When I was 5 or so, my cousin gave me her dress up Barbie Bride costume. I LOVED that dress. It was a simple white dress that came with gloves and a veil. I would take my play high heels, the fake flowers off the coffee table, and walk down the hallway in my home and pretend I was walking towards my prince! I would hum the bridal march and line up the hallway with my stuffed animals! I would do this endlessly, walking up and down the hallway…dreaming of the day I would actually be marrying my prince charming.
If you read my first post in my Wedding series, I mentioned that wedding planning was easy because I knew what I wanted. This is a situation where I kinda knew what I wanted. Why? Because I wanted the whole shabam of Say Yes to the Dress. I didn’t want to leave out any dresses that would surprisingly look good on me. I was honestly a blank slate, probably a bridal consultant’s worst nightmare. I know what you’re thinking (because everyone says it to me) “Terri you look good in everything.” Thank you for your kind words, but I am still convincing myself otherwise.
The first place I started was David’s Bridal, like any blushing bride. MISTAKE. I found a dress that I liked! It even had pockets! **happy dance*** My mom said, “why do you need pockets?” To put my cellphone in, duh! It was a beautiful, simple white ball gown with an empire waist and sweetheart neckline. It was classy and elegant but my mom wanted to see me in something more form fitting. She preferred something different and it threw me into a blue state of sadness. My heart crumbled. Any daughter understands how hard it is to please their mother. Especially when it is your wedding dress, you want your mom’s approval. Especially if you’re the youngest and only daughter. Moreover, my consultant was getting fed up with me. I mean, HELLO?! Are you the one getting married?
What angered me the most was when she said, “Well, you have 10 minutes left in your appointment. Did you make a decision?” I looked at her said, “No.” I obviously had more to say but nobody likes a bridezilla.
I was back to square one. I drove back to Indianapolis and decided to continue scouting on my own. I went to a well known wedding boutique in the area and decided to pop in on a weekday morning. I thought it is a Monday morning, every one is at work except me so it wouldn’t be crowded. GAH. I walked in and was greeted right away, but was INSTANTLY when I said I didn’t have an appointment. {They looked at me like I had rolled around in spaghetti then dipped in Oreo crumbs. Like, ew.} I was already off to a bad start. Among the gorgeous designer gowns, accessories, and furniture…not one customer but me. So they obviously COULD NOT accommodate me because they WERE SWAMPED WITH BRIDES WHO MADE AN APPOINTMENT. Now, I understand why you need to make an appointment, especially if it is on a weekend, sample sales, or whatever. But I was the only one there and a paying customer. So…??
This was the icing on the cake. She asked me if I had a wedding date and I said not yet (and I’ll explain later.) She said, “Well if you don’t have a wedding date then I can’t help you find the dress because I don’t know what your venue is like.” BYE FELICIA.
If that is how your company works then, I’m leaving and not coming back. I was livid. Taking my money and peacing out.
After a few weeks, I decided to try again. The reason I did not have a wedding date was because I had to wait until a certain date. Commonly known as Basilica day to Notre Dame folk. Although I was not getting married at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Notre Dame’s campus, Saint Mary’s had the same “call-in” day. Every year, alumni call on Basilica day to secure a date and time for their wedding. Obviously Notre Dame is very popular so it is actually a system where brides get their friends and friends of friends to keep calling this one number at the marriage office to get their wedding date. It’s a war. For Saint Mary’s, it is a lighter experience. This day was in March, so when I went to the Indianapolis boutique in February, I didn’t have an exact day. But obviously, I was under prepared for the consultant’s standards and could not be accommodated.
As I was pondering on my next step, I cuddled on the couch with my laptop, browsing Pinterest with a glass of wine. I kept searching for wedding dresses and ideas for my wedding, when I kept noticing a picture of a dress that was strikingly beautiful. I clicked on the pin but it didn’t tell me who designed the dress. So, being a woman I already have FBI skills mixed into my blood…found the designer, googled the closest boutique her designs are available at, and literally spilled wine on myself. Because I’m a clutz. The wedding boutique down the street from my house where I grew up carried her designs. Do you hear angels singing? I got online and booked an appointment the first weekend I would be back in Chicago. Although their Oak Brook salon did not carry them, their Chicago salon did. They called me back right away and I was set! Talk about taking care of business!
My husband and I drove early Saturday morning so I could make it to my early appointment with my mom. Their Chicago salon is located in the Gold Coast area of downtown. We chose to valet park because there is no way either my mom or I was going to find parking in downtown Chicago. F that. We walked off the elevator onto the third floor and once we walked in I knew I was going to find the dress that day, even if it wasn’t the dress I saw on Pinterest. Gorgeous hardwood floor, dresses hung beautifully on the walls. Huge mirrors and luxury seating. Even while getting dressed, you were given a warm, comfy robe and water for the parched. That would be moi. I told my consultant what I was looking for and pointed out some dresses that I really liked. She pulled out a few Lazaro gowns because I fit the style of a Lazaro bride: feminine and classy. I tried three dresses on but found no luck. Lazaro designs romantic gowns but none of the ones I tried on were speaking to me. When I got back to the dressing room, I told my consultant about the dress I saw on Pinterest. And she said, “let me check our back room.” Now you would think that if I made the trouble of traveling into downtown Chicago, my first request was the dress on Pinterest…if you knew me by now, I’m quite the introvert. So it took me some warming up to do before I could ask about the dress. THE dress. I was praying please have this dress! PLEASEEE! I sat with my mom outside my dressing room and from around the corner she came in with. my. dress.
My mom’s first reaction was “that’s a lot.” And I said, “No, it’s enough.”
I finally got to experience the feeling when brides say “I found the one.” Just by stepping into the gown and zipping it up, I knew. My consultant opened the door and I stepped onto the pedestal looking into the floor to ceiling mirror to show my mom. Words can’t explain how perfect the feeling was. It literally felt like a glove, it was my dress! Even people walking by asked if it was a fitting! One of the co-owners came by and had me stand in a bigger room so they could fluff out the skirt. The fashion director of Maria Elena Headpieces & Accessories was present and jacked. me. up. I looked amazing but it wasn’t until they put a veil on me that really made me emotional. That was it. No other gown could beat this.
My whole experience at Bella Bianca was like no other. They were personal and intimate. They made sure you weren’t stressed out and really listened to what you wanted. They knew exactly what to say if you started doubting yourself and they didn’t rush you. They even made my mom feel right at home. This is exactly what brides need. Finding the dress was difficult, at least the process was for me. If it wasn’t a journey through flaming coals for you, I’m jealous. But listen, when you are in a small area with women giving their opinions, asked or not…you will be furious and you will want to cry. That’s an estrogen explosion waiting to burst. That’s why on Say Yes to the Dress, it is recommended to bring a small group of people. So their opinions won’t weigh you down.
It took 8 months for it to be custom made and shipped to Chicago. I had two fittings which were literally just hemming and putting a bustle in. Picked up the dress 2 days before my wedding and that was it. It is amazing how simple that process was, once I found the dress. I was so distressed in the beginning, I thought I would never find the dress. But sometimes it’s the journey that makes it worthwhile. Like that cutesy motivational quote?
Galia Lahav knows what she’s doing. If you noticed, in the first picture the gown is actually blush and ivory. But I opted for the traditional ivory. If the dress didn’t come in white, I would have walked away that day.
I know what you’re thinking…how did they bustle that thing! Well, parts of the train were detachable and the rest was bustled. A little tie and hook did the trick. I still had a little sweep train. The only bad thing I have to say about the dress was that the bustle was not made for intense dancing on the dance floor! Ugh. But that didn’t stop me from getting my groove on. The ties on the dress were slippery, so it made it easy for the bustle to come undone. I still had a grand ol time. My wedding. I will do whatever I want…I was being selfish-ish. (Read my post about engagement tips about being selfish-ish to catch my drift!)
I wore Chloe & Isabel earrings from their bridal collection, Swept Away.
My shoes were blush block heels by Badgley Mischka
I highly recommend any bride in the Chicago area to check out Bella Bianca. They have two salons. One in Chicago and in Oak Brook. Owned by two sisters. And you get champagne! What more can you ask for than wedding and bubbly? Totally worth it! I promise!
I’ve heard horrendous stories of some brides that went through hell and back with their gowns. Anyone have stories about finding their dress? Leave a comment below or in the contact form above!
Photography : Emily Laraine Photography
xoxo,
Terri
