the search begins...

Okay, so I've found the boy (THE boy), and we have agreed to be married. Wow.

Here are the real life details: he's been gone all summer (soon to return!) so I have been spending snippets of spare time online searching for appropriate wedding dresses. The fact is when he gets home I'm going to want to be spending my free time looking into his eyes and exploring the novelty of actually getting to touch him when I wish to, leaving happily little time to peruse the internet mindlessly. SO, I have gotten that out of the way while he has been gone, especially the wedding dress stuff, as he can have no part in the search.

My internet search, at this point, has not lead me to the perfect dress. No, no. BUT it has shown me how endlessly awful the dress options are and exactly what I don't want...

NOTHING poofy, large or generally unwieldy. I don't want to look "grand".
NOTHING generic, I don't want to see tons of other girls wearing it.
NO sparkles, crystals, shiny beading etc etc.
NO strapless. You would be surprised, this cuts off about half of the available dresses. People apparently LOVE strapless. Not me. (yes, I'm wearing strapless in this picture and no, this is not the dress for me).
NO halter neckline. I want to show off my collarbone area, but not so much that it's strapless, confusing, maybe, but it's what I feel comfortable in.
MAYBE lace, but it would have to be pretty simple.

Oh, maybe some wedding day details would help you understand this picture more... It will be simple. Very small. Intimate. A garden wedding at our home. No bridesmaids/groomsmen, as everyone at this small gathering is very important and has contributed greatly to our being there on this day. Further details have yet to be decided, the Boy and I really want to decide these things together and it's somewhat difficult to do so with him being away. So it will be evolving in the coming months. BUT for sure, it will be a simple reflection of us, our love, shared with those closest to us.

So, this brings us to last Saturday, when sitting around with my cousin and sister we decided to go dress shopping. Shouldn't I confirm that I really don't want what I think I don't want? Does this make sense? Just because I THINK I don't want a poofy dress, shouldn't I at least try one on, just to be sure? Isn't it a female right of passage? Just to at least try one on? RIGHT?

So we went shopping.
I'll be posting pictures in the next couple of days.
Bottom line: I was right, no poofy etc etc. I'm glad I did it (and with those girls!) for the experience of it all, BUT whoa, that is not for me.
I just want a simple dress and to be his wife.