“This one is pretty,” I agree, glancing at the consultant. “I don’t think it’s the one, though. I don’t feel very princessy.”
“Okay.” She nods. “Let’s get you in a ballgown, then.”
She hauls me back to the dressing room, but she still doesn’t put me in the dress I’m sure I’ll like. Instead, she puts me in a tulle ballgown with beaded lace. It’s still not what I want, but at least this one isn’t strapless.
The back is gorgeous. The front is just okay, but it has a very sexy back, sheer with bits of beaded lace and a row of pearl buttons.
“This isn’t it, but can you take a picture for me, Mom? I want to send Hunter a tease.”
Mom gasps. “He can’t see you in the dress!”
“This isn’t the dress,” I assure her. “He’ll like my back in this one. Just take the picture, please.”
She does, then the consultant hauls me back to the dressing room.
“All right. I know, I know, you love the Eve of Milady dress, but while we were out there I spotted this gorgeous pink ballgown. You said you were open to pink… can I grab it?”
I shrug, sitting down on the chair and crossing my legs. “Go for it.”
The next gown she puts me in is very pretty, and much closer to what I’m looking for. The pink color would go with my wedding colors very well, but looking at it in the mirror, I’m not sure it will match the crown.
There were two crowns to pick from, one with pink stones and one with pearl. I thought the diamond and pearl would be easier to match to a wedding dress, so that’s the one in the case.
I can’t change my mind about the crown now. The grumpy guard is already here. I can’t send him back to exchange it for the other one.
“I’m afraid to even send this one to Zoey. It’s princess pink and Chloe’s going to lose her shit over it,” Mom says as she snaps a picture of me.
“Yes. She loves the princess gowns, and this is so princessy,” I agree, looking down at the lovely layers of tulle. “Very light, too. I like this one a lot.”
“Maybe if you don’t get it for your wedding, you should get it for the Christmas ball,” Mom suggests.
“Pink for a Christmas ball?” I shake my head, glancing at myself in the mirror again. “No. I think it’s a bit much, anyway. I know Cinderella makes you think enormous ballgowns are in fashion at balls, but this would probably be overkill.”
“What’s the point of being a princess if you don’t get to wear big ballgowns?” Mom asks.
“A question we must all ask ourselves.” I look at the consultant. “I think this is really pretty, but…” I’m about to tell her I want to change, but then I find myself looking in the mirror again.
“It can be a maybe,” she suggests. “Let’s try on the one you’ve had your eye on now, see which one you like better.”
She walks me back to the dressing room and gets me out of the pink dress.
Finally, I get to try on the one I walked in expecting to love.
I wasn’t nervous trying on any of the other dresses, but I actually do feel a little excited as she brings this one over.
It’s a stunning gown with hand beaded appliqués and a big tulle skirt. It has these pretty bow straps that are mostly sheer, very delicate and beautiful. I fell in love with it the moment I saw it online, and, well… once I fall in love with something, I tend to stick with it.
My tummy flutters as she helps me into the big, beautiful gown.
I’ve imagined myself in this gown dozens of times.
I’ve imagined the gorgeous chapel train dragging behind me as I clutch my bouquet and walk down the aisle toward Hunter. Ray is giving me away, so I can envision him ceremonially offering me to Hunter, see him claim my hand, the soft fabric of my gown swaying as I move to stand across from him, but it’s my face he can’t look away from. His gaze is locked on mine, his brown eyes warm and glinting with affection.
We’ll each say our vows, then he’ll clutch my waist, his greedy fingers digging into the delicate embroidery as he holds me close and kisses me for the first time as his wife.
Emotion clogs my throat. I almost can’t speak as I gaze at my own reflection.
“Are you okay?” the consultant asks, watching my face in the mirror.
I nod, but I still can’t speak.
“Wanna show Mom?”
I beam and nod again.
This time when I pick up the bottom of the gown and make my way out to the main floor, I don’t feel like I’m playing dress up. I feel strong and sure and excited.
I feel beautiful.
I step up on the raised platform and look in the mirror. I still can’t find any words, but I don’t need them. Mom takes one look at me in this dress and bursts into fresh tears.
This time I’m a little teary, too. I laugh at how stupid it is to cry over a dress, but it’s not the dress, it’s the feeling. It’s my wedding. I’m so excited to marry Hunter. I can’t believe I get to do this.
I turn around to show Mom. She had that reaction when my back was still to her and she was only seeing the front in the mirror.
“This is the dress,” I say when I finally trust myself to speak.
She nods, dabbing at her tears and then taking a picture of me in the dress to send to Zoey and Chloe for approval.
“Do you want to see it with the veil?” the consultant asks, smiling.
I nod, remembering I need to try the crown on. “Carlo, can you open the case, please? I need to make sure the crown looks okay with this dress.”
The consultant’s gaze flickers to me in surprise. I told her my fiancé’s family was lending me a piece of jewelry, but I didn’t say it was a crown.
She makes her way over to select a veil for me anyway, then comes back to style me. Carlo is on standby with the crown, but when the consultant first tries to take it, he mean mugs her. Reluctantly, he hands it over when she tries a second time, and the consultant positions it on my head.
Wow. That’s… a crown. On my head. I know it’s only ceremonial, but it’s still pretty wild.
I thought he was done, but then Carlo takes out a matching pair of diamond and pearl drop earrings. “It’s a set,” he informs me.
“Oh, okay,” I say, taking them and carefully putting them in my ears.
“This is lovely,” the consultant murmurs, looking me over. “Now, you have to be careful with both a veil and a tiara, it can be pretty easy to get overwhelmed. I don’t know if you have your mind made up about your hair, but I would leave it down and just pull some back like this.” She pulls some bobby pins out of her pocket and makes quick work of making my hair look really pretty, then she attaches the veil and settles it around me.
I feel a little breathless looking in the mirror at my own reflection. My heart begins to race and I can’t stop smiling.
That’s how I’ll look when I marry Hunter.
Mom chimes in, telling me my friend texted me back. “Chloe gasped and said, ‘That’s so pretty! She should say yes to that dress.’ Zoey concurs, she thinks you look absolutely amazing in it.”
I grin, glancing at Mom in the mirror. “You can tell Chloe I am definitely saying yes to this dress.”