Monday, February 25, 2008

Wedding dress shopping, volume 2

Okay, you all said that you wanted photos from this weekend's wedding dress shopping experience, so I took you at your word. On Saturday, armed with my camera, I headed to North Carolina's bridal superstore with my mother and sister. I had already found a dress that I loved, but it was a bit out of my price range, so the hope was to find a dress that I liked as much at a fraction of the price.

The secondary goal was for me to try on lots of dresses that actually fit me to get a better idea of what suits me and what I like in a wedding gown. And oh my god, it was so amazing to get to try on dresses that actually fit me (some were even too big!) and see what I look like in a wedding gown. The oh-god moment came when I tried on a veil and dress at the same time--it was the first time that I actually felt bridal. It was a little scary. But mostly amazing. See?


The first dress that I tried on made happy because it made my waist look small. The satiny, a-line style definitely suited me. However, it was a bit too centered and princess-y, and I didn't like how round the neckline was.


The next one had this awful, straight neckline that was about two inches too high, and a weird ruffle thing in the skirt that I just did not like. It had this asymmetrical thing going on in the bodice that I liked, but it needed to be a couple inches further to the side--apparently it wasn't asymmetrical enough for the likes of me.


The third one was a halter style, which suits me very well in casual clothing, and it made me feel very tall, which I liked. But the halter thing doesn't seem to work as well on me when it comes to wedding gowns, and the rest of the gown felt very plain.


I found a couple of dresses I liked that were too small for me to try on, so my sister stepped in and modeled them for me. First, a dress that I absolutely loved and that looked totally beautiful on my sister--but it was very unforgiving, especially in the stomach, and I was pretty sure it wouldn't look nearly as good on me. Which is too bad, because it was an absolute steal at $150.


And another dress that looked great on her, making her waist look tiny, but somehow I couldn't quite wrap my head around the idea of it on me.


Just one left now, and while I liked it very much, it didn't call to me nearly as much as my front-runner did. The shopping experience was overall very useful for me and made me feel a lot happier and more excited about wearing a wedding gown. And this last dress was definitely pretty--great satin, a good cut, an interesting neckline, and it suited me--but it just didn't feel exactly, perfectly right the way the front-runner did. None of the dresses we saw this weekend did.

Still, it was a gorgeous dress and if for some reason I am unable to get my front-runner, this dress would be a suitable backup.


So this upcoming weekend, my sister and I are going back to the original bridal boutique to look at my front-runner again and make sure that we aren't hallucinating about how great it was. And if we weren't, and it is as perfect as we remember, then I will be ordering it. And it really should be perfect, because it incorporates all the elements that we liked about these other dresses--interesting neckline, asymmetrical bodice, a-line skirt, gorgeous satin material, lovely train, flattering on a pear shape. Like I said. Perfect.

So now I know. The third, and hopefully final, volume in this saga should be appearing next week.

53 comments:

  1. This post was so fun! I loved seeing the pictures. The only dress that I really DIDN'T like was the princessy one (second photo). It's amazing how different they look on.

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  2. I am SO happy you decided to post photos! I bet the whole experience of trying on dresses was so much fun. :)

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  3. I am so happy for you. Being able to actually try on the dresses is a big deal. It makes it so real, ya know? I will never forget when I found the store (and the dress) that actually had sample sizes I could get in to. What a difference.

    You will look great no matter what - but how fun to have choices!

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  4. The pictures were great - What a good sport your sister was to let you post pics of her...Um, she knows, right? ;)

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  5. I love the neckline of the first dress your sister tried on. Very classy :-) Can't wait to see more!

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  6. You're a trooper, taking pictures for us. It does feel more "real" to see you all dressed up as a bride.

    I actually liked the halter on you and I think the dress that was a steal that your sister tried on would look great in another colour as a bridesmaid dress!

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  7. Ooooh, yay! I like the last one a lot, and also the side gathered one your sister modeled. I don't want to wear a wedding dress myself, but it's awesome to know there are so many different styles available!

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  8. Sounds like an exciting weekend! Can't wait to see what you decide!

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  9. sounds like you had an amazing time dress shopping! and yay for pics!!!

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  10. That looks like fun!

    I actually think the halter style (the one you are modelling) is quite flattering.

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  11. Yay for trying on dresses - I bet it felt good to see yourself in some too! Can't wait to hear what you end up with!

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  12. That was almost TOO fun, seeing you trying on dresses! I looked at each picture for AGES.

    I don't know---I think that halter one looks pretty awesome on you. You look all elegant in it, and it pulls attention up to your amazing hair.

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  13. swear, I'm all sorts of scared about the possibility of a wedding.. I mean, it's obviously WAY down the line but all the work involved? gah!

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  14. How fun!!! I agree with the comments above about the halter style dress...it looks great on you.

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  15. LOVE LOVE LOVE! yay! so happy to see so many fun pictures!!

    so does torsten know not to come look at these posts? or are you not keeping the dress a secret from him?

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  16. I love seeing everything you have going on for your wedding!! Dress shopping has to be insane, I'm glad that you have two options for your dress!!

    :)

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  17. OH MY GOD.
    I just read your V-Day post about the flowers.

    You HAVE to come read my blog... somewhere in November around Thanksgiving, there is a post called The Crazies... read about my hormonal, freal out experience.

    Mine still wants to marry me too!

    Karyn

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  18. Hooray for weddings!!! And Dresses!! I think you’re right—you need to feel spectacular in your dress. So/So will not do. You’ll know it when you have it!

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  19. (Not surprisingly) shopping for wedding dresses was one of my absolute favorite elements of planning my wedding. I ended up getting something that was almost nothing like what I had in my head.

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  20. I LOVE this post! So super-fun and weddingy. :) I think I must be weird, because I actually like the princessy one. And I think you look fabulous in all - but I agree with an earlier commenter that the halter one really does look good on you! (Although - I get what you mean about it feeling more causal than you want it to be.) I can't wait to hear when you decide on one!

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  21. What a fantastic day! I can't wait to see the final pic! You are going to look like a million bucks on the Big Day! So exciting!

    xox

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  22. Yay! I'm so glad you're getting it all figured out! I hope you find that the first dress is still amazing!

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  23. Oooo, pretty white dresses!

    I loved this post. Seriously, thank for the photos. And you know what? I really loved the halter one on you.

    Is it naughty of me to ask you to take a photo of you IN the front runner? :)

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  24. I think you should always go with your first gut instinct on these type of things. Especially when it comes to a wedding dresses. If the front runner is was what you really want, it is going to be hard to talk yourself out of it. No matter what the cost. You only get married once, well in theory ;)

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  25. You are beautiful! WOW!
    Thanks for posting your saga. I actually liked the asymmetrical one with the strapless straight top. I liked the halter too.

    I think you just know. That was my experience anyway.

    Actually my mom cried when I put it on. It's a sure sign if someone cries:) Can't wait to see a pic of the number one dress:)

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  26. Woo hoo! Photos!

    You are such a trooper. This weekend, I couldn't even bring myself to try on regular old dresses to ATTEND a wedding. Bah.

    I hope that the original dress is as magical as you remember it. If not, however, I do really like the last dress with the cool neckline.

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  27. drool
    weeeeedddddinnnggg dressessssss.

    *smile*

    and just think how lovely it will look when its all taylored to you!

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  28. Yay for wedding dresses! And hmm that store looks awfully familiar :) The fitting rooms crack me up :) no doors, no real definition of space. Just a bunch of brides to be going crazy in a sea of white.

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  29. That was so great for you to share. Even though you said you didn't like it - MY favorite was the halter top - you looked amazing in it! I have to go back and look at it again...

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  30. I really, really like the idea of a v-neck for you, it looked very flatting on both you and your sister.

    I hear you about halters though, I'm not sure I support the concept for a wedding dress.

    It IS very lovely to do the veil with the dress. You looked great.

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  31. ummm, I meant to say the v-neck looked "flattering" not whatever that word was...

    and I almost just wrote "fattering" instead, so I'll stop typing now.

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  32. You look just like a bride!!!! My favorite is the first one your sis tried on (I like the v-neck), but I can see where the ruching is dicey.

    the second runner-up is gorgeous, too!

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  33. It's crazy how weird it is to try on wedding dresses - it suddenly all seems very very real.

    Can't wait to see what you pick!

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  34. Look at you, you BRIDE! Loved the pictures, can't wait to see what you pick!

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  35. So fun! I really love the halter one. And it helps so much to actually try them on; the ones I liked the most based on sight only were the ones that looked the worst when I tried them on. Can't wait to see the ultimate choice!

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  36. the dress in the last picture looks almost like mine! i loved seeing you trying on dresses...isn't it such an amazing feeling trying them on, especially with the veils?? i can't wait to see which one you end up getting!

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  37. I actually really adore the halter dress too - because I will never be able to wear one, gah. :P Or strapless either!

    You look so beautiful, it must be so much fun trying on dresses. I can't wait to be doing that, and going all girly for a while!

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  38. Yay pictures. Must have been fun and stressful. I didn't like the first dress (second picture), the hate the princess neckline. Didn't like the second dress, because the neckline is straight (a little unflattering) and the ruffles, Oooh you don't want so much of ruffles running down and drawing eyes.

    I did like the halter, and the two dresses that your sister tried. The first dress that she tried has everything that you should/must be looking for. An A-line silhouette, Vneckline (or strapless) and accentuated the hourglass figure.

    I'm sure you'll find a dress that you love, and the one that loves you back. Happy shopping :)

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  39. What a fun day you must have had trying on such great gowns. I have to say the halter suits you very well, but the notched neckline on is very beautiful. I looked at the back and it has little buttons. Please say that they are decorative and that no one has to actually fasten you up button by button. It will take hours to get you buttoned up!

    (PS I made my wedding dress, which called for the thousand buttons in the back. I put in a zipper instead and just sewed the buttons on. Shhh. It's a secret.)

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  40. Yay! Wedding dress shopping was more fun than I thought it would be. You've definitely picked out some gorgeous options. Go with your gut instincts, if you felt that strong about it to begin with, it is probably the one.

    The dress I ended up buying was nothing like I had originally planned on getting. But when I put it on, I knew it was the one.

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  41. Wow, great photos. The veil definitely makes it seem more like a wedding. It must be very exciting to experience that!

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  42. I loved the halter neck dress on you, it looked fantastic. Looking forward to the next post :)

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  43. I definitely like the original number one best, but I agree re: your second choice. Oh, to be married again. Dress shopping is so fun.

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  44. I like the dress with the too-high, awful neckline. I think it's pretty - also, gorgeous on you. (Despite how high it is). I really enjoyed looking at the photos, and can't wait to see THE dress!! :)

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  45. Lovely, lovely lovely! I think my favourite was the halter top-ish one, but whatever you chose will be fantastic. This is so exciting!

    Okay, I love how I said that like I'm getting married. Oy.

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  46. I love the assymetrical dress with the ruffle. But essentially none of them are really the type of dress that I would wear for my wedding. I'm going with a grecian dress. Now all I need is a willing man.

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  47. You are one gorgeous bride! Thanks for doing photos for us.

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  48. Good pics! That looks soo fun, like playing dress up or princess as a kid. haha.

    Good luck with the front-runner! :)

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  49. So fun to see you all dressed up! Even if it isn't in the dress you will buy. A bit of advice when you go back to try on the front-runner. NEGOTIATE. Even stores that say they don't bargain will. Just keep it on the down-low, be honest about your budget and they may just give you a deal!

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  50. Great post! All those dresses! How lucky you are to have been able to go to a place with so many to try on! Can't wait to hear which one you choose!

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  51. Oh, jeeze! This brings back so many memories of Spawn's wedding. We looked high and low for the perfect dress, then finally had a friend make it for us. She did a fabulous job, it fit perfectly, and had everything we wanted in a dress.

    Including thirty-five dollar a yard trim...! Seriously, I didn't know that until it was ordered and I nearly fainted when they told me. It was the most expensive part of the whole dress!

    Excellent taste in gowns, Jess. Your first choice is beautiful, and so is the backup.

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  52. I really love the halter on you the best! They were all beautiful gowns :)

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  53. Okey, lovvved seeing the pictures! Wedding dress shopping is so much fun!
    Good luck next week!

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