The MOMENT

I found my dress a month or so ago. And I truly love it. I felt like a princess and I knew it was the one. I honestly don't think I could be happier with my choice. But the choosing part was REALLY annoying... the endless dresses to try on, dive in, zip up, show everyone... take it off. Repeat - ad infinitum. Sometimes I think the excitement of having found the dress was in large part due to the fact that I knew I wouldn't have to try on another dress!

The veil... now that was different. I went to Barron's and tried on a veil... she pinned it in my hair and made me turn around to look in the mirror. And suddenly... standing there in a pair of jeans and a Gap tee shirt... I was a bride. My heart swelled and my eyes started to sting with tears. I stood there looking at this veil falling around my shoulders and I was suddenly having this major revelation that soon I would be walking down the aisle to marry a man that I am absolutely CRAZY about. I always knew Rob and I would spend the rest of our lives together - married or not - but seeing myself in that veil, in the middle of a crowded flea market... it melted my insides down. There were nerves and there was joy - but mostly I just felt so overwhelmed with gratitude that I would have the opportunity to stand before God and the people I love most and pledge my life to my FH and our children.

Did anyone else have a moment like that?

My dress was that same moment. I'm having a semi-formal wedding in a restaurant instead of a hall, so I wanted a gown, but not the traditional 'pouf.' I kept going to bridal salons and told them what I wanted and kept getting 'pouf.' Even the sheath dresses I tried on were heavy and complicated. I was at a little salon by my job when the girl had to take a phone order. She told me to look around. I pulled this silky dress off of the rack and brought it back to the dressing room. Three poufy dresses later I asked about the silky dress. I tried it on and I alsmost started crying. It was slinky, sophisticated, unfussy and a wediing dress (not an evening gown like I thought I would have to get). I was so happy that I ran to the bank right there and put down 50%. Of course I found my dress online that night for 350 bucks less than I paid, but I wouldn't have found it online had I not tried it on earlier.

So yes, I have had the moment...