Dress Shopping (3)

Everyone went back to their seats. Mrs. Cooper and Kelly both had frowns, but really...this isn't a big deal. At least, not to me. I've had a fellow bridesmaid make out with my boyfriend at a wedding. This. Was. Nothing.

Brittany came out with the first dress on, the consultant closely following. Brittany acted like she didn't hear us fighting, but the consultants face gave it away that they heard us. Brittany just put a smile on, got up in front of the mirrors and twirled around.

"What do you guys think?" Brittany asked, using the mirror to look at us instead of facing us directly.

"So gorgeous, honey." Mrs. Cooper stated.

"So pretty!" AJ clapped.

"Fantastic!" Kelly chipped in.

Rachel didn't say a word, so I spoke up. "You look amazing. But, how do you feel about it? Want to try on a few more? Compare them afterwards?"

Brittany nodded and smiled more naturally. "I definitely like it better than that monstrosity from before. But...I don't know if it's 'the one'. Ya know?"

I nodded, completely understanding. If the bride doesn't love it immediately, then something is missing. "How about we write what we liked about this dress, and what you didn't?" I picked up my purse and pulled out a small notebook and a pen.

"Well," Brittany grinned and put her hands over her chest. "I love the top of it. Makes it look like I actually have boobs."

I laughed as did the others. Even Rachel couldn't not smile at that.

Mrs. Cooper shook her head, but was also grinning. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. Not much I could pass down."

I wrote it down. "Anything else?"

"I don't really like the lace." She pointed out. "I want something more smooth. Plus, the bottom of the dress....it makes me look so short and petite."

"We have more ballgowns and A-lines picked out." The consultant spoke up. "This was the only mermaid we picked out. I wanted you to try it on first to see what you didn't like about it."

Brittany frowned. "I don't know about A-line dresses... My previous dress was an A-line, but it came in so frumpy and made me look silly."

"Keep an open mind." I told her. "Not all dresses are the same even if they have the same style."

Brittany nodded obediently. She faced us directly, spinning in the dress. "Val, write down push-up, strapless. This is how I want the top of my dress to look, without the lace, of course."

I did my job diligently, taking notes.

"I think you'll like the next one much more." The consultant told Brittany, guiding her back to the dressing area.

Kelly reached for the champagne bottle and filled up her glass before turning to me. "Want some more?"

"Need some more." I told her, holding my glass out.

She filled it up. "I need to make sure if I ever get married, to do my dress shopping with some alcohol."

I laughed. "The bride shouldn't be the one drinking. I don't want alcohol to influence her decision. Brittany has to be sober until she picks her dress."

"Very smart." Mrs. Cooper said.

Kelly laughed. "I wonder if Brittany knows that none of this champagne is for her. She's going to be so sad."

"She'll live." I shrugged.

"So how many times have you been a bridesmaid?" Kelly asked. "I heard you were a part of Ashley's wedding last summer. In her hometown right?"

I nodded. "Yea, Ashley's wedding was the first time I was a bridesmaid. And then, Hailey's. Do you remember her? She was only a year older."

Kelly nodded. "I do. Not very well, but I can probably spot her in a crowd." She laughed. "I feel like after college, all anyone does is get married. How stressful for the rest of us."

I nodded in agreement. "Right?! It's like every couple that made it past graduation decided that they should marry right away."

"Hey!" Brittany came out in the second dress. "I take offense to that!"

"Wow!"

"Oh my gosh!"

"How beautiful!"

Brittany received compliments from us as we saw her in this next dress. She looked like a model in a magazine. Like the dress was made for her.

Brittany was happy with our immediate response and went up to the mirror to admire herself. "Wow! This dress is so elegant! I almost look like a princess!!"

"You are a princess, honey." Mrs. Cooper smiled proudly as her beautiful daughter spun around.

I started to take notes. Everyone had compliments for this dress, but I had to ask, "Anything you don't like about the dress?"

"There's no reason to nitpick." Rachel said. Annoying pest.

Brittany's smile dropped.

"It's not nitpicking. It's perfecting." I corrected her. I grinned at Brittany. "Really. Go ahead. This dress doesn't have any lace, but what about the beading up top? Do you like that or not?"

Brittany cheered up and went to look at herself in the mirror again. "I actually love it. Like if the whole bodice was beaded, I'd be more than okay with that. And I guess...something I don't like is how plain the skirt part is. It needs...a little more."

I nodded and noted it down.

"So less of the plain skirts and something with style?" The consultant asked thoughtfully.

"Yes! Please." Brittany told her. "My wedding is on the beach. The bridesmaid dresses are very simple long gowns, a solid sky blue. So a little more style for me would really make me shine a little more." She gave a glance our way, like she was scared of our disagreement.

"Sounds good to me!" Kelly chirped.

"I agree!" I chimed in. "It's your special day, you should stand out the most."

AJ nodded along. Even Rachel didn't object.

"Alright!" The consultant clapped. "I have a few good options for that too. If needed, we can also go look at a few designs in the wedding dress room."

Brittany grinned.

I took another sip of my champagne.