The Dress Quest: It’s ‘The One’

With a ton of other salons to visit, we were only going to David’s Bridal to look, get ideas, and so that I could show my mom and sister one special gown I had tried on and loved. But no decisions would be made that day, until I’d been to plenty of other shops to scope out all the options. Or so I told myself.

After we arrived and met with my consultant, I first tried on several gowns that had caught my eye in the catalog. But as beautiful as some of them looked on the hanger, they just didn’t work once I put them on.

       

       

Plus, none of these compared with the Oleg Cassini gown I had tried on previously and still loved best.

      

But then, the consultant brought out the next gown. This one, she said, was a sample the designer had initially considered introducing into the season’s lineup. In the end, the gown wasn’t chosen, and the shop was now selling it at a heavily discounted price of just $350. Looking at it on the hanger, I’ll admit I wasn’t impressed right away.

But when I tried it on, I fell completely in love, along with my sister, mom and bridesmaid Pooneh, who had also come along for the fun. The intricate crystal and pearl beading was gorgeous, and the gown felt like “me” – matching my personal style, plus our wedding style, without being too heavy or overwhelming on my petite frame. With this gown as my new favorite, I was prepared to think it over, head to a few other salons, and if necessary, come back for the gown after making up my mind. Then, the consultant told me the catch.

Because the gown was a sample, it was the very last one in stock in a size that would work for me. Wanting to be sure she wasn’t being disingenuous, we wandered the racks on our own, and also called a couple other David’s Bridal shops in the area. But as it turned out, she was being entirely honest. I loved the dress, but somehow worried that I was being too hasty. What about all the other salons we had planned to visit? Was I being too drawn in by the price? Was I sure this was the right one?

In the end, I took the dress on and off a couple more times, comparing it with other styles, including the Oleg Cassini gown that had been my original top choice. But I just loved the sample gown too much to leave it behind, especially as I saw another bride eying it anxiously. I left the store with my gown in tow, plus a fingertip veil that matched up perfectly with the dress’ crystal details.

Usually not one for impulse buys, especially with something as important as my wedding gown, I’ve second-guessed myself a couple times since that day, but never while wearing the gown. Every time I see myself in the dress, I absolutely love it, and I can’t wait to take some better pictures, in good lighting, once the gown has been altered and pressed. But for now, here's a link to a couple shots of me in my steal of a find!

(Please ignore the plastic gloves, which I wore to avoid getting anything on the fabric after we got the dress home. Yes, I’m that paranoid.)

The dress definitely needs a hem and also needs to be better fitted after my weight loss last year. Plus, I’m having the slit at the bust closed by placing an identical piece of satin behind it. But after that, it should hopefully be ready to go!

How many shops did you visit before you made a decision about your gown? Did you choose or try on any sample gowns that were discounted? Was finding your dress easier or harder than you originally thought it would be?

(Photo Credits: Personal Library)

The Dress Quest: Inspiration & Ideas

Like many a bride before me, I started my quest for the perfect wedding dress by poring over magazines, websites, blogs and catalogs, even before I was officially engaged. With the proposal obviously on the horizon last spring, I figured it couldn’t hurt to get a glimpse of what was out there in the wedding gown world.

Though I scoped out lots of designer’s lines, most all of my early favorites came from Alfred Angelo’s gorgeous and affordable collection, including these beauties, each different in style and cut.

Soon armed with plenty of ideas and a ring on my finger, I was eager to get shopping with my mom and sister the next time I headed out to California. But then, one day while we were visiting Stephen’s best man and his girlfriend, we stopped by a Men’s Wearhouse to check out a few tux options for the guys. Can you guess which store was right next door? Yup! David’s Bridal!

So, while the guys amused themselves with video games and gadgets in Best Buy, Kate and I headed into David’s, supposedly only to look. But as you can imagine, just looking wasn’t good enough. I immediately saw two dresses I just had to try.

While I thought I’d love the first one, after putting it on, I immediately decided it was a “no.” I disliked the embroidered details, and since this was the first wedding gown I had ever tried on, I was shocked by just how heavy the skirt truly felt.

But the second gown, which was part David’s Oleg Cassini line, had an elegant, classy and timeless look I completely fell in love with. Plus, the dropped waist seemed perfect for my figure, and the details on the train blew me away.

But was it “the one”? Would I love it as much when I went back with my sister and mom? Stay tuned…

How did you begin your dress search? Did you surprise yourself by liking styles you didn’t originally think you would, or by hating a dress you loved on the hanger?

(Photo Credits: Alfred Angelo & Personal Library)

Bridesmaids Playing Dress-Up

How many wedding gowns did I go through before making a choice? Surprisingly, not nearly as many as I thought I would. But picking out a dress for my maids? Now, that was the hard part!

When I first started keeping an eye out for bridesmaid dresses (which I’ll admit was during my pre-engaged days), I was crazy about some of the short, sassy designs by Mori Lee.

But when I actually saw them in person, they seemed too informal for our church ceremony, and also weren’t a good match with my dress. (More to come about that very soon!) It was on to “Plan B.” With my sister, who’s my maid of honor, being a great sport, we scouted around tons of different shops, including David’s Bridal, where she tried on a couple other styles.

But neither of them stood out as “the one.” Finally, after lots more indecisiveness, we struck gold at a store carrying dresses by one of my all-time favorite designers, Alfred Angelo. There, Kellie graciously got in and out of a few more gowns, telling me what she loved and hated, until we both fell in love with this beauty.

Not only do I love how elegant the gown looks in rich grape, but the beadwork and white embroidery on the sash also add just the right touches of embellishment. And with added spaghetti straps, the dress has turned out to be a flattering pick for all seven of my maids, despite their different heights and body types.

Did you and your bridesmaids consider many different dresses before making a decision? Are your girls all wearing the same dress, or are you letting them choose their own gowns in a certain color or style?

(Photo Credits: Mori Lee, David’s Bridal & Alfred Angelo)