The Dress

Context - I admit I'm that girl who slightly rolled my eyes when watching others cry when they found "the one" on "Say Yes to the Dress," and I couldn't believe it when it happened to me with this beyond perfect Monique Lhuillier piece. I literally broke down in tears the second I put it on.

Criteria - Throughout my search, I was looking for something different, fashion-forward, timeless, elegant, and can create two separate looks for the ceremony and reception without an outfit change.

The search - I went to 3 renowned bridal boutiques in the San Francisco Bay Area, trying on all different silhouettes, necklines, materials, details, and throughout the first 16 dresses carefully selected nothing stood out. Then as I'm sifting through all the tulle and the busy-ness of a rack of the latest season's dresses I saw, what I thought initially to be plain, simple, but a ton of potential sheath/column dress.

The one/design - The most perfect pale blush color that really glows in pictures. The design is something I'd never seen and paved the way that most designs have more recently caught up to - a classic sweetheart neckline with light ruching (perfect for smaller busts), sheath column organza with a slit in the back for added legroom and flexibility, a low back falling into ruching and the attached train. The best part about this dress is it can be two separate looks without having to detach anything or go through an outfit change - built in french bustle so you can dance the night away!

The day - Absolutely flawless. Guests had never seen a dress like this. It easily went from the more formal ceremony look where I wore my hair up and the train down to a cocktail casual reception where I let my hair down and bustled the train (french bustle). I added a little of a lace flare with my bustier, worn separately, to give the dress a touch more texture. Statement earrings and light jewelry, along with 3.5 inch silver metallic heels to pull it all together.

Accolades - Our wedding was featured on The Knot. Even Monique Lhuilier herself liked a post of me in the dress that my award-winning hair and makeup artist posted on her Instagram (The Glamourist, Jane Kim - hit her up, she's amazing and won't disappoint).

https://www.theknot.com/real-weddings/a-rustic-garden-wedding-at-the-vintage-estate-in-yountville-california-album

Current condition - It was dry cleaned 2 days after wedding day with light wear on the bottom edges of the dress that can either be hemmed off, however if not it's so faint you won't see it in pictures. Untouched since picking it up from dry cleaners and stored safely since.

Price - Retail price listed is only for the dress, not including alterations and tax, which I'll exclude from the equation. Discount solely reflects wear and condition.

Alterations

Hem, bustle, take-in-zipper, cups.