Now It Hits Me

Today, I finally felt like I was engaged.

I went dress shopping with my mom.

Surprisingly, it was a lot easier than she or I thought it would be. We had imagined it taking months to find the dress, searching at several stores, thousands of dollars, and countless tears.

It was none of the above. The first place we went was a store near Greenville called 'The Dress'. It's a Bridal Consignment store that carries dresses worn and consigned by the brides, and sample dresses from designer dress boutiques that they've consigned to make room for stuff for the new season.

It took about 3 hours, 14 dresses, and getting up close and personal with the attendant helping. If you're not familiar with wedding dress shopping, the store has an attendant who helps you into the gowns and makes sure it looks right before you come out. Since wedding dresses are really poofy, she usually will open the dress on the ground and you step in. Think about when you're trying on clothes in a dressing room. You're usually just in your underwear. YEAH. Hanging out with my attendant in my panties made us quite close. I almost feel like she deserves an invite to my wedding now.

But after several (read 14) dresses, the store owner brings out one that she picked specifically for me. Before it was even zipped up, I knew it was the dress. It had all of the features I had put on my dress wishlist: the correct neckline, proper waist, colour, hem and train length, material, everything. My mom came in to see and she started crying. Which of course caused me to start crying. After getting her a tissue, and me spending time traipsing around the store in the dress, we knew it was The One. It was PERFECT.

Obviously I will show no pictures of it until AFTER Matt sees me walk down the aisle in it, but I am uploading the pictures of the dresses we didn't go with.

But it is true. I now officially feel engaged. My dress is hanging in one of my closets and I am strongly resisting the urge to put it on and lounge around my house in it. I can tell it's going to take great restraint!

Next on my list: start working out and toning up. I think my arms are going to be the biggest focus because they're really the only body part you see in a wedding dress. Who knew the dresses would be so figure flattering?!