by J. Janie Lipsmeyer

Created on: March 12, 2009   Last Updated: March 13, 2009

It's many a woman's dream of having the perfect wedding with all eyes on her in her lovely wedding gown. She wants to look and feel special for her man at altar eager to take her hand. And why would she want any less? After all the perfect wedding day is the first day the couple endeavors a life together filled with hopes and promises that their marriage will last forever. This expectation alone puts pressure on the bride to desire for her day to be perfect even to the minutest detail and her dress being the most important.

No doubt most would choose to wear a new wedding gown, preferably one designed especially for her if the budget allowed it. I fall in this category for very personal reasons. I definitely would not want to wear a pre-owned wedding gown. The only exception would be if the gown was a family heirloom. In this case I would be honored, and would proudly walk down the aisle in it.

Fortunately, I made my choice to wear a new dress, not precisely a wedding gown, many years ago. However times were simpler then. The economy was fairly stable even in the midst of the Vietnam Conflict. Even now in this tough economic season I would not choose to wear a pre-owned wedding gown. However, the wedding dress would not be designer-made or from an expensive lesser known brand. The gown would be economically priced to fit the budget yet lovely and perfect for me. This would be possible since so many bridal shops abound and comparison shop is a cinch on the Internet.

But a future bride need not be disheartened and feel her big day would be less than perfect just because she is afforded the opportunity to wear a pre-owned wedding gown or if she is buying a pre-owned gown. With her creative imagination and with the help of an experienced seamstress, she can transform that gown into one fit for a princess: her.

She can do more with a gown that is at least two or more sizes too big for her. The largeness of the gown would allow her to reshape the bodice and even the skirt line. She can then add or remove embellishments from the dress.

If the bodice is perfect, but the skirt is too full, she can reduce the fullness and even make it fitted and straight. She can then add a detachable train to the gown. This way she can remove the train if the reception includes dancing.

New or pre-owned wedding gown, it really does not matter. What is important is that the couple is in love and wants to be united in marriage. The bride will still be radiant and beautiful in the eyes of her man. Now, that is what matters!

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