After placing my order on the big red phone in-store (getting reduced express shipping since ground is free when you order in-store), it was merely a matter of time before my dress was to arrive.
It came to my office in the tiniest box a wedding dress ever came in. I think I still have it at my parents’ house in PA–if I can find it, I’ll amend this post and add in a picture. Suffice it to say, it was your pretty standard J.Crew box.
Having made what I thought was my final decision, I decided to take advantage of the J.Crew within walking distance of my apartment and made my way over there, along with my local bridesmaid (with the promise of lunch after purchase).
(From the New York Times)
I’ve probably mentioned this before, but I adore this location–the whole staff is wonderful and friendly, and I’ve probably spent way too much there in the time I’ve lived here on account of that alone. Moving on…
So, once I figured out where I wanted to buy my dress, I then had to go and pick it out. The same weekend I made my initial visit to the reception site, I also started browsing on J.Crew’s website and paging through one of the five catalogs that had piled up at my parents’ house between Christmas and…then.
Aside: seriously, J.Crew–figure out your damn customer database and stop sending multiple catalogs a month to the same household! It’s a waste of paper!
Anyway…
This is not intended to knock the bridal shop channel, because every one I’ve been to has had great service and were relatively friendly (depending, of course, if I was THE BRIDE or a mere bridesmaid). But almost from the moment that I learned that J.Crew offered not only adorable bridesmaid dresses but also bridal dresses I was all but certain that my dress would at least look like one from the preppy retailer.
Ah, I remember years ago when the Vivian strapless popped up in the catalog:
