When did you start dreaming about your Dress?

As early as five years old? That was one bride-to-be’s answer. Is it a common thing to dream about? Is it shelved after a certain point and forgotten about? Is it part of princess lore and all the costumes? Hmm… I know the perfect person to ask. Let me introduce you to Madison and what will now and forever be known as: MADI’S PICKS

This is my seven-year old daughter. Loves to dance, swim, play with Monster High Dolls, pose for the camera as long as I am not interrupting swimming (see above) and foremost – Dress Up. I decided to test drive this notion that girls start day-dreaming about the big day at an early age. I fired up the iPad and opened my latest issue of Brides Magazine.

I quickly navigated to the dress section and asked her to “come take a look at this dress Madi, tell me what you think.” Her eyes began to glow. She loved them and hated them. She liked this style, disliked that style. Loves Tulle, hates too many beads. Likes trains and loves the ruffles. Was very pleased with off the rack and nearly fainted at one for six grand. Hmm…

So there needed to be a control group or something. Glamor and Elle were fired up. NO INTEREST… AT ALL. Hmm… GQ? She giggled. Back to Brides. How about some stemware? “Wow, that is beautiful,” she exclaimed. What? Really? It was a glass. Yes, sure it was nice, but really? Next, cakes and venues. She was relating to all of it. Loved the photos. Loved the glamor, the glitz, the softness, dare I say - the romantic side of it. Unbelievable. And she has great taste to boot. Loves traditional, but has a good flare for contemporary too.

It is impossible to say if there is much more than a love for fantasy at work here. Maybe that is what it has always boiled down to. There is one thing for certain, deconstructing something so innocent and magical as a young girl’s enjoyment of a dream is silly. I would much rather watch it grow and see what it becomes. And so begins…