Rory had arranged a day for everyone to go dress shopping with her, and for herself and the elders, like her Mom and Grandma, to meet with the event coordinator at the library to look at the options available. She had even managed to time the dress shopping so that all her bridesmaids could come, and she was going to have a final fitting for her dress for Steph's wedding at the same time.
On the morning of all the appointments, Rory was at home waiting on everyone to call and let her know when they were near, while Finn was just getting ready to head to the office.
"Try and have fun, Kitten, the venue is perfect for us and once they see it I'm sure they will agree. And enjoy dress shopping, if you feel like looking for any wedding day lingerie and need an opinion you can always send me a picture." Finn said with a playful leer, he could see she was worried under the surface and he wanted to distract her.
"No pictures for you today buddy," she said with a laugh. Rory could see what he was trying to do and she appreciated his attempt.
"Just remember it's meant to be fun, and what you want is the important thing. No one else matters." Finn pulled her into his arms. "Okay? And if it's all overwhelming we will just elope and then no one needs to give us an opinion."
"We both know our families would kill us if we did that."
"I also know you might kill Emily during the planning, so really it's a preventative measure."
Rory laughed at that. "Thank you, I will try to enjoy today. The girls might be able to distract the grown ups. Stephanie and Colin's wedding is Grandma's dream so that will either distract her and keep her busy, or make her more determined for us to do that."
"Just hold your ground okay. The wedding is about us. No one else. I love you, I wish I could come but I'm needed in the office this morning and you won't let me see your dresses this afternoon." Finn pouted.
"That's right, no sneaky peeks for you. I want it to be a surprise on our wedding day."
With one more final kiss and exchange of endearments Finn was out the door for the day just as Rory's cell rang. Checking the caller id she answered.
"Hey Mom, are you close?"
"Yes we are almost at your apartment, do you want us to pick you up and have the driver take us straight to the library?"
"That would be perfect, I'll wait in the lobby and I'll run out when I see the car."
"We should be there in about five minutes."
With that Lorelai hung up, as Rory started to move quickly through the apartment grabbing her bag and cell, and a quick check to make sure she had everything before she walked out the door.
While Rory was preparing to meet everyone, unbeknownst to her, her fiance was on the phone to his mother. Charlotte was staying in New York this week so she was meeting the others directly at the library instead of in the car.
"Hi Son, what can I do for you? Did you need something for work from me?"
"Hey Mom, no it's not about work. I know you are meeting Rory soon. She is really worried that they are going to ambush her and hate the library venue. I was hoping to ensure that you could be on her side, I know you don't care where we get married, Rory really has her heart set on the library, but she will bow to pressure if it comes at her from all sides. I'd love it if you could just be on our side."
"Oh Finn, of course I will, I already had planned to go to bat for her if necessary. I can tell how much this venue idea means to both of you."
"Thanks Mom."
"And Finn?"
"Yes?"
"It's adorable how you want to make sure she gets everything she wants, you will make a good husband."
"Well I'm going to try anyway."
"I think you will succeed. Now get to work and I'll take care of your girl."
"Thanks Mom, see you soon."
"Bye Son."
The ladies had all been in the library for an hour, Alicia the coordinator had taken them on a full tour of the building, during which they had almost lost Rory to the call of the books several times. They were now in Alicia's office just finishing up reviewing pictures from previous events and weddings to see the options and layouts available.
"I think it looks gorgeous," Lorelai spoke, looking at a picture of a wedding that had the aisle and ceremony in the front atrium.
"This idea was stunning," Charlotte interjected, holding up a picture from an evening wedding where they had lit up the outdoor steps with thousands of candles.
"I have to admit I'm impressed, these pictures show a lot more sophistication than I originally thought could be achieved here." Francine said.
The group all looked at Emily who had yet to speak. She surveyed them all, then she looked at the table and all the pictures before looking up at Rory, who was eyeing her hesitantly while biting her lip.
"I'll admit that I came here thinking that I would be horrified. It's not what I dreamed of for you when you get married." Emily stopped for a breath, and they all looked like they were going to speak.
"But I can tell it is what you have been dreaming of, so I think we should go ahead Alicia and book it."
"Go, go, go, before she changes her mind." Lorelai exclaimed.
"Thank you Grandma, I know what you envisioned but it just wouldn't be me. Alicia let's get the contract drawn up and Mr Morgan and myself will come down and sign it tomorrow. Now everyone lets go. We are meeting Steph, Paris and Lane for brunch."
Two hours later, the girls were in Kleinfeld's. Rory had just finished her final fitting for her lavender bridesmaids dress for Stephanie and Colin's wedding. The only problem with her having the fitting first, was that the rest of her party had been wandering the salon floor pulling dresses for her, she had told them they could pick one each for her, but she had the right to veto any without even trying them on if they were awful.
As Rory could have predicted before they even got there, Emily picked a giant tulle ball gown, Lorelai picked out a trumpet style gown, Charlotte picked a simple A-line gown with a fuller skirt but not quite a ball gown, Stephanie picked out a very modern and chic fit and flare, Paris went with long sleeved mermaid gown, Lane picked a bohemian style flouncy dress, while Francine picked out a delicate sheath style dress. Rory herself picked out a lace fit and flare dress.
Everyone quickly agreed the ball gown styles swallowed Rory's petite frame, the a-line Charlotte picked was a bit better but still overwhelming on Rory. Steph's pick was nice and fit well but just not Rory's style, the same applied to Lane's bohemian pick. Lorelai's pick was a good fit but the trumpet base was just too much for Rory. Rory's own pick was next, it was a cap sleeved, lace covered gown with an illusion back that flared out just below the knee. The group quickly agreed it was the best so far but were unsure about the lace on it.
Francine's pick was next, it was a chiffon sheath dress with tulle beaded cap sleeves, it had an open back that tied at the top with a small bow. Surprisingly the first choice dress came from Paris. Her choice was an ivory crepe mermaid fit gown, it had a bateau neckline, and no pattern on the main dress, with dangerously low keyhole back, the sleeves were the only pattern on the dress, sheer with a delicate lace pattern overlaid down the centre of each arm.
When Rory came out in Paris' choice everyone was speechless, Lorelai and Charlotte clasped each other's hands from their position on the couch and both had tears in their eyes. Francine and Lane openly cried over the dress, while Emily begrudgingly admitted that it was a better choice than her own. Stephanie congratulated Paris on her choice and openly admitted that she was shocked by Paris's good taste.
"What do you think Rory?" Paris asked. Rory had yet to say a word since she came out of the dressing room in the dress.
"Paris," Rory started, her voice full of emotion, "it's perfect, I just can't believe it, this is the dress." Rory's voice cracked on the last word, as the tears that had been threatening to overspill since she put the dress on did.
"So kid, this is the dress?" Lorelai asked.
"Yes, nothing will beat this, I don't even need to look anywhere else."
"So just to be clear, we are saying yes to the dress?" the sales assistant asked to clarify.
"Yes, this is it!" Rory loudly declared, as the group cheered.
"I told you I was the better best friend," Paris said smugly to Lane.
"Do we want to look at bridesmaid dresses seeing as we don't need to go to any more bridal stores?" Rory asked the group.
"Sure."
"Of Course."
"If I have to." Came the chorus of replies.
"They don't have to be the same style, I'd just like you all to compliment each other and in the same colour, okay?" Rory asked the three girls.
"What colour?" Lane interjected.
"I was thinking burgundy would be a good colour coming into fall, and I have seen all three of you in that colour and it suits you all."
The girls agreed, and quickly broke off to find gowns. Surprisingly they all fell in love with the same gown and agreed to get it, so they all would match as none of the other gowns they had tried had even come close to it. They picked an A-line chiffon floor length, halter neck dress with a keyhole back, which was nowhere near as daring as the one on Rory's gown.
As the group broke up for the day they all agreed it had been a very successful and enjoyable shopping day. There were no longer any doubts from Emily and Francine, about whether there would be enough time to organise the wedding, Rory had even agreed to a wedding planner for the remaining smaller details so that she would only have to make choices not actually organise everything.
A/N slight filler chapter. If I had gone into wedding dress shopping with anymore detailed dialogue it would have ended up a few chapters long so I decided to slim it down alot. Hopefully it was the right choice.