How I Got My Gown: Houston
Real brides tell us how they scored their dream dresses
The Bride: Laurie Sanders, a 43-year-old mother and wife
Her Gown: Carolina Herrera
Her Story: "I began dress-shopping four months in advance of my wedding. Time constraints limited my options since most bridal special orders require at least six months lead time. I was hoping to find my dream dress off the rack.
Even though this was my second wedding, and the guidelines for attire are more relaxed, I knew I wanted an elegant dress that would be timeless and classic. A tea-length ballerina gown seemed to fit perfectly for our midmorning garden wedding. With this in mind, my best friend Dixie and I set off for the mother ship Saks Fifth Avenue for my first bridal-salon appointment. The sales associate kindly brought me several gowns that fit my description; however, none of them looked or felt right.
The evening-gown section was our next stop. Again, none were the right fit. But then, hanging off to the side, was a gorgeous Carolina Herrera full-length evening gown. Its beautiful gold-and-cream layers of silk, satin and chiffon immediately caught my eye. The dress was on hold for another bride-to-be, but after a quick phone call and her gracious decline on the dress, I put on my fairy-tale dress. I felt transformed and beautiful, more so than I had envisioned. Fortunately the dress was on sale, which put it within my budget, and I purchased it immediately." —Ashley Moore
