The Frock 24/01/11

I decided to devote a whole blog to the frock purchase.


The buying of my wedding dress is one of those events that I'd dared to imagine for almost 20 years.  I would never let myself take more than a passing interest in wedding dress shop windows for fear of it being bad luck. 


I've never understood those girls who have had their wedding dress already picked out despite being single.  Surely your dress needs to fit with the type of wedding you're having and that is a decision for you and your fiance to make - not one you can make without ever having met your future husband.


I had no idea what I wanted and even what budget to set so started the magazine buying and the scrapbook making.  I soon had a pile of dresses that I liked but had no idea if they'd suit me.
Being bloody minded (see first post) I didn't want a strapless frock as that's what everyone else has.  So that's where I started.


I inherited my Mum's hatred of clothes shopping and mirrors so made sure my Maid of Honour could accompany us on the shopping expedition to keep the enthusiasm up.


Maybe I've watched too many Rom Coms and TV shows about weddings but I really thought that when we made appointments at a couple of dress shops we would be greeted with a glass of bubbly each or at least a cuppa.  No such luck - I guess cutbacks and all that.  
Don't get me wrong the shop assistants were very helpful and friendly - it just wasn't the cosy, teary event that we were expecting.  In fact it didn't feel much like an event at all!


I had appointment with two shops and probably tried on around 15 dresses in total.  I found it quite a stressful thing to be honest.  Being pinned into dresses that were either too small or too big or WAY too expensive.
The second shop was more of a boutique than the first and the dresses were probably double the price.  I wish now that having seen the prices I walked out.  Would have saved an hour of my life that I'll never get back.
The dresses were beautiful admittedly but I couldn't justify spending £1800 on a frock that I'll wear for 8 hours at the most.
In the end I bought one from the first shop that was last year's design.  It was the sample model that numerous brides will have tried on but crucially it was half price - so even with some alterations would be well within our <£1k budget.


The dress went back to my parents house in Devon for safe keeping and it's only just made it back here following our New Year visit.  I have my first fitting in Feb so the diet has begun.
It's a gorgeous dress and I love it. Having not seen it since September it was a lovely thing to look at it again and to see it in more detail.  A very good choice by me!