Things are gettin' real! Early Saturday morning, I drove to Dallas to shop for Alex's wedding dress. What an experience it was! First of all, I have some big news: I made it to the bridal shop on time. This was a miracle considering the boys had a late football game Friday night and I had gotten up at 4:30 Saturday morning to make the drive. Also, I'm very rarely on time, but we don't need to talk about that right now. Alex and Paige watched me walk into the shop and their eyes were huge! They just couldn't square that I was there before our appointment began. A very rare occasion. (I have other strengths!)
Speaking of the that, we actually had three appointments scheduled that day. We began at Warren Barron, a beautiful bridal shop in Dallas. There were plenty of dresses on display, but there weren't so many that it became visually overwhelming, which is good for my brain. I love choices...but too many choices makes me want to take a nap!
Alex and Paige had gotten there a little early and they'd already pulled a handful of dresses for Alex to try.
These didn't make it to the dressing room, but every single dress was absolutely gorgeous. The staff at Warren Barron was so helpful and knew so much about fabrics, fit, and what dresses are best for what kind of wedding. It's all I can do not to show you the photos of Alex trying on the various dresses, but we've got to keep the wedding mystery over here!
What made the shopping experience extra special is that Maurico's mom Martha came along and joined us on the shopping trip. She just has her two boys, so Alex knew she would enjoy the wedding dress process. Martha is a gorgeous, kind person, and it's been so wonderful getting to know her. We have fun together!
I can't show you any more photos right now...but I can tell you that Alex found the perfect wedding dress, and we all loved it unanimously. It was (I believe) the fourth dress she tried on, and we knew almost instantly that it was the one. In fact, as soon as she "said yes to the dress," Alex immediately called the other two stores where we had appointments and respectfully canceled, explaining that she'd found the dress and didn't want to take up their appointment times. (They were understanding and said it happens regularly in both directions!)
Oh, and since we had Paige, Alex's maid of honor, we went shopping later in the afternoon for bridesmaid dresses, too! More on that later. (These were just options we looked at, the actual dresses aren't shown here!)
Thank you for letting me share the adventures with you! The wedding dress is beautiful, it's perfect for Alex, and I can't wait to show it to you. (Patience will be tough over the next few months!) It was nice to have a happy Saturday and look forward to the future!
Ree Drummond is the founder of The Pioneer Woman and a lover of butter, basset hounds and life on the ranch! Ree started her blog in 2006, and now millions visit ThePioneerWoman.com every month for her trusted recipes and fun family stories. Here’s what she has been up to since it all began:
New York Times Bestselling Author
Ree has written two memoirs (Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, and Frontier Follies) plus nine bestselling cookbooks:
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl (2009)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from My Frontier (2012)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays (2013)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime (2015)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It! (2017)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The New Frontier (2019)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Super Easy (2021)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinner’s Ready! (2023)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The Essential Recipes (2025)
Food Network Host
Since 2011, Ree has been sharing simple, family-friendly recipes—and the occasional kitchen prank!—on her award-winning show The Pioneer Woman, filmed right on Drummond Ranch. Ree is also a regular judge on Food Network competitions, including Christmas Cookie Challenge.
Founder, The Pioneer Woman Collection
Ree has been creating and selling kitchen and home products at Walmart since 2015 and she’s involved in designing every piece and pattern. The line now includes best-selling appliances (you have to see the floral blender!), plus hundreds of pieces of cookware, tableware, and more. Ree doesn’t like to play favorites but the Agatha print has a special place in her heart.
Restaurant and Hotel Owner
Together with her husband Ladd, Ree has opened several bustling businesses in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, including The Pioneer Woman Mercantile—a bakery, restaurant, and general store that draws visitors from across the country (many come for the biscuits alone!), P-Town Pizza, Charlie’s Ice Cream Shop, and The Boarding House, a charming hotel with eight different rooms decorated by Ree and Ladd.
Media Personality
Ree appears regularly on national TV shows like Today, Good Morning America and more—all while managing to keep flour off her shirt.
Wife, Mom and…Grandma!
Ree’s kids (daughters Alex and Paige and sons Bryce and Todd) are all grown up, and as of December 2024, Ree is the proud grandma of the cutest baby ever, Sofia Scott, born to Alex and her husband Mauricio. Ree still cooks for Ladd (and the kids when they’re home), and she also looks after a few mischievous ranch dogs.
