I decided to think about it a little bit and tossed around ideas in my head. I looked at some other stores, and looked at Textile Fabrics in Nashville to see if there was a way to make it myself. Nothing compared to the beautiful veils that Arzelle's carries. So I eventually determined I would have to bite the bullet, order the $300 veil and cut my budget in another area, and made my way to Arzelle's. It was the last day of their sample sale. I pulled into the parking lot and sat in my car and prayed. (I'm not trying to make it all super-spiritual, but God knows what I need and what I desire, and I just took a few minutes to give thanks for everything He had provided thus far, and ask for favor.)
I walked in and noticed the sample sale included a rack of sample veils. I browsed through them and didn't think there was anything left that would work...then I noticed one that was wrapped up. I spread it out to see what it was. It was cathedral length (too long for my dress), but had the tiny crystals on it just like the other one I had tried on. It also had some beautiful hand-stitched embroidery along the bottom edge. The comb was gorgeous--it was a metal comb with crystals on it. The original price? $700. Sale price for the sample? $50. Yes, you read that correctly. Unfortunately, it also had (on closer inspection) many tears and holes in the delicate material, and was especially bad around the bottom. I was standing there wondering if it was beyond hope when I spoke to Bonnie (Arzelle's owner) about whether she thought it could be repaired. She said she didn't realize there was that much damage to it and she wouldn't have had it on the floor if she had known. As I contemplated it and she reviewed the damage, she said "Just take it. You might be able to fix it, you might not, but I can't charge $50 for something that damaged. If you can't fix it come back and order the other one." She stuffed it in a bag and I was out the door and to my car, where I immediately broke down and cried. The blessing was UNREAL. She had no idea how much I needed a financial miracle for a beautiful veil, but God did and used her to provide it. And provide He did!! A $700 veil for FREE?!?
Practical moral of the story for brides on a tight budget? LOOK THROUGH SAMPLE SALES and explore. You never know what you'll find!!
How did my veil end up? Well, my friend (who is also my pastor's wife) was SO excited about how God had provided the veil that she wanted to gift me with the alterations as my wedding gift. She referred me to an amazing seamstress. Lynn Headley took a look and got to work. The end result was unbelievably gorgeous. She took the length that I didn't need off, and cut around all of the embroidery detail, then reattached the embroidery by hand to the "new" bottom of the veil. There was one tear that was in the middle of the veil that she had to repair by hand and the stitching for the repair was visible to me because I knew, but if you didn't know it was there it wasn't obvious. Her work was stellar!!
The veil was more than what I had dreamed to have and was a perfect compliment to my dress.
(p.s Arzelle's also has a blog. It's full of delicious photos and fashion ideas--not just bridal! I'd say they are the best bridal shop in Nashville, and I would highly recommend it.)
Photos courtesy of Amber Beckham Photography
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