The planning started early, around May or so for the September date, and one of the plans involved making the decision that if I could swing it, I would attempt to get another Wedding Dress and make the whole day a wonderful success. The original plan was to take the “normal” amount of pictures of my Bridesmaid and Formal dresses and then take the pictures of the Wedding Dresses following, that plan soon fizzled.

In June a Bride-to-be emailed me answering an ad I had placed on my Bridal Web pages for a Wedding dress and informed me that she had a dress and headpiece available if I wanted it. I emailed her back and we started negotiating the deal, and in the course of that I found that the dress was never worn by her, it was originally bought for a Wedding that never happened and she wanted another Bride to have the opportunity to wear it. She emailed the pictures and the dress and headpiece were stunning, the gown was beads and sequins on the bodice and the train Cathedral length. It was a traditional Wedding gown with long sleeves and a skirt that flowed from the waist. We made all of the arrangements and agreed on a price, the dress and headpiece was a fraction of what she paid for it and the prices was set and the deal done.

In the spring I ran into another Photographer friend, Andy, who I went to lunch with at one time and he informed me he would be more than happy to assist Rose that day. You see Andy already takes pictures of Weddings for a living and would make Rose’s life as a photographer and potential Bridesmaid a whole lot easier.

As the date got closer, I started doing more and more planning, ie., the order of the dresses, lingerie changes, hosiery changes, the length of time between dresses, locations, etc., things started to get interesting. Firstly, I had to get the new Wedding Dress fitted, and my seamstress Maria informed me that she would be able to easily get the necessary alterations done in a week or so.

It also became very apparent that with attempting to coordinate my availability, Rose’s availability and Andy’s availability, as well the actual length of time the Bridal dresses would need to be shot, a single day shoot would be impossible, simply put too many hours and not enough day.

As well, Andy pointed out that the two shoots were going to require different needs, ie., the Bridal shoot would be much more difficult to shoot than the Formal or Bridesmaid, as well he made a good suggestion that I try getting the Wedding pictures done in another flower gardens for variety. Also weather was a factor that complicated things as well, the Bridal shoot would have to be a sunny, dry day in order for it to be 100% perfect. So with all of the decisions considered, I decided to split the shoot into two parts, the Bridal shoot and then the Formal/Bridesmaid shoot.

So with all of the plans set, then the finer details of dates, equipment, planning the gardens, colour of film, number of rolls, etc., etc., I started to realize it would be easier to plan another entire Wedding from scratch!!!.

The second Wedding dress arrived in the first week of August and it was stunning, more beautiful than the pictures could have ever described, and except for the length it fitted perfectly and I was really happy. I then had to plan the next part of the shoot preparations and that was to get in to have the dress altered, and thanks to a friend on the ‘net that offered to take me out to lunch on a “business lunch”, it was made possible. Also at the same time, I found the perfect opportunity to get one of my new Bridesmaids dresses fitted to prepare for the fall formal/Bridesmaid shoot.

Dave, I will call him answered an ad I had in a personal column on the ‘net and wanted to meet me and take me out to lunch, gee how could this girl refuse a lunch date like that!.

So Dave and I started chatting back and forth via email and before I knew it, I accepted a date for Friday September 4th. Of course I asked Dave what he would like to see me wearing, and the answer was “a short skirt and high heels”, gee I never would have guessed that, but never letting my dates down, I planned for wearing that exactly. Dave and I chatted back and forth and what he was interested in a date and we started talking romantic and such and the lunch date was starting to get interesting.

I then asked Dave if he would not mind taking me over to my seamstress, Rose, before the lunch and if possible filming me getting the Wedding dress fitted, as well as getting a Bridesmaid Dress I got over the summer, fitted. My new photographer, Andy and I talked/planned, he had in mind a video diary of the actual day to document the fittings, and this would serve as an introduction to that. Dave agreed and told me he was not a professional, and I told him I would walk him through working the camera and I was really looking for something amateur anyway.

Late summer is always a time that I have wanted to get out and about, as I typically get out more in the later fall, when heavier clothes and black shoes and purses are in. The date with Dave would be the perfect opportunity to dress in a lighter fabric, dress and skirt combination, along with light fabrics, and the colour of pure white for shoes and purse. So with that all set I told Dave that I would wear something that would please him (and me as well), which was my “90210” skirt and jacket combination, which has the skirt well above the knees, as well the jacket accommodates a very lacy and sexy camisole peaking out from underneath the jacket. The colour is was a light green or sage, and with it, silky nude hose and my 3” snow white heels would look perfect.

I made the arrangements with Dave and got everything ready, the dress, my outfit and laid it out before I started getting showered and dressed for meeting Dave, and I knew he would love the outfit. I showered and prepared in the bathroom making sure everything was perfect.

I then moved to the bedroom and slipped into my lingerie for the day, which consisted of my favorite white lacy bra, (I made a conscious decision to wear a conventional bra rather than a strapless required for the Wedding and Bridesmaid dress), purple lacy panties, girdle and silky beige pantyhose, to be sure not to put a run in my pantyhose I wore silk gloves to make sure my nails, which I had not gotten to grooming yet would not snag my hose, and everything worked out perfectly. After my hose I slipped into a low pair of white heels 2 1/2”, and my silk pink makeup coat and headed to the washroom to put on my makeup. Make was pretty standard, light pink on the upper lids of my eyes and purple on the bottom, with a hint of dark brown in the corners, blended for illusion. My eyeliner was light, yet making my eyes defined and my blush was my business “light pink” and finally my lipstick was my lighter “casual” lipstick with a brush or two from my darker lipstick, just to try and get a shade in between formal and casual.

Once my makeup was done, I checked the clock and saw that Dave would soon be arriving, so I scrambled and started getting things ready at the door, my 35mm camera, my purse, the Wedding dress, the red Bridesmaid Dress, and once that was done, I sat down and applied my favorite nail colour, a deep red to my nails.

I then realized in a panic that my white purse, one I had not used for quite some time was still downstairs and I was going to be using my standard black one by accident. Once my nails were dry, I quickly changed over everything, which for a woman’s purse is no small task and managed to get it all ready in record time. I then moved into the bedroom and slipped off my silk dressing gown and started into my clothes for the day. First was the snow white lace camisole that would be peaking out from underneath my jacket and then my short little skirt and finally my jacket to complete the look. I kept on my low white heels and proceeded to add an anklet to my right leg, spritzed myself with Halston’s perfume and then finished the look off with some long dangly gold earrings. I then made my way to the large mirror in the hallway and looked myself over and I was quite impressed at how good of a job I had done. Then finally the crowning touch, my snow white 3 1/2” heels, and viola, I looked perfect. Before I even had a chance to walk from the mirror to the bathroom, my date for the day had arrived.

Dave smiled wide as he saw me at the door, and I invited him in and we exchanged pleasantries and I “modeled” my outfit for him and he appreciated it, say how he thought my legs looked terrific and I thanked him. I then gave Dave a quick lesson on the video camera, explaining how things worked and he seemed quite comfortable at using it. So once I was sure that he was ready, I suggested we leave and he was the perfect gentleman and offered to help carry the dresses and I told him “thanks”, I grabbed my purse and we left for the car. Dave arranged the dresses, then came and opened my door and as I slid in, I realized that this skirt definitely rode up all by itself, to just below my crotch, and I found myself tugging down for modesty’s sake.

The drive to Maria’s was short and Dave and I talked about what Maria’s was all about, who she was and how long I had been using her and started to get comfortable with each other. I lead the way once we got to Maria’s and she greeted me with “hello seniorita Jennifer, so we are getting Married”, to which I smiled and said “yes!”. Maria, as always, lead me to the change room and assisted me in getting the dress out of the carrying plastic and hung it up, and invited me in to change. I stripped to my pantyhose, panties and bra and slipped into the dress, and then held the back as I came out to see Maria.

“What a beautiful Dress”, were her first words, and as she started to zip and button me up, I could see what she meant, and all the while I could see out of the corner of my eye Dave was taping the fitting, and I could not do anything but smile. Maria spent much time adjusting this and adjusting that, asking me about when the Wedding was, were I got the dress, and we had a long discussion about that. The best was when she got the dress and train arranged, she called some of the other girls in the shop over to see just how beautiful the dress and train were, and they “ohhed and ahhed” over it, making me feel all that more special. While Maria was arranging the dress a woman came in and had an armful of clothes to be fitting, and after waiting a little while, and realizing that my fitting was going to take some time, left in frustration.

Dave kept filming and Maria eventually started getting the last few bits sorted out on the sleeves and the bodice. She then asked me if I brought the exact shoes I was going to wear and in my mind I informed her that the shoes I was wearing were the exact same height and she said “lovely”. She then asked if I was going to be wearing a crinoline under the dress and in my mind I went “damn!, I knew I forgot something”, to which she replied, “that is okay my dear, you can bring it for the next time, and by the way, you will need to come back one more time, I want to be sure my little seneorita looks perfect on her Wedding day". She then went on to explain that it was important to have the crinoline on as it was important to how the dress feel and the hemline of the skirt.

She then asked when I needed the dress for and told her that my mother was coming from out of town the following Saturday and could it be ready then, to which she replied, “of course my dear, but you will have to come at least by Tuesday to have the next fitting in order for the dress to be ready. I decided not to try and organize that trip at that moment and told her no problem, Tuesday it was. She then helped me into the change area and reminded me that for the next fitting to bring not only the shoes but my corset to make sure everything fit just right.

As Maria was finishing up her adjustments, I noticed a headpiece hanging on the wall and commented to Maria how pretty it was and she went to tell me the story that the headpiece which was lovely and had rows of sheer fabric down the back, beadwork and everything else, but she mentioned that the veil had been destroyed by a careless smoker and that the Bride that wore it on her Wedding Day told Maria to give it to a bride that could use it. I told her that it would probably look great with my dress and she said, “well let’s try it on dear”, and placed the headpiece on me and it looked great, she said, “as long as you are not looking for a veil, it looks perfect”, to which she replied, “well the next time you come my dear, I will trim the burnt sections off and it will be as good as new. I thanked her and told her that would be just perfect.

I then changed out of the Wedding gown and handed it to Maria from behind the curtain and then slipped into my red Bridesmaid dress, which had a plunging back and knew my bra would stick out, and encouraged Dave to keep filming as Maria fitted the dress, which took no time at all. Maria loved the dress and told me how pretty it was and commented that I would also need a special bra for it, to which I told her I knew.

Once we were done she helped me out of the red dress and I changed back into my “90120” outfit and met Dave at the front of Maria’s store and we were off for our business lunch.

Dave was the perfect gentleman and opened the door of the car for me and once again, my skirt rode up and I was fighting to keep it below my crotch and was doing so just as Dave got in his side, “getting comfortable”, was his comment as he smiled and admired my legs, and I started to explain my short skirt dilemma, and he just smiled. The first lights we hit after leaving Maria’s as we drove to the restaurant saw us pulling along side the drivers side of a large truck, and I made sure that the driver, who obviously staring at me got the best show possible and moved my purse off my lap to give him the best view of my silky legs.

Once at the restaurant, Dave was again the perfect gentleman and opened my door and took the lead at getting us a quiet booth so we could enjoy lunch and each others company in a fairly quiet environment.

Dave and I sat down and chatted, ordered lunch and I showed him my vanity album and just basically got to know each other better. I went to the washroom twice, but since the washroom was quiet and I never encountered anyone else, just basically did my business and freshened my lipstick at the mirror and left, returning to the table to meet Dave.

Dave was the perfect gentleman and picked up the bill and paid for it, and waited for me to pack everything and we left the restaurant. Dave helped me out once again by taking some pictures of me just outside the restaurant for recording sake.

Afterwards, he opened the car for me and waited for me to get seated and set before closing the door. The ride home found us finishing all of the conversations we had and once at home he opened the door for me and followed me to the back door where I thanked him for all that he had done, as well as lunch. The wonderful day we had concluded with me at the very least giving him a “thank you” kiss. He smiled and left me to change and get ready for Sharon to come home.

The next step was to talk with Sharon and arrange the Tuesday fitting.........