Photo Credit: Sean Locke/iStock
Six different stores, 120+ miles, and countless online searches later, I’ve found my wedding dress. I love it! There is no doubt in my mind that I will continue to be in love with it for years to come, but that doesn't change the fact that there are hundreds of wedding dresses that I find to be beautiful. I realized while constantly stalking other brides' Facebook photos and browsing my favorite wedding-related sites, like BridalGuide.com, that I'm still in awe of a lot of dresses.
In a marriage, wandering eyes are forbidden—but when it comes to the dress, is it acceptable to peek? I’ve heard of some brides who suffer from dress regret and I’m happy to report that I'm not one of them. I don't intentionally seek out gowns online, but I do occasionally stumble upon one that wasn't available or that I somehow overlooked when shopping. When this happens, sometimes I can't help but feel a sharp pang of worry: Did I get the right dress? Is this gown better than the one I chose? Will I wish that I had went in a different style direction?
I’ve come to a realization: You can only love one man, but you can love multiple dresses—and that's okay!
I might be biased, but like every bride, I think my dress is the best of the best. I ended up with a totally different gown than what I originally pictured before searching online and seeing all the endless options. Still, I realized what I wanted fairly early on in my search and then it was just a matter of finding a designer that fit my vision. Luckily, I found a style that met my requirements and had that special something extra.
As a constant reminder that I made the right decision, I keep a photo of myself wearing my chosen dress on my computer desktop. Whenever I feel any doubt, I look at it and instantly remember that I’ve already found the perfect dress for me.
Be honest: Do you ever give in to temptation and look at gowns, even though you already have one picked out? Did you go so far as to return your original choice for another dress? Leave a comment!
— Nikki Stroud
