By Erika Lynde
One of the biggest pieces of the wedding day puzzle is next on my checklist, and I’m very excited: I’m looking to ‘say YES to the dress!’ To some it may seem a bit early considering my wedding is eleven months away, but I feel as if a lot of other pieces are impossible to complete with out the wedding dress in hand. Small details like lace, tulle and bead work can be used in so many ways to tie the whole day together in a memorable way. Take the invitations, for example. If I were to have a cream-colored gown, maybe I’d opt for cream-colored envelopes. Another idea is if I had a lace dress, I would choose to do lace accents on favors (this is just how my wondrous mind works).
My mother, sister and I recently checked out a dress event for charity. It was a blast! If a Brides Against Breast Cancer event comes to town, definitely get your tickets ASAP! Doors opened at 5 p.m. and there we were with complimentary drinks in hand, our coats checked and a fantastic DJ. There was a lot of paperwork to fill out so have a bridesmaid tag along to do all the dirty work while you relax (it’s our job to enjoy the experience, right?). My sister took on that role, bless her heart. She also joined me on the dance floor for a contest to win some complimentary wedding bands. We had a good laugh shaking our tail feathers while everyone watched us do the ‘cupid shuffle.’ I won bragging rights by getting to the final round, but I didn’t win. So close!
Time seemed to fly by, and when 6 p.m. rolled around, they unveiled the gowns.
They had gowns in all sizes — most slightly used — and all proceeds from dresses sold go to charity. The dress racks lined an entire half of the room, which was roped off till the end of the countdown…ten, nine, eight…off we dashed to find our perfect fit!
I think I may have tried on every gown in my size and then some. No luck. Although gorgeous — some never worn — they didn’t fit my personal style. I’m actually starting to question if I even want to wear a gown. A fantastic dress, of course, but a gown? I do love that Bohemian-chic Parisian flavor some designers offer like Elie Saab, Sarah Seven, Jenny Packham and even Berta. As you can see I’ve got champagne taste and lemonade pockets. My dress still awaits somewhere in the depths of the sale rack (I hope).
Even though I walked away without a dress, the night wasn’t a waste. It was a great bonding experience. Watching my mom smile as I tried on gowns was what every little girl dreams. And seeing my baby sister make her way through the crowd with her game face on, her arms overflowing with shimmering whites and chiffon, is something I’ll never forget. It was the most fun I’ve had with both of them in a while. Hopefully my wedding attire will find me soon. Till then, I’m still on the hunt.