The Crystal Bride
Geneva, IL
This is one of the days that I have been waiting for my whole life. I can't help but grin as I open the door to The Crystal Bride, a bridal shop in one of Chicago's suburbs. I've found my prince and now I need to find a dress that will dazzle him.
My mom, Aunt Kayla, and my cousin Sarah are sitting in the waiting area once I make my way inside. When my mom spots me she rushes over to me and wraps me in a tight hug.
"Hi honey," she kisses my cheek after she eases up on our embrace.
"Hi Momma," I smile.
She steps back from me looking me over head to toe, "You are absolutely glowing baby."
"She's right Ciara. You are," Aunt Kayla chimes in.
"Yep, I agree with them Ci, glowing," Sarah pipes up.
"Aww, you ladies know how to pep a girl up. Not only do I need to find a wedding dress I need to buy some maternity clothes as well very soon. Even my leggings are getting tight."
The bump is getting bigger. I don't necessarily feel like I've gotten bigger, but the clothes don't lie. I walk over to the counter and wait for the woman at the counter to hang up.
"Welcome to The Crystal Bride, do you have an appointment for today?"
"Yes, I do," I smile down at her, "for Ciara Brady."
"Ahh, yes," she scans her computer, "your consultant will be Missy. Let me go and get her, so you can find the dress of your dreams," she gets up from her spot and goes off the find my consultant.
"So, Ciara," Sarah gets up from her seat and squeezes my arm, "what kind of dress do you think you want?"
"Well…some thing that will still fit me in a month and not make me look like a beached whale would be preferred," I laugh, "I always tended to like the more curve-hugging fit and flare dresses, but," I pat my belly, "with these two growing by the second, I think that's out the window."
Sarah and Kayla both chuckle.
"Ciara honey, you're going to get better over the next month, but not that much bigger, so don't rule it completely out," Kayla suggests.
"Yeah, you never know. It all depends on the cut of the dress," Sarah smiles.
The woman who was working behind the desk approaches us along with a shorter redhaired woman. "So, which one of you is Ciara?"
I wave my hand, "That would be me."
"Wonderful," she sticks out her hand, and I eagerly grab it to shake, "I'm Missy, I'll be your consultant today. Now, who did we all bring with us?"
"Oh, well this is my mom, Hope, my Aunt Kayla, and my cousin Sarah."
"Well it's nice to meet all of you, let's go on back and find Ciara her dream dress."
Missy leads us to a plush couch to sit on and tells us to have a seat.
"Now Ciara, when is your wedding?
I grimace, baring my teeth, as I know this is not going to be the answer Missy is going to want to hear, "Three weeks from tomorrow."
"Alright, well then you'll be buying off the rack. I hope that is okay."
"Of course."
"And what is your price point?"
"I'd like to keep it under $1200," I turn to my entourage to explain, "I've been saving for a while. I knew Ben was the one, all he needed to do was ask. But now with the babies coming, I want to use the majority of that money toward getting essentials for them."
"Umm, Ciara, I have something to tell you," my mom grabs my hand. I can already see tears forming in her eyes.
"What Momma?"
"Baby, before your father died," a knot forms in my throat and my own eyes begin to well up, "he told me to tell you that he was sorry that he wouldn't be able to be there for you and walk you down the aisle for your special day, but that he would be watching you from heaven." She wipes at the tears that are slowly starting to trickle down her cheeks. "He also told me that since the day you were born, he had been putting some money away for you; to buy his Little One her wedding dress. It's a little over $5000."
"Oh Momma…" and the tears flood down my cheeks.
She wraps me in her arms, "I know baby. I miss him too. I miss him every day, but like he said he'll be looking down over you from heaven."
"I'd give anything for him to still be here, Momma."
"I know honey, me too," she releases me and wipes her thumbs across my cheeks, "now it's time for you to find your dress, baby."
I laugh through my tears and look up at Missy, "Let's do this."
On the way back to the room Missy asks me to describe what kind of dress I think I'm looking for. I explain how I want to look stunning as well as wanting my dress to sparkle, my penchant for fit and flares, and how I'm now hesitant to go that way, with me being pregnant and throw in that my favorite designer by far is Maggie Sottero. She says that she can pull a few fit and flare dresses that match my taste along with some A-line gowns that should fit the bill and that while she's out there I can change out of my clothes and put on a robe.
When she leaves, I quickly change. Then I take a few moments to just think about my dad, and what he did for me. I can't believe he was saving money to one day give to me to buy a dress for my wedding.
"Thanks, Daddy. If you could just give me a sign that you hear me and know how much I love and miss you that would be great," I whisper.
I shoot off a text to tell Ben the amazing news about my newfound dress money.
Ciara: I have amazing news baby! Turns out my dad was saving money to buy me a wedding dress…$5000!
Ben: Wow Ciara that's awesome!
Ciara: Don't worry I'm not going to blow it all on my dress. I know we have the babies coming.
Ben: Ci, it's your money so if you want to spend all of it plus what you were planning you get to do that. You're worth it, babe.
Ciara: Aww Benny Boo…I love you!
Ben: And I love you!
Missy knocks on the door and I put my phone down to give her my full attention. She and another woman bring in seven different dresses to try on.
"Alright, Ciara. So, I'm thinking we'll try on these two fit and flare dresses first. If you feel comfortable in that silhouette I can pull a few more if you are thinking that it is the look you are wanting."
"Sounds good to me."
"Of these two which would you like to try on first?"
She holds up a lacy fit and flare with an illusion neckline and cap sleeves along with a very sleek looking fabric with beaded sweetheart neckline, beaded spaghetti straps and off the shoulder sleeves.
"Well Ben loves lace so let me try that one on first."
Missy opens the zipper that trails along the row of tiny satin covered buttons and takes it off the hanger. I slip off my robe and quickly step into the delicate lacy dress and she zips up the back for me. I take a look at myself in the mirror. The dress fits surprisingly well. I look pretty but not stunning. The dress is just lacking something.
"It's nice but no."
"Well nice is not going to do it. You wanted stunning, right?"
I giggle, "That's right. You remembered."
"It's part of my job, and I want you to walk out of here thrilled with what you are going to wear on your wedding day."
"Well then, let's try on the next one."
Missy unzips me from the dress I have on and I work my way out of it while she unzips the next dress. She takes the old dress and gets it back on the hanger and then grabs the sleek looking dress with a beaded sweetheart neckline. Again, it fits pretty well, but I can see the beginnings of the bump starting to come through. Maybe if I go up a size it will be less noticeable.
"So?"
"I like it. I want to go out there and show them."
"Then let's go."
Missy picks up the train that drags behind so that it doesn't get caught up on anything. I walk out in front of my family and already I see tears forming in my mom's eyes.
"Momma, are you going to cry for every dress I put on?"
"Probably baby. Oh my gosh, you look gorgeous."
I step up on the pedestal that is in front of the couch my ladies are sitting in front of.
"So, what do you think?" I glance over and my Aunt Kayla and Sarah, "Mom thinks I look gorgeous."
Sara's eyes bug out, just as my Aunt Kayla begins to speak, "Well the most important thing is what you think of the dress."
"I like it."
Missy chimes in, "This dress is called Eve, by Maggie Sottero and it costs $1410."
I start to cough after she says the name Eve. My mom's mouth gapes open.
"I'm sorry, but did you say this dress is named Eve?!" I look over at Missy.
"I did."
"Well, that seals it then. This dress is a hell no."
Aunt Kayla lets out a hard laugh, "Um yeah. It's a nope."
"Ciara love, you were showing like crazy in that dress anyway," Sarah bites down on her lips, then covers her mouth with both of her hands.
My jaw goes slack as my eyes stare her down.
I turn to Missy, "And we are done with the fit and flares."
"Very well. Fit and flares are done," Missy nods, "let's get you into a different dress one that everyone will love."
We head on back and I hurriedly get out of the atrocity named Eve without ripping it apart. I throw on the robe that is lying on the chair and take a seat with my arms crossed in front of me.
"Any other dresses named Eve in here?" I huff.
"Umm, I don't think so."
"Good."
"Bad dealings with some woman named Eve I take?" Missy questions.
"You have no idea."
Missy moves the two fit and flares to hang up outside of my dressing room and spreads out the remaining dresses on the hooks.
"Are any of these dresses piquing your interest?"
There is one with sparkles galore that catches my eye. Had I seen it buried under the other dresses, I probably wouldn't have even bothered trying on the other two dresses. It appears to be an A-line ball gown and has embroidered lace on tulle. There is delicate sewing with a metallic thread and Swarovski crystals that form flowers all over the body of the dress. It's breathtaking.
"That one," I point to in the direction of all the sparkles.
"That one is my favorite," Missy grins, as she goes to unzip the back, then remove it from the hanger.
I step out of my robe and into the heap of fabric that Missy has waiting for me on the floor. I pull it up along my body and Missy zips me in. I stare at myself in the mirror. Tears come to my eyes and I begin fanning myself as I feel a warmth and happiness come over me. I feel like this is it. I think this is my dress. I just hope that my family agrees with me.
"I think this is the one."
"Let's take you out to see your family then."
Missy opens the door for me, and I step out of the dressing room. She closes the door behind us and picks up the long train of the dress. I take the long walk out to the couch where my family is seated and savor this moment. I confidently step up onto the pedestal and face my entourage.
"Thoughts ladies?" I question with a straight face.
"Oh Ciara, baby girl, you look breathtaking. I think that is your dress honey," she dabs at the tears trickling down her cheeks.
"Absolutely beautiful," Aunt Kayla beams at me.
"Now that's your dress," Sarah gives me a thumbs up, "and bonus no baby bump showing," she winks.
"Haha. Very funny."
Missy turns to me, "Would you like to try on a headband or a veil with this dress?"
I can't help the enormous grin that forms on my face as I nod my head quickly, "A veil please."
"Let me quickly get one for you."
I take a deep breath and wait for Missy to return. It doesn't take long before she returns with a veil for me to try on. I bend my knees so she can reach the top of my head and put the veil in place. She positions the delicate tulle edged with lace and more Swarovski crystals so that it rests gently against the front of my shoulders and runs down all the way to my fingertips.
My mom gasps, clasping her hands in front of her mouth.
"There, now how about you turn around so you can see yourself in the mirror, Ciara," Missy instructs.
I gingerly turn around so that I can see the whole package. I love it and I think Ben will too.
"This dress is called Hannah, also by Maggie Sottero, and it is $1990. What do you think?"
Suddenly my shoulders feel cool… 'That's the dress, Little One. You look stunning.'
"Ciara, you look stunning," my mom stands up from the couch.
I feel a chill run down my spine, and I know that my dad is with us right now. The tears flow from my eyes freely.
"I'm sure your father would have loved it too," my mom says as she squeezes my shoulder.
"I know he would," I smile at her and lean down to hug her.
"Missy I don't think, I know, this is my dress!" I squeal.
