… my final wedding dress fitting? No, I didn’t tell it then because I was so humiliated, but I’m telling it now. Something about having a baby takes all of your shame away.
I purchased my wedding dress from the most charming and beautiful little shop in Highland Park Village in Dallas called Warren Barron Bridal. I honestly think that if I had not found my dream dress there, I still would have bought my dress there because I was so impressed by the gals that own the store, Elle Warren and Cecelia Barron. You’ve heard Kate mention them before, too, I’m sure.
I came back to Dallas about four times after I bought the dress for various fittings and I had my final fitting at the end of April in 2008. My dress had a pretty snug bodice with all of that boning and I was standing there wearing my seriously awesome gold wedding shoes. The fantastic seamstress was crouched on the floor working on my hem while my mom and the girls were hemming and hawing.
All of a sudden I got really hot. The noise around me (my mom’s loud laughing) starting to sound muffled and I got tunnel vision. In my wedding dress. Finally, I said, “I’ve got to sit down. I feel dizzy.”
They let me sit down and brought me some water. They told me to put my head between my knees. So I’m sitting there in my dream dress… my HUGE dream dress… with my head between my knees and dripping in sweat. Someone pulled my hair off my neck while someone else held a cold water bottle to the back of my neck.
I started to feel better. Then I felt worse. I just knew I was going to be sick. But this is horrible. I’m in a gorgeous bridal salon, wearing a gorgeous gown, and I’m about to have to ask them where their restroom is so I can go puke.
What?!
What if it gets on the dress? What if I don’t make it to the bathroom? What if they tell everyone who ever comes to buy a dress in here?
So I told them. “I’m going to be sick.”
The girls came up with a plan to hurry me to the dressing room. One of them would strip the dress and my super snug bustier off while the other held up a robe and put the robe on me. Then they would rush me to the restroom.
So that’s what we did and it worked.
My mom came in there and held my hair and told me not to be embarrassed. She was sure it happened all the time. Right.
When I got back out there we decided to take breaks and let me sit down every once in a while. But I have to say that I was completely freaked out on my wedding day that it was going to happen again– only this time in front of 180 people. Fortunately for all of us, that did not happen.
I hope I’ve sufficiently made you laugh rather than gross you out on this lovely Friday afternoon.
Oh Erin! That is too funny, and I’m sure mortifying. You poor thing! I love it when moms make things sound waaaay better than it really is. They are great that way.
OH NO!!! Erin lol, I’m sure you were mortified, but I have to tell you that I saw this same thing happen at Kleinfeld while I was there. And actually, I tried my dress on the other day and got supper hot too, now you’ve got me worried for my fitting on August 8th! Love the baby Hudson recaps by the way. He is too darn adorable =o)
YOU ALWAYS MAKE ME LAUGH! But I feel horrible for you at the same time. You poor thing. Love you!
Oh dear!! I’m so glad it worked out for the best!! I just watched Gone with the Wind last night and I can’t imagine how women back in that era wore all that boning every day! Yikes!
Awww, that’s not funny! 🙁 I’m sorry when anyone gets sick… Talk about bad timing for an illness! UGH. Sorry ya had to go through that 🙁
oh my word! I would have been freaking out too. Well I guess thats one way God can tell you that Dress was “THE DRESS” : )
Oh no!! I’m sure that was so embarrassing, but I’m so glad to hear that it didn’t happen again.
When I went to try on my dress for the first time, we couldn’t get it to zip! I had several ladies behind me pushing and pulling. It was so terrible. Once they got it zipped, they snapped the little clasp at the top of the zipper, and it popped off. I could have died! But now I think it’s hilarious, and it’s one of my favorite stories about my wedding dress.
I almost fainted and got sick RIGHT before I walked down the aisle…there are some funny pictures (well, funny now, not then!) of me taking really deep breaths and my Dad trying to psych me up for the walk to the altar…I was convinced my knees were going to give out the entire time! But, I made it up to the altar and through the whole ceremony, phew!
Oh no, you poor thing! At least it is funny now, looking back.
Oh my! I feel your pain!
I just had my first dress fitting last week- my dress actually reminds me of yours a bit. (Anne Barge, fitted bodice with pin tucks & boning, full skirt) I was there, with my Mother, in my shoes, as the seamstress was pinning the hem up and suddenly, quite suddenly I was oh-so-hot. Sweating bullets, and just about to die. I told my Mom I needed some air & they rushed a fan over & picked up the skirt to provide me some “AC”. The seamstress couldn’t work on the hem then so she started fussing with the bodice, and somehow through the fog I realized she was telling me I should wear a pushup strapless bra (rather than the simple Spanx slip I was wearing) to really “fill out” the top of the dress to its true potential. Now I am not going for a burlesque look so all I could do was shake my head, sweaty and flushed, until my Mom was able to gently tell the seamstress that wasn’t the look I was going for, thanks.
I didn’t cool off until I was able to change…and I’m a little worried about my October wedding in Savannah!! (How did you stay cool??)
That is too funny! I’m glad the dress was able to be removed in time haha!
Oh you poor thing! That’ s awful! But thank goodness for those quick thinking women!
OMG, I couldn’t imagine. I’ve had that feeling come over before and it’s never in the right place or right frame of mind… it’s just awful!
Glad those ladies worked quickly and got you to where you needed to be! 🙂
Definitely the kind of thing that is funny only in hindsight! I’m glad you made it to the restroom in time.
oh my! you poor thing. at least you can laugh about it now!
if it makes you feel better… during my final wedding dress fitting, I completely passed out and collapsed on the ground. As I was passed out, they tried to undo my dress as much as possible and covered me up (just in case). It was lucky they did because as soon as I woke up, I was SO sick. I was absolutely mortified. The poor guys that was fitting me was traumatized. The ladies in the dress shop couldn’t have been nicer though.
It is good to know that I am not the only one. 🙂
Oh no! That is terrible! I am sure it happens more than you think. I have an issue with passing out and that was my biggest fear on my wedding day. Luckily I made it through without any problems!:) Glad to hear everything worked out for you!
It did make me laugh but what an aweful experience. I have my first fitting on Monday and Im a little scared now. I have heard this happens a lot actually.
Thanks for sharing!! Happy Friday.
Oh, you poor thing! That was a very entertaining story, but don’t worry, it happens to all of us at some point! We might not always be in a gorgeous wedding gown at the time, but that just makes your story all the more glamorous 🙂
I’m sure your mom was right! Just trying on dresses, once with a feverish cold and another time having had a little too mcuh wine with the girls the night before, gave me the cold sweats. I had to splash my face with water.
It must be a combination of the stress, excitement and actual physical exertion! Bless your heart- yakking at the wedding dree store, hee 🙂
Oh my! Glad it didn’t happen on your big day!
That is such an awful feeling. (the sick feeling, although being embarrassed is pretty awful too.) I’m glad you finally decided to share that with us! 🙂
Oh, you poor sweetie!!! I’m glad both you and the dress were okay and made it through your amazing day!
My dress story is quite minor compared to yours!;)
My freshman year in high school, I was invited to the prom. I was nervous for weeks! When it came time to get my dress hemmed and fitted, I was beside myself. I got the cold sweats and fainted-I was mortified! The prom was fantastic though-no problems!;)
My oh my! What we girls go through!
Don’t feel too bad, although I didn’t puke, I passed out at one of my dress fittings. The seamstress worked from her home and it was very warm in the middle of July just a few weeks before my wedding. I had a busy day at work and hadn’t stopped to eat properly and as I was standing there, the same thing happened to me .. tunnel vision and my mom’s voice becoming an echo. The next thing I remember I was sitting on a chair with my mom and the seamstress fanning me with little battery operated fans. I’m so glad I didn’t rip my dress!
You know, I’ve heard this story before, so you’re definitely not the only one! Unless you told it incognito somewhere else 🙂 Still totlly embarrassing, but you know what? Less embarrassing than some bridezilla throwing a tantrum in a shop and screaming at the helpers and embarrassing her mom and friends. At least yours was something you couldn’t help!
P.S. I just read the previous comments and am finding it amusing that another Lucy had the same experience!
Omg! That is so scary! I would have been freaked out too! I’m glad that it didn’t happen on your big day…wheew!
Oh you poor thing! I get dizzy/sick when I stand too long, especially if I’m hot. Maneuvering in a big beautiful white wedding dress would be stressful! I’m so glad that your wedding day went well, without any “incidents.”
Have a great weekend with your fam in town!
As I was reading this I was saying (aloud) “Oh no…” “Oh my gosh, she doesn’t…” “Oh and she did, she did!” and laughing at my desk. What a story– I bet they’ll remember you for a long time 🙂
Oh gosh, I had a very similar situation. Thankfully, I didn’t throw up, but I can only imagine. Only, I wasn’t in a nice bridal salon… instead a rather warm alterations shop in the middle of August! I think I could have rung my dress out afterward and gathered a cup of sweat. Nice visual, but always a memory that will make you laugh now. 🙂
Oh gosh, that sounds horrible. But bad memories always make for funny ones years later, even though at the moment there is no humor to be found in the situation.
Oh sweetie, whether or not that happens all the time, it’s not something to be embarassed about. You sounded like you were hot! It happens to the best of us. It’s not like you were a drunken idiot or something that you could have helped. Glad you made it through your wedding without any repeats though.
That is what I call “sick to my stomach” haha! You crack me up!!! Bless your heart!
hilarious!
Oh my goodness, what a story!! I hope your wedding day was much better with that crazy hot dress. Hey, at least there’s a story out of it, eh? 🙂
Oh girl! You always make me smile!! Sorry this happened, but glad it didn’t happen at the wedding!!
Goodness! I think big wedding dresses are just a lot to handle the first..few times! Glad you and your dress made it out and on again, cleanly! 🙂
Oh my!! I just sat here reading with my mouth wide open! At least you were surounded by people who really cared about you! I am in the process of looking for my wedding dress and could not imagine having such a thing happen! I think I’m making myself sick because I can’t decide on a dress…wish me luck!!
Oh, Erin! That is funny yes, but also mortifying! I would have been so petrified about ruining the dress, or that happening at the wedding. I doubt the ladies there would talk about it, and now you’ve got a story to tell!
confession: we truly were separated at birth because this EXAT same thing happened to me. Shit you not. Only I was in Priscilla of Boston…in my dress…on the toilet…completely throwing up. Heck, I practically had to peel that dress on and off me.
Glad I was not the only one. Sadly I went solo to the appointment so I had no one there with me.
But on the plus side, you have hands down the best wedding photos EVER and your dress looks amazing!!!!
I was at a wedding a couple of summers ago and just as the minister said to the bride “do you take this man. . .”, she threw up. Yes, right there in front of God and everybody. It was an outside wedding, her dress must’ve weighed a ton, and she had eaten a sandwich which was later deemed to be “old”. I mean it is hilarious to talk about now, but at that moment, not so much. You should have seen the look on the groom’s face!
your story reminds me of the Sex and the City episode with Carrie and Miranda in the cheap wedding shop.
Did you ever find out what caused you to be sick or do you think it was just nerves?
I got married May 1st of this year and like you had a very large GORGEOUS dress by Enzoni – After the ceremony during pictures at the church I started to feel hot,and sure enough I had the same the problem… My bridesmaids had me sit down, they helped to undo the full back of covered buttons, zipper, inside belt, custom fit bra.. etc… we were in a Historic Catholic church with no central air in Wilmington, NC- then I knew it, and we all rushed out side where I got sick. We were about 45 minutes late to the reception and I couldn’t eat or drink anything besides water.
AH! I was so embarrassed when we got to the reception and I still think most people don’t know but I am sure one day I will think it’s funny.
I’m sure your mom was at least partly right…..that kind of stuff happens to everybody. You said it SO right when you made the point that after going a through a baby delivery you have you have no shame…wonder why that is? I’m glad you can get a good laugh out of it now!
Had to add another “me too!” to the group. Same thing. Standing in my dress for.ev.er. while the seamstress pinned and worked, and felt horrible for several minutes while I debated with myself: “do I tell her I feel like I’m going to pass out and sit down to collect myself? or SUCK IT UP and BREATHE! You know you’re fine!” I ended up going with the first option, and got myself right again before it came to any passing out or throwing up. But I definitely feel for you. I knew that what I was feeling was the precursor to passing out because it had happened to me several months earlier in a spa where I was getting a body wrap. Ha ha. Have you ever had one of those? Where they put purifying oils on your body and then literally wrap you in Saran Wrap from neck to ankles? Yeah, like that. As you can imagine, it gets very hot when you’re covered in oil AND plastic wrap, so that was my first experience with standing there, in a very compromised position (um, you’re naked except for little “spa panties” when they wrap you up), and suddenly feeling like everything is muffled, tunnel vision, sweating profusely and feeling nauseous. I actually didn’t pass out or throw up that time either, because I realized in time what was going on and the spa lady helped me sit down and blasted a big fan at me–I guess they keep fans in those little rooms for a reason!
Haha, reading this reminded me of my own experience. When I went to put my own wedding dress the day of the wedding, as I put on the dress and went to let go (it was strapless) the dress fell to the floor instead of staying up. I had a number of health problems leading up to the day of the wedding and it resulted in me loosing a lot of weight. The seamstess kept taking it in but I guess my weight loss kept surpassing her alterations. Anyway, we had to pin and tape it on me and I still had to puff my ribs out in an odd way to hold it up, this resulted in a large difficulty in my breathing! Needless to say, I had off and on, I’m-going-to-puke-tunnel-vision-the-room-is-spinning throughout my entire wedding day! Everyone just told me not to lock my knees during the ceremony!
In the end, I didn’t pass out and the dress didn’t fall off, but it was very close on both accounts several times!
While I don’t have a similar experience to share I can honestly say this is something I could totally see happening to me. I’ve been known to get overheated in more than one situation and that feeling of tunnel vision is not a good one. Thank goodness your mom was there to talk you through it. Seriously, what would we do without our moms? They’re two of a kind 🙂
Oh no! At least you had lots of people to help you.
Hi, I’m a new reader, and I love your blog! I found you a couple of weeks ago and I even went back to many of your earlier posts and read them!
And I have to tell you, that getting sick while having your dress fitted DOES happen to others! I have had several friends who have also thrown up during their fitting! They were in their dresses though, no one had the bright idea to actually take the dress off! So you shouldn’t feel embarrased or anything 🙂 It must have something to do with standing still for so long with a dress that’s tight around your mid-section. And you were in heels!
bless your heart!! i bet it really does happen more often than you think 🙂
OMG! That’s crazy! I’m glad it didn’t happen your actual wedding day! Can you imagine?
I have my first wedding dress appointment for this Saturday! I’m super excited =)
Was your dress corset back? My sister struggled in hers as well. You make me laugh!
Oh, you poor dear!! I cannot imagine going through that…and I used to be a fainter. Not all the time, but I can think of at least 6 times it happened to me from 6th grade through high school. Anemic. I could so see this happening to me with my history, though! Bless your heart! And yes, you’re absolutely right…we have no shame after child birth. 😉
OH! That totally happened to me too! I barely made it through the fitting without throwing up, and ended up sitting on the floor drinking water and doing some Lamaze-style breathing 🙂 Good to know I’m not the only one…