I said YES TO THE DRESS!

Hi friends! 

This is going to be a long post, please endure all my blurb-age! 

This weekend I was so excited for Saturday to arrive! Saturday was D day for me (aka first bridal appointments to try on wedding dresses!)

I had 3 appointments set for 3 different Bridal Boutiques/Stores. I gave myself 2 hours in between appointments.

First up was this place called "The Dress". I had one of childhood friends who actually lives out here in AZ like I do (Even though we both grew up on the same street back home in Illinois!) come with me. 

This is Kari in a few pictures with me

She's wearing the chicago cubs shirt OF COURSE! 

 Us and Our fur babies Aspen & Wrigley!

Anyhow back to the JUICE! 

The three bridal places that I chose were all based on RECOMMENDATIONS by my dentist (weird right?) Mister Wonderful's fellow female co-worker Nurses, & fellow bloggers!

The first store (recommended by my dentist) was a DUD. 

I was so disappointed. The store was itty bitty and had a selection of like 50 dresses that were OLD looking...

The owners of the store were MUCH older (think grandma/grandpa age) I'm thinking apparently they are NOT up with what's in these days.

I tried on 3 dresses just to "try" even though I knew within the second they pulled random gowns they were all big fat "NO"s! 

Needless to say I was crushed. I couldn't help but panic and think, "is this how it's suppose to be?" How in the world do girls find dresses under such conditions!?!

eeek!

We couldn't escape to the car fast enough. Not to mention it was super awkward when the lady was PUMPING me for information as to where we were going next blah blah...

Is that really any of your business? I think NOT! 

Second place was a place called Shaffers.

It was Heaven from the moment I walked it. Elegant, classy and totally turned my really awful first experience into a life changing one. 

My bridal gal was AWESOME. 

No pressure. Seriously pulled 15 dresses for me to try. 

She never hurried me, and really LISTENED to me and what I wanted within my budget. 

What helped my budget out is the fact that I am NOT going to be wearing shoes on the beach and I will not be wearing a veil on the beach either. 

Two huge costs that helped push my dress price up a little since I 86'd those items out! 

the biggest lesson learned with trying on wedding gowns I learned was:

Dresses were pulled that I initially thought "there's no way I'm going to like that on me!" I ended up loving! 

I tried at least one style of dress in the shapes listed above just to see which ones would look best on me. 

I've always known the MERMAID look was NOT for me. Unless you are a size 0-2 I think it accentuates your hip area way to much and on me, that's the one place I DON'T want highlighted when wearing my wedding gown! 

I tried on 15-18 dresses and after a long 2 hours, I finally was duking it out between 2 dresses. 

Unfortunately they don't allow you to take pictures of the gowns till you actually purchase one and it's "yours" so I went online and found the picture of my runner up dress. 

This was a close contender! 

This is the dress I ALMOST picked!!!! I had SUCH a hard time at first deciding between this one and the one I picked, but really it came down to breaking it down what I liked on both dresses what I didn't like what popped out to me first what didn't. 

The dress I did pick was also a Maggie Sottero VERY similar to the one I almost picked.

I felt like I was walking on air when it finally hit me that I had found my dress! 

I didn't cry. A few twitter/blog peeps asked me that. I don't know, I don't get emotional over clothes I guess? I mean I will probably cry when I actually am walking towards Mister Wonderful the day we get married, but I'm not a huge crier when it comes to stuff like this. Only thing I ever get emotional about is Animals and videos/movies depicting them! :) 

I had one more appointment for the day. It was at David's Bridal.

Note: I don't mean to offend ANYONE with my opinion, but please remember this is based on my experience and what I went through! 

David's Bridal was a ZOO. From the moment we walked it, I had a bad vibe. The girl that was suppose to consult me didn't do so, she was so busy helping another girl at the same time. I might as well of been invisible. 

Another thing I noticed was the quality of dresses. I'm no dress expert but I could just see/tell by touching some of the gowns that they were cheaper for a reason...

Kari told me to go home and sleep on the dress to make sure I was absolute 100% about this dress. I agreed. Not to mention if it was the dress, I would get 10% off the price if I made my decision within 24 hours. 

Sah-weet!!!! 

So I went home, went to bed, and I kid you not I had the most wonderful dream about "THE DRESS" and when I woke up, that's how I knew it was the one FOR SURE! 

And that's my story! So in a matter of 14 days of being engaged, We've set the date, booked our destination wedding to Kauai, booked our resort, ordered my dress, and ordered Mister Wonderful's wedding ring! 

Needless to say you have to get a lot done when you wedding is in SEVEN months! 

Any recommendations on Bridal Jewelry friends? Sites? stores?