Dream Dress

I had to come to Chicago to find my dream dress. I've been searching for a wedding gown for the past couple months. I've been to most of the boutiques in the city. I've searched preownedweddingdresses.com hundreds of times. I couldn't find anything I loved. I felt like I knew exactly what I wanted: sweetheart neckline, mermaid/trumpet fit, chiffon fabric. Every time I tried something on, it never met all of my criteria.

I decided I would go to one boutique while I was here in Chicago. Dimitra's Bridal which is one block away from my hotel. What I like about Dimitra's is that they carry the couture lines that I like: Pronovias, San Patrick, Model Novias. Do you sense a Spanish designer theme, here? Four dresses in, I found my dream dress. As soon as I saw it on, I knew it was the one, meeting all of my criteria. I gasped. "This is it. Omigosh, this is it."

The attendant smiled. "You're so skinny, you look great in all our dresses, but this one is beautiful on you."

I loved it. Then she found a veil and stuck it on my head. The picture was complete. The veil made me look even better. I asked how much the dress was. $1,425. I told her I'd think about it, but that I'd take the veil. Cost of the veil, $1,200.

I left empty-handed and now scouring online to have the dress made in China. But that gorgeous veil...don't know what to do about that. Cannot find that graduated lace with diamonds anywhere.