I’m Emily, and at 27, I was about to marry the love of my life, start a new chapter, and leave behind all the uncertainty of my twenties.

I’d been planning this day for an entire year. I’m talking spreadsheets for everything, including the guest lists, seating charts, and vendor timelines.

My friends used to joke that I was more organized than most wedding planners. But I wanted everything to be perfect.

This wasn’t just any day. This was THE day.

The dress hunt had been the most stressful part of the process. I must have tried on 50 different gowns across three different states.

Some were too fancy, while others were too plain. Some fit wrong, while others cost