Confessions of a Real Arkansas Bride: I Cannot Wait to Wear My Wedding Dress

One of the most-asked questions I’ve received throughout the wedding planning process has been “Have you found your dress, yet!?” It’s definitely not a question I’m fond of because I’m afraid I’ll spoil every detail, when I really want it to be a surprise to everyone.

While I won’t tell you every detail of my dress, I will tell you about my amazing dress shopping experience and give a few tips for those of you who are still looking!

In the beginning, I wanted to take several different groups of friends and family members with me to several different bridal shops around the state. I wanted to try on dresses more than once before making any decisions. While my dress shopping plans didn’t pan out the way I thought I wanted them to, my actual experience was so much more than what I expected.

My mom, dad and I went to go see my grandmother, who lives in North Little Rock, one Saturday morning. Since First Impressions in Jacksonville isn’t too far away, we decided to see if they had a last-minute appointment available to take a look at the dresses they had in stock. I honestly didn’t feel “ready” to start looking, but I knew I needed to start.

We were greeted by Kristen, who helped us dive right into getting ideas and picking out the styles I wanted to try on.

I tried on about 8–10 dresses total, but I instantly knew the second one was my favorite. Everything about it fit me and my personality! I absolutely cannot wait to wear it!

Kristen was such a big help in assisting me picture different accessories and alterations that were possible with each dress. She didn’t pressure me or make me lean toward one way or the other, and my mom was the same way! It was the most amazing and pleasant experience I’ve had thus far. And it was so special to me to have a mother-daughter shopping trip and I’ll remember that day for the rest of my life.

The total time I spent from the minute I walked in the door until I walked out was 45 minutes AND I was UNDER budget! How awesome is that!?

Now here are a few tips to keep the stress of picking a dress to a minimum:

  • Go with the smallest group possible.
  • Make sure you choose people who are going to be positive and encourage you if you start to feel overwhelmed.
  • Go in with an open mind and try on several styles.
  • Remember your dress will most-likely have to be altered to fit you, which will make it look even more stunning!
  • Go with your gut! If you find a dress that makes you feel beautiful, go with that one — it’s YOUR wedding!

– Jordan

Bride-to-be and Benton native Jordan Westbrook graduated from UALR in 2011 with a liberal arts degree with an emphasis in mass media. The former Arkansas Bride intern will be blogging about her adventures in wedding planning right here each week.

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