Purchasing a Dress

I returned to Canada about 2.5 months before my wedding day. This was pretty much a guarantee that I would be buying something directly off the rack, which was scary because the sample's in-store were usually 2 sizes too big. I found one that I liked, but the total, after alterations and hemming would be more and $1000. I found it hard to rationalize that price, so I did some more hunting.

I never, ever, thought that I would purchase a wedding dress at a consignment store. When I thought of consignment dresses, I thought old and ugly. I avoided the consignment store that my Mom suggested I visit, but after seeing he reality of a $1000 dress, I thought I could at least take a look. The shop I visited was packed full of dresses. The owner only accepts  dresses that are 1-2 years old, so there were none of those scary dresses. Unlike the reserved bridal stores I'd been visiting, this was fun and relaxed. Grab the dresses off the rack, grab a room and try them on until you're exhausted. There was no pressure whatsoever, and no one trying to bully you into the veil, tiara, jewelry, shoes... Long story made short, this is where I found my dress and veil. I made an offer on both and was able to lower the prices even further.

What was great about my dress? 

1.) It fit. It was a real size. In the store there were heaps of dresses in every size. Trying on something that fit me, really let me know whether I liked the dress or not, because I was seeing it how it was meant to be. 

2.) It was already hemmed. The dress was basically the right length. It only took a few minor adjustments to be perfect, and I escaped a hemming charge.

3.) It was less than half-price. Choosing where to spend money is important. The difference in the price of this dress and the brand-new one was the price of my out-of-work maid-of-honour's plane ticket. I'll take the plane ticket!