My Dress.

We've been engaged for two weeks tomorrow.
AND I already have my dress-crazy, I know!

I got it yesterday, and I am so excited!

As I planned to attend the Bridal Fair & my first dress appointment I in no way expected to find "the" dress.  AT ALL.  I just wanted to look and have some fun with my bridesmaids and my mom and was really looking forward to being in a wedding dress for the first time.

I fully expected this process to take months...and I'm sure, if I'd really wanted it to, I still could have made it that way.  But I didn't.

I put on the first dress and it didn't really feel like I expected.  I thought I'd feel weird, but I didn't.  I stood on the pedestal and looked at myself and it just looked like a long white dress.

I quickly got out of that one and put on another...this one I liked more and when I came out of the room, the lady asked me if I'd like to try on a veil.  I responded, "sure why not" and she ran off to get me one.  It wasn't until she placed the veil on my head and I looked in the mirror that it really hit me...I'M GETTING MARRIED....this is NOT just a white dress...this is a WEDDING dress.  It was a very crazy feeling...and then I got teary eyed-and my girls and my mom cried. I know it sounds corny, and I didn't expect to feel that way, but I did.

However, this was not my dress either.  I liked it, but I didn't love it.  I felt emotional, but not like "this is it" which I'd heard is the feeling you get when you put on your dress.  I'd heard you just know.

I tried on several more...and then there was one.  I actually picked it out months ago online while watching "say yes to the dress" and browsing with my mom.  I even saved it in a folder under "ideas" as I was not even engaged at this point.  Then, two weeks ago when we got engaged, I bought my first bridal magazine.  In that magazine, amongst the pages of beautiful dresses, was the dress that I had saved months ago online. I snipped it out and taped it into my "wedding notebook".  Even in doing all of this...I didn't expect to put it on and it be "the" dress.  I just liked the style of it...the idea of it.  But when I put it on, walked out of the room, and all the girls cried again-includng my mom-this time it felt different.  I was shaking. Literally.  I could see myself walking down the aisle.  I could see my fiancé smiling-thinking I looked beautiful.  I felt so good.  I could move, I could breathe, I could dance (yes I tested this of course lol).  It actually looked like me...but in a wedding dress.  A stranger actually asked me if I had already decided on the dress-I told her I hadn't-to which she responded that I should.  She told me that she loved the dress and had wanted it to work for her and that she had tried it the day before.  She then told me it looked way better on me.  I appreciated her stopping and acknowledging me in the dress.  It made me feel good-if she didn't know me and thought it should be my choice, that probably says something.  Especially if you are willing to stop and say something to a complete stranger.  But I still at this point wasn't ready to commit.  My mom told the sales lady this, but asked that we get the information on it anyway because she had a feeling I'd be back....Mother know's best. lol.  And I headed back into the dressing room.

I tried on another, that actually everyone liked as well.  But the reaction wasn't the same...and I didn't feel the same.  So they told me to try on the other one more time.  I went back into the dressing room with my mom, and as I was slipping it over my head I said "Mom, this is my dress."  I said it with such confidence.  I didn't feel scared, I didn't feel sick, I just felt sure...and so, so good.

I rang a bell and announced it to the store, and it was done.  I am so excited-shocked that it happened so quickly-but excited.  I know I have so many things to do over the next year, as I want to put my creative touch on things, and I want this wedding to feel like "us".  I want it to be fun, laid back and casual-but beautiful all at the same time.  With everything I hope to do, I know I will have plenty to do and already having a dress takes care of something already.  So call me crazy, but I said YES to the dress...already.  I cannot wait to wear it, walk down the aisle, and marry my best friend.