(Everyone inNew York Cityis stressedplus, youre planning a wedding.)
I never wanted to be the person who penned a personal essay aboutweddingstress.
Im awareworlds tiniest violinthat finding a wedding dress can be stressful.
Audrey Hepburn inFunny Face,1957.
Im not winning any sympathy or novelty awards here.
Am I a Cecilie Bahnsen ballerina bride?
Perhaps a bow-bedecked Sandy Liang lady?
An elegant Khaite woman?
A bold Bernadette character?
Maybe even a Molly Goddard muse?
Honestlyall of the above!
But as I continue my search, no garment hits all the marks.
Of course, I could just cease my whining, pick a dress, and be done with it.
But theres the rubI havent.
(Save for the pair of Neous strappy heels that I chose a month after getting engaged.
No brainer there!)
But as timeline markers cameand wentI began to realize there was an issue.
The responses flooded in almost immediately.
Didnt have my dress until two weeks before the day.
I picked my shoes the night before.
I got something cheap and ended up tailoring it to my needs because I couldnt find what I wanted.
I ordered a dress four days before my wedding that a friend picked out for me.
Im still fine with the decision and I still have the dress after 13 years of marriage.
I got mine the month before.
I was not alone in my mercurial attitude toward wedding dresses, so it seemed.
(I still need something to wear, lest we forget.)
I wouldnt blame you for writing this kind of conundrum off as vapid.
But it isnt my main problem.
Its just one I didnt expect Id be dealing with.
And one that, truly, very few brides talk about.
Im still tapping my foot for that epiphany to arrive.
A simple proverb, but profound enough.
Its the dress you like in the moment.
If I look back at my wedding and look like a tulle cottagecore cupcake, so be it!
The notion that a wedding dress must encapsulate who you are as a person feels antiquated.
An appreciation for wearing a cute outfit surrounded by the people you love should be enough.
(Something I never thought Id need reminding of, but here we are.)
Wish me (and my eyelid) good luck.
