My wonderful friends Chris and Emily have officially been married for two months as of today. I had the amazing pleasure of playing the piano for their wedding, something I am so grateful for. I couldn't think of a better way to show the two of them how much I love them than play the music at their wedding. I cried during the vows (and a few other times) and had to quickly remind myself that I had to play the recessional soon so I had to pull it together.When Emily called me up and asked if I would play piano at their wedding, I was excited and honored that they had asked me, but I also got excited because it meant I got to wear an awesome dress. Emily and I talked about it and decided burgundy/wine would be a good color, since it complimented but didn't match or clash with the bridesmaids dresses. So I went on a hunt to find a burgundy/wine colored dress. And I found this beauty...
I was super duper excited. Finding that dress was an adventure in and of itself, since the closest David's Bridal with it in my size was like an hour and a half away. But we got it. Then we had to find...the shoes.
It was three days before the wedding. I had looked here and there but not found much of anything. I knew I needed shoes, so I went out on a mission: I was going to find shoes to go with this dress if it killed me.
First I stopped by DSW. There was one pair of shoes that was the right color gold, but they were super duper strappy, pretty glitzy, in no way classy and had four-inch hooker heels. No go.
So I headed over to the mall. I checked out one store. The only option was glittery, platform hooker heels. No go. Checked out a second store. Again, the only option was a glittery, platform hooker heels. Seriously, what the heck? Third store. The only option was glittery, platform hooker heels. Come on! Fourth store. The only option was glittery...you get the picture, right?
Finally, I was like, "Fine. I'll just go back to David's Bridal."
When I had purchased the dress, the gal had me try on a pair of gold shoes that looked quite lovely. But they were $65 and I really didn't want to spend that much money on a pair of shoes. I mean, I'm all for looking pretty and such, but that's just crazy. My momma taught me to be fashionable and frugal, so if I can avoid spending that much on one pair of shoes, you bet your bottom dollar I will.
But I had had no luck in finding any pair of shoes that worked, much less a cheaper pair. So back to David's Bridal I went. I prayed that they had the shoes I needed in the size and color I needed, because I didn't have time to get them dyed before the wedding on Saturday.
I arrived at the store and headed straight back to the shoes. I saw the shoes I needed in the color I needed in a 6.
Fantastic! I thought. I pulled them out and tried them on. Alas, they were just a bit too small.
See, I have really weird feet. They're super wide and such and so, depending on the shoe brand and type of shoe I will wear anything from a 5.5 up to a 7.5. One time I had to go up a half size in a pair of boots because my calves were too big. Fail. I guess that's what I get for dancing for so long.
So I looked around to see if they had the shoes in gold in a 6.5. I couldn't see a box anywhere so I picked up the model shoe, which happened to be gold.
Hallelujah! It was a 6.5! I continued to search, assuming the match had to be in a box somewhere. But it was nowhere to be found.
I took the shoe up to the front and got the attention of the sales lady. I explained to her my situation and she headed back to help me look. Once she determined that I wasn't blind or anything and the match truly wasn't there, she headed to the back to hunt for it. A few minutes later she came back.
"Ma'am, I'm sorry to say, but we don't have a match for this shoe anywhere in the store. It appears to be all by itself.""So there isn't a right shoe anywhere in the store?""Unfortunately not. But we can call around to some of the other stores to see if they have them.""Wonderful. Thank you."
We headed up to the front of the store and she input the shoe style, size, and color into the store system. According to the computer, the David's Bridal in Woodbridge had the shoes I needed.
"That's great. I work down in that area, so I can stop by and pick them up on my way back from work tomorrow.""Fantastic. Let me call, just to make sure."
She picked up the phone and called. Alas, the computer was wrong.
Not only did the Woodbridge store not have the pair of shoes I needed, they also had one random left shoe with no right to match it. Seriously?
I asked about the Richmond David's Bridal, since the wedding was in Richmond. No go. They didn't have the shoes. Well, what other stores had the shoes? She listed off several up in Maryland, but I didn't have time to go to any of these stores between now and leaving for the wedding on Friday. Then I heard it...
"...Hampton.""Wait. The Hampton store has the shoes?""According to this, yes.""Could you call to confirm that?""Of course."
She called and, miracle of all miracles, the Hampton store actually had the shoes!
"I have several friends who will be coming up from that area. If I can purchase the shoes over the phone, I can have one pick them up and bring them to the wedding.""Oh, lovely."
The sales associate handed me the phone. I gave the sales associate in Hampton my credit card information, as well as my name and the name of my friend who would be picking up the shoes. I thanked the sales associate and left the store, immediately calling Chrissy to let her know what I needed her to do.
Saturday, shortly before the wedding, Chrissy arrived with other friends from CNU and my shoes in tow. Later, I learned that the hunt for these shoes had not ended with my phone purchase.
Chrissy arrived at the Hampton David's Bridal and went up to the front desk.
"Excuse me. I'm here to pick up a pair of shoes for my friend.""What's her name?""Sarah Hayes."
The sales associate typed her name into the computer.
"I don't have her name in the system. When is her wedding?""No. She's not getting married.""Did her wedding already happen? Why didn't she pick up the shoes before the wedding?""NO. She's not getting married.""She's not?""No.""Then what are the shoes for?""She's in a wedding.""But I thought you said she's not getting married?""She isn't! She ordered the shoes over the phone and I'm supposed to pick them up.""OH! I think I took that order."
The sales associate went into the back and came out with the shoes. Chrissy checked to make sure they were the correct shoes then headed out the door.
In the end, it all worked out. The shoes arrived and they looked fabulous with the dress. But I tell you...it was quite an adventure to get there.
Me and the lovely Chrissy the day of. :)
And just because I never really posted them on the blog...this is one of my favorite pictures from the wedding day.
