Say Yes?

I’ve been sitting here watching episodes of “Say Yes to the Dress.” If you haven’t seen it, the show is set in a high-end bridal salon and features stories of brides shopping for wedding dresses.  It got me thinking about my own wedding dress. I found it at a bridal fair. While looking through a catalog at a booth I turned the page, slammed my finger down, and said “that’s the dress.” It was the first dress I tried on and the one I ended up buying. And the kicker? It cost less than $400. I think it’s because it didn’t have a train (trane?).

Looking back, it could have been fit better to my body, but on the day I felt special and beautiful. It’s hard to believe women spend $5,000+ on a dress when that’s not what I remember about my wedding day. I remember the way my husband’s tux felt under my hands, I remember I was so nervous before walking down the aisle I didn’t know what side I was supposed to be on. I remember the happiness on my husband’s face during the ceremony and the fun we had during the reception.

Sure, I would have loved a $7,000 dress, but that’s not what the day was about. The day was about a big party to start our lives together – a party we were paying for ourselves. Part of me wishes I had spent more and pulled out more stops, but in the end it’s just one day.  And all the beading and lace in the world won’t buy you a happy marriage.