The thing about being an engaged woman who’s set a date for her wedding is that everyone wants to hear about your dress. They say things like “SO, tell me about the dress,” and “What does your dress look like?”, and “I can’t wait to hear about your dress!” These inquiries started rolling at me the week after I got engaged. Since September, I’ve been telling all interested parties that no, I don’t have my dress yet, and I’m really not that worried about it.
For the first few months, this was an acceptable answer. But here we are, just under 6 months until the wedding (holy. shit.) and I don’t have a dress. I really wasn’t worried about it. And I don’t think I would have been if not for the looks of terror, shock, and panic that wash over the faces of each and every dress-asker-abouter. “Oh no! Aren’t you worried?” they all ask, having done the math in their heads. Ok, guys. You’ve worn me down, I’m worrying.
I wasn’t in a hurry to find a dress for several reasons: I have no intention of setting foot inside a bridal boutique, I’m not looking for a gown, I’m not spending more than $500 or $600 dollars, and most importantly, I have no idea what size I’ll be in September.
Under pressure, I’ve started looking. I’ve known what kind of dress I want all along but what I want is hard to find. I’ve amassed a small list of wedding dress criteria: not stark white, has a bit of a sleeve, not more than 50% lace, knee length, less than $600, preferably belted. Basically I want something that looks a bit like these:
1.) This dress by Orla Kiely is perfection. It meets all of my criteria. However, it is last year’s dress and it’s sold out and no longer available.
2.) I love the neckline on this vintage dress from DearGolden. It would be lovely in a pale gold or champagne.
3.) Another beautiful dress from DearGolden. If I could have someone remake this one for me in a wedding-appropriate hue, everything would be perfect.
4.) I saw this Honor dress in the Spring 2012 Martha Stewart Weddings. It’s $7,600. I don’t like it as much as I thought I did.
Even though I still haven’t picked a caterer, I feel like I need to at least have a lead on a dress. So please, if you’re holding on to some great secret about where they keep all the good wedding dresses, please, please, share.