Former Beach Brides or Seamstresses

[Scooba]

or anyone who knows anything about silk...

How did your dress or how ould a dress hold up on the beach? I will be in the sand for the ceremony and reception so probably 6 hours, do you think the sand will tear up a satin silk dress or just get it dirty?

I am asking because I have fallen in love with a $3600 dress and I think I might have to get it but I was wondering if anyone would still be able to sell it after the wedding (I am not interested in keeping my wedding dress and I think I would feel better about spending the money especially since it''s not mine).

So, if I wear a $3600 silk dress in the sand for 6 hours will the dress just be a loss or will I be able to have it cleaned and sell it?

Thanks!

 

[TravelingGal]

My dress is a $50 silk dress so I probably won''t be as watchful as I would be in a $3600 dress, but I can let you know how filthy it does get...I''m getting married next Friday on a beach. It''s also not satin silk, but more of a chiffony-silk. I am fully prepared to just throw it away at the end of the night.

 

[Scooba]

Thanks TravelingGal, anyone else have any idea?

 

[Mara]

my dress was some a mix of silk and something else and it did not get torn up at all by the sand or grass that we were on BUT i got some serious dirt and grass stains on it from taking my shoes off and dancing barefoot at the end. even after dry cleaning the stains did not come out of the underskirt of the dress. from the outside aka wearing it no one would see them, it''s only on the bottom inside hem of the dress from dragging on the ground. but i guess if you did not take your shoes off and the dress did not hit the ground it wouldn''t be a big deal. but if it has a train, then don''t let the train drag on the sand or grass as well while you are walking down the ''aisle''. especially if you plan to resell the dress.

though quite honestly, i did not want an expensive dress, mine was $1k...because i did not want to have to worry about it while wearing it at all, and i didn''t worry about it. it was only later when i saw the stains i was a little disappointed but on the other hand, we kept the dress and greg said it was like the memories were embedded into the dress in the form of the dirt and grass stains inside, where no one could really see them. so that was kinda cool.

 

[Scooba]

I agree Mara, I don''t want an expensive dress either (and I don''t want to have to worry about it) and I was so trying to be good by not going into upscale bridal shops (I would rather have a $500 dress and $3000 worth of new clothes) but then I was innocently flipping through my local Knot magazine and there it was, and now it''s all I can think about and I made the mistake of going to try it on and now I am stuck. Luckily my fairly conservative FI doesn''t think it''s too much money to spend on a dress, I just wish I could get back some of the cost after the wedding since I am not that interested in keeping it anyway. So I think if I get it I will just have to wear it and not worry about it and consider any money I could get back on it as a bonus.

 

[galeteia]

Date: 9/28/2006 3:09:17 PM
Author: Diamonds are Hot!
I agree Mara, I don''t want an expensive dress either (and I don''t want to have to worry about it) and I was so trying to be good by not going into upscale bridal shops (I would rather have a $500 dress and $3000 worth of new clothes) but then I was innocently flipping through my local Knot magazine and there it was, and now it''s all I can think about and I made the mistake of going to try it on and now I am stuck. Luckily my fairly conservative FI doesn''t think it''s too much money to spend on a dress, I just wish I could get back some of the cost after the wedding since I am not that interested in keeping it anyway. So I think if I get it I will just have to wear it and not worry about it and consider any money I could get back on it as a bonus.

I have got to see this dress. Do you have a link to it online anywhere?

 

[Scooba]

It''s Lia by Melissa Sweet. Here are a few pics:

 

[Scooba]

Another...

 

[Scooba]

Last...

 

[ladykemma]

you could make that for about 500 bucks....

let me ask you a rhetorical question? would you drag $3600 bills through muck and abrasive sand all night?

 

[Scooba]

Date: 9/29/2006 5:40:05 PM
Author: ladykemma
you could make that for about 500 bucks....


let me ask you a rhetorical question? would you drag $3600 bills through muck and abrasive sand all night?

I have seen copies of it and they aren''t exactly right and I don''t know how the quality would be and I don''t trust anyone to make it.

And yes, I would drag $3600 bills through the sand if I looked as pretty doing it as I would in this dress

Plus all the other dresses I like are around $1800-2800 so at this point I''m like "I''m going to be spending alot of money, what''s another grand?"

 

[Mara]

honestly while the dress is pretty, it doesn't look like a 'beach wedding' dress at all to me.

i fell in love with a $2500 christos and adored it on. but i just never could justify it! it wasn't about if Greg would say 'sure spend $2500' or anything. *I* just couldn't justify it! i knew we were going to be out in wind, sand, on the grass, having a good time. the last thing i wanted was (a) a dress that didn't look like it belonged at a beach wedding and (b) a dress that i'd have to worry about all night. i don't really regret not getting it...but sometimes i think well maybe we can renew our vows at year 10 so i can have a fun inside wedding and get a really cool dress! haha.

anyway, it's totally your call of course but that dress looks too formal for me for a beach wedding, unless it's a black tie kinda thing. also is it easy to walk and dance in and stuff? it looks fairly restricting the way the train is kind of tied.

just some things to think about.

 

[ladykemma]

if it were me i would make a prototype in bias cut white linen for stretchiness. and then i wouldn''t worry about it on the beach.

i would also start the gores/skirt flare a little higher on the butt. about an inch.

i agree with mara -- way too fancy for a beach wedding.

 

[ljmorgan]

Get whichever dress makes you feel beautiful. It''s your wedding!

 

[sluke]

I got married on the beach in Maui last July. Dress was an off the rack white silk chiffon over poly-satin. Sat down on the beach, took off shoes, etc. Dress was not bad in terms of "dirt". THere was another bride in a full skirt ball gown with a big train nearby. The fabric look like duchess satin, and the hem was definitely dirty, I don''t know if she got it wet or what. Perhaps you can get a sample piece of fabric and test it out on sand to see how the material will hold up.

 

[mia15]

I hate to be so vague, but it really depends on the silk and the type of sand! Some silks are tightly woven enough to stand up to this type of abuse and others are not. What part of the country are you in and what will the weather be like? Really dry weather should help.

 

[Scooba]

Date: 9/29/2006 11:11:30 PM
Author: emeraldlover
I hate to be so vague, but it really depends on the silk and the type of sand! Some silks are tightly woven enough to stand up to this type of abuse and others are not. What part of the country are you in and what will the weather be like? Really dry weather should help.

Emeraldlover, I am going to be in Mexico in July so that is probably bad as it will be really humid? Also, the silk is satin silk but it actually feels like a tough material comapred to a bunch of other silk dresses I have tried on. Several salesladies in different bridal shops have suggested to me that the sand is probably cleaner than many other places a gown could drag, I assume they mean cement or dirty floors, any thought on that or just a sales ploy?

 

[Mara]

oh one other thought re: heat! it was a hot day in kauai when we got married and i was DYING in my dress. it wasn''t even humid so much as it just was warm that day and even into the night. my dress was a lightweight sheath dress with a silk layer and another lighter layer. i chose a light dress because i thought it could be hot but it was really hot!! anyway, that was another thing i wanted to keep in mind. aka the more material, the hotter you will be esp lugging it around all night. and super sweaty is never attractive. hehehe. i have a friend who had a beautiful dress on for her wedding but it was very heavy and thick material, and she was so shiny and sweaty at the end of the night...that is all i remember...!!

 

[labbielove]

hi there,
i came across this sight that will custom make dresses. it seems they are in canada, with the dresses made in the US or canada. i don''t know anything about them, but i did notice that they make a replica of the Lia, their version is $500, it could be worth checking out. i think they have a phone # on the site?

oh, i agree about the material consideration. for the $, you may be able to have this made for you in another more "beach friendly" fabric while incorporating all the features you like.

http://www.chryscrossbridal.com/store/WsDefault.asp?Cat=DesignerReplicas

 

[TravelingGal]

I think you are going to roast in that dress...I hope it''s reasonably cool. Mine is silk, but the lining is polyester. Even just trying it on at my seamstresses place, I was warm (probably because I was all over town running errands and it was warm that day). My legs felt warm and the dress just felt like it was sticking to me, even though it wasn''t. I am hoping that it will be a bit breezy on the of the wedding to cool me down a bit.

"What''s another grand?" LOL...well, I can tell you a lot of extra things a grand could get you for your wedding and otherwise! But you are talking to someone who spent 50 bucks on her dress.

I will agree with the others....the dress is lovely but I think it''s a bit formal for a beach wedding. I do think it will photograph beautifully in any backdrop though. Are you wearing any kind of shoes with that dress in the sand? It just doesn''t look that comfortable to be traipsing around the sand...because remember, walking in the sand can actually be quite exerting...which will only make you sweat and get hotter!

 

[mia15]

I think it might work. I was wondering if it was an East coast beach, pebbly and gritty, but it would probably be dry and powdery enough in the summer, so that''s good.
If you think the silk is pretty stong, it probably is. Habotai or chiffon would fray, while Duchess satin will hold up beautifully. Silk can be a strong material, but it depends a lot on the quality and thickness.
You might get really warm in it, though!

 

[E B]

Hi Diamonds!

It is a beautiful dress, and I think you should go for it if you don''t think heat would be an issue. You only (hopefully) get married once!

Did you see these on www.preownedweddingdresses.com? I''m not sure what size you are, but...

This one is a once-worn size 6 (she''s asking $2200)

*and*

This one is new with tags, size 10. Asking price is $2600.

Buying a once-used (or new, from a 2 dress bride) gown would get you the dress of your dreams for a thousand or more less. Just a thought! ;D

 

[Scooba]

Thanks everyone for your replies!

I respectfully disagree with those of you who said the dress is too formal for a beach and I plan on having a fairly formal wedding on the beach, and the dress to me is elegant and fun. I was looking at ball gowns before this and I figure I only get to wear a wedding dress once so I am going to wear what ever one I love.

I know I am going to be hot it''s going to be 95 degrees and 100% humidity, I''m going to be hot in a swimsuit, atleast the wedding is in the evening when it should be a little more comfortable, and this dress is actually one of the lightest I tried on. Also, I wouldn''t get a dress just because it was lighter it I didn''t love it as much. I plan on bringing a second dress is case it is unbearable but I can''t see myself wanting to change out of this dress no matter what.

Labbielove- I have seen the replicas and they are not exact, they are also made overseas so I don''t know how much I would trust that, I also wouldn''t know the quality of the dress or the material, and if I got it and didn''t like it, I would be out the money and it would be too late the order the original. Allso every website that offers a replica uses the same picture and I have spoken with some of them and I believe there is some kind of scandal between a few of the companies.

EBree- I actually have seen these and although I probably wouldn''t buy a used dress, I did talk to the other girl, the 2 dress bride, she had a sale pending on her dress and it''s also several sizes too big and I would probably spend a fortune in alterations and it might not look just right.

Anyway, this is all irrelevant because today I BOUGHT THE DRESS!!!!!! and I am sooooo happy and excited it''s all I can think about!!!!

 

[labbielove]

congrats on getting your dress!

 

[ljmorgan]

Congrats on buying the dress! When we first starting planning a DW I decided I would wear a ballgown dress on the beach because it was my wedding and I could wear whatever dress that I wanted

Now I''m not doing a DW, but I still believe in wearing what makes you feel beautiful. I think if you got any other dress that you didn''t like as much, there would always be a small part of you thinking "I wish I had gotten the other dress."

Besides, I''ve seen photos of more "formal" dresses on the beach and the shots look AMAZING. Congrats again! You had better post pictures of yourself in that dress -- it''s stunning!

 

[flutterby]

LOVE the dress! I had a postcard of it from pricillla of boston, that i put on my fridge, to inspire me to eat well before the wedding. I also considered the dress, but the front looked funny on me and i couldnt justify the money. Being that my dress was a BM dress and with alterations and ribbons I only spent $550 on it!

Cant wait to see pics of it! It will be beautiful! Just know you wont recover all of what you spent, it seems on designer dresses people tend to TRY to get half back!

 

[Mara]

congrats DAH! the dress surely is lovely. and yes you should definitely get what makes you happy!