I'm NOT A Morning Person

Believe me when I say that I NEVER thought I'd see an email addressed to ME, that says "Hello Models" as the greeting.  I even giggled a little when I read it to myself.

Yup, that's right. I'm modeling wedding gowns this weekend for a plus-size bridal group in Pittsburgh - the Pittsburgh Wedding & Bridal Show. 

The scoop on how it happened? Same story of my entire life (which I love) - complete randomness!

I tried out a new tailor in Mt. Lebanon, PA and he was a very kind, Italian man. He and his wife moved to the US from Italy about 20 years ago. He commented how rare it is to find a beautiful face with a proportioned body in a plus-size woman.  I had to think it through, but I was flattered - who doesn't like to be told they're pretty?

I'll take it any day.

We talked about my upcoming trip (at the time) to the Mediterranean, then he mentioned that he had a woman coming into town for a wedding dress fitting tomorrow and asked me to try the dress on so he could make sure the seams were perfectly tailored, symetrical, etc.  So I said "sure" and he helped me put the dress on.  It was her dress, it was pretty, but it didn't strike any chords with me.

He said that behind his business is a bridal salon that's always looking for good, new models and that when I came back to pick up the alterations, he'd introduce me.  And that's exactly what happened.

I picked up my dresses for the cruise (which was a whole other exciting point in my life altogether), and Arturo took me back and introduced be to Mary Beth. After a little chit-chat, she pulled out a very pretty dress and had me try it on.

Admittedly it was a little strange to try on wedding dresses without a ring on my finger - I mean, that's not tradition, right?!  The dress she had me try on was this one:

And I may have had a moment.  An oh-my-gosh-I-am-wearing-a-wedding-dress-and-I-look-gorgeous-and-I-love-this-dress-and-I-want-to-buy-it-just-to-wear-around-the-house-because-I-have-no-other-place-to-wear-it-right-now moment!

I had no idea that a dress could really transform you and make you feel a certain way.  Now I understand why brides glow like they do and are so happy! (Other than the obvious fact that they're in love and spending the rest of their lives with that person, of course)  ;-)

I'll be wearing 2 dresses - that one above, and this one, which I didn't take a picture with it on, so excuse the pseudo-Adrienne model.

My favorite dress is the 1st one, the one I had my "moment" in.

The event itself is this Sunday, September 18th, at the Monroeville Convention Center, from 11am-3pm. Randy, from TLC's "Say Yes To The Dress" is going to be there, and I hope I get to meet him! He's fabulous! I feel like we could be friends, haha..

I have to be there at 630am for fittings, run throughs, and then hair and make-up (and let's be clear, I am NOT a morning person).  It's gonna be a loooong, but really fun day, and from the sounds of things, I'll be seeing a few of you there!  Thanks for the support!  xo