My Wedding in Real Time: Wedding Dresses

So I've been wanting to try on wedding dresses since the day I got engaged. I mean what bride doesn't? But then a) I knew the wedding was a long ways away and b) even my family said I should wait awhile. Then I decided on October. I couldn't wait any longer. But my mom at the same time suggested we take a trip up to Seattle and make a big weekend of it in January. I guess that was enough to hold off a bit. I likely won't buy a dress there (because who wants to drive 6 hours to go to a fitting) but they have a larger selection, so I can at least find "the dress" and then buy it at a boutique in Oregon...or if I have no option, so be it, at least I can show my license and not have to pay sales tax.

So in the meantime I've been searching the web looking at photos of wedding dresses. I haven't found "the dress" online, but I have found some ones I like. I show them to G (yes I know some of you out there are screaming because he's not supposed to see the dress but I don't even know what I'll buy yet, so I might as well get his opinion). Bummer part is, he rarely likes the dresses I pick out. So I'm hoping that he just loves how good I look and forgets about the dress if he doesn't like it as I walk down the aisle. Another point I have to remember is budget. It's really hard to find an exact price of a dress online, so I've tried my best to figure out the general range for a designer and go with that, but of course you fall in love with that one designer dress you'll never be able to afford. I won't show you my favorite(s) but here are some of the dresses I've considered:



Best part about the wedding dress shopping weekend in Seattle (other than doing it with my family), is that it's the Seattle Bridal Show that weekend so I'll get to get so many great ideas while I'm there and on our way back home on Sunday we're stopping by the Portland Bridal Show so that I can find some local vendors for the few other things I don't have figured out yet. FYI tickets are available online for the Seattle Show and you can print a coupon for the Portland one from their site as well. The show weekend runs January 16 & 17 in both cities.

Honestly I am so excited! How soon did you decide to shop for your wedding dress and did you make a big deal of it or just go by yourself or with a casual friend? Fill me in.

Happy shopping to all of you!

~A