Hi, My Name is Cole

And I'm a nervous wreck!

I got the phone call today. You know, the one that says your dress is in? And for some reason I'm incredibly nervous to call back.

I know I loved my dress and cried when I put it on, but that was in January.

Now it's May and what if I don't like it?

What if it's not fabric-y enough?

What if it's too beaded?

What if it doesn't fit?

I would pay someone to let me know how my first dress fitting will go. Or at least to call the dress store back and make an appointment for me to try it on.

Did you have a freak out moment when your dress came in?

On Second Thought

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Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Jus, this is the last time I'll ask, but this time I mean it...Don't go any further, you'll regret it.

When we left off I had ordered a beautiful wedding dress, I went to bed smiling, but I woke up with butterflies in my stomach. A combination of only trying on 15 dresses + only going to 3 stores left me feeling that I had missed out on the experience. I just couldn't say for certain that the Mori Lee dress was really mine.

I called Greta's and asked them to postpone ordering the Mori Lee dress until I could come back and try it on again.

A week later I traipsed back to the bridal store with a true entourage. My mom, sister, dad, two aunts, two little cousins, and BFF/BM Beth tagged along to see me try the Mori Lee again.

When we got to the store I looked around for other dresses that I might like, and while my consultant wasn't expecting me to try on any dresses other than the Mori Lee she was very patient and gave me all the time and help I needed.

I really liked the Victorian details of the first dress.

The dress had gorgeous detailing and the jacket was divine.

We all agreed that it looked like something out of "Titanic" and this dress was one of my dad's favorite.

Everyone agreed that this dress was just a little too plain.

I loved the shape of this dress, the folds of the top with the sweetheart neckline was beautiful.

But again, the pickups/rouching was just a little too much.

I was getting ready to try on the Mori Lee gown again when my consultant brought in a Sophia Tolli dress. She knew that I wasn't crazy about super lacy or a lot of beading but she also thought Sophia Tolli's Ariel might be unique enough for me.

As she was helping me put the dress on my consultant mentioned that the Sophia Tolli was a little less than twice what the Mori Lee dress was. My parents and I hadn't talked about an exact budget but I knew we were still in a good range.

I slipped on the Ariel, stepped in front of the mirror, and immediately started crying. My BFF/BM Beth started crying and everyone gasped.

It was a mermaid cut with SO MANY beautiful details. I was blown away with how thoughtfully designed this dress is. With so many dresses before I felt that the top didn't go with the bottom or that the designer's goal was to throw lots of "pretty" ideas together that didn't necessarily make a gorgeous dress. This dress is satin with a tulle overlay with pearl beading.

Everything about this dress is so delicate, it is elegant, classic, vintage and slightly sexy, I felt like a true bride.

But I was hesitant to say yes, I didn't want to jump the gun again, and with the price increase I wanted to spend time and talk to my parents about it.

We left the store with intentions to come back and when we went back a week later I knew that the Ariel would be my dress.

One of the deciding factors was that the Mori Lee gown would be shortened from the bottom which would mean I would loose some of the beautiful swirly fabric.

There's a plastic stool hidden under the dress

The delicate, lacy trim of the Sophia Tolli gown meant that it would have to be ordered hollow to hem so it would be the perfect length for my short body.

I left Greta's knowing that I would be happy walking down the aisle in this dress, but also knowing that having such a delicate dress would influence the entire wedding.

Did you have a tough time finding your dream dress?

Cause the Bride Can't be Naked: Going Shopping Again

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Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Step away from the computer, Jus.

When we left off I was feeling rather discouraged. I knew that it was only my first shopping trip and that it would most likely take me several trips to find the dress of my dreams but I couldn't help but wonder if I would ever be able to find a delectable dress to wear down the aisle.

We headed home to drop of my FMIL and decided to stop by one more store. Greta's in known to be the best bridal store in our area. We were an hour away and it was two hours before they closed, we knew we'd be cutting it close but thought we could at least look around before the shop closed.

We hopped in the car and took off (going the speed limit, of course), we arrived without an appointment an hour before the shop closed (bad bride, I know). We arrived at Greta's we were greeted by the owner, she asked to see my inspiration and set us up with an attendant.

She pulled several dresses for me (which we neglected to take pictures of) and then I tried on a Mori Lee Blu dress.

I loved the mix of vintage and modern that this dress incorporates.

Even though I had originally said no beading I loved how the beading on this dress accented my waist and bust.

The sweetheart neckline and lace up back added some sexiness to the dress without being quite as blatant as the previous dress I had tried on. My favorite part of this dress is the swirl of the fabric. I love that the fabric starts at my waist and swirls all the way down my body and onto the train.

I couldn't bear to take this dress off. I felt so incredibly glamorous and loved every moment I wore it.

We ended up staying at Greta's three hours after they closed, Greta herself stayed to help ensure that my questions were answered. In the end my mom looked at me and asked if this was the one, I said yes, we put half down and left with big smiles. We went out to dinner and I couldn't believe that I had found my wedding dress on my first day of shopping.

Did you find your dress on your first day of shopping?

Cause the Bride Can't be Naked: Going Shopping

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

As my sister and I looked through the racks of dresses at our first bridal store I started to become a little disappointed. Most of the dresses were not what I was looking for but we gave it our all and started pulling some dresses.

Jus, I am warning you, LEAVE NOW!!!!

The first dress I tried on was Maggie Sottero's Fiorella

I really liked this dress, partially because it was the first wedding dress I put on and partially because it came in oyster. I loved the depth that the darker color added.

Fiorella has a beautiful beaded strap but all of the rouching and pickups were confusing me. I knew I didn't want either but I still kinda liked this dress.

The second dress I tried on is from Maggie Sottero's Destinations collection. My sister LOVED this dress and even though I didn't think it was appropriate for an October wedding I tried it on.

Perhaps if we had gone with our "other wedding" this would've been my dress, but it was too breezy for a fall wedding.

I tried the next dress on because it was different, it was light pink and had more pickups than a county fair.

Clearly, I didn't take this dress too seriously.

Before we left this store I tried on the first Maggie once more. I think part of my feelings for this dress had to do with the fact that it was the first wedding dress I ever tried on. I felt a little magical and a little bridal. I loved the color but couldn't help but feel that the pickups were a little odd, and there was a gathered part that hit me in an awkward spot.

I'm sure this dress looks lovely on someone that is taller, but as a 5'2" bride it looked like I was pooping out fabric.

We went to lunch, regrouped, and got ready to go to our second bridal shop. My sister's best friend had just gotten her dress from this shop and so we had high expectations, but as soon as we walked in my hopes dropped. Every dress looked the same, the attendant barely noticed us (even though I had an appointment!) and there was a dress that looked like this but in white.

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Needless to say, I was ready to leave, but as we looked through the dresses once more we found a dress that had the ruffly layers I was looking for.

This dress is a Private Collection and is obviously too small but I loved the fit. I liked that it was a little sexy, a little vintage, a little girly, and a little modern. Everyone agreed that Jus would love the way my booty looked (he's a total butt man).

I've gotta admit, my butt looks SEXY in this dress, but do you really want that much sexy in your wedding dress? A normal dress, yes; a prom dress, yes; a wedding dress, some sex is ok, but does your groom's grandma really need to see this much of your booty?

We headed home a little discouraged, the two shops we stopped by had little to offer, and I had to wonder, would I ever find the right dress?

Were you discouraged after your first dress shopping trip?

Cause the Bride Can't be Naked: Being Prepared

I went on my first dress shopping trip three weeks after we got engaged. My little sister/MOH was home for Christmas break and we were all itching to look at some lovely dresses.

Armed with my inspiration, my little sister, my mom, FMIL, & aunt I went dress shopping.

Our first stop was a local store that has been in business for almost 80 years. I have to admit, I was a little naive about the whole dress shopping experience.

Luckily, I had asked the hive for some help prior to my shopping trip so I knew to wear undies that covered my booty and a strapless bra; to bring a snack and a camera (just in case I could take pictures); and to take my time and look for the one I loved (no matter what anyone I was with said).

Prior to my shopping trip the only experience I had with wedding dress shopping was TLC's "Say Yes to the Dress." This show prepared me for a private appointment with a knowledgeable salesperson who wanted nothing more than to put me in a gorgeous dress and tighten up the back with orange clips.

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What I got was a shop that didn't take appointments, a salesperson that only helped when I asked and dresses that looked nothing like what I wanted.

But I promise the trip turned out to be much better than it sounds.

Next up: I finally show you some pictures!

Cause the Bride Can't be Naked: The Elements

Find the first part here

I ripped page after page out of bridal magazines searching for my dress. (And of course like a bad blogger I have since thrown all of my inspiration dresses out). I started to accumulate a list of "must-haves" and "heck-nos."

Must-Haves:

Strapless (preferably sweetheart)

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Or one strapped

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Ivory

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Or darker

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Unique

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Mermaid or Fit & Flare silhouette

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Heck-Nos:

NO pickups

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NO beading

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NO lacey stuff

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HECK NO open back (this is one bride with cleavage and I'm not trying to skip the bra on my wedding day-even though I LOVE them)

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No ruching (I get the purpose but it's not my favorite)

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And with this list my mom, my sister, my FMIL, & my aunt went dress shopping.

Did you have a crazy list of requirements when you went searching for your dress?

Cause the Bride Can't be Naked: Initial Inspiration

Well, I guess you could be but I'd rather make a splash in a dress than in my birthday suit.

I'll tell you a secret, I'm the type of girly girl that loves to wear dresses. I try to avoid pants at all costs and for a dress wearer there is none more special than your wedding dress.

Wedding dresses are all so lovely, and in my initial search I found two that I love love loved. Like loved so much I just knew I had to have one for my wedding day.

Let me introduce you...

Giselle Couture's Toulouse

Can you believe how yummy this dress is? I found this dress on face book and couldn't stop showing it to everyone. I love that the layered fabric is two colors and how feminine yet sexy it is. Unfortunately you can only buy some of this gorgeousness for $10,000+ and while I hadn't discussed budget with my parents I had a feeling this was way over it.

Besides drooling over Toulouse I spent a lot of time folding down pages that held Vera Wang's Diana. Talk about gorgeousness! I knew this would be my dress, I could imagine floating down the aisle and into my reception in this beauty. Plus it was a Vera Wang and can you get any more bridal than that?

My mom is convinced that this dress would overwhelm me (considering I'm only 5' 2 1/2") and once again the nasty "B" word came up. There is no way a budget bride can wear a current season's Vera Wang.

PS I do not NOT understand why they put such a light dress on such a pasty girl in front of a white wall, you loose all of the detail!

I set these two aside and starting tearing through wedding magazines searching for my dress.

What is your dream dress?