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Early dress help

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allycat0303

allycat0303

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Nov 19, 2004
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3,450
Ok, so my boyfriend and I were toying with the idea of getting married next year (he wants to) I''m a bit on the fence. I would like a 2 year engagement. But I think it might just be dress fear.

So I''m short. 5''1, and honestly get mistaken for a kid all the time. Last year I was in a wedding dress store and the woman thought I was 16! So I need to know what kind of dress works for a short girl.

This might be premature, but I need some vague ideas. This WAS the dress I wanted, but I''m MUCH to short to pull it off. I like colored flowers on my dress (pink/blue) whatever. So any suggestions you ladies have would be REALLY appreciated.

LZ9113.jpg
 
Wish I could be of some help, but really, I would love an answer to the question about short girls and wedding dresses. I have an idea of the dress I want, but I am not walking into a store till I am engaged! But I''m 5''2'''' and wonder if this will limit my options.

by the way ally, that dress is stunning!
 
Why do you think you couldn''t pull it off? Just curious.
Would straight or A-line look better on you?
I''ve got a great suggestion, just go to David''s and start trying on dresses,
it''s a great starting point. I was also very hesitant and nervous about THE DRESS, but it didn''t take me long to get
REALLY into it. Once you know what looks good on you, you can REALLY start looking.
G''wan, it''s fun! Just make sure you bring some fun girls with you! ENJOY!
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i am short too- 5''

i read somewhere that the pickup skirt didn''t flatter shorter girls. that''s all the info i have. below are examples of the skirt:

jubilatesss.jpg
 
I''m 5''1" and before I tried any dresses on I thought I would get a ballgown since I thought they were so beautiful. Well, I tried on about five of those and they made me look shorter unfortunately. I was disappointed until I tried on an A-line. That cut really works for me. I''ve found the dress I''m going to buy and it''s an A-line with enough fullness to the skirt to not make me miss the ballgown too much
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. As the previous posters said, you won''t know until you try them on.
 
Hey Ally,

Beautiful dress! Go try it on!

I''m also 5''1", and I wore a dress with a bit of a skirt like that. No one said it didn''t work. But who knows. You can judge- I''ll attach a photo.
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I also look very young. The hardest part was facing the fact that if I walked into a dress store someone WOULD take me seriously and let me try on one hundred dresses. I''ve heard a straighter sheath looks wonderful on small girls, but, um, not on me!

Good luck looking!

(sorry I don''t have any better pics on my computer)

ShortDress.jpg
 
ally- I''m 5''1" also (we got those tiny figure skater genes!)... and I''m not really sure what THE dress will look like yet. I think your best bet is going to be to try on a lot of dresses and get a feel for the kind of dress that will best suit your petite frame. Everyone thinks I am soo young too... I swear I will scream at them if they try to ignore me or are otherwise mean and/or condescending.

Though I am guessing that jcrow is right and that the pickup dresses probably overwhelm a petite girl.
 
wow, we have lots of petite ladies!
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regalada- I have heard that A-lines are better for short girls, and that''s the way I''ve been leaning so far though I''ve not actually tried anything on yet!
 
Hey Ally - I would really try all styles, because I think it doesn''t just matter how short you are, but also your shape. I am short (almost 5''3") and curvy, and I ended up with a dropped-waist ballgown with pleats, which I didn''t think I could wear because of my hips.

Really just go to David''s, take lots of pics of you in different styles, and see how you like them (you KNOW everyone here will be thrilled to see the pics
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)

Also a small note on the length of the engagement - my FI and I debated a 2-year vs. 1 year engagement, and I think that 2 years to plan would have driven me nuts, so if you are really Type A/organized and obsess over details, a shorter engagement might be easier on you...
 
Date: 9/20/2005 5:39:35 PM
Author: AmberGretchen
Hey Ally - I would really try all styles, because I think it doesn''t just matter how short you are, but also your shape. I am short (almost 5''3'') and curvy, and I ended up with a dropped-waist ballgown with pleats, which I didn''t think I could wear because of my hips.


Really just go to David''s, take lots of pics of you in different styles, and see how you like them (you KNOW everyone here will be thrilled to see the pics
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)


Also a small note on the length of the engagement - my FI and I debated a 2-year vs. 1 year engagement, and I think that 2 years to plan would have driven me nuts, so if you are really Type A/organized and obsess over details, a shorter engagement might be easier on you...
Click to expand...

the drop waist is a must for me also- otherwise i look like i don''t have a torso!!

i also agree with 1 year engagement. seems like you''d have longer to stress and obsess.

happy dress hunting!
 
ally- first off, congrats on you engagement, I''m just back on ps after a long break, and I missed the initial hoopla with the ring, but I wanted to just say I loved teh proposal and ring!!! Congrats!!

About the dress, I would just try on all diff styles. It''s so hard to say what will look best on you - and don''t limit yourself bc you think it won''t look good - you never know! like AG said - you may end up w/soemthing you thought wouldn''t work!
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Yes,
I forgot to say go to Davids and TAKE PICTURES!
Let us help you, WE LOVE that!!!
 
Rube: the look definitely works--you look stunning!
 
Ok, honestly, I''m terrified of the dress shop. I don''t want to be pressured you know? I basically 95 % of the time buy something if I try it on. I don''t think this is going to work in this case, especially since I have no idea what I want. I just know I want color on it. That Lazaro dress has been my dress for about 2-3 years, until I started to look at Bride world wide dresses, and figured out that it might not work.

Rube: You look beautiful! Definitely will keep A-line in mind.

Thanks for advice ladies. I''ll let you know (with pics) when the time comes.
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I am short 5''1" and I am wearing a strapless dress with a pretty full skirt. The only time I felt VERY short was with drop waist dresses. My dress has the beaded detail at the bottom and the top only so maybe that helps. A hem and bustle is the only alterations I need. I think the mermaid dresses would make me feel shorter (personally) plus when will I ever be able to wear a full ball gown again?!?
 

Ally,


I don''t think you need to worry about the shape of the dress. I am a shorty as well and I had a skirt with a very full a-line skirt. I''m not sure if it was the princess seams that did it or what, but I thought it actually made me look tall! (I''m sure my three inch heels had something to do with that too...)


My point is, a well made dress will be cut to flatter your size--even a gigantic poofy ballgown if that is what you want! In addition to trying on many different styles, I would make a point of trying on the same style in many different designers--you might be surprised how one designer''s take on the same silouhette will be much more flattering than another''s.


From my own personal experience, the only issue I could see you encountering (and jcrow started down this path) is the issue of a "busy skirt." I initially fell in love with this dress, but when I tried it on, the detail on the skirt emphasized how short the distance was between my waist and my feet (even with the empire waist). The same issue occurs with the pick-up skirt and certain ball gowns that obviously only get "poofy" at the waist, effectively "cutting you off" there and emphasizing your height.

Since you are hoping to add color to your dress, I would suggest leaning towards styles that just have color in the bodice vs. bodice and skirt. But again, you never know until you try the dress on...

jlee_8.jpg
 
Hey now.. I am just stretching into 5''3.. yes I am vertically challenged.. some may call me... SHORT... but I do not see where this dress would not look right on you. YOU will be suprised.. go try on some dresses... most A-lines look good on everyone. I though that there was no way that some styles would look good on me.. until I started trying on the dresses... and thn I was pretty shocked!!


Don''t even THINK about giving up on something until you TRY IT ON!! TRY IT ON AND TRY IT ON!!! Wedding dresses HAVE to be tried on! When I saw my dress, I almost passed it over and grudging look took it into the dressing room. I HATED it on the hanger and I just knew I would from the picture and everything.. UGH!!! Then I tried it on, looked in the mirror and BOOM!! Gave the lady the deposit THAT DAY!! Try it on!!
 
Date: 9/21/2005 10:04:49 AM
Author: MINE!!
Hey now.. I am just stretching into 5''3.. yes I am vertically challenged.. some may call me... SHORT... but I do not see where this dress would not look right on you. YOU will be suprised.. go try on some dresses... most A-lines look good on everyone. I though that there was no way that some styles would look good on me.. until I started trying on the dresses... and thn I was pretty shocked!!



Don''t even THINK about giving up on something until you TRY IT ON!! TRY IT ON AND TRY IT ON!!! Wedding dresses HAVE to be tried on! When I saw my dress, I almost passed it over and grudging look took it into the dressing room. I HATED it on the hanger and I just knew I would from the picture and everything.. UGH!!! Then I tried it on, looked in the mirror and BOOM!! Gave the lady the deposit THAT DAY!! Try it on!!
Click to expand...


I agree- even the dropped waist bridesmaid dress we all hated on the hanger but LOVED it on!!! the bride''s wedding dress was the same. she didn''t want to try it on, she was a definite NO- i don''t like it!!! but with the sales girl assurance she tried it on and it was The One!

so yes- you NEVER know till you try it on.

oh- and don''t be overwelmed or nervous. just set up an appointment. maybe go and only try on 3. then leave. start slow- it may help.
 
Hey Ally!

I''m 5''1" too...it doesn''t help that my BF is 6''3"...we sometimes look like freaks walking together. My BF is dreading the day when we have to dance together at our wedding because you won''t be able to see me if you look at us from the back (his whole body hides me)!
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he usually avoids dancing with me at weddings.

I love the last dress Christina posted (http://www.davidsbridal.com/bridal_gowns_detail.jsp?stid=1208&prodgroup=92)!!! Its'' beautiful!
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I honestly think you should avoid the puffy ballgown look. I''ve been to a couple of my friends wedding where the brides looked like a cream puff (mind you they were an inch or 2 shorter than us)!!! I''m so mean.
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As everyone has said, you should try a lot of different dresses and decide what YOU love.

Good luck!

radiantlover
 
Ally, I have to agree with everyone that you have to just go and try on a million different styles to see what works on you. I'm 5'2" (I tell people I'm 5"3"!!) and I have found that the dresses that work best on my boyish body are a-line or sheath. They just give the illusion of height for some reason. The big ballgowns make me feel short but that's just me! But really, don't be scared. You have plenty of time so just go and try on a bunch of different styles and you'll figure it out. Good luck and keep us posted!!!
 
I just wanted to chime in and say that expert planners suggest you plan for a wedding in one year. Over the course of two years, styles and trends change and you may find yourself second guessing your final choices or sticking with them anyway and always wishing you could have had the other. I don''t only mean dress but bridesmaid dresses, flower colors and styles, centerpieces, etc.

The wedding industry is saturated and it would be hard to stay happy with your choices for 18 months. I say go for next year!!!
 
ally-

just wanted to say re: a 2 yr vs. 1 yr engagement. I''m not sure if the med schools in Canada are the same as the states, but the summer after 1st year would definitely be preferable to the summer after 2nd year (when we take board exams!) if it''s the same situation.

board exams next summer completely eliminate the idea of getting married in ''06 for me, when I want to be concentrating on studying and then rotations. Thus we''re waiting two years! Also good for me since I am planning long distance... but I think you go to school in the same place where you family lives, right?
 
Hey everyone!

Wow thnaks for the amazing advice. Christina_Ken...some of those dresses are gorgeous! I don''t even think we have a David'' s bridal here, so I''m not sure if I can get access. However, I could always go over to the states. You girls are fabulous!

Icekid: We don''t have exams after second year, but I had planned to take my United States board exams. I''m probably (90% ) sure I am going to stay in Quebec, but all my class mates say that NOT taking the US board exams is committing career suicide. AHHHH... I didn''t even think about that. Maybe 3 year? But then we''re in the clinical portion, therefore 24 hour shifts every week. Good. Point. Now I''m even more stressed.
 
Hi Ally,

I really like the dress that you posted in your original post, however, I think the sharp contrasting color of the flowers cutting across the waist and the bottom will draw attention to the distance between the 2 areas. I really like the first one that Christina_ken posted because the color contrast is less, but has the same affect that you''re going for.

Have you thought of getting a dress with color all over, like a soft pink?

 
Date: 9/21/2005 2:31:33 PM
Author: christina_ken
jaysonsmom: maybe something like this? this is the one that I love. I want this for myself.

http://www.davidsbridal.com/bridal_gowns_detail.jsp?stid=2017&prodgroup=10
Click to expand...
Yes! That is a beautiful dress. I think the vertical details (the overlay part) and the softer color contrast will elongate a shorter body.

Ally: If you really like color, maybe something like the 2nd, 3rd dress Christina posted with scattered flowers may be better....or better yet, maybe there''s dresses out there with colorful floral patterns going vertically.
 
Here''s a beautiful dress also from David''s

Sage Sash

I think it could make a petite bride look taller even with the splash of color cutting across the waist because 1) the sash is thin and b) the rest of the dress is simple, no detailing on the bottom to "cut off" the bride.
 
If you''re looking for flower embellishments, the company that''s doing my dress has several. Here''s a few examples:
JC1146_ff.jpg

JC1129_ff.jpg

TG9237_ff.jpg

Moonlight
 
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