·Sandy Williams·
I got an engagement ring for Christmas. My boyfriend and I had been dating for almost a year and both felt the time was right to join our lives together in holy matrimony.
The month of January was spent planning our perfect Alabama June wedding. My mother，two sisters and I went to Huntsville，the closest town with a selection of bridal shops，to buy the gown that would play the leading role on my special occasion.
We had a wonderful time just being together and sharing silly jokes，but the day soon turned serious by afternoon： still no sign of the dress of my dreams. Both sisters were ready to give up and try another day in another town，but I coerced them into one more boutique.
I had a good feeling as we entered the quaint little shop filled with the scent of fresh flowers. The elderly clerk showed us several beautiful gowns in my size and price range，but none were right. As I opened the door to leave，the desperate shop owner announced she had one more dress in the back that was expensive and not even my size，but perhaps I might want to look at it anyway. When she brought it out，I squealed in delight.
This was it！
I rushed to the dressing room and slipped it on. Even though it was at least two sizes too large and more costly than I had anticipated，I talked Mom into buying it. The shop was so small it didn’t offer alterations，but my excitement assured me I would be able to get it resized in my hometown.
Excitement wasn’t enough. On Monday morning，my world crumbled when the local sewing shop informed me the dress simply could not be altered because of numerous hand-sewn pearls and sequins on the bodice. I called the boutique for suggestions but only got their answering machine.
A friend gave me the number of a lady across town who worked at home doing alterations. I was desperate and willing to try anything，so I decided to give her a call.
When I arrived at her modest white house on the outskirts of town，she carefully inspected my dress and asked me to try it on. She put a handful of pins into the shoulders and sides of my gown and told me to pick it up in two days. She was the answer to my prayers.
When the time came to pick it up，however，I grew skeptical. How could I have been so foolish as to just leave a $ 1，200 wedding dress in the hands of someone I barely knew？ What if she made a mess out of it？ I had no idea if she could even sew on a button.
Thank goodness my fears were all for naught. The dress still looked exactly the same，but it now fit as if it had been made especially for me. I thanked the cheerful lady and paid her modest fee.
One small problem solved just in time for a bigger one to emerge. On Valentine’s Day，my fiance called.
“Sandy，I’ve come to the decision that I’m not ready to get married，”he announced，none too gently.“I want to travel and experience life for a few years before settling down.”
He apologized for the inconvenience of leaving all the wedding cancellations to me and then quickly left town.
My world turned upside down. I was angry and heartbroken and had no idea how to recover. But days flew into weeks and weeks blended into months. I survived.
One day in the fall of the same year，while standing in line at the supermarket，I heard someone calling my name. I turned around to see the alterations lady. She politely inquired about my wedding，and was shocked to discover it had been called off，but agreed it was probably for the best.
I thanked her again for adjusting my wedding gown，and assured her it was safely bagged and awaiting the day I would wear it down the aisle on the arm of my real“Mister Right”. With a sparkle in her eye，she began telling me about her single son，Tim. Even though I wasn’t interested in dating again，I let her talk me into meeting him.
I did have my summer wedding after all，only a year later. And I did get to wear the dress of my dreams-standing beside Tim，the man I have shared the last eighteen years of my life with，whom I would never have met without that special wedding gown.
幸运的结婚礼服
桑迪·威廉姆斯
圣诞节的时候我订婚了。我和男友交往已快一年了，我们都感到是携手步入神圣的婚姻殿堂的时候了。
整个1月我都忙于准备我们6月将在阿拉巴马州举行的婚礼。我和母亲，连同两个姐姐前往最近的城市汉斯维尔的一些新娘服装店去挑选结婚礼服，这可是婚礼中至关重要的一个环节。
我们母女四人高高兴兴，有说有笑。但是到了下午，仍然没有看到我梦想中的结婚礼服。大家都有点不耐烦，我的两个姐姐都已经准备就此打道回府，改天再到其他的城镇去看看了，但是我硬拉她们陪我再多看一家小店。
当我们进入这家满是鲜花的精致小店时，我有一种很好的预感。上了年纪的店员给我们介绍了几件适合我穿的美丽礼服，价格也都在我的预算之内，但都不是我想要的。正当我打开店门准备离开时，孤注一掷的老板娘喊着，在后面仓库里还有一件礼服，这件礼服很贵，甚至没有我穿的号码，但是也许我会看一眼。当她拿出来时，我欣喜地叫出声来：
“就是这一件了！”
我冲进试衣间把身体滑进去。尽管它至少要大上两码，价格也比我预想的要高很多，但我仍说服母亲买下了它。这家店很小，连改衣服的服务都不提供，但是在激动之余，我确信能在我们家附近的裁缝店把它改好。
然而盲目的激动是无济于事的。礼拜一早上，当我们那儿的裁缝师告诉我因为礼服上手缝的珠子和饰片太多而没法改动时，我傻眼了。我打电话给那家服装店寻求建议，听到的却只是机器的自动应答。
