Sam and I are making our way back to Victoria’s Boutique on outskirts of Atlanta where I have ordered the wedding dress of my dreams.   I fell in love with the other dresses too, and we decided this would be the perfect place to order the bridesmaid dresses from.  We pulled up outside and jumped out at same time, excitement radiating from us.  We both dashed into the shop to get out of the rain.  Victoria, the owner, greeted us at the door.  "Welcome back,” I smile.  "Hello Victoria.  We are here today to look for my  bridesmaids dresses."

"Of course.  I have many to choose from.  What color are you looking for?" she asks.

"I think a deep purple"

Victoria thinks for a moment and then walks around the boutique picking up a few different dresses.  She displays several for me to look at.  Sam and I then narrow the choices down to three. This time it was Sam's turn in the dressing room. "Come on!"  I shout to Sam when she takes longer than expected.

She hesitantly steps out from behind the curtain.  "That is bigger than my dress!"  I can’t help but laugh.  "You look like a giant plum!"  I joke. Sam scowls at me,  then laughs as she goes behind the curtain.  A few moments later, she returns with another dress on.  My mouth hits the floor.  The dress she chose to model this time comes just to her knees and fans out in a delicate handkerchief skirt.  The waist and bodice are fitted and hug to Sam’s curves.  The straps are made of delicate silver chain and criss- cross the open back.  Quite simply, she looks beautiful.

"Sam, you look sensational.  I think this dress is the one.  Do you like it?" 

"Oh Gabs, I love it" she replies, spinning slowly in front of the mirror. "You’ll look just as beautiful as the bride."  Victoria pipes up.

"Thank you for all your help Victoria.  We will need to order three of these and then schedule a fitting for the girls.  I just know this dress is the perfect one.  Katie and Olivia will look beautiful!" 

I can’t believe it. Today’s the day I get to go shopping for the most important dress of my life. I have an appointment at a little boutique on the outskirts of Atlanta. Bradley has gone out with his best man, Joe, so it will be nice to have the time to go shopping with Sam.

Sam called and told me she was close, so I meet her outside. I climb in after she pulls up, anxious to get going. I glance over at her. "Sam, you look wonderful."

"Thank you, let’s start dress shopping,” she says as she backs out of the driveway. 

"I am so excited and nervous. I can’t believe I’m going to choose the dress today."

Victoria’s Boutique is chic with lilac walls with a cream carpet. All the dresses are hung up around the room. There must be at least fifty different dresses. Her dresses are simple, but elegant. I just hope I can find the right dress here.

A tall, slim, blonde haired lady approaches us with a huge smile. "Good morning, ladies. Welcome to Victoria's Boutique.” She extends her hand to shake ours. “I’m Victoria, the owner. Please feel free to have a look around."

"Thank you Victoria, I’m Gabby, the bride. This is Sam. She’s my sister, but also my maid of honor."

“Oh this places is amazing Gabby," Sam says as she gazes around the room at the extraordinary gowns.

I stand there, also mesmerized, looking around at the dresses. I cannot believe my eyes. There are so many different colors, shapes, and styles. Sam wanders off and starts to thumb through the dresses, feeling the texture. I walk towards her and see it. It’s on a dress form, and it’s the dress of my dreams. I point to it as I glance over my shoulder to Victoria. “I’d like to try this one on, please.”

“Off course, Gabby. I’ll go ahead and get you set up in a dressing room while I get it for you.”

I walk into a large dressing room. It’s full of mirrors. Instead of a door, there are lilac colored curtains to give you privacy while you change. How can it be the right dress? They say you know when it’s the one. Victoria helps me change into the dress, which fits like a glove, like it was made for me to wear. As I take my first step out of the dressing room to where Sam is, her jaw drops.

“Gabby you look amazing,” she says as a tear rolls down her face.

Seeing her expression lets me know that my instincts are spot on. “It feels right. Do you think Bradley will like it?”

“Of course, you look stunning.”

Victoria chimes in. “Sweetie, this dress seems like it was made for you. It’s so elegant. You look like a princess in it.”

And that solidifies my decision. I beam as I nearly squeal, “I’ll take it!”