Thursday, October 6, 2011

Wedding Dress Shopping Part 2

I left off on the last post saying that I didn't believe in the "you just know" moment and that if it did exist I'd never know it until I tried on the dress I've been obsessing over for the last 3+ months.  Yesterday I got that chance.  Let's just say that I now definitely believe in the "you just know" moment.

I had a 45 minute drive ahead of me to get to the one place in the area that had told me they had the exact dress I wanted.  I was giddy at the thought of finally being able to see what it would look like on me, while also being nervous that it just wouldn't be the one.  I was quiet and staring out the window nervously during the trip when it happened.  On an earlier post I mentioned that I loved Sublime because of the memories it brought back, memories about friends that are going to be in my wedding.  We were almost to the bridal store when Sublime came on the radio.  It settled me down, put a smile on my face, made me think of some of my closest friends, and the nerves faded and I had a feeling things would work out.

I immediately told the consultant I was with about the dress I knew I had to try on.  She pulled out three others for me to try based on what I wanted in a dress besides that one.  I decided to try on my dream dress last.  The first one was nice, but not exactly what I was looking for.  The second one was very similar to the dress I loved and when I put it on I loved it.  Honestly, it was the best dress I'd put on up to that point.  I would have been more than happy to get married in it.  The third dress I tried on was not at all my style and was nixed right away.  Then it was time.

I didn't let myself look in the mirror while the consultant helped me into the dress.  I didn't want to see it until I was ready.  I walked over to that little pedestal that all the bridal shops have and stood on it before looking into the mirror.  Before I saw myself my mom walked over to see it on me.  She looked at me and said "I think this is the one."  I could see her face getting red, like she was trying not to cry.  It made me even more nervous to see it on.  What if it didn't look good on me?  What if I didn't love it?

Then I looked in the mirror.  I was shocked.  I had that "you just know" moment.  What does it feel like?  I obviously don't know what it feels like for other people, but this is what it felt like for me.  My mom was still fighting back tears, and I got close.  Shockingly enough I didn't bawl my eyes out, even though everything makes me cry.  A few tears fell, but nothing like what I expected.  Instead I was just suddenly very happy, some big goofy grin on my face.  Erin described it perfectly in a comment on my last post.  I had absolutely no desire to see what any other dress would look like on me.  Not even the second dress that I had loved that was still hanging a few feet away.  When the consultant said she'd go grab the paperwork I didn't want to take the dress off.  The thought of not being able to put it on again for 6-8 months until mine comes in sucks.  Can I really make it that long without putting it on again?  That's how I knew it was right.  That was my "you just know" moment.  I wasn't necessarily overcome with emotion, I was just done.

There have been many times in life that I make a decision I am 100% confident in only to wake up the next day questioning it and changing my mind.  That didn't happen this time.  I woke up this morning and the first thing I thought of was how I'd look walking down the aisle in that dress and what Mike would think when he saw me.  And I smiled.  I know I made the right choice.  Maybe that's not everyone's "you just know" feeling, but that's how it worked for me.  And I'm already looking through this year's hockey schedule to figure out a time when I can maybe sneak back in to the store to try on the sample dress again just to see it.

4 comments:

  1. I'm touched and happy for you. Even though I'm not yet married, I am hoping to experience what you've just experience. Trying on a wedding dress and everything.

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  2. Fitting your own gown and walking down the aisle soon is one of the most memorable moment that will ever happened to a woman.I will soon experience the "you just know" moment just like you did. Thanks for this inspiring post!

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  3. Every woman dreamed to fit their own dress, walk down the aisle and marry the man shed loves. But before that I think many women have wedding jitters and worry about how will they feel when they're already there.

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  4. This is romantic! How I wish I will experience these emotions when the time comes that I will be marrying the person I love.

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