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Uh Oh! Destination Elopement Dress Running Out of Time and Mantilla Questions

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Loves Vintage

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Hi Ladies!

So, I finally made it out to some dress shops yesterday. I was originally looking for a nice light flowing dress, preferably with a bit o'sleeve. It is my dream to wear a mantilla. By way of background, we are "eloping", probably at the end of May 2008 most likely in the Croatian countryside, possibly in an old stone church. We are not having guests. We are still working out some details with the wedding coordinator, but this is the most likely plan. There are no back-up plans. We got engaged in January.

I tried on this dress at David's:
David's Dress

And, really liked it, however, I was not thrilled with the bustline. I wish it were more shapely and less sort of uni-bra like, but it seems a lot of dresses are made that way. Not sure why. The other problem with this dress is that I could not wear a mantilla, which is just what I picture myself in getting married. Not since I was a little girl or anything, but much more so than having a clear vision of what the dress should look like, I have a clear vision that I will be wearing a mantilla. Hope that makes sense.

Otherwise, this dress looks great on me, I love the fabric, it is soft and flowing and can be ready in one day!! That's amazing.

Then, I went to a bridal salon, mentioned my wedding date and was told that dresses usually take 8-10 months, to which I responded "Get Out!" So, we ruled out wedding dresses, and I went through their BM dresses. I love Watters BM dresses. They had quite a few. I had been loving this dress on-line:

Short Sleeved Watters

They did not have it at the shop. I would get it in ivory top and skirt. They did have this lovely two-piece dress in a size 8 (um, not my size, so very hard to imagine what it would look like on, especially the top, which was very small on my, and I did not realize it was supposed to be so fitted until I get home and looked it up on line.) I *love* the skirt. I never expected that I would, but I do. It probably would not travel well. I would also get the top in white or ivory and I would look lovely and sweet, and not uhm, like the girl in this photo:

Halter Watters

I also really like this dress, which they did not have in the shop, but which I think would be nicely complemented by a mantilla. It is not very wedding-dress'y, and I do love lace, but anyway, I like it:

Other Watters

I think they said it would be about 6 weeks for a rush order. I've found some places on-line that claim they could do Watters dresses in 4 weeks. I know the short-sleeved Watters dress will look great on me, but it does seem awfully casual, even though I couldn't be having a more casual wedding, well, maybe town hall, I guess. :)
But, do I order a dress that I've never seen? Haven't even seen the back of in a photo? I think the skirt of the halter top dress would be most flattering on me, but I also think the short-sleeved top would be most flattering on me. It is totally my style. The a-line skirt that comes with it comes in three different fabrics, but I think I like the dupioni silk best, and I'm guessing it will be the most "forgiving" fabric.

The other option is buying a dress on eBay and then pronto getting it fitted.

Finally, about the mantilla -- I need to do more research on this, but I thought mantillas were often totally lace, not just lace edges around sheer voile (or whatever that is). I might be inclined to find some very nice lace and make my own. I have to imagine this has been done before. I am not really concerned about budget, given we are spending so little on the wedding overall, but the little itty-bitty part of me that is frugal does not like the idea of paying $250 for a piece of fabric and a plastic comb.

Is the short-sleeved Watters too casual? Would a mantilla clash with the casual-ness of this dress? Should I worry about on-line vendors that promise dress in four weeks? Should I just go with the David's and forget about my dream of a mantilla?

Thoughts, comments, suggestions are all welcome!! I need to make a decision soon.
 
Oh, if we do get married in a church, it will probably be here or some such similar church:

Croatia Church

If not, it will be outside, in some similar such location.
 
I love the last dress you posted! I also liked the short-sleeve option, which will probably look more formal when it''s all in one color. I''m sure the second dress would be lovely if fitted more appropriately
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, but I''m having trouble envisioning it...

One concern with the first Watters dress is that it has lace, which might limit your mantilla choices since you''d probably want something that is comparable in weight or texture. I imagine you could wear most any mantilla with the third dress.
 
LV, I''m not feeling the options you posted and since you love vintage and mantillas, I looked at David''s and found these options (I think you can buy off the rack at David''s if it fits and they take much shorter time to order if you need to go that route..and they can also bring in your size from another store so...more expedient)..

This is very 50''s vintage to me...and I can see it with a lace mantilla:
http://www.davidsbridal.com/bridal_gowns_detail.jsp?stid=2997&prodgroup=10

Or this one, which would look even better with a mantilla and it already looks very vintagy itself.
http://www.davidsbridal.com/bridal_gowns_detail.jsp?stid=3000&prodgroup=10

Both of these above dresses make me feel very BITTER because if David''s had had these dresses last year, I would have surely bought one of them for my own elopement!

One more thing to consider if you''re doing a real elopement and it''s just the two of you...You need to be able to get into your dress by yourself (unless you''re staying at a hotel and you can call hotel staff to help dress you!). Also, choose a fabric that will travel well on the plane, I''m thinking the second dress above would travel better but both would be fine. I wouldn''t trust a hotel to press my wedding dress as you''ve no idea if they''ve ever done so before!)

Lastly, yes, most mantillas seems to have a thick lace border and sometimes have lace rosettes dispersed across the rest of the veil, but mainly it''s on the borders.
 
Thanks MINIMS AND Surfgirl! I really like the first dress that SG posted, and I should have tried it on, but it was kind of crazy at David''s yesterday, so I was trying to get out of there asap. One more thing I should have mentioned, I will most likely be wearing a 14-16, so anything that contains the word trumpet or is super-fitted is not going to work for me. This is one of the reasons why I love the short-sleeved dress. I *think* it would look really great on me.

With that in mind, I''ll gladly take more suggestions.

A few more things. I was searching hairstyles on here this morning and came across: Hair Style

I''m starting to consider wearing my hair like that, with a flower tucked behind one ear. This is a nice inexpensive mantilla I found, but sometimes inexpensive actually means cheap. I should probably just order it to see, but then I need to determine white vs. ivory and length, which is a bit difficult given the lack of dress:

Mantilla

And, lastly, another dress:

another dress

Whoa is me. I see I am still all over the board here. I''m not very decisive and could picture myself in twenty different dresses.

I did try on a rather fitted dress at David''s. I could not find a photo of it on-line. It was strapless and had spots of beading scattered throughout the top layer of sheer fabric. I thought I looked great in that too, though not perfect.
 
Date: 2/17/2008 3:17:15 PM
Author: mercoledi
Since you need something nowish, have you looked in department stores? I''d be careful with lace, it may clash wit your mantilla, but how about some of these?


Calvin Kline at Nordstrom


GORGEOUS but a slightly different look


Beading overload


Lace empire gown

Thanks Mercoledi. I do check department stores. I have admired that Tadashi gown for some time. Perhaps I should order it to see how I feel in it, provided it is returnable, of course. I''ll check now.
 
Loves Vintage,

Have you seen this gown? It's long-sleeved, but I'm sure you could have the sleeves shortened into cute little cap or short sleeves:

Vintage-Inspired Scalloped Lace Wedding Gown

ETA: On second thought, I agree with Mercoledi. If you're set on a mantilla, it might be best to avoid a lot of lace b/c of the possible clash.
 
Date: 2/17/2008 4:16:06 PM
Author: EBree
Loves Vintage,


Have you seen this gown? It''s long-sleeved, but I''m sure you could have the sleeves shortened into cute little cap or short sleeves:


Vintage-Inspired Scalloped Lace Wedding Gown


ETA: On second thought, I agree with Mercoledi. If you''re set on a mantilla, it might be best to avoid a lot of lace b/c of the possible clash.


Thanks, Ebree. I had seen that dress before (maybe in the recent long-sleeved dress thread?) I am not thrilled with the cut or fit of it, but I do love the fabric/lace, which I know I will need to do without if I go forward with my mantilla dream.

I may go back to David''s this week and try on the dress that SG recommended (with the little bow) and hopefully get to work with someone who is a bit more experienced. I think the girl that was working with me was all of about 18. She did not know what a mantilla was.
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I''m liking the ebay dress, and am thinking I could ask for some wispy short cappish sleeves to be added, but to keep my stress level low, I should probably go through a dress shop so that I have some confidence in their service/fitting, etc.

Nothing is booked yet, so we could always reconsider the date if need be.

Thanks for all of your suggestions. Keep ''em coming.
 
This is the other David's dress, which is less destination dressy and which was lovely on me. I think.

David's Dress 2

It is now discontinued, was on their sale rack for $500 and fit me almost perfectly. Would be ready in a day.
 
Date: 2/18/2008 11:06:14 AM
Author: Loves Vintage
This is the other David''s dress, which is less destination dressy and which was lovely on me. I think.


David''s Dress 2


It is now discontinued, was on their sale rack for $500 and fit me almost perfectly. Would be ready in a day.
Ooooooooooh. I like this one.
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try bluefly.com also -- select dresses and then look under both white and ivory. they have a fabulous return policy (90 days) and will ship quickly. i ended up returning a dress i bought from them b/c i ordered a different one, but their service was wonderful. i think this one would look gorgeous with a mantilla, and they have it in both 14 and 16. http://www.bluefly.com/pages/products/detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=2080112451&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1213&N=945+4294967274&Ne=10&Ns=Popularity%7c0%7c%7cProduct%2bCode%7c1&Nu=Product+ID

also check out the web for additional discount coupons and codes.
 
Have you tried looking at Jessica McClintock?



Here is one that might look good. Unfortuately, there isn''t a full dress view. I went to the JM store and they had a lot of dresses available off the rack

or this Ariana
 
LV, do you mean 14/16 street clothes or wedding dress size? If the latter, I''m sure David''s will have in your size to try on. I wear a 12 street size and about 14/16 in wedding gowns and found plenty to try on there. I''d go back and try on the two I linked above because the second one, while it does say "trumpet skirt", it clearly is a loose, flowy fabric that falls away from the side of the body and I think it could look great on you. Also, David''s allows you to take photos so why dont you bring a camera and try on the dresses above, along with the other one, and post photos here so we can see YOU in the dresses because really, that''s the only way to give a solid opinion!
 
enbcfsobe - thanks for the link and for the suggestion. Unfortunately, I have back issues as well (would like more coverage) so that dress won't work well for me either, but it is lovely!

gtn - I noticed a few of those dresses on the Jessica McClintock site before, but I knew they don't have a shop in CT, so sort of ruled them, especially since the one I really like is ON SALE but non-returnable. As it turns out, there's one in a NY mall about an hour and a half from me, so I can definitely go there. I will call them beforehand to find out what sizes they have available. This is an additional dress that I like: JM Dress

MustangGal - Group USA is apparently Camille La Vie on the east cost, and guess where they have a shop?!?! At the same mall as the Jessica McClintock shop, so I could make a day of it. I love both of the mantilla's on the site!!

SG - I expect to be a 14/16 dress size by May. Right now, I am fitting into David's 18s with a little room. I am now officially on a trim down plan for the wedding. Don't worry, I won't buy anything too small. I plan to have a fitting shortly before the trip. A friend is going back to the shop with me to see the last David's dress I posted -- the Monique Luo (David's Dress 2 in link above). I will try the other dresses you suggested as well and will post pictures. We will probably go this weekend.

Does no one love the eBay dress as much as I do? At one point, I was considering having a dress custom made. I pulled out the picture I drew, and it has a lot of similarities to the eBay dress. I actually like their dress more, and they are willing to make changes to their dress based on a drawing I will send to them!! I know I have presented a lot of different/conflicting ideas here, but are we saying that a mantilla is definitely a no-go with the eBay dress -- because my other (conflicting) idea since seeing a Michael Palin travel special on Eastern Europe (particularly Bulgaria) was a simple flower wreath/veil, which I think would be perfect with the eBay dress!! But, really, no mantilla with this dress, right?

eBay Dress

I would probably take out the sparkle sparkle and replace with either contrasting fabric or roping like the straps. Remove the bow, shorten the train and add some light wispy sleeves that would come out of the roped straps in fine layers, so the sleeves would actually be woven into the straps.

I am considering ordering the eBay dress. They say it will take a month. And, if I love something more that I can buy off the shelf, then I will wear that and try to re-sell the eBay dress.

Maybe I should have two elopements? Does anyone get the sense that I am rather obsessive about details, and aren't we all glad that I am not planning a real wedding?!!?!?
 
Since I''ve already established that I''m psycho about this dress, here''s another one that I just found and that I LOVE:

eBay Dress 2
 
gotta be honest -- while i like the ebay dresses, there is not a chance in heck i would trust someone on ebay to do a made-to-order dress unless i''d personally met them and seen their work. there are plenty of options out there that you can get in a short timeframe. i wouldn''t risk having nothing (or something unwearable) just because you feel you have to order now. if you really love the styles i bet we can find similar ones. i just personally wouldn''t take the risk.
 
I would stear clear of the chines knock-off shops. Yes, some people get great dress from them, but they often take longer than quoted, come the wrong size of are just plain fugly. I totally empathise with the impulse, but there has to be something else out there for you?

How about this maggie? It''s similar to the Watters dresses you were considering.

There''s also a watters brides gown with big tulle flowers on a big tulle skirt, but it looks like it may have been discontinued. Maybe I can find a pic...
 
Wow, that Maggie is beautiful! I would stay away from the chinese shops also, you don''t have enough time to fight with them if it''s not right the first time.
 
Ok, I can''t find that Watters dress. It was from 04 ish and ws either english netting or gorgette with large appliqued tonal flowers.

Maybe you''d like some of the cleb-inspired Coco Myles looks?
 
Date: 2/19/2008 1:28:00 PM
Author: mercoledi
Ok, I can''t find that Watters dress. It was from 04 ish and ws either english netting or gorgette with large appliqued tonal flowers.

Maybe you''d like some of the cleb-inspired Coco Myles looks?
Thank you all for the advice about the ebay dress. I wasn''t thinking of it as my sole option, but was more thinking that could be my back-up dress if nothing else turns up. I should really make my trip to the NY mall asap. I was thinking of going after work one day this week. I probably need to try on a lot more dresses to get a clear sense of what I want.

I had never seen the Coco Myles site before. Neat.

I will look for that Watters dress. I LOVE Watters dresses.

Thanks for the Maggie Sottero suggestion. Looking at the measurements posted, I don''t think there''s much chance I could get into it by May. Looks like it''s smaller than a true 14.

So, I will hold off on the ebay/Hong Kong dress (the one with the roping), and I will keep looking!

Thanks again for all of the great ideas!
 
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