The Other Dress

For our Singapore reception, I had debated whether or not I should bring my wedding dress.  Ultimately, I decided against it - the duchess satin and long train would be too heavy for the balmy equatorial climate; I didn't want to clean it, wear it and clean it again, and I felt like it had "its time" in NYC.   Although I absolutely loved my dress, I only wanted to wear it once, on our wedding day.

My dress: The Kenneth Pool Sophisticate (photos by Erica Lyn)

Of course, I still needed something to wear for the Singapore reception, so it was time to go dress shopping again, whee!  Here's where I had a little fun.  While I had picked out my wedding dress with Mr. Hamster's tastes in mind, for my Singapore dress, I picked something that I absolutely loved - Mr. Hamster's tastes be darned! I know this dress will cause a little head-scratching on his part, but I think it's fun and romantic. :)  And what dress did I pick? Here it is...

Tadashi Shoji "Feathery" Gown

I actually saw this dress in a champagne shade at Bloomingdales while I was helping Mom Hamster find her Singapore dress.  I asked the sales associate if it came in white, and she replied no.  But. It does. (Booo, poor customer service!).  I went online, and faster than my hot little hands could click "Place in cart", I had it on it's way to the big NYC (with a coupon code to boot!).

I tried it on, and the top fit perfectly, but the length indicated it was meant for a 6 foot tall woman, which I am not.  Unfortunately, those layers and layers of shirred fabric made shortening it an ordeal, but it wasn't anything that Mom and Sis Hamster couldn't handle (over countless days and bribery on my part with coconut cupcakes).  We also switched out the black ribbon for a mauve one, per MIL Hamster's suggestion, regarding luck in Chinese tradition.

Here's Mom Hamster working tirelessly among layers and layers of silk:

And me trying the dress pre-shortening.  Note I am standing on a 1-foot stool here.  I believe I am *almost* as tall as Mrs. Scissors in this photo.  Excuse the messy ponytail and the "I came straight from work" glow.

I suspect Mr. Hamster won't be crazy about all that fluffly fabric, but who knows, he may surprise me!  How will this dress be received in Singapore? Stay tuned...

Did you pick your wedding dress with your partner's tastes in mind?