Disclaimer: This post is entirely about selecting, purchasing, and looking at pictures of wedding dress contenders. If you are not interested in seeing what I may walk down the aisle in, you should stop reading now. PHI: this means you.Who knew deciding on a wedding dress would be so difficult?
Actually, I really should have anticipated this.
Currently, there is a dress I love hanging in my closet. Its problem is that it is 1 size too small. Yes, thats a pretty significant problem, but I kinda did something I always encourage other people not to do: I purhcased it anyway because it was on sale. Gasp!
I do love it, and could easily see myself walking down the aisle in it. Because of its sizing issue, it needs a significant overhaul...think: at
least $250 in alterations - just to make it wearable! Turning my $200 dress into one that's going to run me/mom at least $450. And with the economy, its probably going to be a good $500 total before that's all said and done.
The other kind of dress I love is more sexy - its got straps, a v-neck, mermaid styling with a dropped wasit and rouching. And is made of taffeta (not wild about the taffeta). It even has a train (which would have to be bustled). And I just love it. Its plain, but sassy and sexy and I could totally see myself traipsing around in it for one of the most important days of my life (notice, I said
one of...thinking about it this way takes some of the pressure off. Things should only be better after the wedding, not be the capstone of the first 27 years of my life - lol).
I have the best Mama in the world. And I think its because she gets me and loves the me I love. Despite this, I was worried about her response to my loving a different dress and was heistant to even mention it. See, Mom is fronting the dress bill. Her rationale: because she knows I'm particular about what I wear and that this would be no different. Love her. When I mentioned it last night, she was interested in seeing the dress and surprisingly open to the idea of me getting a different one. Ultimately, she wants me to be happy. The idea of the second dress makes me happy. Knowing that if I take this second route, Mom is still on board makes me even happier. She is the best Mom ever.
Okay, I think I've told you everything I can tell you about the dresses without actually showing them to you.
Henry Jason Christopher Smith (yes, thats his whole government - lol)
, if you've decided to read up until this point, baby please stop now. I'm posting pictures!.
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I'm serious....dont look! Youre the one who doesnt want to see, so you cant get mad if
you peek!
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Dress #1: David's Bridal
I've mostly tried Dress #1 on. Because its too small, I had to be clipped in. But I've tried on A-line dresses like them before, so I know what I look like in them. And they are flattering. And comfy. That dress is light and I love the ribbon detail. I also love the simplicity. And the price. We cant forget the price. Oh, and I would definitely wear it with the crinoline...in the pic it looks a little limp, but the crinoline fills it right on out. Hmm, what else do you need to know? Oh, theres no train, and its not that long, so I'd be relegated to flats (which I got for $7 a TJMaxx - pics later). I ♥ this dress. Seriously. Moving on...
Dress #2: Marisa (price: TBD?)
Dress #2 is fab, I know. What it will look like on me? Idunno. I think its a viable option though for wedding day glam. The top is a little low cut for me, considering I'm soooo booby, so Id want it to be taken up a bit so I'm not falling out of my dress all day. It has a train (that I wouldnt want to be too long, but would need bustling, and arguably I'd be able to wear some kind of heel with it. Its not too poofy and still pretty slick and sleek. I could rock it.
As you can see from its label, I know who makes this dress. I haven't been able to find it on their website. The next logical step would be to go to a bridal salon, but I know how that's going to go. David's bridal is the only one who really carries a variety of samples in my size. Other bridal salons are disappointing. And the only plus size dresses they carry are these ugly, over beaded monstrosities. I know from the first dress (we'll call it Dress #0) that I am not a beading kinda girl...I never really thought I was. And I know that simple gorgeousness is my way. In a perfect world I'd get this dress in white with a slight train and wear it with a a cathedral length veil.
*sigh* I ♥ this dress too.
There is this lady on eBay who makes custom bridal gowns. She'll make any gown you send her a picture of, and last night I threw caution to the wind and sent her that picture of the dress. I should have probably sent pics of the back too, but I'll wait and see what she quotes me in terms of price based on what I sent.
The incentive with going with this kind of situation is that I'd have the gown cut for my measurements - my big boobs, my funky middle section, and my big kinda flat booty. And even if I had to have a few little alterations when it arrived, for the most part, I'd have a dress that only needed to be tailored, not overhauled (remind me to explain the issues with my current dress some other time). I'm not entirely comfy with ordering a dress on eBay, but the more I read her feedback (594 response, 100% feedback) the more I liken it to purchasing a gown from a bridal salon. From what I'm told, those things are meant to be custom fitted. Rarely does someone purchase a dress that needs no alterations, so this situation is not really much different. If I purchase the dress to fit my largest part, and have the rest altered to fit, I'm in the same bridal boat as every other bride.
So whatcha think? Dress #1 or Dress #2?
♥
I am so excited. The bride who bought it has a wedding quickly approaching, so I'm going to do my part as a good seller and get it off to her today. The dress should fit her very nicely and since she doesnt have a whole lot of time before the wedding, I hope she doesn't have to have it altered. Not like I would have had to.
