Have You Been to the Magic Room?

I found my dress in the first little dress shop I visited. It was a cute little family run place and I loved my dress. In hindsight, I do wish I had visited a few places to draw the process out!

I'm very late to this discussion! I thought I'd replied already, but I guess it was a conversation in my mind and not on my keyboard!! Yes, I've been in a "magic room" and it was much like the scenes described in this wonderful book, my mom and sisters were gathered around and it was very touching. My dress came from the same store that my cousin's dress came from in the town where I was graduating college that year. I still drive by the shop every now and then and all of those fond memories come flooding back!

I bought my dress with my mom. We went to a huge bridal store on a whim and I tried on around 30 dresses before I surprised myself by finding the one. I hadn't planned on buying a dress that day, but it was too perfect not to.

I really hate shopping so I wasn't too keen on the whole wedding dress shopping experience. However my mom is a skilled bargain hunter with impeccable taste so in the end she found something amazing for me.

I bought my wedding dress at Becker's. It's just about the only thing in the town, a massive three-story building on a corner. One day, my mom and I spent 4 hours trying on dresses, then took a break for lunch before returning and re-trying our favorites. Becker's let me monopolize that dressing room ALL day. While there, I ran into at least 2 good friends trying on their dresses as well. We all ended up with dresses that were completely different, fit each of us perfectly, and that we were in love with. That's a win for the Magic Room.

I was just thinking about this again.....If given the chance to go to the Magic Room, would I take it? My conclusion......NO! I would want to just stare at myself, by myself and take in the moment with just me!

I had to be pushed into looking for a wedding dress. I don't know why I hesitated but I did. Finally, a friend from work got me to go to a bridal shop and start the hunt. I really didn't love it. I loved my wedding and I'm happily married but the dress search was just too overwhelming and felt like so much pressure for something that shouldn't be that way.

Since my search was not that elaborate and I did it far from family, I'm looking forward to taking part in my daughters search in the future. It would be a great joy to guide them in the right path of love that will lead the to that point.

I ordered my wedding dress online - it fit perfectly with no alterations! Gotta love that!

I can't stand dress stores where you have to stand in front of EVERYONE to see your dress in the mirrors. Ugh, I need privacy!

My daughter recently tried on my wedding dress. It fit perfectly.

Since she was only 10 at the time, I don't think I'll be passing it down. :)

I went to several stores before finding 'the dress.' The first few stores had magic type rooms, but there wasn't anything magical about the dresses I wore. My 'magic room' was a dressing room barely big enough to hold the dress! I can't wait to take my daughter wedding dress shopping in 20 years

I loved wedding dress shopping, and believe that it brought my mother and I closer together. Her mom passed away before she got married, and I think she really loved sharing those moments with me. Because she had missed out on planning her wedding with my grandmother, I tried very hard to make every step of planning my wedding a special moment with her.

I really enjoyed this book, much more than I thought I would. I have five boys, no daughters, and reading this book actually made me a bit sad. I don't have anyone to pass my beautiful dress on too, unless one of the boys' intended want to wear it.

On the other hand, I wonder if we (meaning people) put too much emphasis on the wedding, and not enough on the marriage? I have seen so many young girls get married, and they get so caught up in planning their wedding, that they don't stop and think beyond the ceremony.

It wasn't quite the same as Becker's magic room, but it was a moment, standing there in a clipped and adjusted sample gown and knowing for certain it was the one I wanted.

I had to hang my head for shame, though. Zaslow writes about how Shelley and her employees have to look away from brides scoping info on the gowns so they can save a few dollars ordering online - which is exactly what I did. We had a budget, and I found my dress for $200 less online, so I bought it that way.

My mom lived in another state and I didn't have many girlfriends when I got engaged so I went shopping for dresses solo. We were on a budget so I was shopping at resale shops. I tried on a few dresses and just want not impressed when the first saleswoman said, "Wait. I have the dress for you." She turned to the second saleswoman and said, "Bring out the 'bow dress'."

I was nervous because I'm not a bow person. I had a horrible vision of a dress covered in bows which I would have to politely decline and then make some excuse to leave as fast as I could.

They brought out the dress which seemed innocent enough. I did not see an inordinate amount of bows. In fact, I didn't see any bows at first. The first saleswoman handed me the dress and made me promise not to look at the price tag. (That made me even more nervous.) She also made me promise not to peek at myself in the mirror until I got in front of the mirror display in the center of the store. The second saleswoman led me out of the dressing room with my eyes closed. She guided me to the spot and then told me to open my eyes. I opened my eyes and teared up. That was it. I was in my wedding dress. I can't describe the feeling except to say that I just knew that was THE dress. It was made for me almost literally - it was the perfect size and length. I didn't need to alter it at all, except to put in a way to pull up the train into a bustle for the reception.

The best part? The price tag said $350. They had gotten the dress as part of a large inventory of a bridal store that went out of business. It was wonderful. The reason they called it the "bow dress" is that it had four small bows as the only adornment - one at the neckline, one on each sleeve and one at the base of the zipper in back.

It really was a magic moment! The only drawback was that I didn't have a girlfriend there to share it with (my matron of honor lived in another state). The closest thing I had to a "girlfriend" at that time was a gay friend with whom I used to perform. He came to the shop with me the following week and pronounce the dress perfect. ;-)

I must have missed something - and I had two weddings. The first time we went to Renee Strauss in Beverly Hills - they weren't very nice to us, because Heather Locklear was there getting her dress for her wedding to Tommy Lee. Neither her marriage or mine was very successful. The next time, we went to a much less exclusive store, and though I loved my dress, I didn't have that "omg" moment some brides experience. I'm looking forward to shopping with my daughter for a dress when she's ready to get married - in some ways, even more than I looked forward to picking out my own.

We got married in Vegas with 25 of our friends and family, so my dress was rented. But I will never forget being in the "magic room" with my BFF when she found her ONE. It was ridiculously expensive and equally as beautiful. I have never seen her look as beautiful as she did that day in a boutique in Chicago and it's a vision I will always have. I actually argued with her when she wanted to get rid of her dress. Whether or not her daughter would want to wear it, I convinced her she had to keep it just in case.

My blogging partner Susan read this book and here are her comments:

I did have a big wedding, married at 24 and like the four daughters from an evangelical home, was a virgin although I will admit to kissing and hand holding. Strangely enough, I did not take my mother with me to shop. I'm an only child but did not have a particularly good relationship with her and when we went to shop for bridesmaid dresses, she took over. I decided at that point to take my best friend shopping for my wedding dress. I was paying for it in any case. I don't remember it being a magical moment more of a harried, harassed and complicated moment. I did find a dress that I loved. It certainly felt magical on my wedding day. I eventually donated it. I have daughters but I want them to find their own dresses, that represent who they are. I've been married 26 years and the dress I wore was for that moment in time. I don't think it would fit the strong and independent women my daughters have become.

I was an anti-bride, which is odd for someone who works in the wedding industry. I shopped once, tried on 3 dresses, bought the 2nd one, and was done.

I did not have that magic room experience - I ran into a department store and bought the first dress that I tried on, a few hours before my husband and I got married. It wasn't in a magic room, or even a dress that was meant to be a wedding dress, but I loved it, and I guess that makes it pretty magical.

I ended up pregnant at 19 with my high school sweetheart, and since we'd planned on getting married eventually, we decided to make it sooner rather than later. We threw together a huge wedding in about 6 weeks.

I searched for bridal gowns with my mother, but I remember feeling rushed and tired from my pregnancy. I found a beautiful dress with my mom, and it was magical. That dress adds to the moment, because it's adding importance to the moment...to the event. It's honoring a tradition.

Now, at 34, I'm separated and to-be-divorced, and I'm cynical about love and marriage. I wouldn't have a wedding like I did before, if I ever marry again. I don't think I will end up married again...but a small part of me has hope.

And that's what The Magic Room is about. Hope.

I never had The Magic Room experience. I eloped the first time. And I say first because I'm divorced and coming around on MY SECOND TIME! Of course this time around I really would love to experience The Magic Room

I had a Magic Room-type dress buying experience. My mom and I went shopping for gowns, but then she had to go back to her home, five hours away. I continued to shop with friends over the next few weeks and found the dress at a local bridal boutique. I loved it and still do. I've been married for 15 years and de-cluttered a lot over the years, but won't ever part with my dress!

I have definitely had an experience, not EXactly as described in the Magic Room (how cool of a room is that?!!?) but it was my experience and I loved it. I got to stand on a pedastal and my mom and sister were with me, but that's about where the similarities stop.

It's true, I went to one of the evils - David's Bridal. Now I wish I had gone to some "mom and pop" type bridal store after reading this book. I love that generation after generation have gone to Becker's Bridal and can share their memories and traditions in that way.

My daughter is only 5yo but when she's ready, I want to take her somewhere special to search for her dress. Somewhere that she can maybe take her daughter, and start a tradition of her own.

Until I saw the reality tv shows featuring brides-to-be trying on gowns I never considered that I may have missed out on a ritual of marriage. I didn't try on a single gown.... but wore a gown I "designed" (bits & pieces of gowns I loved and knew would flatter my figure) and was custom made for me, by my mother. I'll take my experience and the love sewn into my gown over that magic room experience any day.

I definitely went to several wedding dress stores and tried on dresses, but I don't remember having a "Magic Room" experience. I did most of my shopping alone, and only brought my mom along when I had one I really liked. I don't remember either of us getting emotional, but this was also many years ago. Regardless, I felt a little jealous of all the ladies in the book who had their own "Magic Room" experience.

I had my "magic room" experience and its a memory I will treasure forever. I was young and naive about marriage at the time, but I wouldn't be where I am now if I hadn't of experienced that day.

I remember clearly my magic room day, it was shared with my best friend. It was at a small local bridal shop.I lived away from home and my best friend was just as close as family. I just about had given up in the store and was on my way out when I saw it. The dress was stunning and being modeled by a mannequin by the door. It pulled me like a magnet. I tried it on and I could not stop smiling. Unfortunately I never got to wear it because my husband and I eloped. We've been married for 8 years now. I still love and have the dress. It reminds me of that feeling I had back then, that fresh fiery love, that I would do anything for him, that fire rekindles with each reminder. My goal is to finally wear it when we renew our vows at our ten year mark.

my magic room was standing on a chair in my Mom's dinning room while she hemmed my dress. It wasn't quiet the same as in the book but in the end it didn't matter, I loved my dress.

I've had the experience - twice. Once at David's Bridal - which was not so magic - and once at a local wedding boutique - where I found my dress with plenty of magic. The assistant at David's Bridal kept telling me to smile and remember it's supposed to be the happiest day of my life. I responded that it might be if I could find something under 20 pounds and less than a 10-foot diameter skirt in their store.

There wasn't a "magic room" at the spot I picked up my wedding dress - I was pretty much on my own and would have loved the extra help in making my final decision. I liked my dress, and luckily my sister was with me for support, but... While reading The Magic Room I really revisited my dress shopping experience and realized it was special even the way it was.

While there wasn't a "magic room" at the bridal store I went to, I do remember the feelings and emotions that came along with searching for a dress, plus the overwhelming feeling of knowing which one was "The One!" I have to admit, I love my dress and wouldn't change my choice, but reading this made me want to go shopping again! :)

I remember that feeling of finding "the one". That dress I knew I just had to have. It would have been amazing to have a Magic Room like the one in this book to have a look at myself in it!

In some ways, I think I'm a little to pragmatic. I did go to a kajillion stores before I finally found my dress, but partly because I refused to pay the outrageous prices that most dresses cost - for something I would wear just once for a few hours. With my mom out of state, I shopped for it mostly on my own when I had time, but I also had friends who joined me - and we always had a blast. If I had it to do again, I would probably do some things differently - but not minimizing the amount I spent on my dress!

I didn't have a Magic Room experience, but my wedding dress was special. I shopped for dresses, but nothing was right and our budget was limited. My mom ended up making my wedding dress, which was an incredible gift. My first marriage ended after six years. The second time around, there was no dress - just a champagne colored suit and a few family members at City Hall. I'm thankful for the experience of my mom making my first wedding dress, but it had little to do with my first marriage and everything to do with my mom and me.

My husband and I knew each other for less than six weeks when we eloped. I purchased my dress and a pair of white boots from a small western wear store. 14 1/2 years later I don't regret eloping one bit but I wish I had tried on one real wedding dress. The Magic Room has me looking forward to my daughters searching for their own dresses. Maybe I'll be lucky and they'll want to go to prom and I can do it twice. (I never attended my Senior Prom either.)