Here we go again....

[Diamonds4Me]

OK...you all are probably getting tired of me posting dresses and asking your opinions and I haven't even gone and tried any on yet. But I just wanted to post this one to get your opinions.

We aren't having an all out wedding as I'm sure you probably already know. More than likely it will end up being only the two of us but I really really REALLY want to be able to wear a dress anyway.

Well anyway..last night I was snooping around looking at dresses and then thought why not a bridesmaid dress instead of a wedding dress? Every wedding gown I've looked at so far that I have fallen in love with has been over $2500. I just can't justify that much if its just going to be the two of us. I'd still have a hard time with it if there were 150 of us!

I found this dress at Jim Hjelm's website and I think most of his dresses are less than $400. But then again I could be wrong. But either way its still better than $2500!!

I know it shows it in pink but they do have it in ivory. I'm looking for something very simple since it probably will be just us two. Do you think I'm crazy? Does this look wedding gown-ish??

 

[Diamonds4Me]

This one, too. Its also a bridesmaid dress by the same designer. To me this one screams wedding gown...or maybe I''m a little hard of hearing...

But I would still consider it when going to try on dresses.

 

[Diamonds4Me]

Last picture. This one is by Lazaro. It can be ordered in ivory. I really like the back sash and ribbon. What do you think?

 

[bling*diva*]

~~I think all three of them are beautiful, but overall, I like the third one the most, and then the second one... it''s hard to choose though because they are all so lovely!!!

 

[msb700]

they are all nice, but i agree with bling diva..the third one is really nice...good luck!

 

[MINE!!]

OH goodness.. I like them all (and I never get tired of looking at dresses) Well... I really like the 2nd and 3rd one.. if it is going to be day.. I would pick #2 and evening I would pick #3...

Keep us updated!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Hello my NC friend. I am in the minority and really like the first one. Second choice would probably be the third. Maybe you should try them on and see which one "speaks" to you!

 

[BrightSpot]

I think I like the first one best, but they''re all lovely & would definitely look like a wedding gown in ivory! That''s a great idea to look at BM dresses! Any one of these dresses would be perfect for a small wedding & still make you feel like a bride!

(I too am obsessing over dresses online, but haven''t gone to try any on yet!)

 

[flutterby]

I love the third one. So much so, I really think I must go try it on!

 

[Diamonds4Me]

Oh good. I''m glad I''m not crazy after all

"

"

Thank you all for your opinions. There were a bazillion dresses that could have fit the bill but some didn''t even have white or ivory as an option. But that''s ok because I''ve decided to narrow them down to these three. They all are basically the same style anyway so I just picked these because they are my ultimate favorites. I appreciate it very much! When we get back from Colorado I''m going to give the two stores a call and see if they have them in. So...in the next three weeks you may see one of these dresses again..just with me in it!

(I hope! I hope!)

My only concern with the second one is that it looks like it may need somebody with hips. I don''t have any

Pfffft.

But we''ll see. I''ll try it on anyway. I have a feeling that the third dress may be the one I''m most drawn to in the end. I already have a dress that drapes like that. I''ll have to take a picture of it. Its electric blue jersey material underneath with black chiffon material over it to turn it a dark sapphire color. Its so pretty!

Wow, that went way off topic.

Thanks again! I will definitely keep you posted.

 

[Diamonds4Me]

Date: 8/29/2005 2:18:32 PM
Author: msflutter
I love the third one. So much so, I really think I must go try it on!

LOL! Let me know how it goes!

 

[elephant]

Vera Wang also has some gorgeous BM dresses that can be ordered in Ivory. This one is currenly my favorite and I''m thinking of using it to my wedding dress. Ok, I can''t seem to cut and paste because it''s Flash, but it''s a tank styled dress with a belt and then it has a pleated train in the back. I would probably replace the belt with something more flattering? It''s on their website, under Maids and it''s in the middle. And it''s shown in "Orchid," which is basically a pinky lavendery color. If anyone knows where I can find a cut and paste dress like that, let me know!

 

[Diamonds4Me]

Date: 8/29/2005 2:44:12 PM
Author: elephant
Vera Wang also has some gorgeous BM dresses that can be ordered in Ivory. This one is currenly my favorite and I''m thinking of using it to my wedding dress. Ok, I can''t seem to cut and paste because it''s Flash, but it''s a tank styled dress with a belt and then it has a pleated train in the back. I would probably replace the belt with something more flattering? It''s on their website, under Maids and it''s in the middle. And it''s shown in ''Orchid,'' which is basically a pinky lavendery color. If anyone knows where I can find a cut and paste dress like that, let me know!

I think I found the dress you are describing. Its beautiful!

 

[elephant]

I think I like the first one best, but I''m such a huge fan of the dropped waist....

 

[Diamonds4Me]

OK, well here is the one I already have. It drapes all over. I wish I could get a better picture of it but its so dark that its really hard to do. I've lightened it as much as I can without washing it out and making it look ghostly just so you can actually see the blue in it. But it drapes across the front, around the shoulders and down the sides and gathers right in the middle of the back and then castcades down into a small train. I love this dress so much and I guess that's why I'm drawn to the third one.

ETA: Tacori..you probably know exactly where this dress came from seeing as how we're both in the same area...so to speak. I got it at Cache at South Park Mall about...oh...yikes! 8 years ago!

 

[flopkins]

I absolutely love the Lazaro (last one)

Keep us updated... !

 

[cute330xigrl]

Date: 8/29/2005 3:48:22 PM
Author: flopkins
I absolutely love the Lazaro (last one)

Keep us updated... !

ditto. last one!

 

[gingerBcookie]

#3 is gorgeous!!!

 

[Diamonds4Me]

Thank you! I''m still going to try the first and second. I kind of like the "bling" on the front of the first one and I like the empire waist on the second one too. So..we''ll see how it goes.

 

[HOUMedGal]

I think they are all 3 gorgeous, and definitely wedding-dressy enough. (who defines what IS wedding-dressy, anyway?? If it''s what YOU want, then you should wear it!!!) I love #3, personally, but I do like the bling on #1 too!!

 

[ame]

Date: 8/29/2005 10:17:51 AM
Author:Diamonds4Me
OK...you all are probably getting tired of me posting dresses and asking your opinions and I haven't even gone and tried any on yet. But I just wanted to post this one to get your opinions.
I know it shows it in pink but they do have it in ivory. I'm looking for something very simple since it probably will be just us two. Do you think I'm crazy? Does this look wedding gown-ish??

I think #1 would be a FANTASTIC gown! I love the simplicity! It is very elegant. And very affordable. I figure that's a Bridesmaid gown, and I bet if you go through an online vendor like Pearl's Place (assuming the hurricane hasn't wiped em out...)you can beat the $400 price. His line is really quite pricey for bridesmaids. But I think in Ivory...that would rock. ANd oyu can change that little ornament there on the front to something more personal, unique, colorful.

 

[MelissaSue]

THE FIRST ONE!! THE FIRST ONE!! ITS SOOOO PRETTY!!!

 

[Tybee]

Oh.
I LOVE the second one. It''s so elegant and lovely. I vote number two!

 

[Mara]

I actually considered this same thing when we were looking, I wanted something EXACTLY like these gowns but a few years ago the emphasis was still on heavier silks and lots of beading and intracacies...not as simple as some of the gowns are now!

What turned me off from really considering the BM gowns as wedding gowns (and actually that second one you posted in ivory I also was considering for myself during this time as well) was two reasons. The first was that I would never get to see the dress in ivory first...aka with BM gowns you just go and see a dress in whatever color they have that style in and try it on and that's it. I would be taking a chance that I'd actually like the gown in ivory and ordering it sight unseen. Second reason and the real clincher was I wanted at least a TINY train on the dress. To me that makes a wedding gown...even just a very tiny chapel train. But I couldn't find a BM dress that I liked with any sort of train on them, they are BM dresses after all!

So in the end I found a dress around $1k and was happy with it...but I do like some of the styles for BM's as potential for wedding but those two reasons were the big killers of the idea for me! However if you don't want a train at all and you don't mind not trying on an ivory and buying a bit blind, then I think it's a fabulous idea and it will save $$. One last thing to consider is that alterations on a BM gown sometimes seem to come out not quite as nice as on a wedding gown, I have no idea why. But I have had alterations done on a BM gown where I grew an extra hip, and this happened to my BM as well, but with the same gal doing a wedding gown, it turned out fine. I don't know if it's the care taken when altering or that the BM dresses may just not be made quite as well as a w-gown, but I would take that into consideration as well. Alterations can make or break a gown sometimes!! I hate alterations.

 

[MINE!!]

Did someone say NC?

 

[ame]

Date: 8/30/2005 11:09:45 AM
Author: Mara
he real clincher was I wanted at least a TINY train on the dress. To me that makes a wedding gown...even just a very tiny chapel train. But I couldn''t find a BM dress that I liked with any sort of train on them, they are BM dresses after all!

Assuming you aren''t over 5''7" you can have the dress hemmed to allow a small t rain. We were to have trains on our dresses in my friend''s wedding last year. They hemmed the front of the dress to a half inch above the floor with our shoes on and angled the hem to allow a small train. Worked perfectly.

 

[Dodger Gurl]

Or you could get a long cathedral veil and have that as your "train". Am I the only one that can''t see #3? I wanna see #3!!!

Well, without being able to see #3 I vote for #1. It''s gorgeous!!

 

[Diamonds4Me]

Date: 8/30/2005 11:22:34 AM
Author: MINE!!
Did someone say NC?


I''m in NC..just outside of Charlotte.

Thanks Mara for that insight. I did think about the color issue and not being able to try on an ivory one. I think I can maybe order swatches through the designers website..don''t know if that actually helps because dye lots can vary..although not a lot..but maybe just enough to turn me off to it. As for the train I''m not too concerned with it just so long as its pretty long.

I also don''t intend to wear a veil. Maybe a flower of some type..or nothing at all. My hair is about mid back, super thick and rediculously layerd and its a bear to try and put up. (It takes 30 minutes just to sort of dry it

). Although a darker blonde, its most similar to the girl in the first picture.

Dodger Gurl...I"m sorry you can''t see it! http://www.lazarobridal.com/laz_bm/index.php?sortyear=2005&sortseason=2

Here''s the link. Its under the Fall 2005 collection and its the red one, last dress on the right of the second row. I didn''t post the first one but I actually kind of liked it too.

The only reason I wouldn''t consider this one is because the space between the front of the dress and the ribbon down behind the left shoulder...one wrong move and it would be "WHOOPS!".

 

[BrightSpot]

Wow, that last dress you posted is stunning! (though you''re right--one false move and....oops!)

I saw this dress on BrideSave & it reminded me a bit of the 3rd dress you posted.

Link

 

[Diamonds4Me]

Date: 8/30/2005 2:59:32 PM
Author: BrightSpot
Wow, that last dress you posted is stunning! (though you''re right--one false move and....oops!)

I saw this dress on BrideSave & it reminded me a bit of the 3rd dress you posted.

Link

Oh, that''s beautiful! I like the draped sheer material on it. I''d wear my hair exactly like that girl in this picture too. I have the boniest back I''ve ever seen on a person and makes me look..well..malnourished. It just ain''t right.