This summer, I’m going to be in a friend’s wedding, so on Saturday, I took part in that ritual of womanhood: a trip to David’s Bridal. I had a cheat sheet of the item numbers for the three dresses we could choose from, along with a coupon code, and I made my way to the closest store.
Meanwhile, a surprise snow storm blew across the area, and about halfway to the store, the roads became scarily slippery. The back end of my car slid from side to side at two traffic intersections, and I questioned whether I should press on. Sure, I didn’t want to drive in these conditions, but even more, I really didn’t want to make another appointment and drag myself out to the store. I decided to keep going.
Despite traveling way below the speed limit, I arrived at David’s Bridal a half hour before my appointment time, nerves all frayed. After ruining my pink flats in an inch of snow in the parking lot, I went the reception area and made my case. “My appointment isn’t until 3:30,” I said, “but if someone could help me now, I’d really appreciate it. If not, I’m fine to wait.”
“No problem,” the girl said, flipping through the book. “I’ll call Felicia for you.”
Felicia came to the desk promptly, and I showed her my cheat sheet of item numbers. While she went through the racks to pull my size, I gaped at the sheer volume of white puffiness around me. I vaguely remembered coming to this David’s Bridal when I was engaged; my sister and I quickly eliminated it as a possibility for bridesmaid dresses, but I tried on a veil for fun. It was a Saturday, I was sure, but it wasn’t nearly as frantic. Here and there, shrieks rang out from the fitting area, and two teen girls whizzed by with arms full of prom finery.
Eventually, Felicia led me to the fitting area, where all the walls and doors were encased in mirrors. She squeezed her way behind one bride’s entourage — easily a dozen people — and hung up my dresses inside the room. Once inside, I realized that the fitting room had two major flaws: there was no seat or bench to make changing easier, and there was no mirror. Oh, sure, mirrors were on every wall outside, but not inside the changing room! I would have to emerge into the chaos just to make a judgment call.
I started with the dress I liked best out of the three, and once I was all zipped and tied, I opened the door to look at my reflection. Oops! The entourage was still standing right in front of my room, so the door bumped into the back of one of the women. “Sorry, sorry, excuse me,” I said, shimmying my way out and holding up extra skirt yardage.
When I looked at the pictures of the dresses online, I was afraid that the one I liked most would make my shoulders look huge, but to my relief, I was not a linebacker! Excellent. I had my first viable candidate. I shuffled back into the dressing room, apologizing all the way, and maneuvered myself into Dress #2: a giant, puffy, sky-blue, quasi-halter contraption that could barely fit through the doorway. Felicia eyed me as I came out and said, “Hmm, I liked the first one better.”
Resigned, I said, “You know, I’m just going to go with that one and quit while I’m ahead.”
I put the first one back on to be sure my decision wasn’t based on frustration. More opening the door into people, more squeezing past them, more excusing myself. I looked in the mirror, confirmed that the dress would do, took a picture for posterity, and changed back into my regular clothes as fast as humanly possible. I was almost done!
And then I couldn’t find Felicia. I stood in the fitting area in my pea coat and scarf, feeling like an idiot, until she wandered back over. “You all set?” she asked.
What does it look like, Felicia?!
I put in my dress order, asked about turnaround time and alterations, and tucked my receipt into my wallet when I realized — oh, no! I forgot about the coupon! Shamefacedly, I asked Felicia if she could apply it after the fact, and she could! Phew. However, the process entailed calling a manager, complicated register-typing, and me signing a wad of receipts.
Finally, I left the store, a mere half hour after I had started the debacle. It felt much longer than that. And, I remembered glumly, I still had to drive home in the snow.
14 comments
The dress is cute, though! Good work.
You’ve described pretty much how I feel about DB. It’s just so…chaotic! For my wedding dress I went to a boutique-ish place and it felt like a private experience which was wonderful. My bridesmaids and I went to DB to check out dresses for them and our experience was..not good. The worst part is having to dodge the brides (like you did!) because of the mirror situation.
That store is not for me. Some girls can find great deals, but I paid a little more for the non-stressful experience!
Glad you were able to pretty much be in and out and find something that looks great!
I’ve been lucky, I guess. The 4 weddings I’ve been in, I’ve ordered 2 online (jcpenney’s and chadwicks), my mom made them for my brother’s wedding and the other was from a nicer dress shop (more $$, but it was my best friend)
My bridesmaids lucked out too, as my mom made their dresses! She measured and did 1-2 fittings each and it only cost them about $50 for materials…
LOVE my mom! She also did all necessary alterations on my dresses as needed (except my wedding dress which I found someone else to do for $50!)
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Ugh, that sounds like my worst nightmare. My best friend is getting married this September and let me tell you, I wanted to kiss her on the mouth when she said, “No bridesmaid dresses for you guys! Here’s the color I want, now go order whatever kind of dress you like in this color.” So I found an awesome BCBG cocktail dress and didn’t have to deal with any bridal parties, consultants…or snow!
Sweet mother, I really hope to spare my gals this experience. That sounds horrific, and incredibly frustrating. On the plus side, you look lovely!
This is exactly why I am actually dreading going wedding dress shopping. I think most women love the idea of trying on all those dresses, but I definitely do not. I’m scoping them out online, hoping I can find a store near me that carries the 2-3 I narrow it down to, and then just trying those on and getting out of there.
I’m pretty sure that’s not how it works, though.
The bridesmaid dresses are going to be from J Crew (hopefully, final sale!). The wedding dresses there just seem so expensive for how they look online, though, and rarely are on sale. I like their simplicity, but think I can find something similar for less.
Ooo, like the dress! Where did you get your coupon code? I need to buy a bridesmaid dress at Davids and was looking for coupons with zero luck!
I went to DB once for a bridesmaid dress…and I only had to get a skirt, and I was in and out in under 8 minutes (yay for going on a Tuesday lunch-break).
My sisters have subscribed to the “wear your favorite black dress, I don’t care what it looks like, as long as you love it and it’s black” school of thought for bridesmaids and I absolutely love them for it.
Cute dress though–I love the waistband!
xox
Yup, that sounds like David’s Bridal! I had much register-typing and confusion, too — and I had my stupid coupon right up front. It’s just par for the course. The mirrors thing… GRR. PUT MIRRORS IN THE DRESSING ROOMS. I felt like SUCH a loser there. I also felt like a loser going to all my own wedding dress fittings alone. Damn you, wedding industry.
That story makes me want to break out in hives. Glad you made it out alive.
It looks so nice! Way better on you than me–good color, too. I am equal parts impressed and shocked that you blatantly ignored the third option! You are a stronger woman than I.
Well I guess that is what I am ahead of me. I am off to David’s Bridal this Sunday (after the massive snowstorm we’re expecting) to do the same. Maybe the roads will be too bad and we will have to reschedule.
Also – where did you find a coupon? I’m a pretty good Googler and I can’t find anything!
cracking up! that is definately one of the least offensive bride’s maid dresses i’ve seen.
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