Wedding dress shopping in a wheelchair

This has been the best weekend in weeks! I turned in the first chapter of my dissertation on Friday. I never knew a red stamp saying “APPROVED” could bring so much gratification. What a relief! It doesn’t mean that my dissertation itself is done but in my own odd/geeky way, it feels like the worst part is over and the real fun can begin! Now I can start lining up participants and planning my actual study with the literature review behind me. Because I’ve been on lockdown to get this massive project done, wedding plans have been on hold…until today!

My friend Krystal, her sister, her little baby niece, and I trekked down to Miracle Mile in Miami to visit the whole row of bridal shops in that area. If you’re in the mood for all things wedding, it’s an amazing place! With so many boutiques that there’s a total range of price, style, and even attitude (of the staff-LOL!). We planned our strategy over a big lunch,  which I don’t recommend because then I attempted to fit into dresses for the next two hours. I had no idea that sample dresses came in such a small sizes (they say an 8 but their more like a 4). This was verified by the women working in the boutiques lest you think I’m just trying to make myself accept the reality that some didn’t fit!

I’m so thankful Krystal was willing to take on this enormously exhaustive task with me. We work together (ALOT) at the hospital so it wasn’t as hard for me as it usually is to accept help. I don’t think most walkers could get into a few of those dresses without some assistance (or that’s what I tell myself). I think we both would have been less tired/sweaty if we would have joined each other in a 5K run. I’m still at a loss as to why it seems every bridal shop we visited lacked air conditioning. It’s never a good sign when OUTSIDE in Miami is cooler than inside. Our burning desire to escape the infernos though did manage to hurry us along.

I was able to figure out what I don’t like/what doesn’t work in the trumpet style. I will keep it in mind for a future Halloween costume, however, because I did strongly resemble a mermaid! Some ball gown dresses (the lesser poufy ones) did actually work and I loved their Cinderella appeal. My favorites were halter, A-line, with beading and a little lace. I learned I’m excessively fascinated by the sparkly hair accessories and that I do best in this town when accompanied by Spanish translators. Several of the boutiques seemed to respond friendlier if Krystal did the talking! I tried to leave my “advocate” hat at home and just enjoy the day as any girl but I did notice a few funny patterns in the staff’s reaction to my quest. It seemed the popular opinion that I’d want a “comfortable” dress. I think that was code for their uncertainty about how to make suggestions about/around my wheelchair. Oddly enough…NO ONE muttered the word all day. For once, I don’t think I care really if that’s a good thing, a bad thing, or if I’d like to change it.

This trip is the first of MANY to come…Krystal and I may even go back this Thursday (when the stores stay open until 8 for some reason) with a few other therapist friends from the hospital. Hopefully I’ll be ready for a larger audience by then!

My excursion motivated me to fit in a hardcore workout tonight so I’m off to bed earlier than usual.

Enjoy the rest of your summer Sunday!