Yesterday was the filming day for Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta. What.a.day.
My mom, grandma and I drove to Atlanta Monday evening after work. We ended up getting there pretty late because there was an awful storm we had to drive through the whole way there. Adam's mom, Donna, was already at the hotel when we got there (she flew down from MI), so we picked her up and grabbed dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. After much debate, I finally decided to wear a light purple dress with a darker purple cardigan. There were so many colors they didn't want you to wear it was pretty hard to pick something (no PINK, red, black).
It was up bright and early Tuesday to get ready for our (possible) TV debut. We got to Bridals by Lori a few minutes before our appointment time (9am) and filled out a bunch of paperwork while we waited to get started (background consent, waivers, general information, etc). I was the first one for the "pre-interview." They hooked a microphone to my dress and ushered me to a tiny room that's staged for the interviews. I answered a million questions about what I'm looking for, why I think I haven't found my dress, how we met, how Adam proposed, who came with me, their personalities, theme of the wedding, where/when the wedding will be, and so on and on and on..! After my interview, it was mom's turn. They didn't ask her quite as much but it still took a while.
It's funny because all week I've said "watch me get the consultant who's brand new..." That's what happens to me with everything ... car shopping.. new salesguy... house shopping.. new realtor... never fails! Of course, I was hoping for Robin, the store manager. Once the pre interviews were complete, they arranged us on the couch and brought out my consultant - Kelly - who was filming her first episode ... ever. Naturally. Overall, she did a great job and was also trying to get use to the cameras being eveywhere and all of the interruptions you def. wouldn't have with a normal appointment. We headed up to the bridal floor and over to the dresses that were within my "budget." I had a feeling right away that they weren't going to have my dress (white, organza, ruffles, embellishments, sweetheart neckline) and that became pretty evident after a few more minutes. Kelly kept pulling satin dresses which I really don't want because it's a summer wedding in the south! We decided to start trying on a few of our "picks" and off to the dressing room we went.
The dressing room was kind of awkward because I was still mic'd and everyone could hear everything we were saying, even if they weren't filming. There was a female camera person in the fitting room with me and the consultant who would film once I was in the dress. We'd have a chat about the dress and then I'd go out on the "walk way" to show the moms. The first time out on the runway, Lori was there waiting for me. It's weird because my back was to the moms and I was supposed to stay facing the mirror and make all the comments. I ended up showing 3 dresses on the "runway" but none of them were my dress. At one point, Lori said I sounded like someone who wasn't afraid to make a commitment but afraid to make a mistake, which is true. She also said I'm someone that's always very "together" and "fashion forward" - I don't think I've ever heard fashion forward used??
The last dress was more than double the budget I wanted to stay with; it was beautiful, I couldn't find anything I didn't like, I just knew it wasn't THE dress. It's very overwhelming standing there with all eyes/cameras/lights on you and everyone's waiting for a reaction and your comments for EVERYTHING. So, I walked away without my dress. We still had to do post-interviews and that wasn't very fun.... I'm sure if I make it on the season I'll be made out to look like I'm very hard to please and don't know what I want. I had brought 3 dresses from a magazine and kept asking if they wanted to see what I was looking for, but there really wasn't any interest in that. Lori was adamant that if I didn't find my dress there it probably didn't exist.. I know better.
Leaving there I felt pretty discouraged but also like the first dress I put on with mom a few months ago was more and more likely to be my dress. Mom asked if I wanted to stop by Prado on the way home to show Donna the dress there that I liked.
So, we stopped at the store. There wasn't anyone there except the owner (who happens to be from WV) and the sales girl that actually helped us the very first time. It was nice to not have to be surrounded by people once again!! I walked over to the rack where the Maggie Sottero dresses were and saw a new dress that was the exact dress from one of the ads I had torn out of the magazine. I knew I HAD to try it on. So we grabbed it and the original 1 that I liked. I put on the "new" dress and it was a-maz-ing! We all liked it. Then, I tried on the original Maggie and had the same thoughts/likes/dislikes. It just really needs more "bling". The owner came over and asked me to try on the "new" dress again. Seeing it again just firmed it up.. it was MY DRESS! It is so beautiful and I can't even believe it's the exact dress that I had torn out of the magazine and had with me! What are the odds? My amazing parent's surprised me by buying the dress for me. We ordered it last night and it should be in no later than March.
When I got home last night, I looked the dress up online... and lo and behold.. the description says..."This fashion-forward, bead-encrusted lace..." HOW CRAZY IS THAT?!?
