Online Dress Buying

A reader had a question about purchasing a wedding dress online and here are my thoughts:

My friend Holly bought her dress online and it was perfect, but I would say to definitely try many dresses on before ordering one in a style you haven't seen on your body. When I was searching for my dress, I had many looks that I liked, and they were all very different. It was through trying on that I realized what worked best for me and suited the style I was looking for.

Also good to call the company you are ordering from and check with the Better Business Bureau just to be sure it's a good place to order from—particularly if the prices seem too good to be true. And check their return policy.

I'm Married!

There are so many little details I can share about my own wedding now that my groom has seen it all. I have to say that I am going through that "it's all over" feeling in that I had so much fun planning and making the decisions all in anticipation for the day only for it to be over. All of the pre-wedding plans are so much a part of the joy of your wedding. So enjoy it all!

A Bride's Gripe

I went to a wedding show a few months ago and while it wasn't very helpful or informative, it was fine. People were nice even though it was crowded. I felt there wasn't anything there that I didn't already know about and it mostly seemed like the ads in a bride magazine...you know, the ones you flip right over to get to the good stuff. Only at this bridal show, there wasn't much of the good stuff.

My gripe is in the aftermath. I didn't give my email or phone number to many vendors (maybe one), but my info was supplied upon check in. I have received an email or phone call almost every day regarding something bridal that I am not interested in and I have to say it's very annoying. I am unsubscribing each time, but there is always a new one from a new company popping in my inbox. The last call I received was from a huge bridal store. I told the person I wasn't interested and then he starts asking a ton of questions:

Him: Well, where did you buy your dress?
Me: Kleinfeld
Him: What style was it?
Me: I'm sorry but I am not interested in answering these questions.
Him: Well, can you tell me if it was a mermaid dress, an A-line...
Me: Sorry, no, not interested. Thank you.

My wedding is two months away and I really hope these calls and emails do not continue beyond the honeymoon. Beware of giving out your info if you go to a bridal show.

Spare Change

After I bought my dress, the dress, I promised myself I wouldn't look at another gown again in fear that I would compare and second guess. I changed my mind, but the good news is that I still love my dress the best. I find myself drawn to gowns that are the most similar or invoke in the same kind of romantic and vintage feeling. Then there are the ones that are very opposite my dress—short and sassy—the kind that I would want if I was many years younger and the average marrying age (it's now 26!). The dresses I see today aren't the kinds that I remember my friends wearing as they started getting hitched many moons ago. So many chic designers are a part of the wedding industry now, and even dress designer Monique Lhuillier is branching out further and creating a line of dinnerware with Royale Doulton. There's so much talk of change with today's Presidental candidates, and it holds true with marriage too. There are sacred vows being said everywhere from Tennessee to Tinseltown. I think brides today...with the help of their grooms of course...can help bring those daunting divorce rates down. Change is good.