Dress Shopping: Round One!

We all know that probably the most exciting part of planning a wedding is dress shopping!  Well, I had my first go at it over the holidays, and I must admit that it was far more fun than I was expecting it to be.

To be completely honest, the night before the excursion I was not really in the mood to go.  My mother and my maid of honor, Tara, were joining me, and since my mom was flying out to Mexico on January 1st for three weeks, the plan was that we would start our search before she departed...  It's not that I was not eager to get a wedding dress, but it was rather soon after Christmas and schedules had already been so hectic, it just seemed as though one more thing to do was more of a pain than a pleasure.

I can assure you, that feeling vanished as soon as I tried on my first dress!  Once I got into the stores and had the clerks, my mother, and Tara bringing me gowns I was loving every minute of it.

We started our gown shopping at 'Bridal Bliss' on Stafford Street.  It's the newest bridal boutique in Winnipeg, carrying fewer dresses than most of the other salons with a stronger focus on customer service.  The dressing rooms are on the second floor, they are huge and private with massive full length mirrors and beautiful black & white graphic wallpaper.  Trying on dresses at 'Bridal Bliss' was delightful because of the modern and upscale approach to retailing.  Unfortunately, I did not find "the dress" there.  Most of their selection were dresses that had very full skirts and a lot of detailing.  My aim is to find a gown with clean lines that is beautiful, but simple at the same time.

Our next stop was at '7th Avenue' on Academy road.  Immediately upon entering the store the difference in style and layout was felt from the previous shop: it was packed full of shoppers, all their wet boots piled up by the front door, scurrying sales girls were running around looking for gowns for brides, and there were racks upon racks of dresses smushed together.  I didn't even know where to start.  Thankfully, Tara was there to help weave through the gowns and start pulling out the ones she thought would work.  Then a salesgirl popped over to lend a hand, and before I knew it I was trying more gowns.  The dressing rooms were not as beautiful (and certainly not as private) as 'Bridal Bliss', but I did have far more luck with the gowns!  Which, we all know, is the whole point. 

About five gowns in, I may have even found "the dress'!!  It was BEAUTIFUL.  I will not be describing it nor posting any photos of myself in the dress, just in case a certain mister husband-to-be's eyes should graze this page.  Let's just say, I have not been able to stop thinking about this dang dress!  When my mother returns from Mexico at the end of the month, we will be heading out for round two.  Although I think I may have found 'the dress', I want to try on some others, just to make sure there's not a better one out there (which may not be possible:)...  I'll keep you updated!