Story about choosing my dress:
I had been searching for some time at bridal salons all over the Bay Area, never finding a dress that was simple, classic, and elegant. Finally, my mom had me try on an Amsale dress at a small bridal salon. When I came out of the dressing room—everyone in the entire salon stopped to stare—I knew it was the one. But I still had to pass the toughest test—my Dad's opinion. When he saw the dress, he just smiled and nodded. "Do you like it I asked?" He replied with a big smile, "Yes, that's a good one."
I fell in love with the dress, the rich material, the wonderful lines. I was worried that the dress was a little more than I had wanted to pay, as my fiance and I were trying to manage our whole wedding budget. My mom pulled me aside and said, "This is the one day of your life you want to feel like a princess—you look like a princess in that dress." We found the same wonderful dress at an Amsale trunk show at the Bridal Galleria a month later. My parents helped me pay for the dress, and drove into San Francisco to go to each fitting appointment with me. That special time spent with my parents will live as one of my most wonderful memories in preparation for our wedding.
We got married on July 27th, 2003 in the field next to the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park and the reception was in the beautiful Solarium room there. It was a gorgeous day, with the cliffs, trees, and meadows surrounding us giving off a feeling of beauty and majesty. The entire day I felt like a princess in my dress—as many people came up and said they loved the dress and that I looked radiant. I can't imagine a better day—with a feeling of warmth and celebration with our family and friends that I will never forget. It was truly the best day of our lives.
Thanks,
Ariel