Just wanted to share my excitement with you all!
I went out last week for the first time to 2 stores, a "regular" salon, and David's Bridal. At the regular salon the consultant had a very difficult time relating to me and what I wanted. It was frustrating, but after a lot of frustrating conversations we did end up finding a dress that I kinda loved. But it was a sample size 10 I think, and I couldn't get it on all the way. Then at David's Bridal it was a total disaster, and we found nothing (the only 2 dresses in the book of dresses they gave me to look through that I liked they didn't have in store, and didn't have any info about).
This weekend we went out again, and the first store we went to was a) much closer to my house, b) the nicest environment we had been to, c) was super nice and understanding about what I wanted and the look I was going for, AND my budget, and d) had the first dress I kinda loved in a sample size 12 that I could get on! Yaaaaay! I still ended up going to the other appointments we had just to "make sure", and found some good 2nd and 3rd choice dresses, but I know it's definitely the one. I'm going back to order it this week!
And now I can start panicking about undergarments, shoes, jewelry, and some type of wrap or jacket!