The Dress!

lawyerette

Some of you may not have embarked on the dress hunt yet, but I am really curious about everyone's dress story.

For those who have your dress - stories, please!!

Still hunting? Tell us what has been your experience so far and what's holding you up?

Haven't started yet??? Tell us about your dream gown and where you plan to hunt for it

Moxie42

I'm planning on either a ball gown (not too poofy though!) or an A-Line with a drop waist. I've "window-shopped" online but don't want to look in stores until I'm 25 or less pounds away from my goal weight. I'm hoping to reach that point in July, which would give me about 2 months to buy a dress ad still have a year before the wedding. I'm afraid of trying any on now because I don't want to fall in love with one and end up with a dress that will be way too large and need so many alterations that it will be too expensive, or the alternations won't come out just right. I've heard it's best if the dress doesn't need to be taken in more than one size. I know many people have had NO problems getting dresses taken in much more than that but, well, I'm paranoid, lol!

As for where I'm looking, I've heard over and over again that David's Bridal has great dresses and prices. From browsing in magazines, I'm also a fan of some dresses by Mary's Bridal and Alfred Angelo.

Best of luck to us all finding a dream dress!!!! :flowerforyou:

MrsBHobbs

Well the dress shopping I do not like the way I look right now so it was extremely difficult to find something I thought "looked" good on top of that my daughter was like its just weird seeing your mom in a wedding dress?!?! So I am like at 43 is this weird? Anyway went by myself to Davids Bridal and found a dress it's ivory lace fitted beautiful feels a bit tight so wanting to get some weight off and gone. Hopefully I will get these pounds off and I will pay to have the dress altered gladly.

rubixcyoob

I'm with the others, I will not try on dresses until later this year. I don't get married until July 2014, so could have until Aug/Sept 2013 to get in shape, find and buy the dress.

However, I am in love with designers like Suzanne Neville, Sassi Holford, Stephanie Allin and Justin Alexander.

OspreyVista

I'm ahead of most people when it comes to dress shopping. Well, anything with the wedding really. I want to have as little stress as possible so I'm trying to get things that can be done early, way early I've currently searched at a few wedding dress shops. My experience has been back and forth. I have started telling wedding dress shops that I just got engaged and have no idea when the wedding is because every time I tell them it's not until May 2014 they basically just look away and aren't helpful and push me out the door. It's really frustrating. But ever since I've started telling them that I don't know, they've been more than friendly and helpful. There are a couple of dresses I have my eye on, but I'm not completely sure about them yet. I'm not going to buy my wedding dress until at least March as that's when I'm planning at being my goal weight currently. But I'd love to find one now and try it again then. At the very latest I'm hoping to get a dress by this coming may which will be 1 year before our wedding.

Learning2LoveMe

When we first got engaged (3 years ago) I went dress shopping and found my dress. Fast forward to a few months ago when I had the money to finally buy it, it was discontinued! So my maid of awesomeness and I searched for a new one... spent several weeks going store to store and nobody had anything I liked. One day we decided to go to this little hole in the wall dress shop near the mall, we walked in and I told the lady what I had envisioned and she came out with my dress to try on. It was perfect!!!! And it was on "black friday" sale, so I scored way under budget for it. It fit like a glove so I was able to take it home with me, and then I'll have it altered a few weeks before the wedding.

My profile picture is the back of my dress! It looks black, but its a dark navy blue.

So moral of the story - keep searching! You'll find your dress, and you never know... the place that you least expect will have it!

rubixcyoob

Learning2love is that an Alfred Angelo dress?

I fell in love with a designer and a dress I cannot have, because she doesn't sell in the UK or online. So I'm dreading the dress shop because I, like you, feel like I won't find anything.

'Grace' by Amy Michelson:

http://www.recycledbride.com/uploads/listing/20/20820/amy_michelson_grace_wedding_dresses_16922_view0.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FueFCXOxhcQ/SuLgzU_xoNI/AAAAAAAABbc/QwUilsmRC0g/s400/amy_michelson_grace_large.jpg
http://www.amymichelson.com/images/gowns/grace_web_back.jpg
http://theknottybride.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Amy-Michelson-Grace-2.jpg

Learning2LoveMe

Learning2love is that an Alfred Angelo dress?

I fell in love with a designer and a dress I cannot have, because she doesn't sell in the UK or online. So I'm dreading the dress shop because I, like you, feel like I won't find anything.

'Grace' by Amy Michelson:

http://www.recycledbride.com/uploads/listing/20/20820/amy_michelson_grace_wedding_dresses_16922_view0.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FueFCXOxhcQ/SuLgzU_xoNI/AAAAAAAABbc/QwUilsmRC0g/s400/amy_michelson_grace_large.jpg
http://www.amymichelson.com/images/gowns/grace_web_back.jpg
http://theknottybride.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Amy-Michelson-Grace-2.jpg

That dress is beautiful!

Honestly, I'm not sure if mine is an Alfred Angelo or not. I'll have to look when I get home. I'm a total tomboy, and don't pay attention to designer names. Everyone should be happy enough I'll be in a dress :laugh: I did find an Alfred Angelo that I was going to get but it was way over my budget and the dress shop wouldn't budge on the price. Only reason I know that one was an Alfred one is because the bridal attendant helping me out kept saying it over and over lol

Jaxter1104

I feel like I shouldn't be trying on dresses just yet because I have until next fall and my body is going to change when I lose weight so for now i've just been browsing online. I do like Maggie Sottero, Alfred Angelo and Vera Wang. Not entirely sure what silhouette yet. Thinking maybe mermaid or ballgown….

athorson8

I am 7 months out and I have just stated looking online. Do I need to go dress shopping this weekend? You guys are freaking me out!! :-) I have about 30 pounds I would love to lose. Is it too early to start?

locrianzone

I haven't even started... I have looked on line.. but I want to lose some weight first so I don't look like a plump!

Learning2LoveMe

I am 7 months out and I have just stated looking online. Do I need to go dress shopping this weekend? You guys are freaking me out!! :-) I have about 30 pounds I would love to lose. Is it too early to start?

It's never too early to start in my opinion! hehe. Just a heads up from what I experienced, if you go to the stores the majority of them have to order your dress and it takes 3-4 months before it comes in unless you do a rush order which I'm sure is a lot more money.

Votrvoman

I'm with the others, I will not try on dresses until later this year. I don't get married until July 2014, so could have until Aug/Sept 2013 to get in shape, find and buy the dress.

However, I am in love with designers like Suzanne Neville, Sassi Holford, Stephanie Allin and Justin Alexander.

I loved Stephanie Allin and Justin Alexander! In the end I went with Modern Trousseau. Got the dress at a trunk show so it was 10% off too! Third dress I tried on.

lawyerette

Okay, everyone. NO freaking out about not having shopped for a dress yet UNLESS you are within 6 months of your wedding. If you are, yes... freak out. And then go shopping this weekend. Otherwise, just play with your bridal porn (aka THEKNOT.COM) and dream about your amazing dress.

I will tell you all about my dress drama and finding my dream dress tomorrow.

rubixcyoob

I'm with the others, I will not try on dresses until later this year. I don't get married until July 2014, so could have until Aug/Sept 2013 to get in shape, find and buy the dress.

However, I am in love with designers like Suzanne Neville, Sassi Holford, Stephanie Allin and Justin Alexander.

I loved Stephanie Allin and Justin Alexander! In the end I went with Modern Trousseau. Got the dress at a trunk show so it was 10% off too! Third dress I tried on.

I love 'Dani' by Stephanie Allin, purely because it is simple, but has the nice little aysmmetrical bit at the feet. Although, I'm not too sure and don't know how well it is stocked near me.

jkcrawford

I will not be wearing a dress. I am not a dress kind of girl. I wore a beautiful dress handmade by my mother many years ago, then had a house fire 6 months after the wedding and lost it. I was able to salvage some pictures thank god. I will be wearing white jeans and a purple top. I will not be buying those till real close to the wedding day. My flower girls will be just the opposite, wearing purple pants and a white top. My hubby to be will wear a white dress shirt and jeans. I am planning on visiting a bridle shop for a veil. We live on a farm and are true country folk.
I'm sure all of you will look absolutely beautiful in your gowns.

Methinksabout

DRESS?? OMG, that’s such a horrible topic! :sad: I really don’t want to go dress shopping! I know a lot of girls love to go wedding dress shopping but I have never been one of them.. I really dread it! I am more the blue jeans/trousers type of gal and would love to get married in white, floating trousers - but my fiancé is having none of that.. It has to be a classic white/ivory long dress.. :sad:

Having never worn any dresses - ever! I hardly ever worn skirts (maybe once ever blue moon) and now I have to find a dress that flatters my weird shape and look good in it? Without knowing what I want and what would actually suit me? I have nice-ish legs, but am broad in my upper body - so a wedding dress will nicely show off my problem areas while covering up my best asset - NICE!

Really really don’t want to! And to top that, I will have to pay a huge amount of money just for a dress to be worn for a couple of hours! Not sure I can really justify that! Am actually eying those online dress shops - in the end it only has to last 12-14hours max and will be stored away in a box anyway.. so what’s the big deal?

Yeah, I guess if I would be happy with my figure things would be different. But they are not. And seeing as I have been told to order my dress roughly 6 months before the wedding - am freaking out! Because that is pretty much soon.. AT THE LATEST MID FEB!! And I won’t be able to shed much until then! Devastated!

And another problem: What size will I buy it? I def don’t want to get married in the size I am now (and I should be able to shed some weight / dress sizes in 7 months, right?) but I have no idea what is possible and how to judge it! I have started heavy lifting in the gym middle of Nov but had to take a break for our Christmas holiday - so now am re-starting that and I hope that will shape my body - but that also makes judging my body in 7 months time really really hard! But no matter what the size actually will be, I want to have nicer shoulders and a less fatty/flabby back - that should be manageable, right? Does any of you lovely ladies have any experience with losing dress sizes simply by going to the gym? Any advice?

Luckily my MoH is coming over from Germany end of Jan to have a look with me - to find out what suits me and to make the experience of dress shopping a bit nicer.. She will def be able to make me feel more comfortable about wearing a dress, so am really looking fwd to that! EVEN THOUGH it is waaaaay too early!

But when it comes to more details of the dress? I dunno really what I want. I know I want an A line dress with a fairly plain skirt, no ruffles and probably a holder neck - always depending if it actually suits me. Maybe some lace or sparkles around the bust area - if it doesn’t focus too much on my broad shoulders..

Sighs.. I don’t know!

kathheen

I havent started looking yet i have browsed a bit online but i think i want one which is semi fitted and backless so there is a real need for me to have no flabby bits on the day:bigsmile: I am desperate to try on a dress even just one just to see what i look like but i have been told by a few married friends to prepare myself for the 'dream' dress not suiting me :huh: but they also say i will definatelly know it when i try it on! So exciting and i dont get married until 7/6/14!

sjr4291

http://www.labelleangele.co.uk/ronald_joyce_dorianna.html

Thats my dress...although im not that skinny...haha!

Learning2LoveMe

Learning2love is that an Alfred Angelo dress?

I fell in love with a designer and a dress I cannot have, because she doesn't sell in the UK or online. So I'm dreading the dress shop because I, like you, feel like I won't find anything.

'Grace' by Amy Michelson:

http://www.recycledbride.com/uploads/listing/20/20820/amy_michelson_grace_wedding_dresses_16922_view0.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FueFCXOxhcQ/SuLgzU_xoNI/AAAAAAAABbc/QwUilsmRC0g/s400/amy_michelson_grace_large.jpg
http://www.amymichelson.com/images/gowns/grace_web_back.jpg
http://theknottybride.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Amy-Michelson-Grace-2.jpg

That dress is beautiful!

Honestly, I'm not sure if mine is an Alfred Angelo or not. I'll have to look when I get home. I'm a total tomboy, and don't pay attention to designer names. Everyone should be happy enough I'll be in a dress :laugh: I did find an Alfred Angelo that I was going to get but it was way over my budget and the dress shop wouldn't budge on the price. Only reason I know that one was an Alfred one is because the bridal attendant helping me out kept saying it over and over lol

I checked my dress. It says Milano. Never heard of it.

Tinker1208

I went to Bancroft Bridal my first trip and didn't really find anything I Loved. Next trip was at Davids Bridal just because they have so many sizes and styles and I didn't know what I even wanted! I tried on a mermaid fitting dress and hated it!! Just did not look good on me at all! The next dress in the fitting room, the sales person said it was also a mermaid fit, so I told her I wouldnt try it on. My mom told me that its a bad omen if I didn't try it on since it was in my fitting room already (lol). So I tried it on and it turns out the dress was a fit and flare, and not a mermaid fit at all! Its my dress and I love it! When I came out of the room, everyone loved it and said it was totally my dress! Its all lace, strapeless, ivory, beading on the top and the middle goes to the side with more beading. under that beading the lace opens up all the way to the floor. My wedding is very rustic in a cabin and i just think this dress will pull it all together!