Let the Official Search Begin

My first dress shopping adventure started last summer during a long weekend in Chicago to visit my sister. Jed and I toured around the city until my sister got off work and then we left Jed at the Millennium Park Bar and wandered a few blocks down to the aftermath of the “Running of the Brides” at Filene’s Basement. I thought there would have been tons of dresses, and there were, but most of them were on the ground or covered in dirt where they had been dragged across the ground. Jed will tell you that he had the better end of the deal.

Not too long after we made it back to DC, I noticed Filene’s Basement was having another sale so this time my mom and I figured we’d show up a little earlier. I didn’t know I needed to bring my own entourage though. There were literally a pack of people, with matching football jersey’s and face paint guarding a pile of dresses for their bride. Trying to avoid being tackled, and fighting the urge to hang up the dresses that had fallen to the floor, my mom and I decided we’d rather be eating lunch across the street.

The one good thing that these two unsuccessful adventures gave me was an idea of the cuts I liked. At first I didn’t think I wanted anything that was strapless, because most strapless dresses don’t look great on me. But I fell in love with the sweetheart cut. For the most part, I also like when the dresses have some sort of defined waist. It can be natural waist or drop waist, although it’s not a criteria. I am not a bead or lace girl, however I do like some of the fabric flowers on dresses. It gives the dress just a little added something to it. I also think that wedding dresses should have buttons, but those can always be added later. Of course these are only my opinions. Not everyone likes the same styles…or at least I hope not cause if so, there are a ton of dresses in magazines and online that no one will ever wear.

That brings us to this coming weekend. I am going to take my first “official” (aka, have to buy a dress soon) stab at trying on wedding dresses. I gathered a list of bridal stores in the area, checked out their websites to see if their dresses matched my style and started calling. I booked a few appointments and am hopeful to have a little more luck this go around…