Have a Casual "Barbeque/Garden" Wedding...and stressing about the dress!!! Help, please!

[cinnamongurl]

Hello all!

Well...I am madly and completely in love with the Melissa Sweet Fern....just not the price tag....even used!
But, I can''t seem to get it out of my head!!! I could swing the used cost, but just feel like it''s too much to spend on a dress!

I tried it on at a POB, and it looked great! A little heavy, but I felt so beautiful. I think it''s fancy, yet casual enough for an outside, garden barbeque. I also plan on wearing my hair down, with a flower/feather pin and no veil, so I think the dress will be more than enough to be dressy.

The price is driving me crazy, as well as the fact that my mom doesn''t like it at all, and I am a little worried it''s "too much" of a dress for late June outside in grass! Any thoughts??

I haven''t tried on many dresses yet, but plan on going tomorrow to see some Paloma Blancas and Pronovias''. I feel like I need to try on other dresses that are lower in price to see if I can find something I love just as much at the Fern.

My question is, are there are simple, lace styles that you think would be appropriate for a garden wedding, from Paloma or Pronovias??? Please feel free to attach pictures!

OR

Do you vote for the Melissa Sweet Fern?? THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP!

Attached is the outside of the venue for our reception - it doesn''t show the garden, but you can see that it is a vintage conservatory...

 

[House Cat]

Hi Cinnamongurl,

Right now on preownedweddingdresses there are two Ferns, one for $1900 and one for $2100. My Pronovias-La Sposa lace gown was comparable to these prices. So, I would say, go for your dream gown!

I think the Fern would be perfect for the wedding you have planned.

 

[oddoneout]

I have no advice I just want to say the venue looks beautiful.

 

[Inanna]

Cinnamongurl - I've attended a few weddings at Phipps and I've always considered it a fancy, absolutely gorgeous, classy, whimsical, magical place! Seriously, you have an AMAZING venue!

Soooo... I vote for the Melissa Sweet Fern since that's what you love and I think it does match your venue perfectly. If you can buy it used, what would you do with the dress after the wedding? If you could turnaround and sell the dress for around 50% of what you bought it for, would that help you justify the cost?

Although you may end up with the Melissa Sweet, I do think its a great idea for you to shop around. I know Pronovias/Manuel Mota has incredibly romantic gowns that would also fit your venue.

 

[Morgie44]

I think the Fern is absolutely gorgeous and would be perfect for an outdoor June wedding, but if you aren''t comfortable spending the money on it then don''t.

I know you said Paloma or Pronovias, but I thought of this dress for you. http://watters.com/product.php?coll=brides&showid=869# It is really pretty in person.
Also have you seen La Sposa''s Lavanda? It is sort of similar to the style of Fern.

 

[jcarlylew]

if you can afford it, and you know it wouldn''t be to extra in alterations - i say go for it!
i did that with my dress

 

[rhbgirl24]

Phipps in Pittsburgh? ... I used to go there ALL the time when my fiance went to college at Carnegie Mellon. I think its beautiful! And I think your dress would be a very nice compliment to the feel of the place! I say go for it!

 

[Rock_of_Love]

Date: 9/22/2009 12:05:13 AM
Author: House Cat
Hi Cinnamongurl,

Right now on preownedweddingdresses there are two Ferns, one for $1900 and one for $2100. My Pronovias-La Sposa lace gown was comparable to these prices. So, I would say, go for your dream gown!

I think the Fern would be perfect for the wedding you have planned.

I say ditto to this! Those are great prices...even with tacking on the cost for alterations. I feel like even the less expensive gowns are $1000-$2000, so you are right at that price. Go for it! Buy a used Fern!!!

 

[absolut_blonde]

We are also doing more of a casual (but classy) outdoor wedding and I am in LOVE with the Pronovias Sagrera. It's lacy and romantic, but not poufy - I definitely think it would work. It is gorgeous in-person and I love that it has delicate capsleeves instead of the usual strapless.

I don't know what MS run or whether the Pronovias is that much more affordable, but it's just lovely. Sigh. I wish I could justify the price for it, myself, but it would be almost 1/10th of our budget, which seems a little high.

 

[elrohwen]

Is that the Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh? Love that place! I would love to go to a wedding there. I grew up in Pittsburgh, so I guess there's a chance that one of my friends will throw a wedding there.

And I love the Fern. What were you originally intending to spend? I wanted to spend less than $500, but when I found the perfect dress for $1500, I knew I had to splurge. It's one thing to go over budget by thousands of dollars, but if you can get your dream dress for $2000 or under (which it seems like you can if you get it used) I think it's worth it. But I'm an enabler

ETA: I think the fern absolutely fits in with that venue! It totally catches the feel of the conservatory.

 

[sammyj]

I''m wearing Fern so I had to chime in and say GO FOR IT!!! We are getting married in a garden and our reception will have a rustic chic vibe...and my vision for our wedding evolved around Fern. I bought my dress 2nd hand from Craigslist for $1500 USD (I live in Canada and the exchange rate was pretty crappy at that time so it ended up being ~$2000) and it was a great experience. I love her (Fern) dearly!!!

I''ve attached an updated pic of my dress as it looks completely different on me now than it did 6 months ago (excuse the really terrible pic on the right)!

 

[cinnamongurl]

Wow! Thank you everyone so much for all of the supportive and helpful comments! Yes, that is Phipps Conservatory!!! We absolutely LOVE Pittsburgh - my fiance is from there, and we are hoping to move back there one day!!


I actually couldn''t get in to see or try on the dresses tonight - they were all booked and are as well tomorrow night..grrr

Going into the whole wedding thing, I really thought I could get a dress for $500-800. Granted, I can, but I am just not finding any one that I really love more than the Fern. That being said, I thought at most I could spend $1500. The venue is more than we thought we''d spend, my engagement ring is more than we thought we''d spend... it could be us, though - we tend to be cheap. haha. If I did buy the MS Fern, I would sell it after the wedding, depending on the condition it is in after being outside all day.

So.. I can buy a used MS Fern online for $1900. That includes shipping. It is one size smaller than I tried on at the POB salon, but they had to clip it in the back. I''m planning on losing 15-20lbs for the wedding in June, so I''m hoping that smaller size will work, without me having to get alterations. The length however, is about 5" too long...so I''m thinking I''ll have to get it shortened. Should I take such a risk and buy a dress that is small??

Sammyj - You look INCREDIBLE!! Did you have yours shortened? If so, how did they go about shortening it? The whole idea scares me!! I am also trying to go for a "casual and vintage" summer feel for the wedding - we should exchange notes!

Thanks again everyone for the encouragment!! Now, I just need to talk my wallet into it!

 

[House Cat]

When you tried on the Fern, where did they clip it? I''m thinking if they clipped the chest and waist, then one size smaller shouldn''t be a problem. How tall are you? Making the dress too short will affect it''s ability to resell, but that''s not to say it will be impossible. Also, if you keep the gown in very good condition, I see no reason why you can''t sell it for almost what you bought it for used. So, alterations being a few hundred dollars at most, you would be well within budget.

It might be a risk, but the Fern is a very popular gown. I think the only question would be whether or not it would still be popular by next June. It really is a timeless design. I think it would probably still be a desirable gown next year.

 

[cinnamongurl]

Morgie44 - Do you mean the La Sposa Lazada? That reminds me a little of the MS Fern, and I actually was hoping to try that on today if I was able to go to the local salon that sells it.

Does anyone know what La Sposa dresses run? Has anyone seen the Lazada in real life? Thanks!!

 

[House Cat]

Date: 9/22/2009 8:31:06 PM
Author: cinnamongurl
Morgie44 - Do you mean the La Sposa Lazada? That reminds me a little of the MS Fern, and I actually was hoping to try that on today if I was able to go to the local salon that sells it.

Does anyone know what La Sposa dresses run? Has anyone seen the Lazada in real life? Thanks!!

All of the La Sposa dresses I saw were in the $1500 to $2200 range.

 

[sammyj]

Date: 9/22/2009 7:45:41 PM
Author: cinnamongurl

Sammyj - You look INCREDIBLE!! Did you have yours shortened? If so, how did they go about shortening it? The whole idea scares me!! I am also trying to go for a ''casual and vintage'' summer feel for the wedding - we should exchange notes!

Thanks cinnamongurl! I haven''t altered the dress yet as I haven''t found my wedding shoes but I will need to take off at least 4"! I know they''ll have to take it up around the waistline where the bodice meets the skirt....and I''m sure it will cost an arm and a leg!

We should definitely exchange notes! I''m getting married on May 29th...if our weddings weren''t so close together (not totally sure when your date is...) I would definitely consider selling mine to you! Although I love Fern dearly, she''s pretty hefty on the wallet.

Your venue looks beautiful by the way!

 

[cinnamongurl]

My date is June 26th!

I think I''ve decided....to call POB (where I tried on the sample of Fern in a size bigger than the one that I may buy) and ask for measurements and see if I am able to fit into the size smaller, with the understanding that I will be losing a decent amount of weight before the wedding (15-20lbs).

The more I think of it, the length shouldn''t be that much of a problem with 3" heels.

I think if POB gives me good news, I will be purchasing the dress tomorrow!

You all talked me into it! haha. Wish me luck, and I''ll keep you updated!

 

[cinnamongurl]

I thought I''d post this, and get some of your opinions...

I tried this dress on at J.Crew, while my bridesmaids were trying on their dresses
http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/WeddingParties/Wedding_Bride/gowns/PRDOVR~12357/12357.jsp

It was really comfortable, and had pockets! There''s a corset inside to help suck you in, and I love the button detail down the back.

Now, I thought if I bought this, I would try to find someone that works on wedding dress to add lace bands around the waist and on the bottom of the skirt. I wouldn''t leave it plain. Basically, I love simple dresses, with lace if you couldn''t tell!

What do you lovely ladies think?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

That one (JCrew) looks overpriced to me. I think you can do better!

 

[purselover]

I think it''s worth ordering if you don''t like it just drop it off at your local store. I ordered my dress from JCrew and it was great to be able to try it on at home and not have to deal with shopping.

 

[cinnamongurl]

I still haven''t managed to get in to the bridal salon near me that sells Pronovias'' and Paloma Blanca''s, but did go to another salon last night.

I feel like everything I see has beads, sequins, and crystals and is made out of such heavy silk taffeta. Not that there''s anything wrong with these dresses - they''re just not for me. They''re also not right for my outside, relaxed wedding. *sigh*

I just thought I''d look before making the big jump to buy the Fern. I absolutely love it, I''m just so afraid that I''ll regret spending more money than I originally wanted to spend on a dress.

So..if anyone has any other suggestions for light, simple wedding dresses with lace, I''m all ears!

Thanks everyone!

 

[Rock_of_Love]

Have you looked at Watters / WTOO? They seem to have a lot of inexpensive, simpler dresses.