How I Found My Dream Wedding Dress: A Pinterest-to-Reality Journey
Like many girls, I spent countless hours imagining what my wedding day would look like. The flowers, the venue, and, of course, the dress. My Pinterest “Wedding Inspiration” board was brimming with dreamy gowns, breathtaking decor, and everything in between. Little did I know that one of those pins would lead me across an ocean and to a different continent to find the one—my dream wedding dress.
From a Pin to Perfection: How I Found My Dream Dress
Scrolling through Pinterest one afternoon, I stumbled across the most beautiful gown I’d ever seen. Designed by Katy Corso, it had everything I’d dreamed of: elegance, romance, and just the right amount of drama.
However when I visited her website, reality set in. Not only were her dresses above my budget, but I couldn’t find the dress from Pinterest in her current collections.
Undeterred, I scrolled through every collection on her website. I was nearing the end, and suddenly there it was—in her 2020 collection. Below the listing, I found a directory of retailers who carried her designs.
Excitement quickly turned to determination as I began reaching out to boutiques. I knew the chances of any boutique still having this dress in stock in 2023 were slim, but I held out hope anyway.
The Search Begins
I contacted every retailer within a reasonable distance, but one by one, they all gave me the same disappointing answer: the dress was sold out. It seemed my dream dress was just that—a dream. Then, two glimmers of hope appeared: one boutique in Texas and another in Germany still had the dress in stock.
The Texas boutique quoted me the full retail price of $2,500. Feeling slightly defeated, I anxiously awaited a response from the German boutique, Brautmagie. To my amazement, they replied that they had one left—in my size—and it was 50% off! Even better, it had never been tried on before.
A Dress Worth Flying For
Without hesitation, I booked a flight to Cologne, Germany, to see the dress in person. My mother flew out from the U.S. to join me, making this journey even more special. The moment we stepped into Brautmagie, we were greeted warmly by Andrea, the boutique’s owner. Andrea was nothing short of incredible—kind, accommodating, and a true professional.
I tried on several dresses during my visit, but none compared to my dream dress. It was finally time, and I said yes to the dress.
Bringing It Home
As a wedding gift, my mom generously paid for my dress, and I couldn’t have been more grateful. Getting the dress home, however, was an adventure in itself. Wedding dresses typically cannot just be stuffed into a suitcase, so I had to purchase an additional seat on the plane to ensure it traveled safely. Once home, I only needed minimal alterations: a few tweaks to the shoulders, the waist, and the length. Thankfully, I had a fantastic tailor local to me in Ireland, and in the end only had to pay around €300 for dress alterations! To me that is a steal, as I know people who paid upwords of $800 in the United States.
A Unique Experience
I know my experience of flying to another country to find my wedding dress isn’t the norm, and I feel incredibly blessed to have had this opportunity. What started as a stressful search turned into a once-in-a-lifetime adventure shared with my mom. Cologne, which wasn’t even on my travel bucket list, turned out to be a charming city filled with friendly people and delightful surprises. It’s a place I’ll always associate with finding my dream dress and making unforgettable memories.
A moment for The Dress
Still want more? Check out my blog post on The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Destination Wedding!
