Babbling Brooke: Dress Success

I set up an appointment to go wedding gown shopping earlier this week. I know the wedding is over a year away, but my sister (and MOH) is leaving for Greece on the 24th and will be gone until mid-July. Then she will only be home for a few weeks then it's off to some place for law school...Chicago, Pittsburgh, who knows? So, I thought she should at least see a few before she leaves. I made an appointment at a store in Keizer (I didn't like the vibe at the same store in Eugene when I was bridesmaid dress shopping), but I thought it was a good place to start. Surely this would just be the beginning of many, many shopping trips.
We (sis, mom, & grandma) arrived a couple minutes late because Brie (my sister) had a final in Eugene that morning. They seemed like they weren't expecting me. They left us just standing there for a few minutes, bewildered. Finally a sales lady came in from the back, where she had been eating chips & salsa. She asked what size pants I wear. I told her (blank), but when I bought a dress here before I needed size (blank) to fit my chest. She didn't even bother to look at the pictures they told me to bring of my favorites. I spent a lot of time and effort putting together a collection of favorites, hmph! She pulled a bunch of dresses, none of which were in my inspiration book. She asked what size bra, and of course they don't even make my size. So I had to make do with one about three cup sizes too small. I tried on dress after dress in a not quite big enough size. Did I mention that you can see straight into my dressing room from the front parking lot? Awkward! I told her I liked the skirts with the pick-ups but it was like she wasn't listening. I told her I didn't like the corsetted bodice, but half of them were that way. I don't want to feel like a rack of lamb or some kind of roast on my wedding day, or any day for that matter! My sister hated all the ones that the sales lady liked, I think that rubbed her the wrong way. Finally, we got her to bring a dress with pick-ups in the skirt...guess what? I hated it on me! Funny, I love that in the pictures. I also decided I like the corset because I can get a dress big enough for my chest but cinch it in around my waist, and I don't look like a roast. Now I just need to tone up my arms.
I ended up falling in love with the second dress I tried on. So she went back for the right size and laced all the way up and plopped the veil on my head. Awwwww!!! But I couldn't bring myself to buy it right then, even though it was on sale. I just thought no way! It's not this easy! I have to go to half a dozen other stores first, right!?! I always second guess myself anyways, and this is way too much of an expenditure to second guess. I did put a deposit on it. This did two things: 1)lock in the sale price and 2) left me with the feeling I had accomplished something wedding related. You know, other than the groom. Plus, this way if I change my mind I'm not stuck buying from that store, although my sister will be buying her bridesmaid dress there if that is the case.
You'll just have to wait for pictures though. We can't have FH (future hubby) seeing it before the big day! This is what it does NOT look like. Hehehehe.