My second visit to try on dresses was with my mum and Mr S' mum; 'the Two Mums' if you will. It's important to me that they see my choices and I hear their opinions. For some reason, I was so nervous. The kind of nervous when you feel sick, your hands are clammy and you have butterflies and a bit of a dry mouth. I don't even know why. If anyone has any suggestions or explanation as to why, please comment. I think I'd maybe convinced myself that it was THE day I'd put down my deposit on the dress I'd become Mrs S in. The dress I'd be wearing when I walked down the aisle a single girl and to walk back up the aisle a married woman (insert squeal of excitement here).
I met the Two Mums at Proposals. I hadn't told them which dresses I liked, I wanted to try a few on and for them to see for themselves and form an opinion. The first dress I tried on was my Maggie Sottero gown. I absolutely love this dress. Does it make me sound weird if I say that even though it was maybe 2 sizes too big, it fitted like a glove? Well, anyway, it did.
The next was my Opulence by Natalie M dress. I stood in the middle of the shop. Beaming smile. "Ok, you can look now!" I said. My mum's eyes opened really wide. Not in a good way. My smile faded. She got up and started to walk around me. I stood stiff like a child getting told off by their parent. She started pawing at the skirt and fixing the train.
"What's wrong with it?" I said in a tone that sounded a bit too aggressive. "Nothing. I'm just surprised you've picked something like this. I do like it though now I've had a proper look at it". She paused. "Yeah, it's nice. I love this part". Phew.
We left it there and I led them to Pronuptia. Like I mentioned in Part I, I tried one of my favourites on and immediately knew that it wasn't The One.
My mum has always had an image in her mind of me wearing something slim fitting, maybe a fishtail and a modest train. Something maybe a little bit like this...
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| Justin Alexander - 8478 |
However, I can exclusively reveal that my dress will not look like that.
Anyway, I tried on a dress similar, just for the benefit of my mum. As soon as I walked out of the changing rooms, she pulled a face. Worse than the one previously described. To clarify, we're all now clear that the above type of dress is not an option for me.
As I unwillingly put my boring work clothes back on, I pulled out a Justin Alexander dress and announced that I'd wanted to try that one on the last time I was there. I'd asked for it to be put in the changing room for me and when the assistant was about to tighten everything into place, I'd asked how much it was, to which she'd replied a figure that was above my budget. I immediately told her I wanted to take it off. Why would I want to torture myself by trying it on, to fall in love with it, to not be able to afford it? So I didn't get to see it in all its glory. Not that time anyway.
"Well, why don't you just try it on and see", said the Two Mums. So I did.
It was beautiful. Amazing. I felt beautiful and amazing in it too. But it was short lived as the feeling was tainted with the fact that I couldn't afford it. I felt so disappointed.
In the car on the way home, the Two Mums were trying their best to pick out imaginary faults with the dress to make me feel a bit better. I did love them for that but at the same time, you all know what its like when you really want something and you can't have it. You don't listen to anyone else. You want it, and that's that.
Plus with the added cost of a veil/headband/tiara, it just mounts up. I never knew a head piece could cost so much. How embarrassingly naive of me.
I got home, just as my grocery shopping van pulled up. That poor woman who had to come and drop my shopping off. Little did she realise she'd double up as a therapist for the next 10 minutes while I ranted and offloaded my disappointment on to her. She did try and plug her photography skills to me but after realising I'd just rambled on and on to a complete stranger, I had to very politely decline her offer as I have already booked James Green.
The phone rang. It was Mr S' mum. Apparently she'd told Mr S' dad the story of that afternoon and he'd very generously said he would put the extra money towards the dress if it's what I really wanted. I was so grateful. I mean really, he didn't need to do that at all but he did.
It's a curse and a blessing to have such a sensible head on my shoulders. On one hand, I could have the dress I loved but on the other hand, would I be walking down the aisle thinking "I can't believe how much this dress cost to only be wearing it for 12 hours max".
I've since slept on it and as time has passed, one of my 'original' dresses have still stuck in my mind and I don't feel so disappointed with the expensive dress.
I've decided to book appointments to go try them all on again. I think of one in particular and it makes me smile. I'm taking the Two Mums with me again. I've booked a whole day off work so I won't be rushing around before closing time (as previously), and I've decided to go to another shop, just to look.
Although saying that, I'm pleased (and surprised at myself) that I'm not in the frame of mind that I have to visit every single wedding dress shop in the area in case I'm 'missing out', but as I have the whole day off work to be all wedding-y, I thought I'd take the opportunity to visit another shop. What harm can it do? Other than confuse me even more. Brilliant.
So that's my story so far. I'm continuing this whole saga next Thursday. Maybe in the meantime, I can take note of Kim Kardashian's wedding dress. I know I can't afford Vera Wang but a girl can dream can't she?
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| Kim Kardashian's wedding dress as anticipated by Madame Tussuad's |
Click here to see the full story of Kim Kardashian's wedding dress as reported by the Daily Mail Online.
Wishing Kim and Kris a long, happy marriage, full of love, laughs and happy memories. Good luck!
