found

I had a dream, way back in July, that the wedding was about to start and I was in a back room, alone, in my underwear. It seems to me I was wearing these cute little bloomers, old fashioned style, and a matching camisole, but no dress. Why? Because I didn't have one.

I could hear the music start. My music. Here Comes The Bride. All eyes, I knew, would be on the door, watching for me. But I wouldn't be appearing, because I was in a back room in my underwear, with no dress.

I looked around. Frantic. What could I use? It didn't even have to be a dress at that point - just something white and drapey. A curtain, perhaps? A sheet?? There was a chest of drawers in the room, and I looked through all the drawers and all I could find was a doily. Not quite enough for anything.

Then the music stopped. Silence, for a moment, until it started again. Why? Why would they start it again? Can't they see I'm not coming out?? What am I going to do?!?! It was frustrating because I was there, I was ready, but couldn't, under any circumstances, appear without a dress/in my underwear.

I awoke, knowing without a doubt the meaning of my dream. I needed to get serious about finding a dress. The next day was when I had the sleeves conversation with Mr. I'm Too Sexy for this Wedding dress designer. Things really didn't get better after, but I won't start the diatribe yet again, on what I think of modern wedding (prom) gowns.

So, I decided to have my dress made. I even found a dressmaker, who can work without a pattern. But do you think I could find the right kind of fabric? No! That would make things too easy, and apparently finding a wedding dress should never (ahem) be that. Short story: I've come to believe that sewing is a thing of the past because all the manufacturers source the decent material and leave only the dredges for fabric stores. Don't know which one is the cause and which is the effect, but there you go.

But then, just as I was ready to give up hope and break out the fancy bloomers for the walk down the aisle, my mum says she knows this lady who used to have an antique shop in Summerland, who thinks she might have some vintage dresses - if I want to see them. Not expecting much (it is Summerland after all) after encountering so much vintage junk in my travels, I agreed to stop while we were going by one day last week.

And there it was, in the centre of a back room, on a dressmaker's form, my dress. It really was mine - I knew this, before I even tried it on. A bride knows. It fit like it was tailor made - except the hem and sleeves, which must be lengthened. I was in love. I had to have it.

Apparently, the woman's husband had picked it up while antiquing in New York. He usually looks for furniture, but thought he'd make an exception when he saw it, because it was so beautiful. His wife, the woman who sold it to me, first thought she'd like to use it to make lamp shades out of. Just the thing, she thought - MY WEDDING DRESS!! But no, she decided, she couldn't cut up such a beautiful gown.

She almost sold it, once, to a lady who adored it. But then, before exchanging money, the lady let it slip that she wanted to make doll dresses out of it. The horror! So Farideh (the lady's name) said "No." It had to go to someone who would keep it whole. Several times after, evil doll dress lady asked Farideh, "when are you going to sell me that dress?" But she stood firm. She waited for the right one; she waited for me.

Monday evening I drove down to pick it up. $350 later, I was in my room, modeling my dress (MY dress!) in front of a mirror, with the veil and headpiece, imagining what it will be like on The Day, when I walk down that aisle toward Kyle, toward this different, new life. I think it will be OK, now. I've got the groom, got the church, I've got the dress and the friends and family to share the day with. Everything else is extraneous.

I'm a happy Bride!