Buy a dress that fits you well. Photo by Magical Moments Photography.

I just heard a horror story about a wedding dress from the mother of a bride.

Her daughter found a beautiful dress she loved at a bridal shop.  But the people at the shop had her buy a dress several sizes too large for her.  It was so much too large that they had to clamp it onto her so it wouldn’t fall off.  But they insisted she buy a size 12, instead of her usual size 6, “just in case.”

The dress itself cost around $1,500.  The required alterations cost another $1,000.

I can see a few problems with this scenario.  First, why buy a dress that clearly doesn’t fit?  Second, it’s cruel to play into a bride’s fears about her weight and size.  And third, that’s a lot of extra money to pay for buying a dress the wrong size.

So, beware of the traps in buying a wedding dress.  Don’t feel pressured to buy something just because you’re talking to an “expert.”  Trust your gut.  And buy off the rack, if you can.  There’s nothing magical about bridal dress alterations.  They can be more complicated than your average dress, but a good seamstress with experience should be able to take care of you.

I know I’m supposed to be interested in yesterday’s royal wedding.  I hear about it everywhere I go, and, as a professional, I guess I’m expected to have an opinion on everything and note the fashions.  I’m sorry if I sound grumpy here, but I couldn’t care less.

Yes, royalty is interesting.  Yes, it’s a high-profile wedding.  (Who was their wedding planner, anyway?)  But to me, this kind of event highlights all the things I don’t like about weddings:  the spectacle, the display of wealth, the emphasis on the trappings.

One news site has a blog all about the royal wedding.  The topics are things like royal wedding fashion, celebrity guests, what Prince Harry’s date wore, the gown, the ring, a recipe for royal wedding cake, and then, finally, at the very end, tips for a happy and healthy marriage.

But isn’t that what it is really about?  Any two people getting married are starting a new life together and the wedding day is the the first day of many together.  I think the focus should be on the people, their relationship, and the joy of marriage.  The millions spent on lavish entertainment and props are not the point.

So, if you enjoy watching the spectacle, I hope you liked this one.  For myself, I’d rather work on a wedding that is less about the externals and more about the love.