I've been asked a few times over the last few months to share more about my wedding and my planning experience. I had thought that I would write about it as it happened, but it turned out that I was too busy and that I kind of wanted most of it to be a surprise on the big day. Now that all is said and done, I'm going to resume my Wedding Wednesday posts and share a bit more about the road to my big day.
First up, saying yes to the dress!
When Sean and I first got engaged, I figured I'd fly home to Utah to dress shop with my mom and sister. But when we bumped up the wedding date from Summer 2013 to August 2012, there was no longer time for that. I had to find a dress in California. Being a transplant to the Bay Area, I didn't have the faintest idea where to start with dress shopping. The bridal shop that was recommended to me time and again was Trudy's in Campbell, CA. So I quickly made an appointment.
Going into this, I was hopelessly naive. I had never been involved with planning a wedding for anyone before so my only insight into what it takes to plan a wedding has come from the movies and television (Say Yes To The Dress, anyone?). To make it worse, I wasn't going to have my mom, my sister, or my best friend around to help me pick a dress. I invited a handful of my closest Bay Area friends and only Angie was able to join (thanks babe!).
I read a few posts on "what to bring to your dress shopping appointment," but they pretty much only said things like "wear your hair up if you think you'll have an updo on your big day," "Wear nude undergarments; make sure your bra is strapless" and "bring the heels you plan to wear that day." You know, really basic stuff that most people could probably think of on their own. Turns out, the most helpful thing I brought was my iPad preloaded with photos of all the dresses I liked in my web search.
Throughout my whole life, I always thought I would wear a big princess ball gown, but as I tried on dresses that day, I fell in love with a more form-fitting frock.
When I purchased the dress, they were nervous that it would arrive in time for me to get it altered before leaving for Utah. I kept calling Trudy's for updates and each time I was told that they would call me when they had an update. So I channeled my inner bridechillah and waited for them to call. But at a certain point (a month before the wedding), I couldn't wait any longer so I called. And when I did, I found out my dress had been in for THREE WEEKS and they had only tried to reach me once. That's when things started to go sour for me.
Trying to move past it, I made an appointment at Trudy's for what I thought was to be my first dress fitting, after all, the entire first appointment, the gal helping me kept telling me how their alterations department could change whatever I wanted on my dress to make it fit perfectly. Despite the fact that no one was able to join me, I excitedly went in for my appointment. After putting on the dress, I came out and fell in love with it all over again, but the lady helping me out pointed out several places where it would need to be altered. And then she proceeded to put veils on me while I wished my mom and sister could be there with me. When those emotions became too much, I asked the store associate what the next steps were for alterations. Her reaction was to give me a list of their preferred vendors for alterations all over the South Bay. Confused, I inquired about the in-house alterations I had been told about. She told me they didn't do in-house alterations.
But despite my less than perfect shopping experience with Trudy's dress shop, I ended up with my absolutely dream dress!
Last three photos by Michelle Andersen Photography

29 comments:
Wow wow wow, you were such a gorgeous bride!!! It's such a shame what Trudy's did to you, messing you around like that with your dress, but I'm glad that the end result was so worth it!
Really nice!!! I love it!! So cool!!
The dress you chose was absolutely beautiful and perfect on you. It's so crazy to hear how frustrating the process was. My sister is getting married in August (8 months away mind you) and we casually went to see dresses right after the new year and they were freaking her out with the ORDER NOW pitch. Not only that, all the dresses were strapless. She wants a lacy dress like yours (I'm gonna show it to her), but they were almost 90% strapless. It makes me so sad that companies make what's supposed to be the happiest day of your life be so frustrating and leaving you ripped off.
I had no idea about all of the issues with your dress place! Obviously, I wish I could have been there for you, but it all turned out fantastically. Your wedding is such inspiration to me :)
I think strapless gowns only have armpit fat if its not well fitted. I had a strapless, and I was a bit heavier than I usually like to be, and I didn't have armpit fat in any of my pictures. *shrug* I originally didn't want strapless either, but budget had me trying on a few and one of the ones in my range I fell in love with, so that was that :) A friend of mine is getting married this September and all the dress places we talked to at a bridal show in the area were telling her, OMG get a dress soon! I wonder if it's more about having time to re-order if something goes wrong? At least it all turned out great for you in the end, That dress was fab and you were stunning.
Gorgeous dress and the pics turned out beautiful with the greenery.
www.walkinginmemphisinhighheels.com
Hurts my heart not to have been there :*) but you are a gorgeous bride! Love, Urban Mommy!
How frustrating and stressful of a process for something that should be so happy and fun! Luckily, you still got the dress of your dreams (and looked stunning, to boot), but still....I don't understand why stores or dress companies are soooo rude about the process.
Adiel, I'm from Campbell (now in SoCal) and have always dreamt of one day booking an appointment for my "dream dress" at Trudy's. However, between your story and one other one I've heard, I think Trudy's will be off my list of bridal shops for now!
I'm so glad you found what you looking for, even with all the chaos! Congrats, and you looked stunning, like it was MADE for you. :)
xo,
Elissa
sparklesandprays.blogspot.com
OH MY GOSH, your dress is SO BEAUTIFUL! I love all the lacey details and the little train! I can't wait to go shopping for my own wedding dress someday haha. Even though you didn't have your mom or close friends to help you pick it out, I think you did a great job finding the perfect one for yourself!
-Sarah
The Weekend Diary
I got my dresses at Trudy's and was very impressed by their ability to pull just what I wanted. Luckily I didn't have any issues with fulfillment, but getting the bridesmaid dresses from Bay Area Bridal was nightmare experience. I swear once these places get your money they forget all about you. Wish I'd gone off-the-rack. Might not have the glamorous experience, but you get the dress in your hot little hands at a fraction of the price. Worth its weight in gold with tight timelines. You looked AMAZING btw. And no, I haven't forgotten that I still owe you a gift!
This made me want to cry!! I remember when we met at Lucky FABB and you showed me your dress...i love it!
Off Kelly's Hanger
your dress is so gorgeous and i'm glad you were able to get something you really loved. i am sorry that the path to get there was a rough. sometimes i feel like bridal salons do what they do to get extra money from women who are anxious and excited about their big day; they take advantage of them. with so many places today to get a wedding dress, salons and sales associates should be even nicer and more flexible to win your trust and your business. i will definitely not be recommending trudy's to my friends that are engaged.
I can't believe what a mess Trudys was! Either way you looked amazing and the dress fit you like a glove!
I think you're spot on with that assessment, Kim. Thanks lady! xo
Awww, you are too cute, Kelly! I remember that, too!
I remember you telling me that once. They definitely had a fantastic selection of gowns; every dress I had a picture of on my iPad was in their store except for one. I completely spaced the off-the-rack option and really wished I had done that, too.
Thanks so much, Sarah! Hope my experience lends a bit of insight on things to think of when you go shopping for your dream gown one day! :)
You could make an appointment if you know what to expect. I'd love it if my experience helps makes someone else's better! Thanks so much, Elissa!
Thanks so much, Lauren! You're sweet!
Ditto! Love, Urban daughter!
Thanks, Laura!
That's because you're all skinny and stuff! ;) Maybe I should talk to someone in a bridal shop and find out why they really make you order so far in advance. Thanks, Amber!
I wish you could have been there, too! And thank you for your kind words. Love you, IHT.
Yeah, when I said no strapless, my options went down to next to nothing. Good luck to your sister with the whole process!
Thank you! :)
Thank you, Caroline! xo
Ha! Good point! ;) Yeah, I'm not a fan of how hot and cold Trudy's is. They seem to be just making it up as they go along.
Thanks so much! :)
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