Preparation for The Big Day

My daughter, her maid of honour and myself went "dress" shopping Friday evening in nearby Hamilton. Hamilton is not the most salubrious town in the area but the store had come highly recommended. Unfortunately the two other bridesmaids couldn't make it, but what was the likelihood of finding the dress first trip out?!

We made it down to King Street, not the most salubrious street in this insalubrious town, and found the dusty old doorway, one of those old fashioned stores you now only find in the downtown areas of old cities, a few overly dressed bridal mannequins in the windows. Things weren't looking good and if wouldn't be an understatement to say we weren't feeling particularly optimistic.

Once inside we were somewhat underwhelmed by the racks of dresses, it did not seem like very many but because they were each an individual model, I guess there were quite a lot of them.

A very young assistant approached and we explained that the wedding was in September and therefore we needed to find something off the rack as there was no time to order a dress, we understand that takes 6 months!! She didn't seem very hopeful that we would find something. The dresses really don't look very inspiring on their hangers. We knew we were definitely not looking for big and poufy, but that's how everything looked. In the end we just pulled anything in my daughter's size and filled the fitting room with probably 12 to 15 dresses and she proceeded to try them all on with the assistant lacing her in and out of them all.

We narrowed it down to three, there were some issues as she was planning on buying the floor model, some were in a sad state, grubby from many fittings, some beading missing, but one began to stand out. It looked great on, really figure flattering, very elegant, not TOO poufy, completely different from what my daughter had in mind. Yes it was definitely the one, she tried it on three or four times!! Decision made, but my daughter now feels bad because the other two bridesmaids missed out on the occasion.

Next week its their turn, more shopping - we are hoping to find them cocktail dresses they will all be able to get more than one wear out of. That is beginning to sound like more of a challenge than THE dress purchase.

My personal preparation is also underway. I have taken the plunge and joined a local tennis club with my girlfriend. She plays every year, I haven't played since I was on holiday in Spain back in 1987. I remember it because we were used to playing squash and anyone who plays squash knows you really have to hit a squash ball very hard to get any distance. Not so with a tennis ball. We spent the entire time retrieving the balls from outside the courts. Before that the last time I played was at school. Needless to say I have signed up as a very unfit beginner. Now I just have to find some decent tennis shoes ...oh and a racquet. My friend was babbling on about what weight of racquet I should look for until I reminded her that when I last played I used a wooden one!!!

To look absolutely drop dead fantastic I need to lose 30 lbs but I will be exceedingly grateful for any weight loss at this point. I am definitely experiencing middle-age spread at the moment. Wish me luck.