When it was time to go dress shopping, I made an appointment with Lily Bridal in Sewell, New Jersey, who I had contacted about several Maggie Sottero Destination wedding dresses. Armed with pictures of what I thought I wanted, I went into the appointment certain I would walk out with one dress in particular.

Much to my disappointment, upon trying on what I thought was "the" dress, I found it just didn't do it for me. The consultant had me try on several more dresses from the Destination collection, before suggesting we try a different dress style. The first dress she pulled was a Sottero and Midgley, and it was extremely beautiful and figure-flattering. I was considering it as the dress I would be purchasing when Nancy, the consultant, said, "Hold on. I have one more dress for you to try on."

She left the room, and when she came back in my Mom and I started to laugh immediately. VSM7046, or "Victoria" as I would later dub her, was stuffed into a plastic bridal bag and looked too much like a wedding cake topper for my taste. I agreed to try her on, however, and as soon as Nancy pulled the dress over my head and into place, my Mom's and my laughter turned into tears. It was beautiful and perfect and everything I didn't know I wanted in a wedding dress.

I purchased it immediately, and I felt like an absolute princess on my wedding day.