Rebirth to Save Myself

Chapter 107 Trying on a Wedding Dress

The four of them were stunned when they arrived at the venue; it was a huge warehouse! The designer, along with his assistant and a team of what looked like at least twenty people, stood at the entrance to greet them.

Even after the van slowly opened its door, she extended a hand for the person inside to help her up, saying, "Ms. Chen, we meet again."

"Excuse me, I'm not Miss Chen." Ye Zhenzhen was the last one to board the bus, so she sat near the door. She originally intended to get off by herself, but a hand suddenly reached out, and it would be impolite not to help. Su Xia and the others urged her to get off, so this scene unfolded.

"Don't be shy, you must be one of Miss Chen's bridesmaids. It's an honor to meet you." The designer reacted quickly and immediately resolved Ye Zhenzhen's awkward situation.

"Long time no see, Kevin, you've gotten more and more talkative," Chen Wanying said as she got out of the car.

"Thank you for the compliment, Miss Chen. Didn't Mr. Lin come along today?" Kevin asked with a smile.

"I want him to see me in my wedding dress at the wedding." Chen Wanying winked playfully.

“First look, I understand. It’s just a pity we didn’t get to see the handsome and wealthy Mr. Lin today.” Kevin said regretfully, then beckoned the four of them into the seemingly ordinary warehouse.

"My God, this is a store!" Ye Zhenzhen exclaimed as soon as she entered. It's not her fault, though; they've made this place look nothing like a temporary venue!

The warehouse ceiling is surrounded by cool white spotlights, with warm-colored downlights adding a touch of warmth to the space. Headless mannequins, dressed in various wedding gowns, are arranged in small groups throughout the area. Along the walls, a row of gowns is densely packed together, thoughtfully separated by color, creating the overall feel of a bridal shop.

"Ms. Chen, you and your friend can go get your makeup done first. While you're at it, use the tablet to pick out some styles, and then our staff will choose the ones you want to try on." Kevin led them to a partitioned dressing room where five girls were standing, each with a suitcase next to them.

"Hello, Miss Chen!" The five people bowed thirty degrees to greet Chen Wanying and the others.

"Wow, what a scene!" Ye Zhenzhen whispered to Su Xia.

"Yes, I thought it was just a simple matter of trying on clothes." Su Xia was also a little stunned.

Then, besides the makeup artist in charge of Chen Wanying, who was accompanied by a stylist, the other three makeup artists each went to a mirror. Kevin said to the three of them, "You can choose any makeup artist you like. We've also prepared tablets for you. We'll see if there are any bridesmaid dresses you like later."

"But shouldn't the bridesmaids' dresses match the bride's?" Ye Zhenzhen asked timidly.

“That’s not necessarily true. The bride’s main dress is a wedding gown, which is usually white, unless Miss Chen prefers something else. White is a versatile color, so there are many choices for the bridesmaids’ dresses. For the morning dress, people usually choose bright red, while the bridesmaids can consider apricot. There are also outdoor photo shoots, greeting guests, and toasting, so you won’t have it any easier than the bride,” Kevin said with a smile.

"Ah, isn't it supposed to be one outfit for the whole time?" Lu Lu asked blankly.

"No way, go pick out your clothes." Kevin smiled, beckoned the makeup artist forward, and then left.

Before long, a staff member handed the tablet to the four of them and demonstrated how to use it, saying, "This is similar to ordering food by phone outside. The clothes each person chooses will be known to the other three, so you can communicate directly."

"That's so convenient," Su Xia exclaimed. Although this practice has become more common later on, she hadn't seen many stores doing it this way yet.

Then the makeup artists began to skincare, moisturize, and reduce puffiness for everyone. One after another, instruments comparable to those used in beauty salons moved around on their faces, while the makeup artists kept flipping through their clothes.

"How about this dress for my toast?" Chen Wanying clicked on a dress and added it to her shopping cart.

The three clicked to view the larger image. It was a deep V-neck spaghetti strap dress. The long spaghetti straps accentuated the beautiful shoulder lines, and the intricate ruffles and layered fabric made the dress bloom like a flower. The dress was a light pink color, giving it a youthful and bright spring feel. The bow served as both an embellishment and a fastener on the dress, elegant and playful, reminiscent of the shawls they loved as children. The large bow extended from the arms to the back of the waist, its delicate pink color making one eager to see the real thing.

"I think it's a good idea. We can put our hair up and put a hairpin in it. It's simple and looks nice," Su Xia said, expressing her agreement.

"This is so girly, I love it! You'll definitely outshine everyone in this," Ye Zhenzhen chimed in.

"Yes, it's beautiful." Lu Lu nodded in agreement.

"Then the toast dress is settled. Now let's pick out the welcoming dresses. Can you help me choose the main wedding dress and the Xiuhe dress for going out?" Chen Wanying immediately made the decision amidst a chorus of approval and began to choose the other clothes.

"How many sets of clothes do you need in total?" Ye Zhenzhen asked curiously.

"Hmm? Let me count. There are six outfits in total: the morning robe, the traditional Chinese wedding dress for going out, the outdoor shoot in the afternoon, the welcoming dress, the main wedding dress, and the toasting dress." Chen Wanying counted on her fingers and then answered.

"So we need to choose six bridesmaid dresses too?" Lu Lu asked, somewhat incredulously.

“Yes, the morning robe is actually quite simple. My dress for going out is a traditional Chinese wedding dress, so your bridesmaid dresses will definitely be more Chinese-style to match mine. The outdoor photos should be simpler. I don’t think we need to choose one for greeting guests. The main wedding dress should be a cocktail dress. A cocktail dress wouldn’t be suitable for toasting. So, in total, we need to choose at least five outfits, preferably six, with one as a backup,” Chen Wanying replied.

"The weddings I've attended before, they weren't even weddings anymore!" Ye Zhenzhen exclaimed.

“My dear girlfriends, you’ve been gone for ten minutes already, how come you’ve only just finished choosing one outfit? Of course, I think this one is perfect. Are you planning to use it as a toast dress or for an outdoor photoshoot?” Kevin pushed open the door and asked.

"A toast."

"Perfect! I'll tell them to prepare the dresses, and hurry up and pick the rest!" Kevin said before leaving.

Since the morning robes didn't have many changes, they quickly decided on one bright red silk embroidered morning robe and three pink silk embroidered morning robes. After skincare and moisturizing, the makeup artists quickly finished the makeup for the morning robes and let them go change.

After the four of them changed, they were taken to a place that resembled a photography studio, where Kevin was discussing details and lighting arrangements with the photographer.

Lu Lu asked, "Aren't we supposed to be trying on clothes today? Why do we need to take pictures?"

"Hey ladies, you're here!" Kevin greeted them cheerfully, then explained after hearing Lulu's words, "Makeup and trying on clothes are one thing, but taking photos really helps us see where adjustments are needed. If the initial issues are resolved, then the photos won't be ruined by various problems in post-production!"

"Here's the thing, this photographer also took my wedding photos, so today is a good opportunity to get a feel for the shoot. If we're satisfied with the pictures, we can do some retouching, like a professional photoshoot." Chen Wanying was quite happy; she had met Kevin by chance at a fashion show.

They hit it off immediately and added each other on WeChat. So, Kevin took care of everything for her wedding, and he also introduced her to the photographer. She mentioned that today was actually her first time meeting the photographer, so she wanted to see how his skills were and whether he met her expectations.

The four of them posed for several photos as requested by the photographer, then the makeup artist touched up their makeup again, and finally, the makeup was finalized for a photo shoot. Afterwards, they changed into Xiuhe dresses, which are bright red and embroidered with dragons and phoenixes symbolizing good fortune.

Su Xia herself prefers Hanfu, especially the dignified and elegant wedding attire of the Ming Dynasty, so she asked Chen Wanying with a puzzled look, "Why not choose Hanfu?"

“My mom insisted on it. She had this Xiuhe dress custom-made a long time ago. I don’t think it looks bad, so I wore it! Besides, my mom let me choose the other clothes myself and didn’t interfere.”

“That’s right, Mom only has this one request, so we should fulfill it.” Ye Zhenzhen nodded. With such a grand wedding and such elaborate preparations, it’s possible to fulfill Mom’s small request.

"Yes, that's why I still need to wear this Xiuhe dress."

After everyone got ready, we went through the same process as before with the morning robes. Next up was the outdoor photoshoot. This was basically a time after lunch, before the dinner, where we could take some photos on the hotel lawn and interact with friends. So, we chose a photogenic gold wheat-themed dress, with the skirt covered in golden wheat ears, veiled by a layer of light gold tulle to create a hazy, dreamlike effect. My hair was styled like a Greek goddess, and with the crown on my head, I looked every bit the goddess!

Su Xia and the other two also changed into dresses in the same color scheme. They wore the same long dresses, but the designs were different, such as off-the-shoulder, strapless, and spaghetti strap. While the overall look was unified, there were also some subtle differences, which gave people a refreshing feeling.

The reception dress is a simple satin wedding gown with a small skirt for easy movement. It has minimal embellishment and no veil, preventing it from being too heavy and tiring during receptions. The strapless design features fabric twisted into different curves, creating a monochromatic look and preventing the dress from appearing too plain.

Because the welcoming dress follows immediately after the main dress, it couldn't overshadow it. However, the time allotted between the two dresses was too short, and redoing the look would take too much time. Therefore, the makeup artist and stylist simplified the styling based on the main dress and added a white floral veil to the hair.

Lu Lu asked Chen Wanying, "Isn't marriage always a pair? There are only three of us as your bridesmaids. Are there any other people?"

“No, because there are three groomsmen, making a total of six, an even number!” Chen Wanying said, then added, “My friends are all abroad, so it’s already great that they were able to come back for the wedding.”

The four brides spent a long time choosing their main wedding dresses; there were just too many beautiful gowns to choose from—those with long trains, those with gorgeous embroidery, and some even adorned with diamonds. In the end, the four chose two, leaving Kevin to choose just one. When Kevin found out, his eyebrows furrowed.

He pondered for a while, looking back and forth between the two wedding dresses for a long time, and finally decided on one. He said to them, "This one, the previous dresses were either strapless or spaghetti strap, and if we choose the same style for the main wedding dress, it will be too similar. Besides, the veil of this one is custom-made, which fits your theme. The embroidery and diamond sequins on this wedding dress are all handmade. Wearing the crown that your dad ordered for you will be very nice."

Although Chen Wanying said she would show it to Lin Zhe the first time, Su Xia and the other two were the first to see it. The three of them were stunned when the curtains were drawn back.

"What's wrong? Doesn't it look good?" Chen Wanying asked somewhat insecurely when she saw the three of them remain silent for a long time.

"Damn, my desire to get married has reached its peak right now," Ye Zhenzhen exclaimed.

"Although I don't want to get married, I really like wedding dresses," Lu Lu also expressed her opinion.

"Ahhhhh, you're shaking my resolve to wear Ming Dynasty wedding attire!" Su Xia exclaimed in surprise.

Immediately afterwards, the three of them gathered around Chen Wanying and carefully touched the wedding dress. The long train, the beautiful embroidery, and the sparkling decorations—wearing a wedding dress is indeed every girl's dream!

"Pfft, if you want to wear them, why don't you just go and pick one out yourselves!" Chen Wanying said with a smile, looking at the enthusiasm in the three of them's eyes.

"Is it really possible?"

"Okay, right, Kevin?"

"Of course! It would be a visual feast. We can have Aken take a set of photos of you two. What a beautiful girl!" Kevin hugged himself, his face full of anticipation.

The three quickly chose their wedding dresses. Lu Lu wore an off-the-shoulder satin gown adorned with pearls, revealing her beautiful collarbones. Ye Zhenzhen opted for a mermaid dress. The usually carefree Ye Zhenzhen looked stunningly beautiful and alluring in the mermaid gown. Her bright red lips were particularly striking, exuding sexiness. The mermaid silhouette accentuated her figure perfectly, showcasing her enviable waist and shapely hips.

"Wow, Zhenzhen, you look so beautiful in this outfit!" Su Xia couldn't help but exclaim.

"My God, Zhenzhen always wears such loose clothes, I had no idea she had such a great figure underneath!" Chen Wanying exclaimed.

“Zhenzhen is very pretty,” Lu Lu affirmed.

"Oh dear, why are you all acting like this? You're making me feel embarrassed." Ye Zhenzhen waved her hand and then said, "Kevin helped me choose this dress. I originally wanted to choose a princess dress."

“Kevin’s judgment is still sharp,” Chen Wanying nodded.

"Your turn, Xiaxia, what did you choose?"