Shopping with a pack of hounds

How many people does it take for a grown woman to consult before she can choose a wedding dress? I'm only asking this question because it seems that every situation on programs like "Say Yes to the Dress" (TLC on Fridays) requires an entourage. Some brides-to-be show up with a full complement of opinionated friends and family---bridesmaids, the mother, the future mother-in-law, the fiance, grandmother, neighbors, favorite bank manager. OK maybe not the latter. 

My favorite quote from the Atlanta version of SYTTD is from the ever-patient (and with the people-reading skills of a trained psychologist ) fashion director Monte Durham-"Going shopping with a group of friends is like leading a pack of hounds. You're going to get them going in all different directions and it's hard to corral them back in together."

As an avowed dog lover, I think I'd rather take a pack of howling, sniffing dogs shopping with me than some of these supporters!

Rick and I married 35 years ago. As I recall, the wedding plans were fairly simple. Mom and I discussed simple decorations for the sanctuary, and even the possibility of her making my wedding dress. She decided making a wedding dress was probably more than she wanted to take on at the time, so we went to the local bridal shop where I tried on a few dresses. I made my decision and don't recall it being a major ordeal. Our shopping trip would never have made it onto a reality program.

We weren't the only couples marrying in 1975. In fact, we participated or attended several weddings that year. I can't think of a single instance where the drama would have won any of the couples a place on a reality show. But then again, none of us had a pack of hounds with us either.