I would like to congratulate Edmund and Ivory on their engagement! I'm absolutely thrilled for this couple... especially Edmund who has found the perfect woman for him They've planned to marry 2 months after us. It's fun to have another bride-to-be to share our research with!

Back to where I last left off, it has been months of preparation getting the most important items out of the way:

1. Venue - check!
2. Church - check!
3. Marriage Preparation Course - check! (and got our certificate too!)
4. Bridal gown - uh oh.

Yes, the most important aspect of every bride and I've only started searching this month. According to the countless magazines I have in hand and the two wedding planners I got from my future MIL and SIL, I should have started 2 months back.

I don't know about you but I've had reluctance to enter a bridal studio/gallery. Somehow, I know for sure I wouldn't like the selection that they have. Well, unless it's the Designer Bridal Room which houses gowns from Karl Lagerfeld, Christian Lacroix and Pronovias (you get the picture), then I'm pretty sure I would find my dream dress and be RM 9,000k poorer. Bridal studio scares me. Perhaps it is also my perception of how they would try to hardsell and the only motivation they have is to close a business rather than to make me a happy bride. Therefore, I've scrapped the idea of renting a dress.

After many rounds of research on mags and online, I found my dream design. It's a little vintage because of the french lace, flattering because of the A-line and most importantly, I'm pretty sure it's approved by the Church! It is an uncommon design which you are unlikely to find in local bridal shops. I've made up my mind to get it customed made. I get to own my wedding gown! I'm truly excited.

But now it all pens down to getting the perfect seamstress that understands what I want and is passionate about me getting what I want. I already have her in mind. The design she sketched was right. The price was also right. Her workmanship based on the other gowns that are available in store also looks incredibly right. Mummy and sis have met her and has no qualms about her. However, she is only the first seamstress I have met. To draw on something parallel, it's like marrying the first man you meet.

I know I should be searching for alternatives just to ensure that I'm making the right choice. After all, the wedding gown is top priority for every bride (well, not against my list since I've got it at number 4!) and buffer for errors are extremely slim.It is crucial that I get this right as how I know I've got my man right

Back to the seamstress, how would I know if I've made the right choice? What are the characteristics of a tailor that I need to look out for?

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