Don't Rock The Boat With Your Vote

I'm a strong believer that my opinion counts. As the presidential candidates gear up, I'm voraciously following their campaigns by skimming the blogs, reading the news articles, and watching their videos. I have the mindset that this knowledge will help me make the most informed decision when it comes time to cast my vote.

However, no matter how informed I am as an owner of a bridal boutique, I dread it every time a bride asks me "well which dress would you pick?" I've come to believe that selecting a wedding dress is not and should not be a democratic process.

And I've seen plenty of brides who complicate the process with more rules and flowcharts in an effort to let everyone be a part of the decision. The bride will bring in representatives from all different factions (a college sorority sister, a loving mom, a future mother in law, an opinionated co-worker, and a childhood buddy for good measure). Sometimes opinions are just thrown out there, but we've also seen secret ballots, whispered votes and more often than not, a lot of confusion created and ultimately more stress and tears than it's worth.

There's a lot of pressure in buying a wedding dress - the photos will last a lifetime, it's an expensive purchase, and the bride is ultimately on display for the wedding. The dress should be reflective of the bride's style and it should make a statement, but most importantly it should be personal. The bride who walks into the shop and is able to listen to her inner voice is the one who I feel is the most confident and comfortable with her choice. Maybe she ends up with a gown that she picked out when she was six years old, or maybe she surprises herself with her choice because it's more simple or more dramatic than she thought possible. When it comes down to making the decision, the bride who picks the dress that really speaks to her is the bride who will be happy with her wedding day photos in the years to come.

So please don't ask me what I think, but ask yourself. And when you're ready to hear what you have to say, really trust yourself. I've got no interest in swaying your opinion - unless we're talking about the upcoming election.