Dress Shopping: A Bride Beautiful

First I want to say thanks to all of you who commented on the post Sticker Shock. I have received so much helpful advice, there are many many ideas that I will be implementing into my planning, and I will be following up on each of your comments soon. I think that all other bloggers can agree, it's so nice to know that people who don't even know me can care enough to share their thoughts and experiences with me. I hope I can be as helpful if any of you are ever in need of advice.

I have 25 minutes to get this posted and get over to the library for my Italian midterm review, (okay so I might have been late), but I am hoping there might be some readers willing to give me their opinions on some dresses I tried on this weekend. My Mom ended up coming into town, after being stranded in Vegas after WPPI, and I jumped at the chance to get some dress shopping in while she was here.

You should know, my Mom ROCKS at dress shopping. I can't think of anyone better suited to go with because she is SO honest. I know that this is probably the very reason that some brides want to avoid dress shopping with their mothers, but I appreciate having someone who will tell me what they really think. We established long ago what our boundaries are in terms of comments about how I look, and so she minds her manners and does a great job of giving constructive criticism.

I visited A Bride Beautiful in Salt Lake City, and had a really fantastic experience. We had the store to ourselves and my Mom, sister, and I went to town. Orrie, the owner was so great at listening to my likes and dislikes and was NEVER pushy. At the store I went to last week I said that I wanted a birdcage veil and she replied "Oh you don't want a birdcage veil. You NEED a real veil." Excuse me, I think if I just said I want a birdcage veil I really want a birdcage veil. I consider the birdcage to BE a real veil. But I digress. Orrie never did anything like that, and she even called me today to tell me that she had done some research and would be able to offer me $150 the dress I had chosen. Some might call it a pushy sales technique, but as a bride on a budget, I think it's some great customer service!

Sorry this post is so long, I hope that if you make it through you will be willing to give me some feedback!

I just love this dress, it reminds me of this dress from the knottie oct2007bride bio. I have seen dresses very similar to this on other brides and that is exactly the problem, I really want a dress that is unique, so unique I have never really seen one like it before. So this one was ruled out.


I love the mermaid style more than I thought I would. Though I think that the top might make my bust look large (I am always self-conscious about that).


Love the color. I don't know why anyone chooses a white gown. I am so in love with Ivory and Gold!

My mom really loved this one, because of its many details, but I just can't get over the weird sweep over the bust.

Another that my Mom really liked. As you will see below, the train is really beautiful on this one. I love the tulle over the lace. When I look at it now it just doesn't really do anything for me though.



And here is the train....

The last 4 are my favorites.

This wasn't one we loved at the time, but the more I look at the photo the more I think it has potential. I think we ruled it out because we weren't sure how to add sleeves and make them look really natural. I hate when it is really obvious that sleeves were added on to the gown. I want it to look like it was designed that way. I am going to have to try this one on again.
















Another dress that I like more in the photo then I did at the time. Looks great with the little veil. Gives me a great waist and I love the pleated skirt, with little jewels tucked into the top of the pleats. I think I will also give this one a second look.


















I love love love this dress! Sadly it is a little bit out of my price range, and also impossible to move around in. But the pleats, the pretty pretty pleats. I am not this thin in real life, there is some Spanx-sucking Hip-Hugging magical action going on here. This dress made me feel sexy and curvy, and I may have jumped around for joy in it a few times. No photo proof of that though.

















Please don't mind the makeshift sleeves falling down my shoulders in this picture. It is meant to be a halter-style dress, but we were using the straps to get an idea what sleeves would look like. This is the dress I decided I wanted to order after the day was over, but now looking at the pictures I am not so sure. You would think I wasn't very happy with it at the time either from the look I have on my face. I felt very pretty in it, I felt like myself. The sleeves will look gorgeous and SO natural, and we are going to add some pleats to the bottom (if you can't tell, I am really head-over-heels in love with pleats).



I just don't think I like how one breast is "plain" and the other isn't. What does everyone else think?


If you made it through that post, I am impressed. I would love any feedback you might have. There isn't any rush yet, but I am going to have my dress ordered by May if I don't want to be stressing about it. With finals looming in the very very near future, May is going to be here in no time.