America's Next Top Bride - Gown Fitting!

Another installment in our series from Sara Albert - America's Next Top Bride

This past week I finally got to do something that I had been looking forward to for months now: try on my wedding dress! I flew home to California and, with my Mom, Dad, and bridesmaid Shelby in tow, went to the boutique in Sacramento where I bought it. The dress buying experience was what really made this whole wedding thing first feel real to me (seeing myself in a veil was actually the first time I ever really felt like a bride!), and the way that I found my dress was a little serendipitous as well.

Even though I am living 3,000 plus miles away from my parents, it wasn't ever a question of whether or not I would fly to California to go dress shopping. I knew that I wanted to find my dress with my Mom by my side. What I didn't expect was that Dad would be so helpful as well- I swear he learned a whole new vocabulary that day! Rouching, tulle, etc. etc.

Well the grand plan was to go to San Francisco for the big hunt, but we decided to go the day before to a couple of places in Sacramento as a "warm up." After a few stops, we ended up our day at a cute little boutique. I tried on a bunch of dresses and kind of liked a few of them, but none were quite what I pictured. Thinking that the day was officially a failure I put my own clothes back on and got ready to leave for home. While I was walking out I noticed a dress hanging in one of the other dressing rooms, so I asked the salesperson about it. It turns out that they had just gotten it in that day and had it in the dressing room to steam it before putting it out on the floor.  Despite being tired (and honestly a little sick of dresses in general) I asked if I could try it on. Low and behold, that was it!! I didn't end up buying it right then since we still had our grand plan to go shopping the next day, but the San Fran trip ended up really solidifying that I had already found the dress that I was going to get married in!

I can't tell you too much about it because I want to keep the surprise factor intact for John, but my dress is strapless and ivory, and it is fairly simple and traditional. Trying it on for the first time last week made me even more excited than I was before, something that I didn't think was possible! Now, on to the next task: accessories!

Wish me luck!