The Story
My Dress of
The story behind recent bride Ami’s feathered wedding gown is as unique as the dress itself. When Ami married her husband, Chaz, in her parents’ backyard in Palmyra, Pa., on Aug. 15, 2015, she walked down the aisle in a dress with a story that was 10 years in the making. Here, Ami shares the tale of how she found her special gown:
I spotted my wedding gown while shopping for prom dresses when I was 18 years old. My mother and I had visited Renaissance Bridal in York, Pa., to try on dresses for my senior prom. While I was waiting for a fitting room, I was browsing through the wedding gown section and spotted a Jovani gown with a feathered skirt. I remember thinking that it was incredible and showing it to my mother. I commented that I would be wearing a dress made of feathers on my wedding day. I memorized the designer and dress style number of that feathered dress and headed into a dressing room to try on prom dresses. I may have only been 18 at the time, but that dress made a lasting impression on me. I became engaged 10 years later. Chaz proposed to me on a Monday evening. The following day, I did a quick search on the Internet for “Jovani 5858” – the designer and dress number of that feathered wedding gown that I had coveted 10 years earlier. I scrolled through page after page of photos of the dress – each one stating that the dress was no longer available. Then, an eBay listing appeared in the search results. I was surprised to see that the dress was my size, only worn once as a prom gown, and was listed for $200 or best offer. I, without hesitation, made the seller an offer of $150. Within minutes the seller had responded that my offer had been accepted. On Thursday morning, my wedding gown was delivered to my mailbox. I am so thankful and so surprised that I remembered the designer and style number for the past 10 years! This gown definitely spoke to me when I saw it the first time and then brought me to tears when I tried it on for the first time. This dress is incredibly unique. The opalescent bead work, the intricate lace details, and the skirt full of feathers greatly appealed to me. I enjoy things that are slightly offbeat, and this dress is beautifully different from other wedding gowns I have seen.
Photo by With Love & Embers
Not every bride has had a dress in mind for 10 years, however. Ami offered a couple tips for brides-to-be who are embarking on a search for their own ideal dress: - Know your own personal style. Make a list of what you like and what you don’t like. Also, envision what you want yourself to look like on your wedding day. I knew that I wanted something less traditional and very original. This dress fit my personal style so well, and I felt so beautiful while wearing it. - Don’t show your future spouse your gown! I’m not very good at containing my excitement about things and had asked Chaz if he wanted to see my wedding gown at least a dozen times before our wedding day. Each time I asked, he said, “No. I want it to be a surprise.” I am so thankful that I didn’t show him this dress. His facial expression when he first saw me walking toward him while wearing a gown of feathers was priceless.