I’d like to say I wore a vintage wedding gown when I got
married… I really would. Sadly
(shamefully?) I didn’t.
I was never one of those girls who dreamed about her wedding
day, who had everything planned out including the perfect gown, etc… If I had been, I probably would have saved a
few gowns along the way. But I
didn’t.
Although it was extended unexpectedly, we had planned for a
very short engagement… we knew we wanted to get married… why wait? I just assumed I would wear a vintage wedding dress. After all, I had assisted so many
brides over the years in locating their perfect vintage gowns. Surely I could find my own! Right?
I was a woman on a mission. I hunted, I hunted, I hunted and I hunted some more. I tried on every white, cream or ivory gown
that came in to the store. NOTHING. Finally, fearing that I would never find the
right vintage dress in time I extended my search to the modern bridal stores in
my area. Again… NOTHING (though I wasn’t
surprised!). Finally, I travelled 200
miles to a bridal boutique outside of Washington, DC and found the gown of my dreams. Now I hope my husband isn’t reading this, but
in the end I spent over $3000 on a modern gown that, well, looked vintage. The wedding was amazing, I felt fantastic in
the gown, story over, right?
About a month AFTER
the wedding I stumbled across the most phenomenal (although frustrating) find. An oyster satin 1950’s Ceil Chapman gown
almost identical to the modern “vintage look” wedding gown I purchased… not
only was it gorgeous and everything I had been looking for, but it was pretty
much my size, too… and I can’t tell you what I paid for it but it was surely a LOT less than $3000!!!! My perfect vintage wedding gown, just a
little bit too late. I wanted to cry!
I have been holding on to that Ceil Chapman since then. Once I found it I couldn’t let it go! But rationally there is no reason for me not
to sell it. I’ve been married for a
little over 7 ½ years and I adore my husband.
We have three amazing little boys.
We’re not the type who will renew our vows. Not to mention the fact that after three kids
the gown wouldn’t even come close to
fitting any longer! I simply have no
need for the gown, so after all these years, I’ve finally convinced myself that
I can’t possibly justify holding on to it any longer.
So, here it is. I’ll
be happy knowing that it will be someone else’s dream dress (on time!) and that
it will make some lucky bride out there feel gorgeous on her wedding day! Send photos, please?
