Art by Taryn King | Petals by Masterpiece Flower Farm
Step into a dress that makes you feel like a million bucks
Let’s be honest: Besides the ring and the spouse, you’re really looking forward to that dress, right? And your future wedding gown could be anywhere…
Sarah Dryden understands the anxieties of shopping: Will everything be too expensive? Will anything fit? Will I like the way my body looks?
Fairy godmother to the rescue, in a band T-shirt and a blazer. At Dryden Dress Company in Salisbury, Md., Dryden loves helping women find just the right dress, “and they are surprised at how they pretty they look. And they’re beautiful. Every single girl that walks in my store — no matter what shape, size, whatever — they are beautiful.”
Bridal appointments can last up to two hours at this neighborhood boutique, but Dryden likes to bring the energy fast. Brides will bring photos of styles they like. After a quick chat, Dryden is flitting around the racks, grabbing gowns and pointing the bride toward the changing room. Friends and family can hang out to compare the options.
“I get super-excited when I see that the bride has made her decision…And I know it before they do, usually. You can tell as soon as they put it on,” said Dryden. “They don’t realize that they make a little sound, or they’re smiling bigger,” and fidget with their fingers.
After 13 years owning her shop, Dryden can find just the right gowns quickly. And her upbringing must have contributed to her garment know-how. Dryden’s mom (who has helped at the store) was a home-economics teacher, so the kids learned to sew their own clothes (including Dryden’s sister, who still consults at the shop). Maybe that’s why Dryden’s own bridal experience was so swift and self-confident: She was walking past the lone wedding gown on display at a clothing store and immediately decided it was The Dress.
You’ll have two pieces of homework before shopping: look at potential dress styles beforehand, and Know. Your. Budget. Prices are all over the place.
“I don’t want you to fall in love with a dress that is out of your price point,” said Dryden. No one will be happy if that happens. Give your clerk plenty of details, and she can pull styles that you’ll appreciate, in a price range you like.
Wedding gowns aren’t just a big deal because of the potential price. The couple’s wedding attire will be chronicled in the portraits you and your family will pass down.
“It doesn’t have to be an expensive dress for it to be beautiful, for you to feel special…but it’s still such an important moment and should be treated as such.”
Shopping itself should be fun. Depending on the shop, the bridal party can bring snacks or adult beverages. (Why get cranky on an empty stomach, right?). From what Dryden has seen, the first hour is usually shopping, and the last 30 minutes are celebration: dance, sit, hang out and experience your prospective gown.
“Make sure before you walk out that door that this is definitely your dress,” Dryden said. Thus, shopping becomes a proper experience.
But — if you’re not sure?
Don’t buy anything if you’re still on the fence. Go home or keep shopping. You can always come back.
Do give yourself plenty of time for the overall process. Shopping, ordering, fittings and alterations will take multiple trips.
“The number-one thing I hear is, ‘I just want it to be unique,” Dryden said. There are so many dress options that she encourages everyone to try one “wildcard”, a style you wouldn’t normally grab, which may ultimately impress.
Skirts can be princess-y with tulle (“This is the kind of dress you float down the aisle in.”), or slim with jersey satin (“It hugs the right spots.”). Transformative dresses give you a removable train for walking down the aisle. Lately, off-the-shoulder sleeves are popular, and skirts are seeing some provocatively high-cut slits. Veils are a classic addition, too. Casual and tea-length dresses also seem to be coming back.
Even the shades of white are broadly different: besides “off-white” and “ivory,” you can have undertones of smoky gray, golden champagne, soft pink or frosty blue. And all of those colors will contrast differently with a person's skin tone. Finally, ornamentation could include pearls, 3D stitched flowers, sequins or glitter.
“Every dress looks different on every person,” Dryden said. “What makes you feel good — you should be rocking all day long.” Ultimately, the end goal is what Dryden herself feels about her own wedding: “I love the dress I wore. I would never change [it], even 15 years later.”
