Being a size 22, and having various body parts I dislike (upper arms, hips, tummy), I had strong ideas about what I wanted. Nothing sleeveless or too low-cut (I'm busty.) No halter necks (broad shoulders.) Nothing too tight.

I have had a loathing of changing rooms since I was a teenager. Skinny women who sneer behind your back, or worse to your face. Clothes that never fit, and sales assistants who look at you as though you must be mad or delusional to even dare darken their door. I imagined the ladies who run bridal gown stores must be even worse.

Happily, I was wrong! I don't have great German, but enough to get by reasonably well. The lady in the shop was absolutely lovely, and made me feel beautiful. It took two dresses to find THE Dress! It is gorgeous, and I look like a fairytale princess in it. A large fairytale princess, but a princess all the same. However, the dress with shoes, veil, tiara, corset, petticoats came to 1,602 euros. That is quite a bit more than I have to spend. About three times what I'm looking at for everything. The dress itself is just over 1,000 euros. 

I have, however, found a site on the internet that has a similar style of dress that they can alter to very closely match THE Dress. I am confident I will get something I love, and it will be even better than THE Dress because it will be unique!