Mr. and Mrs. Matt Tompkins • September 21, 2012

Ask any bride about planning her wedding, and chances are her eyes will light up when talk turns to the dress. Her dress. The dress.

I probably fall into the same category when discussing my vintage-inspired dress. My search began back in January at TheKnot.com. I knew I didn’t want the popular strapless, floor length gown but instead sought something with a vintage flair.

A few keystrokes later, I discovered Dolly Couture, an adorable retailer of handmade, short wedding dresses in Los Angeles. My sister lives in Los Angeles, so I set about scheduling a weekend trip in March. I hadn’t yet tried on a single wedding dress, and didn’t feel the need to do so until I walked into Dolly Couture’s boutique on a warm and sunny Saturday morning.

Although I originally had my heart set on the Pasadena gown, my sister, Katie, suggested I first try on the Beverlywood. And boy, was I glad I did. Within moments of slipping on the Beverlywood, I was sold.

This is my dress! I gleefully thought to myself. Katie and the shop’s owner, Dolly Thicke, both agreed.

The Beverlywood was the first wedding dress I ever tried on, and became the gown I eventually purchased. Although I tried on a few others at Dolly Couture, I kept going back to the Beverlywood.

When you find the dress you want, why bother shopping anywhere else? (Plus, it was time for lunch.)

Dolly and her staff were a dream to work with. My dress and the birdcage hat/veil arrived in Omaha about a month later in pristine condition. I couldn’t be happier now that I see a few early photos from our wedding weekend – and feel darn lucky to be one of probably a few brides who got to wear her dream dress not once, but twice!