First Bridal Show (trust me you wanna read this!!)

This weekend I went to my first Bridal Show. OH MY GOD! IT WAS CRAZY! My best friend Nataly, messaged me telling me we should go this Sunday or Matt and I should go. I could I not resist a day full of wedding everything! It was held at the Sheraton in Downtown Phoenix. Nataly and I had no idea what to expect, she had read a few pointers on how best to take on a Bridal Show. But, I do no think anything could prepare of us for the experience of it all. After the fact, I am glad I did not go into it with any expectations, because in some areas I was pleasantly surprised or found vendors/ideas that I did not think of yet. As we were walking in they gave us stickers that said Bride and Wedding Entourage. It was so fun, because everyone that I talked to knew I was the bride! Also so glad Matt didn't come, because we were joking that guys would probably think it so boring and most likely get overwhelmed by the amount of weddingness going on. There were groom's in attendance, but I am sure Matthew was happy to stay home and watch his Sunday Football and make sure his fantasy teams did well (your welcome honey)!

As we walked up and turned the corner to go in, we were awe struck by a parted sea of wedding dresses. We had to talk a moment before entering in because we were just so excited and could not handle all the beauty of these wedding dresses. The first dress I saw was on a mannequin and I took a picture of it, just thinking oh good, this is the siloquette I want, and snapped a picture for ideas.  All the dresses at the front were by Karia's Bridal Store. I had never heard of them before, but thought, wow, they have some beautiful dresses for some great prices! After we died a little bit over the dresses, we proceeded into the mass chaos of the actual show. We walked through the whole thing and found some really amazing vendors. One of them that I fell in love with as Preserve Your Flowers! Where they preserve your bouquets and put them in shadow boxes. You can do a full bouquet in a box or you can get it like a work of art. I found both so very cool, and thought it was a neat idea! You pay for your flowers to only last that day or a week at most. But, through their freeze dry process, they look almost like they are still fresh, that way you can always have them as a work of art in your home. I just love this idea (below are pictures)!!)

Also, I am in need of a videographer. I really want one for the wedding, and I just am in love with all the videos I have seen of people's weddings. Nataly and I came to the conclusion this videographer has to be a young hipster that is artsy! The video needs to have perfect lighting and be adorably cute, and must must bring tears to my eyes and other's like me, who, will creep on my video! We found a great team, Something New Media, that I really enjoyed. We got to take home a DVD that showed wedding videos that they had done.

We got to sample cake, food, signature drinks (that weren't good at all), take photos in a photo booth, watch a fashion show, and enter a handful of free giveaway prizes. During the fashion show I had texted a picture of that dress to my mom. I wanted to get her thoughts on the dress. she immediately texted me back and said I had to try it on. I turned to Nataly, and said I have to try that dress on. We both looked at each other with this OMG look. We headed straight to the wedding dress area after the fashion show. We went into the tent where you could try dresses on. The whole time I was so giddy and excited. Before she even had it zipped, I felt amazing in it. In the mean time Nataly in the background is freaking out with anticipation of seeing it on. I walk up to the mirror and stared back at my reflection and just knew. This was my dress. It sounds so silly and crazy, cause it was the first one I really had tried on. I felt amazing in it and did not want to take it off. Nataly was snapping pictures and sent them to my mom right away. This wasn't the moment I was hoping for though, I was thinking I would go with my bridal party, my mom and Matt's mom to find the dress. To make a big day out of it and laugh and giggle about the dresses I hated and cry with everyone when I found the one. Definitely wanted my Say Yes to the Dress moment. But, at the same time there was a reason I spotted this dress, and when I tried it on I felt an instant connection to it. I called my mom and told her I loved it and she said okay, well get it. I was stumped, do I get this amazing dress, the first one I tried on or wait and see what else is out there. But, I knew nothing would live up to the dress and how beautiful it was and the magical moment I had. After debating it and more freaking out, I said..... YES TO THE DRESS!

Looking back, I am so happy I went with the decision. Firstly, it will take six months to order the dress!!! SIX! That is just for it to arrive, that time frame does not include alterations either. This dress was made to find me and I made to find it! It is the dress I will walk down the aisle in, marry the man of my dreams in, and take millions of photos that we will show our kids. And one day, I will have a daughter that will do the same thing and try on my dress. And NO, I can't post a picture of it or text you a picture of it, that defeats the whole purpose of the surprise of seeing me on my wedding day! And what if you text it to someone who texts it to someone who texts or shows it to Matty! What the dress looks like will be a complete secret to Matt. Our wedding day will be the first time he will see it and see me in it. All I can say is that it is Ivory and it is beautiful.

To say the least my first bridal show was a complete success!