a dress in a panic. After you fall in love with a dress, take a TON of photos at the store, leave, sleep on it and revisit those photos the next day or so. If they still make you feel like a fairy princess, that could be the one.
When it comes down to it, remember that it's just a dress that you will wear on one day of your life. No matter what, your special day will be magical because you're marrying the love of your life! After all, you want to marry someone who thinks you're smokin' all the time (even in sweatpants).
Always,
Alina Ann
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