The third leg of the dress buying journey took place in Baltimore. Cheeseburger Mom, Mom Burger, Cheeseburger SisterMOH and Sister Burger were all in town, and I was so excited (nervous). I had a lot of the same feelings I had the first time we went out since more people would be there, we were in a new city, etc., but I was so glad that they were there that I kind of forgot those feelings as we set out for the day! I had made appointments at two local bridal shops as well as the David’s Bridal in Baltimore to show everyone my more recent dress successes!
Our first stop was Bridals by Elena. We started by discussing the things that I liked and disliked, as well as the budget. Our consultant also asked me how many dresses I had tried on so far in my experiences. When I said that I thought it was around 50 or so, she was shocked. Apparently this is a pretty large number, and she had in her mind that I was going to be pretty hard to please (who, me?).
She pulled a few dresses that she thought I would like, and she was right, I did like all of them! Unfortunately, their dresses did not have tags, and they did not allow photographs, so I don’t really know much about the first few dresses I tried on.
The one dress I do remember from that store was this gorgeous number by, you guessed it, Essence of Australia!
There was just something about this dress. It fit me wonderfully. The sweetheart was just. right. It hugged in all the right places, it had a cute little train, and gorgeous, crystal buttons down the back. But mostly I think it was the way the dress fit – I felt so pretty, and everyone loved it. I did eventually try on some other dresses after this one, but at the end of the fitting I had to put in on one more time. It felt so good.
Was this that feeling I was supposed to get?
Was this, THE ONE?
(clearly not me, but with no pics allowed this pretty bride to be will certainly do) 
My consultant went to get the measuring tape to seal the deal. On her way back, she mentioned the price of the dress. It was $300 dollars above the budget I had quoted her at the beginning of the appointment. That, plus the additional $400 in alterations that I was quoted (for a corset and installation directly into the dress) made me hesitate. I decided that I needed to sleep on it, but I was almost positive that I had found my dress.
We decided to cancel the other appointments, since we were pretty sure that we had found the one. At one point I said “I feel so badly that you came all this way and we only went to one shop,” and Sister Burger said “Wasn’t that the point? To find your dress!” And it was. She was so right!
I stalked my new-found love online and found the pictures you see above. But as I looked through the pictures, I felt less and less love for her. I was missing the pleats, satin, symmetry and pure simplicity that I had seen in previous dresses. Not to mention that she was over budget. 
Now what?
I called Cheeseburger Mom and told her I wasn’t sold on the Essence dress. She was disappointed for me, but she obviously supported my decision. She also mentioned that she had just seen an add for a sample sale at a couture bridal boutique near the pediatrician we went to growing up. I remember being a little girl imagining trying on dresses there one day. While I figured that even their samples would be out of budget, I thought ‘hey, it can’t hurt.’ So, we made an appointment…
Can you handle one more post?
The end is near, people!
Did you find “the one” but then change your mind after sleeping on it? What made you change your mind?
This article was originally posted onWeddingbee.
