DIY Wedding Part 1: THE Dress

THE dress.

That's how every bride wants to feel on her wedding day. You know, the day you've been planning since you were six and the flowers you've dreamed of since you were 14 and the colors you found on Pinterest when you were 17 and the groom you usually find much later? (Details.)

I was trying not to get caught up in the "my special day" phenomena that Hollywood and Pinterest have shoved down our very eager throats. I'm not going to preach about how who your future husband is and how you prepare for your marriage are much more important than you flowers or your dress or your personalized koozies. That seems easy to forget in our wedding-crazed society.

Because of this, I was not expecting to find THE dress. I thought I would find A dress. And I thought it would be lovely and white and just fine. However, I was under no illusion that with our budget and my priorities I would find something that I loved.

My mom suggested that we go to a bridal consignment store in a not wonderful part of town to start our search. I kind of rolled my eyes. Yay, a second-hand bridal store. Probably full of smelly 90's dresses and bad juju. But this was just another one of my heroic sacrifices and I was not going to be like other brides and I was not going to care and I was going to walk down the aisle in something that didn't put tears in my eyes the moment I saw it and it wouldn't matter because I was marrying the best guy in the world. THIS was the price or practicality and having the right priorities.

Or so I told myself.

And I found THE dress. THE dress was the second one I tried on. It was perfect. It was my style. It took my mom's breath away. It took my breath away. It barely needed alterations. It was a fraction of the price of a wedding dress from a boutique. My mom examined it closely and was shocked at the high quality in which it was made. I think I will always be a little too in love with it- the sound it made when I walked, the tiny sprinkle of a lace cap sleeve, the perfectly placed pleats...I felt like it was made for me.

Oh me of little faith.

This consignment store also allows the option for brides to sell their wedding dresses back to the store for 1/2 price. This could be a really good option for brides who want to make some money back after wearing the dress for one day! (You would have to pry mine from my cold, dead hands, but it was definitely nice to have that option!)

Speaking of wearing a dress for one day, a drawback to buying used is that even one day of wear can make the dress dirty. Usually the bottom of the dress is especially dirty from walking around. If you are buying used, you will definitely want your dress to be professionally cleaned, OR, you can do it yourself! As you can probably guess, we cleaned it ourselves. My mom cleaned my dress in our bathtub using this pinterest guide.

About the veil and the shoes: I decided to wear flats so that I could be comfortable for a day of being on my feet. I honestly can't even remember where I got these pale blue ballet flats! I saw them on sale at a department store and thought it would be fun to have a "something blue" that would also match my bridesmaids. This gorgeous, lace Cathedral veil with a blusher was my aunt's and she graciously lent it to me for my wedding. It went perfectly with the dress and it made the whole look so dreamy! Since I had so much lace going on I opted out of any jewelry except pearl earrings.

So, what I'm saying is this:

1.) More affordable doesn't have to mean ugly or bad quality. It just means you have to work harder.

2.) Don't be afraid to break the status quo! I am convinced that I love this dress more than anything I could have held an "I said yes to the dress!" sign up to.

3.) People are usually happy to share pieces of their weddings that were so significant to them, but only used once. Wearing my aunt's veil was so special for me on that day.

4.) It's OK to pray for superficial things sometimes. I didn't necessarily pray for "THE dress" but I do think God was looking out for us and our little wedding dreams. He wants us to ask Him for every little thing.

HAPPY SAPPY TIDBIT: My little sister found her wedding dress here too!

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

- Matthew 7:7-8

Photography: Calley Watters Photography