A few years ago, I was reading an article in some high-end bridal magazine about expenses brides would incur over the course of their wedding. The usual expenses were detailed; reception location, catering, cake, dress, decorations, photography, video, dress assembler, makeup artist, hair dresser…
Uh, wait a minute. Dress Assembler? I’d never heard of such a thing! It seems some wedding dresses can get so complicated to get on that there are people who specialize in helping brides get dressed before their wedding.
I have to admit, I kind of laughed at the time. I mean, it’s a dress! How complicated can it get? Then came my 7/7/07 wedding.
The picture shown here has special meaning to the bride. Not just from the fact that it shows a detail of the dress she couldn’t see herself or that it’s a pretty picture of the lacing and the bow, but from the fact that it is an illustration of final success after a good 45 minutes of struggling to get that thing on!
There were ties and loops and hooks and things we’d never seen before that were supposed to go somewhere or connect with something, but no one could figure it all out. The bride admitted that when she’d tried the dress on during the fitting, they hadn’t really paid that much attention to how it was assembled. I was absolutely no help as I’d never seen one like that, but I certainly got a lot of pictures while they were trying to figure it out.
So, brides, pay attention when you pick out that dress! If you think it might be a good idea, try to hire someone who’s job it will be to make sure it’s put on correctly. Might save some time and anxiety in the hours before your wedding ceremony.
By the way, this wedding took place at the Clover Forest Plantation in Goochland County. Wonderful location. Highly recommended.
