My dress is arriving on December 17th! I am totally freaked out though because I've dropped from a 24 to an 18 and I have no plans on slowing my weight loss. I'm not sure what to do about my dress and if it will be possible to alter it properly. I'm a little freaked and I'm honestly considering selling it and finding a new dress. My wedding is in April so I would have to buy something that is in stock somewhere. Ack! I never realized that getting married would be so stressful!

@ hillm12345 - I think the important thing is to get out there and try on dresses at different places. There are beautiful dresses to be found at every price range.

(posting for others to read

Hi! Where do you live at? Have you ever heard of Group USA? They sell a label from Camille La Vie and I, personally, think they are an excellent product. I bought my dress from there after a few boutiques let me down. My sister in law actually got her gown there too. They range from about $199 to $899. Mine was $899 and it looks like it costs thousands! They always offer specials (I got $100 off and when I opened a card I saved 15%.)

Her dresses fit TRUE to size! I wear a 12 pants and a 8/10 skirt and dress. I ordered a 10. It's beautiful. I actually even FB messages the designer and she called to talk to me.

As for shapes. I always assumed I would like an A line or poofy thing. To hide my hips and booty. WELL my dress is a mermaid and I look sexy!!!! LOL I have been self conscious about my butt and curves since I was younger. But not now! I think you should explore everything!!!!!

I just bought my dress at the 2nd place I went. The first salon (Kelly''s Closet in Atlanta, GA) was too expensive for the dresses I liked.... around $5,000. I ended up going to a Bridal Show and heard about a sample sell at Winnie Couture in Atlanta, GA. I didn't plan to buy a dress but the prices were marked down 50-80% and I found one I loved. I was really stressed b/c I was by myself and I really hadn't even started shopping for a dress yet.... I was just going to look around. However the dress is 4 sizes too small but luckily my grandmother is a seamstress and can alter the dress. My grandmother has given me until April to lose weight. I ended up paying $1,000 for a dress that would normally cost a lot more.

Well with all that said look for sample sales or also if you try on a dress you like try to find the same dress online for a lot less. I would be very careful to make sure it is really the same dress and not a bad reproduction.

Also in Atlanta we have some very nice bridal consignment stores (le dress, Fabulous Frocks, etc.)... that was my plan until I ended up at a sample sale. However alterations can be very expensive. I knew I could buy a dress that was not my size b/c of my seamstress grandmother.

My friend bought her dress on craigslist. You can buy dresses from brides who changed their mind or wedding was canceled. I would just make sure I could try it on first.

Another option I was looking at was having one made. I was looking at etsy.com for options.

Anyway I really think you should try to at least get a range... peoples idea of reasonable price really differs.

Good luck!

I purchased my dress at a boutique in my area (Appleton, WI) and they were amazing. The consultant I worked with was extremely helpful and I found something I liked right away that was comfortably in my price range. The dress is a Jasmine design and everyone who has seen a picture of it says that it's "totally me", which is definitely what I was hoping for I did order it in a size that I wasn't comfortable with but she reassured me that the "model sizes" aren't based off of "real girl" sizes and that they would be able to alter it to fit me perfectly. My mom and I had an appointment at Davids Bridal later in the day and even though I found "the dress", we went anyway to see if there was something else. I was very disappointed with the service we got there and the consultant was not helpful at all. She did nothing to let me know that the dresses would fit me differently when ordered in the correct size. I left there and don't plan on returning for any business (except maybe to buy shoes for the wedding- there are a pair of shoes there with 3 mm of memory foam in the sole of the shoe........... so comfy)

We went through the same boutique for the bridesmaids dresses (Alfred Angelo) and even though the price was increasing, the consultant said she'd knock off $15 for each girl who ordered through the boutique to even out the price. How awesome!

I am on a limited budget. I live in the Atlanta area and I have found some upscale resale shops. I have found $2000-$3000 dresses for less than $900. Some are previously worn and some are dresses bought from stores that have gone out of business. internet search for your area...and good luck!

I got my dress from eBay for $183. It's custom fit and handmade. I can't wait to receive it.