NSFG part 2! (GENE, SERIOUSLY, DONT READ THIS)

so today i went to a bridal boutique here in little rock called Proposals to look at wedding dresses. i didn't go to buy a dress - in fact, i was only going there to convince myself that the dress i'd found a few weeks ago at low's really was "the one," and so that i would avoid "buyers remorse," because i could always say "i looked more than one place, and i'm sure this is it"

to be honest, when i walked into Proposals this morning, my heart wasn't in it. I was just kind of going through the motions and just getting it all out of my system, so to speak, and i thought this would be a quick, easy, painless thing that would just make me rest a little easier - and things started out innocently enough. i tried on a few dresses that were so-so, and some that made me laugh hysterically, and some that were just so ridiculous that i couldn't even come out of the dressing room. i even found a couple that i sort of liked that with a few small tweaks could have worked out just fine, and then the most unexpected thing happened.

i found THE DRESS......and its NOTHING like the one i thought i wanted.

i'm not sure who picked it out. not sure who found it in the racks of gowns hanging there, and honestly, had i seen it on the hanger in the rows of dresses, i probably would have pointed and laughed at it and just completely dismissed it, but someone pulled it out, and i had promised myself i would try on anything and everything, and i'm glad i honored that promise to myself.

i tried it on, stepped out of the dressing room, and for the first time in this entire bridal/wedding dress shopping experience, my mom cried. i've seen moms cry on t.v. when their daughters try on wedding dresses, but i really didn't expect my mom to do it. we aren't the kind of woman who cry over organza and tulle, but there she was, crying in the middle of a bridal boutique. i didn't get what the big deal was, and then i got on the pedestal and looked at myself, and then *i* started crying. i had a moment. i actually smiled and danced (i totally did the robot in my bridal gown) and laughed and just knew that THIS was it.

i've listened to brides and bridal consultants spew the line of "when its YOUR dress, you just KNOW" and honestly, i've felt like that was a bunch of crap. I've never tried on a shirt or a pair of pants or some underwear and gone "hey, you know what, THIS IS IT," and those are things i'll get to wear a bunch! up until today, a bridal gown was, to me, nothing more than a really expensive piece of clothing (that i'm only gonna wear once), and while i thought that i'd probably have a feeling of "okay, this will do just fine" i didn't expect to feel like "this IS MINE - this is IT - this is RIGHT" - (in fact, the only time in my life i've ever felt that way about anything is when i met gene) but i felt it, and while its nothing like i'd pictured in my head, and pretty different from what i had in my head when i woke up this morning, i know that it's my dress, and i'm super excited.

this isn't the best picture, because honestly, a camera can't do it justice - plus, its just not as pretty on a hanger as it is on a body, but i think its still beautiful, and i'm so excited. i think it's perfect for what we are doing - an outdoor, summer wedding in a courtyard - and it's light and airy and romantic.....i'm gonna make a small change (we are going to give it a sweetheart neckline) but other than that, it's staying the same.

ugh. i'm totally bummed at the low quality of the pictures here, but i guess they'll do - i wish the ruffle was easier to see....here's one thats more from the side:

so now i have MY dress - next up...the bridesmaids!!!!

at least now my stress level has dropped about 20 percent! ha!