Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of posts from Molly Hallock, who’s planning a wedding 3,000 miles away from home. She’s engaged to Derek Koch, a New York restauranteur starring in a new reality show, Playing with Fire, airing on the E! Network this spring. (Watch for appearances from Molly, too!)
So now I have the fiancé, the venue and the wedding date. Aside from the guy (and–I’ll admit it–the ring), what I’d always fantasized about my wedding was The Dress.
My mom was planning on flying in to New York to spend the week with my sister and me. Having her by my side when I looked at dresses was so important. A month before she arrived, I made appointments for a one-day bridal shop haul.
Finding your dream dress is not a decision that anyone should rush, and I never anticipated finding the dress on Day #1. What I wanted was to explore all of my options. I chose five boutiques and stores that represented the expensive, the moderate, and the inexpensive, to see what my budget would afford.
Before we set out, I had an image of myself in a floor-length lace gown in a romantic cut. But I’d never actually worn a wedding dress (why would I have?) and imagining didn’t really count, so I was open to trying on everything. A strapless ball gown wasn’t really me but who knows? Maybe that long-sleeve mermaid gown would blow me away. Or an elegant spaghetti-strap silk slip dress.
A quick note of advice to all bride-to-be’s: Invest in head-to-toe Spanx—you look cinched and it also removes any anxiety you may have about being naked in front of the dress consultants. Bring snacks that keep your energy up but won’t make you feel bloated (bananas/granola/cheese sticks). Don’t accept champagne at every boutique—you’ll get loopy. Hydrate often. And factor in breathing room to get from place to place on time. Those women are serious about schedules.
The day arrived and I was excited! I was accompanied by supportive and positive family members, who knew to let me weigh in on a dress before they offered feedback. I had a ton of pretty styles to look through, and it was easy to feel overwhelmed. The tip that resonated best with me was from Saks Bridal. She told me that once I found a dress I liked, to use it to “set the bar” and compare the next dress to. That way I could narrow the field.
The first dress I tried on wowed me. The second one not so much. First dress was now the bar. And so it began. I can’t tell you how many I tried on…a lot. One dress caused my sister and my mom to break down in tears (“you look like a bride!”). I thought it was the one. But at the next boutique I knew I’d found my dress as soon as I put it on. My sister said that she could read it on my face when I walked out of the dressing room. Uniqueness was key, and it was everything I’d wanted but completely different than anything else I’d seen before. I didn’t want to look back though and think that I’d rushed, so I kept on with the next three appointments. I saw more dresses, several of which I really loved. But in the end there was only one.
I won’t share details (in case you’re coming to my wedding or my fiancé is reading this post) but I will say I am ecstatic. It’s everything I wanted. I could afford it. And my family had been there with me, every step of the way.
I look forward to seeing my dress hanging on a door as my bridal party and I get ready. I can feel it slipping over my head and hugging every curve. I can see my reflection in Derek’s eyes as I walk toward him down the petal-strewn aisle. It’s perfect. Just as I imagined.
