Good News! I found my wedding dress and put a deposit down to get it ordered! Yay!

The funny part is, in my recent post, I talked about how I knew which one was “the dress” and guess what? That actually wasn’t the dress I ended up picking out! When I first decided to go dress shopping, it was literally the week after MGB and I got engaged. I went just for “fun” to kind of see what was out there, while still keeping in mind I had a little bit of time before I needed to order a dress. At that time we also had not nailed down the venue, even though we had an idea of where we wanted to have it.

The dress I picked was actually on my top 3 list, but it was kind of hanging in the background and I kept looking at the pictures from the first time around and it was growing on me more and more. I tried all the dresses on in order from last to first based on the last time I was there and when I got to my number one, the feeling just wasn’t there anymore. I saw the dress differently and it didn’t bring out the emotions it did last time. The consultant made a point that it was probably the emotions of that day that made me cry when I tried the dress on, especially since the one that made me cry was the very last one I tried on. I have to say that I loved the place I got my dress at because they laid everything out on the table, including the designer and the price of the dress without the haggling. Other than David’s Bridal, it was the only place that let me take pictures (let’s not get started on my opinion of places that don’t!) and it was just an overall great experience.

So my advice to newly engaged ladies is this, take your time! Make sure you go to a few different places first, take lots of pictures (if they allow you!) and don’t be afraid to try on the same dresses a few times. There is nothing wrong with getting emotional about a dress, but my advice is to sit on it and then come back later to make sure it’s the dress that you are actually emotional about and not the overall “OMG I am getting MARRIED!” feeling. At the end of the day, this is a BIG purchase because this is what your FH, photographer and all of your guests will be focusing on!

Let me first of all say, that I knew people that cried when they tried on the dress they ended up wearing on their wedding day and I was always like “Oh Gosh, that is so lame”. Don’t get me wrong, I love this wedding stuff and I have this breathtaking image of myself in my wedding gown, but I was always like “Oh I will never be that dramatic.” Well……….. it happened.

I’ve been to quite a few places to try on dresses (ie: David’s Bridal and other local shops) and while a few things popped out at me, it wasn’t until I had the very last dress I tried on and my friend took a picture that I ran back to the dressing room and cried! The girl helping me wasn’t sure how to react to me running off until she came back and saw me crying. I liked two other dresses a lot, but I couldn’t make a decision which one I liked more, but I tried the Casablanca dress after trying my two favorites on twice and knew it was meant to be. I still want to take my parents and my bridesmaids back to the shop to see it before I put the deposit down, but I am beyond excited!

Have you found your dress yet? How did you know you found “the dress”?

I’m a detail-oriented person so I think as I begin to share the elements of the Lilac wedding with you, I’ll share some details first. Bring on the pictures….

What details are you most interested in for your wedding?

All photos in the post are by Chatman Photography

That’s right, girls! I have a wedding dress! I just cannot believe it.

I wasn’t originally planning on going wedding dress shopping so soon. In fact, I wanted to put it off as long as possible. You see, the very idea of trying to organize this big outing with all of my bridesmaids and mother in tow so I could parade about in different dresses stressed me out to the max! And after watching so many wedding shows, I thought that was how it was just supposed to be. I am beyond delighted to report that my experience was not the least bit stressful!

Grandmother Dandelion was in town and because I don’t get to see her often, I really wanted to do something wedding related while she was staying with us. The original plan was to take her to tour the venue with us. However, the venue wasn’t open for touring because of an event so that was out. At home just a few days ago, I was watching “Four Weddings” with my mom and grandmother. Dandelion Mom brought up the idea of going wedding dress shopping the next morning. At first I was totally against it because it gave me such anxiety. But, I really did want to do something for my grandmother and I knew she would love to see me trying on the different gowns. So I agreed. And after sending my M.O.H. a quick text asking if it was okay if I somehow by the grace of God found The Dress without her, we went to a bridal shop called Azalea Bridal & Formal located in Snellville, GA. I just canNOT recommend this shop enough! I had gone wedding dress browsing before and it was not fun; the store was super uptight (to the point that I was not allowed to touch the gowns and the employees had to dress me with my arms stuck out to the sides) and I left feeling incredibly discouraged at the prospect of ever finding a gown that both spoke to my style of traditional & unique AND within my tight-tight budget.

My wedding dress good luck charm!

My experience with Azalea (http://azaleabridal.com/) was so polar opposite! First of all, ALL of their gowns are in the $300-$1500 price range. This was a huge deal to me because some places considered “budget bridal” to be $1500+! Second, there were SO many styles to choose from. I’m certain brides of all different kinds of personalities and tastes would be able to find something that suited them. They were also incredibly laid-back. They knew exactly when to help me and offer their opinion and when to step back and let me browse by myself. They were so kind and I look forward to when I can go back for my fitting in about 14 weeks! And can I just say how fabulous it was to receive a 15% off coupon valid for ANYTHING IN THE STORE? Wow.

And so, I found my dress at this gem of a bridal shop. I have pictures of me in the sample size, but I’d rather wait until my fitting to post pictures of me in the gown. And no worries, I’ve kept this blog a secret from Mr. Lion for this very reason. But, here is a photo from the same designer (Eden Bridal).

This was my runner-up dress.

You wouldn’t believe that the dress only cost $950! (Less with the coupon!) They just look so much more expensive than that. My maid of honor almost asked me how I was able to afford such a dress on my budget! I had a great time trying on all the dresses. And I just loved having only my mother and grandmother there. I adore my bridesmaids, but it made the experience so low-key just like I wanted.

Who accompanied you when you found your wedding gown? Did anyone find their dress by themselves (like my mom!)?

Quick recap:

Round one: Initial trying on. Stress level = low. Thoughts of dream dress coming to life.

Round two: Hello, Kleinfelds. Randy – I heart you, and the dress you chose for me. Olive Mom and Olive Family aren’t sold.

Round three: Leave Kleinfeld’s empty handed. Research cheaper options of the dream dress. Make new appointment at Kleinfelds. Stress level – getting higher.

And now – finally – I can say that after the last trip to Kleinfeld, I happily bought the dress of my dreams. Did I do the research on other, similar styles and try them on? Absolutely. But – the winner that Randy picked for me was the dress, and nothing else ever seemed to compare to it.

Olive Mom and I went to Kleinfeld alone, which I think was a great idea. Olive Mom had kind of warmed up to the fact that the dress of my dreams probably wouldn’t be what she was originally envisioning for me. So, she decided it should be her who would compromise – and I should get what I wanted. And I love her for that. [Quick sidenote - we heard TWO other mother/daughter shoppers disagreeing on what type of dress they should wear. Guess it's a common theme between modern brides and their more traditional mothers!]

She took a bunch of pictures of me like a proud mama would once I told our consultant we were purchasing – and I even managed to get a few tears when I thanked her and said I truly felt like a million bucks.

So – what did I learn from this process? To go with your gut. I’m still early in the planning but have gotten a bunch of things done and find myself sometimes second guessing my decisions. [Did I pick the right photographer? Should I have tried on more dresses? That DJ was good, right?] If we constantly worry about every decision we are going to make during our engagement period, we will seriously drive ourselves (and future husbands, and MOH’s, and friends) nuts. Everything works out the way it is supposed to, and your gut instinct is normally right. I mean heck – how many of us can say we had a gut feeling when we met/kissed/fell in love with our Dudes that we knew they were the one? I know I can.

When I first got engaged, Olive Mom let me in on a well-kept secret she had been hiding from me. Her good friend, let’s call him Mr. Style, is not only an up-and-coming wedding dress designer, but he also has a close, personal relationship with the owners of Kleinfeld’s in New York. To say that I was ecstatic when learning I would have my appointment to try on dresses there, and with them, would be the world’s largest understatement.

While that appointment is slowly approaching (it’s the first weekend of August), Olive Mom and I also went to a few local bridal stores a few weeks ago. Olive Mom knew how excited I was to go to New York, so she wanted me to be able to have a basic idea of what dress style and fabric I liked beforehand so I would not be completely overwhelmed by the bridal mecca that is Klienfeld’s. It was a WONDERFUL idea.

Let the search begin!

Here is what I learned:

1. Try on everything. While my gut feeling was to go with a fit-and-flare or mermaid shape with no straps, I tried on almost every silhouette when I went shopping. I wanted to make sure that what I thought was the most flattering in my head actually was on my body.

2. Bring shoes. Most stores have their own shoes for you to wear while trying on dresses. I have not even thought about the shoes I will be wearing – but I did want to gauge how high they could be. I tried on different heights of pumps I owned and stood next to Olive Dude (wearing dress shoes) and looked in the mirror. We agreed on a height that looked best, and I brought those shoes with me.

3. Ease up on the entourage. When I first imagined trying on dresses – I thought it would be great to have a large group of friends and family with me. While I do love all of my friends and family – I am unbelievably glad that it was just Olive Mom and Olive Grandma who went shopping with me. I trust their opinion and it was not overwhelming at all. I will say though that Olive MOH is accompanying me to Kleinfeld’s because I would love her opinion as well and its a good excuse for Olive Mom and Olive MOH to spend some time together (they have only met once or twice).

4. Sometimes Mom is right. Prior to actually trying on dresses, I was pretty anti-sparkle. I didn’t want anything too flashy on my dress and thought that a pair of diamond earrings would be all I needed. Olive Mom argued that the right amount of bling (she didn’t use that word, though this story would be super awesome if she did) made the pictures better. All of the sans-crystal dresses I tried on did, to me, seem a bit plain – and I did end up liking the idea of a little bit of sparkle on my dress.

5. But – sometimes she isn’t. I have never wanted to wear a veil. Sometimes, yes, they are stunning. But – not for me. Olive Mom couldn’t believe this when I told her – and she said I’d change my mind when they put one on me in the store. So, I’m standing there – in a gorgeous could-this-be-it dress – and they bring out an equally gorgeous veil to go with it. They put it on my head – I look at Olive Mom – and we both started laughing. Veils = not my thing.

I can’t wait to post a follow-up to this after my trip to Kleinfeld’s! What are some of your tips for the dress hunt?

I found this great alternative to dress photos and had to share. All of us are so used to the hanging dress photos, but what about putting it on a dressmakers form stand? Here are a few ideas I loved:

Vera Wang Gown in a Garden Setting | Interior Designers Wedding Gown Display

As one of my bridesmaids described it – the wedding is “classy country,” and I couldn’t agree more. That’s just who we are…and that being said we wanted that to reflect in every aspect of our wedding, especially in the way we dress.

www.jasminebridal.com

For me, this has been one of the easiest parts of wedding planning. I walked into the bridal salon and saw the dress I knew I was going to wear on the manikin. Although I did try on an awful lot of dresses that day, in the end I chose the dress I fell in love with that day. I got the most exciting call this weekend – my dress is here! I can’t wait to try it on

I will be pairing it with a birdcage veil, feathery hairpiece, sparkly shoes, and raindrop diamond earrings. Simple, fun – ME!

www.morilee.com

I am equally pleased with the bridesmaid dresses. I have a wonderful group of girls supporting me, so I wanted each of them to look fabulous. That meant choosing a dress that would flatter all body types. I chose a sweetheart neckline with a gathered cumber bun waist and a full “twirl” skirt.

The girl’s dresses are also in, and we are in the process of getting everyone in to try them on…a daunting task when everyone is busy at school and currently lives 2-3 hours away – including me!

www.jimsformalwear.com

The boys will be wearing khaki suits with blue ties (expect Poppy Dude whose tie will be in ivory). Because of the dark blue I chose for a summer wedding I thought the khaki would really work to lighten things up.Poppy Dude and the boys will also sport their cowboy boots…his one request!

My mom is making a darling flower girl dress that will mimic the tiers of my dress. So precious!

With less than four months until the wedding, it feels like crunch time. However, I just want to make it through the last month of school!

Finally! This was meant to be one of my first posts I have had this post waiting for pictures forever! Sorry for the length, I think I’ve continued to add to it as I waited for pictures. I finally got the pictures, so here goes….

Come dress yourself in love, let the journey begin.
-Francesca da Rimini

I do believe this was Fressia Mom’s motto after Freesia Dude proposed. Almost immediately she was on me to go shopping for wedding dresses explaining how our schedules are only going to get busier and if we wait any longer we won’t be able to get a dress in time!!!

Now, aside from the fact that we had not set an official date due to the fact that we did not even know what city we would get married in yet, how did she know we would not be able to get a dress “in time”? Well, we will just attribute that to one of those things mom’s just know. We picked a date and location a few months after I picked out my wedding dress, and the dress decision was stress free since we went so early. Anyways, back to the story…

I was very nervous to go dress shopping. I had done plenty of searching online, and knew what I did not want as well as some ideas about what I did: primarily, I wanted something unique. I had no idea how I would find this, but planned on searching some consignment shops. However, Freesia Mom is not really up for this sort of thing and she and I set a date to go shopping the weekend after my 26th birthday. Freesia Dude could sense my concern and sweetly explained that he wasn’t able to go that weekend but he was sure my mom and I would have a very nice time. So sweet, yet had no idea that he would not be wedding dress shopping with me at all!

Now, to those who might like to involve their fiance’s in wedding dress shopping, I bring no condemnation at all. Freesia Dude is just not the type that could hang in a wedding dress salon while I try on a dress, let alone more than one. In addition, I love surprises, getting them and giving them…and this will be a surprise from me to him. He’d better love it!

So, I go to pick my Freesia Mom to go wedding dress shopping, just me and her. I arrive at home and she has a few birthday gifts waiting for me and one really special gift…and engagement gift that she had bought years before. A beautiful string of pearls, just like the one she’d given my sister a couple of years before for her engagement. This started the day just right!

We started off to the bridal salon (the same place my sister-in-law had purchased her gown, and my sister had found her 2nd place gown). I love Freesia Mom, of course, and cherish our mother-daughter relationship and our friendship. With that said, I was very nervous about the two of us going shopping for my wedding dress. Ever since I was a little girl, we have had rather different tastes in clothes. Fortunately for both of us, as I have grown, our tastes have grown together a bit. Even so, Freesia Mom still buys me clothes completely expecting me to return them for something else. She’s also usually telling me I need more color in my wardrobe, something other than all these neutrals…fortunately, she was pleased with me in a neutral wedding dress! In contrast to our differences in style, we both get rather stressed about shopping for clothes. So with my new pearls, on our way to the bridal salon, I expressed to Freesia Mom that I was pretty nervous about this whole dress business.

The sweet lady that my mom is (I know it anyways) said, “Well, let’s say a prayer about it.” She did and it was perfect.

We arrived at the bridal salon a bit late, as they had moved but not updated the address on their website! So we went in and got to business. We met our attendant and discussed what I was looking for and our price point. She showed us around and we picked out a few dresses. I tried on the first couple and ruled them out immediately. The second couple were more difficult to dismiss so quickly, but we needed more. I directed our attendant to one dress that she had pointed out to us earlier. It had immediately caught my eye, but was on a mannequin. She brought it to me with a few more. I put on the one I had asked for and we went to the “big mirror”! It was magnificent. Freesia Mom cried, supposedly a good sign. We decided to keep going and tried another that Mom and I had noticed, more vintange and on sale! It was beautiful, but I decided it was somehow my sister’s taste which is why I liked it so much (sister found a dress that was the same for me) and it was not the dress for me. Another we tried was exactly what I thought I wanted, flowy and simple…but too simple. Last was a more modern dress with a small ribbon at the waist and a dip in the back. The details were stunning, as was the back. The first dress that caught my attention kept my attention. I put it back on, and Mom cried again. It was feminine and classic, but sexy and unique all at the same time.

In love, but is this the one?!

Gorgeous back and neckline, like the ribbon, not beachy enough!

Exactly what I had imagined...if only we could shorten it for the reception. Love it.

So romantic, would have been Freesia Sister's favorite

Awesome dress, a little spunky for me

Sold...I never could have even dreamed of this dress. In love with Finisterre, and Freesia Dude of course!

The back of Finisterre

Pronovias Finnestere turned out to be my dream dress. One prayer, one day, one shop, found the dress I love, let the journey begin!

I am in need of a reception dress. If it were only for comfort reasons, considering that it will be hot and humid at my wedding, I would still be hesitant to change out of my wedding dress. I absolutely love my dress, and as is obvious, I will only be wearing it for a short period of time. While I plan to extend that amount of time as long as possible, I will need to change into a reception dress at some point in the evening.

I say need because of a matter dear to my heart. Years ago my mother purchased two strings of pearls, one for my sister and I when we got engaged. The day she took me dress shopping, she gave me my pearls and oh how beautiful they are. I love them. My sister married her husband a couple of years ago and wore her pearls most of the days during the year or so she was engaged. I loved my pearls so much I got a little jealous that my sister could wear hers nearly every day and my job makes that somewhat not possible. Anyways, I wore them trying on dresses knowing they would be worn with the dress.

A couple months later, my uncle called for my mailing address. He asked if I would be wearing a necklace with my dress and if Kenny had ever bought pearls for me. I told him I would be wearing a necklace, and no, Kenny has not bought pearls. He informed me that he would like to give me the pearls that he gave my recently deceased aunt on their wedding day. He just knew they would look beautiful and that Aunt Linda would be so happy for me to have them.

Two very special, and very different looking, strings of pearls. The ones from my Freesia Mom are smooth and classic, the ones from Freesia Uncle are three strings of freshwater (thus varied in shape) pearls. Both absolutely perfect and beautiful, from two people with the sweetest of intentions that I would never want to hurt.

After much deliberation, and discussion with Freesia Sister, as well as a friend who happens to have 2 daughters around my age, I decided a change into a reception dress would be a perfect time to change necklaces. Freesia Mom’s pearls with the wedding dress we picked out together, Freesia Uncle’s pearls with the reception dress.

So, to find a reception dress within a reasonable budget. When I imagined my wedding dress, there were a few qualities that I thought of that did not end up a part of the wedding dress I chose. I’m hoping that maybe this will be a chance to incorporate a few of those qualities: something flowy, with an open back…and above the knee since it will be a summer reception dress. I’m aiming for less than $200. I have emailed a couple of dressmakers. One would make the dress for $250, but I’m concerned of the chance that it wouldn’t turn out. This is the “sketch” I sent (I know I’m no designer!):

"front", "back" option 1 or "back" option 2

Of course, while I have ideas of what I would like, I am definitely open any dress that might work. These are some I am considering, though none have completely grabbed me. Likely because I can’t try them on, but nonetheless:

Inexpensive, straight across back, love the flowers, from Ruche

An etsy dress from MoonCircus, can be made in other colors, perhaps ivory??

Nicole Miller dress, on sale at edressme.com

Max & Cleo from Bloomindales, has a great cross-back, maybe shortened?

A little expensive, but I love this etsy dress, The Ruffled Chameleon

Way too expensive Donna Karan, and not flowy, but love the deep V and open back...and the shoes, but that's for another post

So, Buds, what do you think?? Do you plan to wear a dress? Or Blossoms, did you wear one? Any dress suggestions? I’d love some feedback!

Not a huge dilemma.  Not super drama.  Just a little disappointed.  A little bummed.  A wee bit deflated.

So. I was perusing blogs last week and I stumbled upon this dress.  It’s beautiful, no?

Credit: Lilly Pulitzer

So. Let’s talk about this…

1. I’m having a “backyard” BBQ, more casual wedding.  Perfect? Check.
2. My BM dresses are also eyelet lace.  Great match? Check.
3. This dress costs $298 and shipping was free? One hell of a steal? Check.

Now, you must be wondering what’s wrong.  Welps, the image below is the main image for the dress… the ones above are what you see when you click “zoom.”

Credit: Lilly Pulitzer

I didn’t notice the difference until after I ordered it (nowhere near me had it in stock to try on)… can you spot it?

The beautiful scalloped hemline of the “zoom” image is missing in the lower image… but really, they decided to flip that piece of lace over… so the beautiful scalloped hemline is now on the bodice… tucked right under the bust.  Why did they decide to do this? I have no flippin’ idea.  This leaves the hem of the dress super Plain Jane.

I decided to give it a chance anyway.  I was in love with the idea of this dress. Totally, absolutely and wholeheartedly enamored.  And frankly, it was the hemline that absolutely sold me.  Wahh.

Anyway. I get the dress.  It kinda fits okay.  The girls are presenting a problem (as they always do) and I probably would need to get a little bit of material added to the sides just to insure against spillage.  It is, however, about a foot too long… who do they think I am? Godzilla? No ma’am.  I’m not short, either… measuring in at about 5’7″.

The bottom hemline is where my heart breaks though.  It just take the dress from cute for a backyard wedding to way too casual.  And since the pretty part is on the bodice, it’s quite see-thru… so I could see my belly.  Kinda strange.

To step aside a sec, I want to really applaud the customer service level over at Lilly Pulitzer.  They tracked the dress down at a store in White Plains, NY and had it sent to me for free… and I got it 3 days later.  Not only that, but they mailed me a ‘Thank You’ card and congratulated me on my Big Day and asked that I share a picture with them… nowthat’s customer service.

All-in-all, I decided, sadly, that it’s a no-go.  I’m so bummed.  I emailed Lilly Pulitzer and it turns out that the images in the “zoom” portion of that page are of a sample dress they created — then after the fact, the design was changed.  I asked that since their website is inaccurate (that’s the gentle way of saying “false advertising”), would they mind paying for my shipping should I choose to return it.  Their customer service folks have been fantastic and SO helpful.

So, little broken hearted me is waiting on my shipping label so I can send the dress back.  I really don’t want to.  I really want that sample dress. It would be perfect.

Anyway… on to the next.  Anyone have any idea where I could find a semi-casual dress like this for such a great price? After this baby I cringe to think of going back to silk taffeta and all those heavier materials…

Insight? Know of anywhere I could find something like this? I’m seriously yearning for it… and may shed a tear when I send this dress back this week…  :o(

I’m not having a bridal party. But my sister still needs a dress, and we went shopping for her dress in January. It just arrived. Here were my original inspiration ideas:

(Dress on the right, Impression 1758)

(Dress on right, Impression 1731)

(Dress on left, in silver as shown)

I wanted her to wear either gray, silver, or pale pink, to go with our wedding colors. In the end, however, she ended up ordering this dress:

DaVinci 9332

Except, in fuschia. She’s wearing it without the halter, just strapless, with the gem at the top. It’s chiffon, so it flows beautifully, and she’s ultra slim so it looks amazing on her. I dare say she looks even better than the mannequin and that this photo doesn’t do the dress justice. And the bright pink color will make her bouquet (all pale pink flowers) really stand out.

Whew! It’s one less thing to worry about!

What are your bridesmaids wearing?

When I first asked Jes if she’d be up for taking a ride to Bridal Mart, I called it Bridal Barn. After having gone there, I’ve decided that it was a fair mistake.

If you’ve ever been inside a David’s Bridal, and if you’re a budget bride, I’m sure you have, you’ll remember the rows and rows of dresses kept in clear garment bags. Maybe you were allowed to peruse the bags with your consultant, and maybe you weren’t. Bridal Mart is a giant store, filled with rows and rows of garment bags holding sparkly white dresses. Supposedly they were in some kind of organized chaos, but I didn’t see it. The perimiter of the store was lined with mirrors where brides could show off their finds to their family.

Since Jes had bought her dress there, she lead me through with expertise. You can ask for help, but we opted to browse on our own. We picked a few dresses and headed for the dressing room, which was more like a locker room. Put your modesty away girls because you are in a room with dozens of brides trying on their dresses with everything hanging out for everyone to see.

After a few dresses, I had somewhat decided on this short number. It was fun, light, airy and perfect for a beach wedding. I wasn’t 100 percent sold though. I loved it, but I didn’t love it.

There were plenty of other short dresses, but unfortunately I’m not a size 2 and apparently short dresses at Bridal Mart are only for skinny girls.

With no consultant shadowing us, Jes asked if I’d like to try on the biggest, most rediculous dress we could find.

Heck, yes.

We pulled some random dress with some crazy flowered overlay and poofy shoulder thing and headed to the dressing room. “You know that because this is a joke dress, it’s going to be the one, right?” I said as Jes helped put the dress over my head. She zipped me up and amazement fell across her face.

As a chubby chick with a weird figure, I wanted to stray away with anything that wasn’t an empire waist. I assumed none of it would look good on me, including the dropped waist, which is so often pictured on skinny little things. I was amazed at how it flattered my figure. I had random women telling me how great I looked. I was in complete and utter shock and for the first time ever, I felt beautiful in my body.

This dress weighed a million pounds and I wasn’t thrilled with that weird little flower on my shoulder. It was just way to heavy, and way out of my budget, to be considered. But, the cut was so fantastic that I told Jes we had to try to find something with a dropped waist, but had the lightness of my original dress. Back to racks we went with a new mission. We pulled a few, but had a hard time finding a dress with a drop waist that wasn’t big and blingy.

While this number was lighter than the others, it was still too formal for my beach-side wedding. Had I been getting married in the fall or winter, this dress would have been ordered in a second. Look how super skinny I look!

We had arrived at the second to last dress in our pile and knew in an instant it was going to be super light and airy, which was what we were looking for. While a little tight, it fit pretty well. As I headed for the door, a consultant stopped me to comment on how great I looked, echoing Jes’ earlier comments. When I stepped in front of the mirror, my mouth dropped. It had a natural waist, so it didn’t flatter my hips as well as the dropped waist, but it did wonders for my figure.

The dress was as light and comfortable as the one that is hanging in a closet in Holbrook, but flattered my figure instead of hiding it. I was in love. When I saw that the price was $75 cheaper than the original dress, I fell even harder. This was totally it.

But I didn’t order it.

Alfred Angelo had said they were working on helping me out with my dream dress and the last thing I need are two extra dresses. When I didn’t get a reply, I decided to bite the bullet and order the dress. I ordered it on our three-year anniversary, which was also exactly four months from our wedding. I paid $50 extra to have it rush shipped and it’s scheduled to arrive at the end of March. I had intended on posting a pic of the original dress, but since there is a chance that I might actually be wearing it, I decided to keep it a secret for just a little longer.

I should tell you have I have a history with ugly dresses.

This is the third time in my life that I’ve tried on the ugly dress only to have it look fantastic. The first time was when I was shopping for bridesmaids dresses for my cousin’s wedding. My cousins dared me to try on this ugly cream and blue dress. I came out of the dressing room to looks of shock and awe. The dress looked awesome.

The second time was for prom. My friend C told me to try on this ugly two-piece yellow dress that was hanging haphazardly on a rack. I did and her reaction was, “Oh my God. You have to buy that dress.” I did.

The moral of the story is, give the ugly dress a chance. There’s a very real possibility that it just might be the one, or lead you to find the one.

Yes, it is here!  The Vera Wang David’s Bridal Collection has just come out this month.  These dresses are absolutely stunning.  Not only are they stunning, but they’re affordable!  Most of Vera Wang’s Dresses cost around $5000-$10,000+.  At David’s Bridal, the Vera Wang collection ranges from $600-$1400.  They’re more on the modern chic side with a touch of the vintage look.  If you love lots of layers and tulle, you’ll love this new line. Sooo beautiful.  drool…

One Shoulder Gown with Asymmetrial Draped Skirt

Soft Net Gown with Delicately Draped Bodice

One Shoulder Structured Fit and Flare Gown

Satin Faced Organza Ball gown with Corsage Detail

Before I dive into what I am going to wear on one of the most important days of my life, I have inched into dress options by looking at bridesmaid dresses first. From what I’ve seen, it has become increasingly popular to pick a color/fabric, and then have your bridesmaids pick the cut for which they feel is most flattering on their body.

I’m a little bit torn on this. I’m having 6 bridesmaids, all of which have pretty different body types. I want them all to feel comfortable in their dress, but am not sure I like the varying necklines/straps/etc should they all choose different dresses.

The only time I’ve ever been in a wedding I was young enough to be a flower girl and didn’t have to dread wearing an “ugly” bridesmaid dress. While I don’t think I would ever put my girls in something they hated, I could see (for example) a girl with a larger chest being uncomfortable with a sweetheart strapless dress (which is the style I am leaning towards). My original thought was to bring two of my bridesmaids who have different bodies – I figured if they both liked the same dress it would look good on anyone.

So – thoughts? Does it have to be the same dress? Or are some of you guys more lax on this and don’t really care?

Finding the perfect wedding dress has been no small feat. I’ve really been feeling the pressure to get it right. But after a sort of catastrophic first appointment at Kleinfeld, I’ve finally found (what I think is) The One.

Sorry, no pictures. We must leave something to my groom’s imagination, after all! But I will tell you that it’s quite gorgeous and makes me look really skinny and I’ve been measured and left a deposit and that’s it! There’s no turning back now! And yet…

There’s this other dress. And it’s kind of a dream.

The dress is by Watters and I kind of love everything about it. It was the last dress I tried on before I made my decision, but now I find myself going back to it. Is it how lovely that model looks, with her tawny skin and slim, slim arms? Is it the ethereal tulle overlay that makes the gown look as if it might float away? I don’t know. But it’s driving me nuts.

So here’s what I’ve been constantly reminding myself: When I tried it on, I didn’t look like that. It somehow made me look stocky and wide. The lace bodice was a bit stiff. And who wants to feel stocky, wide and stiff on their wedding day?

The lesson in this, besides the fact that I’ve clearly identified myself as a self-masochist, is that once you buy your dress, stop looking at other dresses! I’ve even deleted the photos I took in each dress from my phone to keep myself from continually second-guessing my pick. What I know is that when I’m in my, dress — yes, that’s right, it is MY DRESS — I feel amazing, and like a bride.

Related How To Pick A Wedding Dress When You’re Bad At Making Decisions

After years of watching hundreds of brides pass through its fabled doors on TLC’s “Say Yes To The Dress,” I finally had my very own bridal appointment at Kleinfeld.

The store has a strictly enforced no-photography policy, so I’m sorry to report I couldn’t get any pictures of the interior. But believe me when I tell you, it’s like wedding dress heaven! And at the same time, it was my wedding dress hell.

The space is absolutely beautiful, bright with white light, gowns glittering from every corner, brides-to-be excitedly hopping from dressing room to showroom mirror, their entourages cooing with each new flash of organza.

I, too, rolled in with a sizable posse: my mother, my mother-in-law, my sister, my sister-in-law, and my two other bridesmaids. This wasn’t the first time I’d tried on dresses; I’d already begun a casual love affair with a gown — a romantic organza A-line with a softly ruched sweetheart bust, which I’d taken to referring to as “my boyfriend” — two weeks beforehand.

But after perhaps too many glances at snapshots of me in that dress, my excitement for it had waned. So to Kleinfeld we went!

My consultant, JB, was wonderful. One of the first dresses she pulled was exactly what I’d described: an ethereal tulle skirt with a sweetheart satin bodice fitted at the natural waist. The retro 1950s Hollywood glamour of the dress was what appealed to me most. In it, I looked and felt like a princess, which is not at all an experience I (a) expected and, (b) imagined I would enjoy. Everyone loved it, however perplexed by my out-of-character reaction.

The next dress to really make an impact was an ivory mermaid with lace appliqué. Through some holy miracle of Spanx and those jumper cables the consultants use to keep the sample glued to your body, I looked skinnier — and sexier! — than I thought was possible. It was a smack in the face, that one. I’d never envisioned myself in lace, let alone a MERMAID, and here I was loving my shape and the look of the dress.

So, at this point, we’re working with three ENTIRELY different gowns that look something like this:

Of course, these aren't the actual dresses.

Enter the panic attack. Kleinfeld has a notoriously high-pressure sales force, and I felt the crunch. Suddenly, four consultants are on you telling you how beautiful you look, sprucing you up with rhinestone headbands and ribbon sashes and birdcage veils, trying to get you to Step 3: closing the deal.

And there I am, stuck at Step 1, staring at myself in the mirror, holding a silk-flower bouquet and wrestling with the very first thing you ask yourself before you buy a wedding gown: What do I want to look like the day of my wedding?

I thought I had a clear picture in mind, but trying on these very different styles threw me for a loop.

And, for the record, at no point did I experience that overwhelming, teary-eyed, “This is it!” epiphany that everybody tells you you’re supposed to feel. I’m beginning to think it’s a myth.

JB, for all her patience and emotional support, asked if she could ask the million-dollar question (“Is this the dress?” for all you non-TLC watchers).

I pleaded, “No, please don’t!”

Realizing a sale was not in the cards that day, JB and I returned to the dressing room, where she gave me her e-mail and cell phone number, letting me know I could contact her any time with questions. If she weren’t selling dresses, I think she’d be a great therapist.

And that’s the story so far. I have a solo appointment to revisit the first dress this week. Hopefully, putting it on will be a splash of cold water on my red-from-anxiety face.

Till then, tell me, garden: How did you know yours was the dress for you?

…that a new pair of shoes can change your life!

Isn’t that the truth?!

My wedding shoes are undergoing a massive overhaul, maybe.  Meaning, I’m rethinking wearing flip flops with my dress.  Problem is, my dress has already been hemmed to account for wearing flats.  I can’t wear traditional heels due to the location. My current shoes are brown leather flip flops with clear rhinestones covering the straps.  They fit with the outdoor location and the casual feel we are going for.  But now, I am afraid they aren’t formal enough for a wedding.  To give an idea of the formality, or lack thereof, of the wedding, the groom and groomsmen are wearing tan colored suits (see below) and Sperry’s.

Jim's Formal Wear - http://jimsformalwear.com/collection_destination.htm

Cymbie Dude will have on the suit above, while the groomsmen will not wear a vest or tie.

What do you think? Can I wear flip flops?

“I’m really nervous,” I told my friends, V and K, as I waited a few minutes for the rest of my entourage to show up at David’s Bridal.

Part of me was nervous because I was finally doing something I have been dreaming about for years. The other part of me was nervous because I was sure that this was going to be like every other shopping trip I’ve ever been on, which often leads to me nearly bawling in the dressing room because nothing fits my awkward figure correctly.

But when I finally began to slip into the first few prospective wedding dresses, the self-consciousness melted away and I was having an amazing time. One by one I put on a dress and looked at the faces of my bridesmaids, my mother and my future mother-in-law for reactions.  Most were positive some were not. We laughed, made jokes and no one cried.

As Michelle, my consultant, began narrowing down the dresses from a general idea to something more specific, the task became harder and harder. Each dress was better than the last, until we finally came to the last one.

Sorry, ladies. This isn't the dress I chose, but it was one of the finalists.

I had put aside my four favorites, in which the last – a bright-white and airy gown with a corset back – was included. As much as I liked the dress, it was a size too small so I had trouble picturing it on my body. All I could see were my imperfections. I also decided that it was too formal for my waterfront wedding.

I put on the other two, one of which was a Grecian goddess-inspired dress that was mentally the front-runner the moment I tried it on. It was so light and different that I fell in love with it – until I tried it on again. After trying on five dresses after it, it no longer held the same punch.

My favorite was the last dress (sorry, my wonderful fiance does read by blog so I have to leave out the details) and I instantly felt right in it. It was light, airy and perfect for my beach wedding. While some of the other dresses may have been more figure-flattering, they weren’t right for me.

Lucky for me, I happen to catch David’s Bridal during their fall sale so every dress that I tried on was under budget. I had $700 allocated for my dress and any alterations. Of course, if I found THE dress, I would have fudged my budget a bit, but I didn’t have to worry.

With my mind made up, Michelle and I peeked at the price while in the dressing room. My dream dress was only $299.00. Can we say HELL YEAH? With my job complete, I ran off with my bridesmaids to find their dresses, while Michelle began to work on the order. I had planned to have the dress shipped to Raleigh so that I could do any fittings here.

She grabbed me as I ran past and informed me of a problem. “The dress is discontinued. We can’t order it. If you want the dress, you’ll have to take that one.” I looked at her and with all seriousness in my voice said, “I’ll take the dress with me today.” Aside from a hem and a built in bra, the dress was my size and fit perfectly.

Because the dress was discontinued, David’s Bridal took another $50 off, making my dream dress $249.00 and well under budget.

While I’m not so confident with how my flabby arms are looking in my dress, I am confident that I might pull this whole thing off under budget. As long as I can keep cutting costs and start doing some yoga again, I think I’ll be trim and less broke than expected when this whole thing is over.

Originally I saved dress shopping for when I was planning to have lost some weight. Since the weight hasn’t gone and time was ticking away until our wedding date, I finally just made the plans to go dress shopping. I wanted my mom to be in town for the dress shopping, so I waited for a weekend for her to be able to come with me and made appointments at two different places: David’s Bridal and A Formal Occasion (if you aren’t from GA, specifically the northern Metro-Atlanta area, it’s a small boutique in Kennesaw).

My dress shopping experience was fun and exhausting. If you’ve been, you know what I am talking about. Putting on and taking off umpteen dresses and modeling and all that stuff really takes a lot out of you. I absolutely slept like a baby the night after dress shopping. Anyway, the fun part.

We started out the day at 11am at David’s Bridal. It was a Saturday so it was busy but not packed. I didn’t feel overwhelmed by the amount of people in the store but I did feel overwhelmed by the amount of dresses in the store. I also felt overwhelmed by the saleslady as she was a bit … pushy. She was polite and had a feel (kind of) for what I wanted but it wasn’t exactly what I expected my dress shopping experience to be. I probably tried on at least 10 dresses while I was at David’s and none of them really wowed me. By the time that I left I was hot and hungry and was set on coming back to get a dress that was so-so to me. I liked it. But I didn’t love it and it definitely wasn’t the one. I confessed to the lady that I didn’t want to commit to the dress right then and there because I had another appointment so she said that she would make me an appointment for later that afternoon and I could come back and put it back on and get it.

I should also say that I had high expectations for dress shopping as I have been watching (here and there) TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress and that is what I expected my day to be like. Without all the drama of course!! I thought that the saleslady would be the one helping me in and out of the dresses and I would get to model the dresses to my mom, my Matron of Honor and one of my bridesmaids. This wasn’t the case. My mom was in the room with me helping me get in and out of the dresses and I think that it ruined the experience for both of us. She had to help me in and out of dresses and then walk out with me to see it and I think that it was not only exhausting for her, but she didn’t really get to enjoy seeing me in each dress like she should have. Neither of us were really wowed by the dresses at David’s…

After David’s, we made our way to our appointment at A Formal Occasion. Let me tell you, my appointments were like night and day.

My experience at A Formal Occasion was amazing. First off, I walked in and was welcomed warmly and sincerely by the owner, Lucinda, and she led me to dresses and told me to pick out ones that I liked. So, between my mom, my MOH and my bridesmaid, we were able to pick out about 6-8 dresses that we liked. Then, the three of them were asked to go and sit down and I got in and out of the dresses with the help from Lucinda and eventually another saleslady. I felt absolutely like a bride at this appointment.

The first dress that I walked out in was the first dress of the day that I actually was excited about and said that I “felt like a bride”. It was a good sign It wasn’t the dress that I chose, but it was one of the 2 that we narrowed it down to. All I’m going to say is that I’m a Maggie Sottero bride! Y’all will have to wait until after my wedding to see pictures of me in my dress/of my dress. Oh. And I never made it back to David’s Bridal. I called and canceled my appointment because the dress I chose their was no competition to the one I got

All I could think about was my dress after the appointment and how much I wanted to go and put it back on. I’ll be in around February/early March and I can start getting alterations and all that jazz… until then, I keep looking at my dress on the website and wishing that I could wear it all the time.

What was your dress shopping experience? How many dresses did you try on before you found the one?

I will preface this post by saying: my wedding dress does not have pockets, and I’m ok with that.

Alfred Angelo style 2119 has pockets

It seems like designers are fascinated with giving the ladies a place to put their things during a wedding. Wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses are popping up with pockets from almost every line.

Jim Hjelm Style 5957 has pockets for your girls

This may be a convenient design, but is it a decision maker? Do pockets make or break a dress in the bride’s mind?

As a maid of honor, you could put the groom’s wedding band in the pocket. My cousin pointed out that tissues would be a great pocket filler.

If you were to have pockets in your wedding dress, what would you put in them?

I am still remembering the great time me and my ladies had at the bridal shower. They all competed for the best designed TP Bridal Gown. I was the judge and MOH was the moderator and timekeeper.

I didn’t realize the ladies would get so serious about the game. The competition was tough and it obviously made my decision more challenging.

The rules were simple. You got to design and assemble a TP dress with no glue, tape or adhesive. The models were standing very still and tried to be patient while the designers worked effusively against time. They only had 10 minutes to create their masterpiece.

Ladies designing the TP dress.

I had a tough decision to make. All of the dresses looked spectacular. The designers worked hard and the models were lovely.

And the winner is…team # 4. I thought they created a clean and classic dress that looked gorgeous on my friend.

This was definitely one of the highlights of my bridal shower experience. Having fun with my ladies is on top my list any day.

I work in an office where three of us are preparing for weddings. J is planning an offbeat kind of wedding, R is planning a very simple wedding for her 2^nd marriage, and I’m planning something that will resemble a traditional wedding. We have lots of fun wedding conversations!

J told us the other day that she is wearing a green dress (the color). I started thinking about hold awesome she would looking in green and remembered that white, ivory, and champagne are not everyone’s colors.

This bride designed her dress and had it made by a friend:

Monica and Paul's Traditional Wedding with a Twist: Offbeat Bride

I know that in some cultures red is a traditional wedding color and I’ve seen some amazing red wedding dresses in bridal magazines.

Red Wedding Dress: weddingplaners.blogspot.com (This one seems a little purple)

From weddingdress.mybog.it

Although I was adamant about wanting a white dress (white is a flattering color for me) I know so many other brides who would rather wear another color. And why not?

From weddingdressfantasy.com

Not so sure about a whole color? The lines of dresses with colored details let you match the rest of the wedding colors.

Alfred Angelo style 1516 in Marine Blue

So I always knew that I would get my wedding dress custom made. And I don’t mean always as in since I’ve been engaged. I mean since I realized that I am one of the pickiest people on the face of the planet when it comes to dresses – so basically when I started to dress myself for special events. This little part of my personality still comes as a shock to most, as they all know me as a “Comfort Cootie.” That nickname was lovingly bestowed on me by Dahlia Dude, and has since stuck exceedingly well. And I must say that it rings true: I’m a jeans and tshirts kind of girl. Anyway, back to being picky.

When Dahlia Dude and I first started talking about getting married, I knew that I would never be happy with my dress unless I picked it to match the venue. And so, as our ideas of venues changed and evolved, so did my mental image of my dress. And you’d be surprised at how many mental images of wedding dresses I’ve had floating around in my head. I could probably open up a boutique at this point!!

When we finally decided on a beach wedding in Cape Town, I started working on narrowing down the images that I could find online into an inspiration board of dresses. And this is what I came up with:

All Dresses Taken from Designer Sites

As you can see, there are multiple common factors throughout my inspiration board. I found that I really liked lace, organza/chiffon (I think the flow-y factor on the beach will be gorgeous!!), flowers, and just simple design. Then, a few weeks later, I stumbled upon this on Kleinfeld’s website, and my jaw dropped:

Kleinfeld Bridal

Gorgeous, right? It was at this moment that I realized the extent of my love affair with lace. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m nowhere close to actually finalizing the design for my dress. I’m definitely going shopping once or twice to see if there’s anything that I’ve missed. Hopefully there isn’t as I don’t think my inspiration board can handle any more pictures!! But I’m definitely glad to be nailing down at least a general idea so that I can start talking to the seamstress.

Before I leave you to continue with your blog reading, I wanted to show you this quote. One of my good friends from waaaaay back in high school posted this as her Facebook status after I had bombarded her with dress pictures/questions (in my defense, she seemed to be enjoying herself!!). I loved it, and it definitely made me laugh, so hopefully it will bring some joy to ladies. Here goes:

PSA: Wedding dresses can be separated into four general categories: The “I’m a pretty pretty princess with Daddy’s check book.” ball gown wonderland of silk, crystals and scary price tags; the “I’m sure a nightgown will be fine, you can’t even tell!!” silk sheath that’s 90% static electricity; the “but it’s ~DESIGNER~!” abomination of overblown ego, wild dreams and left-over fabrics; and the ever-elusive “The Dress.”

I read that whenever wedding planning stress really gets to me, and it still makes me laugh…

So what about you ladies? Did you go with the ball gown? Lace? Satin? Silk? Organza? Chiffon? Did you choose your dress before or after you chose your venue? Did you look online before going to boutiques/bridal salons? Tell me about your experiences!!