Fiddle-dee-dee...

"Tara! Home. I'll go home. And I'll think of some way to get him back. After all... tomorrow is another day." -Scarlett O'Hara (also my future father-in-law's words when he saw this picture)

Admit it- you thought that too. Don't get me wrong, it is a beautiful dress and would like great on someone else. I'm just not a petticoat & ruffles kind of girl. Not to mention the lacy straps that scratched my shoulders like crazy. So why, you may ask, did I bother to try this dress on? Because I wanted to try on everything. Gowns have a way of transforming from the hanger to your figure, so you never know what will look amazing on you.

A couple months ago, I was at lunch with my Grandma and we ran into the owner of The Jade Shoppe, a little dress shop in my hometown. Martha told us to stop by and try on whatever I want in her store- no time limit, no dress limit. So I scheduled an appointment and came in with Bridesmaids, Grandma, and Mom in tow. I ended up trying on 12 dresses and purchasing one of them. It was lacy, vintage, and comfortable- everything I wanted. Martha was a dream to work with and my dress should arrive 8-10 weeks from the date I ordered it.

Unfortunately, not all brides have the luck I did. I went shopping with a good friend for her dress a couple weeks after I bought mine and had quite a different experience. The first shop we went into had a great variety of dresses to try on and the samples were well maintained. However, at the end of the appointment, the salesperson we dealt with tried to tell my friend that she needed to purchase today, because wedding dresses take 12-18 months to come in. *ahem* What?! Of course this was just a ploy to get my friend to purchase asap, which I'm sure secures the salesperson's commission. But I was just shocked.

The second shop she went to has a really friendly salesperson without all the pressure of the first shop. However, I was surprised by the condition of their sample dresses. Zippers were broken, seams were torn, and straps were falling off. How can you really see the curves and accents of the dress when you're forced to hold it up the entire time?

Don't fret- this blog does have a happy ending. My friend ended up finding her perfect dress and it has already arrived- allowing plenty of time for alterations and fittings. Before you make an appointment at a dress shop, make sure to follow these simple guidelines:

1. Get recommendations. If you don't have a friend or family member who has a recommendation for you, check online. Websites like Wedding Wire and Citysearch offer client reviews for your peace of mind.
2. If you've found a designer you're in love with, make sure the shop you choose carries their line. In many cases, you can go to the designer's website to locate a shop close to you.
   
3. Once you've decided to make an appointment at a certain dress shop, make sure to ask if there's a time limit on your appointment. Also ask if there's a limit on the number of dresses you're allowed to try on during your appointment. Some shops will require you to make a second appointment to continue trying on dresses. Many charge for the third session. Make sure you know this information up front.

After you've tried on dresses, I recommend visiting one of the sites I listed above and making your own review of the dress shop--this way you're helping the next bride find her perfect gown!