Inside Nicolette Mason's Wedding-Dress Fitting with Designer Christian Siriano

What Christian ended up creating for me was, without a doubt, my dream gown. The dress was made in delicate layers of hand-dyed blush pink and champagne tulle, with a sweetheart bustling and an illusion neckline and full illusion sleeves—which had crystals, rhinestones, and rose gold appliqués cascading up and down from the waistline.

It felt ethereal and magical, and floated when I moved. I knew I wouldn't wear a traditional white gown, but what Christian created exceeded every one of my expectations about mine and Ali's wedding day. I can honestly say that everything about my dress was perfect!

Even though we are far from being a traditional couple, I didn't let Ali see my wedding dress until the day of our wedding. We did a "first look" about two hours before our ceremony, and Ali was sort of speechless. We were on a terrace outside of our room at the Wythe Hotel, overlooking New York City, and she twirled me around to look at the dress. She had a huge smile plastered across her face and we shared our excitement that in a few short hours, we'd be married. I don't think she would have expected anything less than a rose-gold-and-crystal-covered blush pink gown from me!

Not to exhaust a totally patriarchal cliche, but…I felt like a princess. Wearing the dress, and even looking back at pictures, I automatically swell up with sheer joy. If I had a reason to wear it every day, I probably would.

I know I write about the transformative quality of clothing for a living, but it's been a while since I put something on that completely altered my sense of self. My wedding gown really did that.

Now that the wedding is all over and done with, I'm thinking of showcasing the dress in a frame. It's just so gorgeous and I don't want to keep it tucked away in a box deep in my closet. Seeing it really brings me a ton of joy. That said, I also fantasize about busting it out and wearing it for a dinner party, or to curl up on the couch and watch a movie. The dress only getting about twelve hours of wear in its lifetime is just too sad to think about. It deserves more than that!