Francesca practically skipped into the dressing room lugging clear plastic wardrobe bags filled with white dresses. “Let’s get started!”
The first one Lexi tried on featured ten layers of tulle on the skirt and an illusion high neckline with corded lace details. “It’s pretty, but I’m not a fan of the top,” she said, studying the dress, which made it look like vines of white lace were crawling up her collarbone. “Next!”
Francesca helped her slip into a silk gown that hugged her body in all the right places. Its plunging décolletage with built-in pushup bra created cleavage she didn’t know her breasts could have.
“Va-va-voom!” Callie howled from the loveseat.
Lexi stared back in the mirror feeling a bit self-conscious. She knew Seth would love it, but it looked like more of a dress he’d like to take off of her than one he’d like to say “I do” to her in. She’d prefer something a little more modest for the ceremony. After all, her dad was going to be there… and the preacher.
“Not quite it,” she announced as she gave the silk material one last smooth down her thigh with her hand. God, it was so sexy. But, no. “Next!”
The last dress Francesca had chosen was a simple fit and flare lace gown. The only bit of sparkle on it was a cluster of pearls on the sash.
“Oh, that’s gorgeous,” her mom said, clapping her hands. She was finally getting into the spirit of the day, perhaps with help from the champagne.
But as she stared in the mirror, Lexi frowned. It reminded her of the dress Hanna walked down the aisle in when she got married. Lexi loved Hanna, but their styles were completely different, which was a shame since she had gotten stuck with her older sister’s hand-me-downs her entire childhood.
“What do you think?” Callie asked.
Lexi sighed. All of the dresses she had tried on were pretty, but none of them were the one. One of her bridal magazines likened picking a dress to finding your soul mate—“you’ll just know it when you see it.” She wanted to put on a dress and feel the stomach tingles she got the first time she kissed Seth. She wanted something that would make everyone look at her the way Seth did: like she was the most beautiful girl in the world. This was a once-in-a-lifetime event. The dress had to be perfect. Lexi turned around and faced Francesca. “I’m looking for something a little more showstopping.”
The woman nodded conspiratorially and put her fingers to her lips as if she was thinking what else she had that would be available. “You know…” she finally spoke. “We do have one very special dress. It’s truly fit for a princess.” Francesca winked and then scurried out for a second, coming back with a large white gown on a hanger.
Lexi could see tons of little flecks of light bouncing off of the fabric as she unzipped the dress.
“It’s one-of-a-kind,” Francesca said as she helped Lexi step into the gown. The soft material rubbed against Lexi’s skin, feeling so luxurious and substantial. The woman continued spouting off details. “It’s made of silk mikado and features hand-embroidered floral designs on the two-tiered ballgown skirt.” She zipped the back of the dress, which fit Lexi’s body like a glove. “And each crystal has been sewn in by hand.”
Lexi looked in the mirror and rubbed her hand over the plunging illusion neckline. The crystals reflecting off the lights made the dress look like it was covered in diamonds. The floral embroidery appeared delicate and precious, yet felt thick and substantial when she ran her fingers over it. Turning around to look at the back through the mirror, Lexi noticed an elegant cathedral-length train covered in more embroidery and sparkles. No detail had been overlooked in the design. She had never seen a more gorgeous dress.
She looked over at her mom and sisters nervously. She wanted them to like it. She needed them to like it.
Callie’s head was tilted to the side. Her lips were curled up into a smile that reached from one ear to the other. “It’s perfect.”
Hanna’s hands were covering her heart. “I’ve never seen a prettier bride… besides me, of course,” she sniffed.
They all laughed.
Finally, Lexi looked over at her mom for approval. Lynn nodded, and Lexi noticed her eyes filling with tears. She ran over and hugged her mom, wanting to cry herself.
A moment later, Francesca walked over and inspected the fit of the dress. “The best part is that you really don’t need that much done to it, either.” She looked down at the heels she gave Lexi to try with the dress, a pair of Christian Louboutins studded with Swarovski crystals. “Are these the shoes you want to wear with it?”
Lexi nodded and wanted to squeal. Louboutins.
“Then I think the only thing it needs is a little hemming, really. And luckily, there’s no lace or crystals on the bottom of the skirt, so it’ll be a simple alteration. We can put a rush on it and have it back to you in a week.”
“Perfect.” Lexi did a little shimmy. The dress seemed like it would be great to dance in, too.
“Oh, one more thing!” Francesca pointed her finger and then ran outside to the main room, coming back with a wedding veil. “The finishing touch…” She placed the jeweled comb above Lexi’s messy low bun. The soft tulle lined with crystals framed her face and shoulders, matching perfectly with the gown.
“Oh my god, you look like a real-life version of a wedding cake topper,” Callie said leaning forward on the sofa. “And I mean that in the best way possible.”
Lexi took a deep breath and looked at herself in the mirror one more time. She couldn’t wait for everyone to see her in this—especially Seth. “This is it,” she announced proudly. “This is my dress!”
Francesca beamed and grabbed a silver bell hanging on a hook outside the dressing room. Lexi had wondered what that was for when she first saw it on her way in. The woman rang it happily. “A bride has found her dress!” she exclaimed to the entire store. Fellow brides, onlookers, and store employees all stopped to clap and cheer. Lexi felt silly for all of the attention, but still managed to do a little curtsy for the fun of it.
She was still buzzed from the champagne as she changed back into her leopard printed midi skirt and black tank top, and met Francesca at the register. She felt like a million bucks and coyly reached for her credit card.
Francesca rang everything up. “Okay, your total is $26,242.”
Lexi looked up in shock at the number displayed on the computer. Holy effing shit! It really did say that. She looked back at her mom and sisters, who were staring back at her with wide eyes. Lynn’s in particular were saying, “Are you freaking crazy?” Lexi shrugged her shoulders and masked her shock with a smile. “You only get married once.”
“My, my, my, now this is a bride who has good taste,” a high-pitched male voice said behind her. She turned around to see a railroad thin man wearing slim-fit pink chinos, a pale blue button-down shirt, and a dark blue blazer with a checkered silk pocket square. His white blond hair was parted down the side and slicked back behind his ears. “That’s a gorgeous dress.” He nodded his head in approval as he eyed the gown that Francesca had hung by the counter. Who was this amazing man who loved her dress, and why did he look so familiar?
“That’s a big compliment, coming from Martin Castleberry,” Francesca said with a wink, handing the receipt to Lexi for her to sign.