^ Well, darn I didn’t think of that! Maybe we need a do-over.
Hate to derail, but I have a 28yo single S who lives in NYC - former college rugby player (you’d never know it given his size, or lack thereof…think tall and lean) who knows his way around the outdoors.Just kidding - though I think the CC version of online dating could be a terrific idea. I mean my kids are getting to the point where a mom fix-up doesn’t seem so weird anymore!
But back to the topic at hand…one of my closest friends has 3 boys and has been invited by both her DsIL to go dress shopping and it made her SOOOO happy. I had always said she would be welcome to come with my D and me when the time comes, since she always like to “borrow” my D from time to time. My eldest S may be the closest to this stage, but I have no idea if and when I would be invited and that’s ok with me…as future MOG I know my place will be to smile and agree…with everything.
Future DIL was over last night and we were talking about Sunday - she is super excited to have us all there. She says while she knows the stock she wants to try on many styles and is not set on one, though she is most anxious to try a ball gown of some sort. She said that since she wore a mermaid style to prom (going on 6 years ago!) - and she said that many girls come in the shop and say they want to wear something different than the style they wore to prom (who would have thought?!) she would be open to that too - she is petite but curvy and looked gorgeous in that mermaid!
Anyway, she is fully excited to have us and also invited us to go out to lunch afterwards with her family. I’ll play that one by ear. 
I have all boys and was totally thrilled when my niece invited me along with her mom, sister and 2 friends for dress shopping. We had lunch before hand and it was really fun for me. She didn’t buy that day and ended up going out with her mom a few weeks later, unplanned, and found her dress on sale. So even though I wasn’t there for “the dress” it was still really fun. I am hoping I will get to do this again with a future DIL!
Enjoy!
Just watch her face closely and you will know when she lights up. I like to watch SYTTD and it tickles me because it happened to me in 1977. Just amazing. MY MOH and I looked at each other with the same OMG lit-up look. Fun.
The thing that most helped me chose “THE” dress was when the AC wasn’t working at one of the bridal stores and reminded me that my wedding was end of May HOT and the church had no AC. I bought the lightest weight dress I loved, which also happened to be on sale for about $149! Worked perfectly for me. 
My sisters were the attendants and all wore matching light blue Quiana dresses with chiffon cover ups over their spaghetti straps. I don’t think any were able to wear those dresses again–they were about $100 apiece–I bought them. They wore white shoes or sandals of their choice; they bought those and re-wore.
Sounds exactly like a dress I wore in as a bridesmaid in the late '70’s. Happily I wore it again (w/o the chiffon cover up) to a fraternity formal.
My sister had a few years prior had us all wear light pink dresses that were otherwise identical.
Go to lunch!! She wouldn’t have invited you if she didn’t mean it!
So, she said YES to a DRESS!!!
So much fun this morning!
D2 and I brought a couple of goodies as our contribution to the day - we took little packs of kleenex and pretty scrapbook paper that we made tags for and had a kleenex pack for each person - “Bride” , “Mother of the Bride”, “Sister of the Bride” etc. Everyone liked them. I also brought a small bag filled will mints and lots of chocolate “hugs and kisses” - we are a very huggy family so it was very appropriate!
8 of us were there (plus we Facetimed in my D1 who is out of town at the bride’s suggestion for part of the time) plus the bridal consultant she had chosen - this woman has been selling bridal dresses for 32 years! While she had pulled a couple of dresses for FDIL (future DIL) and so had FDIL, but they started by inviting all of us to pull some dresses we liked. I decided from the start that while I would enjoy looking, I wouldn’t pull any dresses - I did not want to create the situation where she might like/choose a dress I chose - that should be her choice or the honor of her family. But let me tell you, those racks were PACKED with dresses - they all look gorgeous - how does one even choose!
She tried on 6 or 7. The chosen one was the 3rd try on. There were 2 she really loved. She tried several styles - mermaid, a-line, lacy, not lacy - ended up with a gorgeous ball gown that still shows her shape and just fit her like a dream. Lots of beading on the bodice which kind of floats down past the waist. Sweetheart neckline. Cathedral veil. She was against hoops at the beginning but ended up going with a hoop. It’s not an enormous ball gown but just right!
It was no problem for me to get teary eyed! As did her mom. At one point, I lost it a bit when I thought about how my son would react upon seeing her for the first time - that did me in!!!
No family arguments! One sister seemed to have a bit of a chip on her shoulder but overall I could see that they clearly wanted her to love her dress and make her choice based on that. Though I do think everyone loved her choice.
We decided to decline the invite to lunch. They were so kind to invite us but we had spent 2 1/2 hours or so there with them - I just felt that it would be nice for them to enjoy each other and we didn’t “need” to be there too. We talked about getting together in a couple weeks to hash out some more plans and responsibilities - that will be the perfect time to get together again - I happily agreed to do that and offered to meet them whereever and also offered my home as a meeting place.
It was a wonderful experience with a happy result. She will be a beautiful, beautiful bride- and my son will be a blubbering mess!!! <3
So happy that it went well!
The dress sounds beautiful, and so does your FDIL. Thanks for letting us share this special time. I’m very happy with the details!
@abasket Congratulations to your FDIL on her success of finding the perfect dress. I was touched by your description of the moment when you imagined your son seeing her in the dress. It was very sweet. Thanks for taking the time to fill us in. I really enjoyed the details!
Oh it’s so nice to read about a non-dysfunctional bridal planning family! We have heard some wacky stories here, so it’s good to know that the experience can be fun and happy for all!!
@abasket, seems like you played it exactly right – even declining to accept the invite to joining the family for lunch. I always figure, better I leave with them wanting more of me than overstaying, LOL!
Dress seems lovely and I hope somehow we on CC will be able to see some wedding pics eventually.
Lovely to read such a nice story – hearty congrats!
nice story!!
Thanks for sharing. I came looking for an update before I went to bed, and was disappointed when it wasn’t there. Sounds like you played things just right. Great start on this journey.
And when is the wedding?
June! She needed to get that dress ordered!
Wow, thanks for sharing the experience with us. And congrats!!!