Under pressure

I don't think I've uttered the word "web two-oh" in about six months, but I went to my very first Yelp Elite event with Eli on Wednesday night. If you're wondering, I'm now up to 91 reviews. I want so badly to review the bridal salons I've recently visited but I'm going to hold my tongue until after the wedding.

I brought Eli with me to my first giant bridal salon. At first, I went by myself, fully prepared for an all-out estrogenfest. When I got there, my resolve melted away. Between the aisles and aisles of tulle and all the squealing and clucking going on in the room (there were three other groups with appointments in progress), I was completely overwhelmed. I wanted backup.

So with the help of the person who is my partner in all of life's big decisions, I did find "the" dress -- it was the first dress they recommended -- and of course, it was way over my budget. Sensing my hesitation, they pulled out every zinger from their playbook. Two of my favorite quotes from my sales rep: "finding the right dress is like finding the right guy" and "yes, you're only wearing the dress for one day but it will be in your pictures forever." And to go out of her way to mock my initial budget (which, mind you, was not an unreasonable budget), she even pulled out a horrifying specimen that was two sizes too big and seemingly fashioned from a massive cotton tablecloth that was "perfectly fine, if that's what you want." Ouch.

I did end up buying the dress (the one I wanted, not the one that made me look like a 25-year-old burlap sack going to First Communion), but I got it from another place that cut 15% off the price.