the day that was so special to me...

but no one else will understand :-/ with the exception of MAYBE a few of you past brides, i bet you dont know who Anne Barge is...

...but I do. I've known and loved and ADMIRED her work and architecture of the most beautiful wedding gowns since I was about 13 years old. I remember, my first "favorite wedding dress" was an Anne Barge in a "Weddings" magazine when I was a freshman in high school. Obviously, back then, I didn't know who Anne Barge was either, but I soon learned, that over the next 10 years, hers would be a name I would come to love.

The entire time I was engaged (and long before that) I was glued to We TV and style network watching shows like "Who's Wedding Is It Anyway," "Bridezillas," "The Knot's Best of Weddings," etc etc etc. Although I'd loved Anne Barge dresses for years, it wasnt until I saw her sweet little southern self on one of the shows that I thought she was so cute and great. She's based out of Atlanta and this is the lady herself...

so, anyway. you get the picture, I love Anne Barge. We sell her dresses at Poinsett Bride, and I oogle and google over them all day. Paula, my boss, needed me to call "Anne Barge" today to get a couple of swatches for a new wedding gown we got in. We call designers, all day everyday, and we have certain representatives at each store. So I call Anne Barge, with an exasperated tone, say "Hiii Tammy, this is Brittney with Poinsett Bride, we didn't get the right swatches from you guys..." Before I can finish, in the sweetest little southern voice I hear ...

"Oh hey Brittney! This is Anne...Anne Barge! Tammy's not in today, so I'm just runnin around like a crazy woman trying to do all the stuff she does too. We're so sorry we didn't get you the right swatches, what do you need?" ................... silence............... Anne: "hello?" OH MY GOD I WAS IN SHOCK...quick quick... what day is it?? where am i?? WHAT WAS I CALLING FOR??" "Oh... yes maam... it was the silk satin, we got the blush swatch but we need the ivory and the champagne" Anne: " You mean the pearl?" pearl??? ...what?? ...do i speak? do i question anne barge?? whatttttt????? "Uh, yes maam, the ivory and the champagne" Anne: "Ok Brittney, I'm sorry but you mean Pearl right? We don't have a color called ivory, it's called Pearl." SHOOT MYSELF IN THE FACE. I KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT ANNE BARGE. I KNOW ITS CALLED PEARL. I FREAKED OUT...IM SORRY!!!!! "Oh, yes yes! I'm sorry, the pearl and the champagne." Anne: " Ok honey, no problem, and we appreciate y'all so much! We love Greenville and so glad we have yall carrying our gowns, you have a great day, Brittney!" WAIT WAIT, I LOVE YOU. YOURE MY IDOL. IVE LOVED YOU SINCE I WAS 13.. ANNNNNE! instead, what came out was "Oh, great! Thank you!" click.

Oh my gosh. oh my gosh. oh my gosh. I seriously sat there in shock for about 2 minutes before I finally answered my boss, who was yelling "WHAT SHE SAY? WHAT SHE SAY?" I said, "It was Anne Barge!!" she said "I know, but what she say about the swatches?" I said, "No, it was her. Anne Barge. On the phone. She's sending the swatches, but it was Anne." Paula just laughed. Apparently shes talked to Anne Barge before. But I. was flipping out. The rest of the day. I cant believe how star struck I was..... wait a minute.... yes I can.

i wanted to post all over facebook and twitter "I TALKED TO ANNE BARGE ON THE PHONE TODAY AND SHE SAID MY NAME THREE TIMES!!" but no one really knows or loves her the way I do, so i didn't. just want to have a clear recap of the story for future days. if i ever get the chance to talk to her again, next time i'd tell her how much i love her and what beautiful work she does! :) i promise i'll get the courage. I leave you with some Anne Barge favorites :)

and in case you'd like to see more, or know more about anne, you can find her, and some fabulous dresses here... http://www.annebarge.com/