Un-Wedding Dress

I remember trying this dress on when I was younger, mesmerized by its beauty and details. This was not my mom's wedding dress. She didn't have the wedding of her dreams by a long shot; she hardly had a wedding dress at all. But this one, she has always treasured. I completely forgot about it until last night, & part of me wishes I'd thought about it sooner. While this will not be the dress I walk down the aisle in, it represents so many things: culture, tradition, family & my parents' American Dream. I'm certain I'll find a special place for it.

Lucky Number Thirteen

Love the Facebook memories feature thing. A lot of significant things seemed to happen on or around this day over the years.

Seven years ago, I was cheering on the Gators to victory at the BCS National Championship.

Six years ago, I started Parsons in New York.

Three years ago, I moved back up north and into my apartment in Jersey City.

Two years ago, JP and I were on our first big trip together to Southern California, Las Vegas, and Honolulu.

Today, well, this particular day isn't very exciting, but this past year has been. 

I traveled to India (solo!) and saw the Taj Mahal, Akshardam Temple, and the Pink City. I celebrated Holi with a former Miss India and Baliwood stars. I sailed in the Arabian Sea, and rode along the Queen's Necklace, and visited factories, beaders, and markets (the not so glamorous parts of the fashion industry).

From there I flew to the Philippines to continue my non-profit work, and to explore other opportunities there. I never thought I'd get JP to make a trip over there, but he did, and I was able to share with him everything about that country that I love so much.

As if that wasn't enough, at the end of JP's apartment hunting trip to Seattle on a chilly August morning, at the top of the Space Needle overlooking his new job, his new place and his new city, he asked me to begin a new chapter with him. JP asked me to marry him.

So it's okay that on this specific day in 2016, nothing spectacular happened. Because this time next year is going to be the most special day of all.

The Dress

TLC seems to have Say Yes to the Dress marathons daily. I have recently started my own wedding marathon, and I've started with my favorite thing: dress shopping, of course! This is how my experience compares, along with other thoughts I have when I watch this deception of a show:

Selection: The bridal stylists on Say Yes always freak out when the bride doesn't say yes after the fourth or so dress. So dramatic. "I don't know that we have what she's looking for." Um... four dresses? I think I've tried on at least 30, and the selection at Kleinfeld is probably more than all three boutiques I've been to combined.

Colored Wedding Dresses: I get that there's a trend to get married in a dress that is anything but white. What I don't get is why you would go to a bridal store if you want to get married in a colored wedding dress--- Colored as in not white, ivory or even blush--- And then whine that your dress may not be there... in a store that specializes in carrying wedding dresses... which are typically white or in that family. If you want to be an atypical bride, try not a bridal boutique. If you're already in New York for Kleinfeld, um, go to Bergdorfs.

Saying "Yes": I loved more than one dress that I tried on. I got emotional for a couple of dresses. I never burst into tears. You get a feeling in your gut, though it may not be overwhelming as it seems on the show. From talking to other friends who have gotten married or are engaged and have found their dress, the chances are high that you'll doubt your choice at some point. Their advice is to remember all of the reasons that made you love it in the first place. And once you say yes, to STOP looking at dresses. That's you, Amanda!

I will also be accepting any other wedding planning advice anyone would like to give.