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Chapter Ten: Shopping for the Bridal Gown
About a month later, Jess walked into a bridal shop with Emily, Abby, both mums, and Jess' sister.
Jess had her game face on and was ready to shop.
"Hi," said a young lady with long red hair. She addressed the whole group. "I'm your consultant for today. Who is my bride?"
"Me! Me! I'm Jess and I'm getting married!"
Barb laughed. "Congratulations. Do you know what you're looking for?"
Amelia Parker spoke first. "A princess ball gown: white, or off-white, big and poufy, and lots of frills."
"Definitely," agreed Grace Becker.
"No, I think a short dress," said her sister. "Something tight and clingy."
Melissa Parker looked very much like Jess. She was eighteen years old, with the same brown hair and brown eyes. She had similar fashion sense apparently, as she was dressed in a short red skirt, with a bright orange belt, blue high heels and a light peach tank top with large blue beads dangling down her chest.
"Well, I want," began Jess.
"Oh, no, Missy, not short. We went through this already," her mum said, trading glances with Mrs. Becker who chuckled. "We are sticking to long."
"Excuse me!" cried Jess. "Remember me? I'm the bride!"
Abby laughed.
"What would you like to see yourself in, Jess?" asked Barb.
"I want a short dress."
Missy clapped. "Told ya."
"It's not a competition," Abby reminded the youngest Parker. "You should get what you want, but Jess, are you sure about short?"
"Absolutely. Becker loves my legs."
"Becker is your fiance?"
"Yes, and he's gorgeous!" cried the youngest Parker.
"Missy! That's my future husband you're talking about!" Jess cried. Then she giggled and said to Barb. "He is though."
Barb giggled.
"And...he likes me in short."
Her mum rolled her eyes. "I refuse to let the groom's affection for your legs dictate the gown's look."
Missy giggled.
"I am well aware of Becker's...enthusiasm, for you skirts," said Emily making both Jess and Abby chuckle. "However, I caution you to consider that other people will also be viewing your legs."
"Exactly," said Jess' mum. "Thank you. Jess, listen to Emily."
Emily blushed. "I did not mean to impose my opinion."
"No, impose away," said Amelia Parker.
Jess laughed. "I want your opinion, Emily. That's why you're here," she said. "I've got my mind settled on a short dress though. I've never had a problem wearing short before."
Becker's mum shook her head, "But at your wedding? Dear, those pictures will be with you forever."
"She has a point," said Abby. "Think about it. Styles and trends change. What if you regret a short dress later?"
Jess' mum nodded and patted Abby's shoulder. "See, both your friends agree with me."
Emily's eyes grew wide and Abby shook her head. "I just want Jess to be sure."
Jess smiled. "Thank you, Abby. I am. Short is me."
"And short's in style," said her sister. "Cause it looks good."
"So short," said Barb. "What else?"
"Color."
Her mum groaned. "It's a wedding. It should be traditional."
"We can try many styles," said Barb. "And color is a popular choice currently. Don't worry, Mum," she said, addressing Mrs. Parker. "Color can go from bright and vibrant to subtle."
"Subtle," said Amelia.
"No!"
"We also have dresses with the entire dress awash with color..."
"Yes! That's what I want!" cried the bride.
"No, no, no..."
"Or we have dresses that incorporate color," explained Barb, "without overwhelming the entire look."
"That sounds better," said Becker's mum.
"I am still opposed to anything but a derivative of white."
"Mum! I know what I want," said Jess. "I want short, color, frilly, with lots of bling and form-fitting at least up top, then it can flair out a bit."
"I think it should be long, with a big, poufy skirt, and a form of white," said her mum.
Both Parkers looked unwilling to budge.
"Jess, you did say that it was appropriate to have a second dress," said Emily.
"That's a great way to go," said Barb. "It can be a great compromise."
Grace Becker whispered to Emily. "I suggested that at the parents' dinner."
Jess nodded. "I haven't ruled it out."
"I think it's a good option," agreed Melissa.
"Well, I do not. One dress."
"Mum!" they both cried.
"Jessica, you get your fashion sense from me. Trust me. Ball gown, long, white-ish, and blinged out!"
"I'm with you on the bling," said Jess, "but listen to me, please! I want it short and colorful and it's my wedding!"
The two older Parker ladies stared each other down. Missy sided with Jess. "Let her get what she wants," she said.
"Oh dear," said Grace. "This is one thing I never had to worry about with boys."
Abby laughed. "Becker never challenged you on what to wear?"
"As long as it was manly and...black."
Jess and Abby broke into giggles and Emily smiled.
Amelia, however, was still annoyed.
"Mum, I don't want to fight. I do get my fashion sense from you, but I can make my own choices. I have for a long time, now. I'm...grown up."
Amelia sighed. "I know."
"I don't want you to be unhappy, Mum. I want you to like my gown."
"Thank you do. I want you happy too. I just, have concerns. When you're older and wiser, will you regret not going traditional?"
Jess shrugged. "When I look back on my pictures, I want to see myself next to Becker, not...someone who's wearing someone else's vision."
"She always was smart, huh?" asked Missy.
Her mother shot her a glare. "Why do you only support her when she's against me?"
Both her daughters giggled. "It's in the sis code," said Missy.
Jess giggled. "First time in our lives."
Missy nodded, chuckling. "It is."
Barb smiled. "Why don't we pick some styles that reflect a little of what everyone wants. It's always good to keep an open mind. You might get surprised."
They all nodded and picked out dresses. The mums picking ballgowns and the Parker sisters choosing short. Then Jess followed Barb to change while the others sat in a large room with a long, cat-walk like platform in the middle facing a wall of floor to ceiling mirrors.
"Wow, this is some set-up," said Abby.
"It's like a mini fashion show," agreed Missy.
"We only require the bride," said Emily.
End of Chapter Ten