Although I am sure both my daughter and I were thinking of a fairly formal wedding, until she selected the dress I did not realize how formal she was thinking. We knew it would be a day-time ceremony although the location was not firm in our minds. It was going to be in New York City, we knew that. And most likely everything would be shipped in from California, from the dress to the Jordan Almonds!
She made the appointment at the bridal salon right here in Orange County the minute she got home for Christmas. We had not discussed what she had in mind until that point. She wanted a lace dress with long sleeves and high neck. Probably Kate Middleton's dress is what she had in mind. Well, you can get a copy of that dress for around one thousand dollars but there was no time to order it. Oh, one more thing we knew, the wedding would be in late January. A beautiful month on the East coast!
How many of you have either been to "the appointment" at a bridal salon or at least seen one of those wedding shows that are quite popular on television right now? I had not had the pleasure of "the appointment" since my dress was purchased a few decades ago. My mother and I pretty much followed the same pattern we were about to embark on. One big difference, my wedding date was six months off. My daughter's wedding date was less than a month away.
They greet you at the door of the salon, least you might slip off and run-a-muck amongst the aisles. They ask the date of the wedding, what you have in mind and what your budget is. Remember my daughter is an attorney, not only by profession but by personality. They never give you a straight answer! Actually once our consultant heard the date she was in shock so the other questions did not matter!
We asked if we could look around to get an idea of what was available and were told, "Of course. Feel free to look all you want. Of course, your appointment is set for 73 minutes and you would not want to mess up another brides appointment by going over." In other words, no way are we letting you two out of our sight.
We were escorted to the bridal fitting area which looked like a fairy tale version of he costume rooms at Disneyland. (Both my daughter and I have worked for The Mouse. Very different capacities but we've both been through "costuming" a time or two.) You get your own little dressing room and share a stage with a few other brides. There was only one other bride there and her mother was out of the country so I was happy to give her advice also! She hardly had to ask.
Well, after three dresses my sweet girl was in tears. Our consultant, Shannon, Sharon, Sue whoever she was, apparently had no clue what this beautiful blonde had in mind. She turned to me in confusion as to what to bring out next. I assured her I had no idea either.
In a very few minutes here she came with a beautiful huge organdy dress with layers and layers and a train and layers. Those blue-green eyes lit up and the tears stopped. I rushed in the dressing room with my baby and we got that dress on so fast. It was BEAUTIFUL and looked like it was made for her. Quick lets zip this thing up, write a check and get out of here.
Oops! The zip it up part....it would not. Let alone could we just BUY it and walk out with it? I know this is never done except in Filene's Basement. After a search supposedly all over the country, this dress was just not out there in the next size. But it was available right there in the store two sizes larger. Better than two sized smaller, I always say!
We were told we could get it altered in New York since we had to take it with us that day. Did you know if you want something bad enough and your nice and Big Daddy wants his little girl to have whatever she wants, you can get it. We got it!
So the moral of this story is two fold: You CAN get what you want, at least sometime. And now the formality level of the wedding was established.
The next stop with dress in hand was Nordstrom's shoe department. My daughter has very special feet, being a dancer and all, and it is limited where she can find shoes. After we got it straight between us that she was a bride not a "working lady" she found a wonderful pair of gray shoes with big white bows. They were the exact height our bridal consultant had told us to purchase. Chore number two, done. And so were we!
Shoes and purse
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