Well, I think I''m gonna be a two-dress bride.

[Krissie]

In a way I feel ashamed to admit this ... not sure why ... but I''ve had some severe second-doubts about my dress. I''ve known for a while that my mom is not a fan, and the more I looked at the photos (as well as some real-life brides wearing the dress) the more concerned I got that perhaps it wasn''t the dress for me.

I think I rushed the process, just to get it over with. I''m the first to admit I''ve got some body con issues, and I just found dress shopping rather excruciating. I didn''t like to look at myself wearing too-small samples, and kind of fell in love with the first that covered me up to a decent degree.

So I''ve been thinking about this, and I know I''m in good company with you other two-dress brides. I''ve talked to my mom at length, and I''m going to start the dress shopping experience again! She''s coming to town in a couple of weeks (already planned) so we will probably look then. I have also found a GORGEOUS ML dress that I''m thinking of ordering off Ebay. The seller has a great return policy and has been really kind and helpful. I don''t want to link it, but it''s another ML dress and the style is "Rosette".

Anyhow, thanks for holding my hand through this process. Time for me to start getting excited about the possibilities!

 

[Krissie]

BTW, here is my current dress. Aspects of it are really lovely - but I am just not so sure it''s right for me, anymore.

 

[gtn]

We will hold your hand through this. What don't you like about your dress? if you don't mind me asking. also would you mind posting pictures?

ETA: I looks like you were posting the picture as I was typing.

 

[ringster]

don''t worry krissie - i think many brides have gone through this. i personally have three in my closet but i''ve gotten pretty affordable ones so not too much of an issue for me at the moment.

i''m not sure when your wedding is but if it is a year from now, it''s hard to choose one when you don''t have all of the other details sorted out. i see alot of people on preownedweddingdresses.com who changed because they chose their dress before they decided on the venue.

good luck and i''m sure you''ll find THE dress that you just love

 

[Gypsy]

Okay. I'm gonna be blunt. I remember when you posted the dress. And I didn't care for it. It had too much going on and was too much dress, and too little you. I like the top mind you. I just hate the skirt with it too much going on with the lace AND the sash AND the Broach AND the pick ups and the fabric of the skirt. So maybe you can just alter the skirt and remove the broach, or if it's not complete order it without the pick ups, and have the skirt altered or just replaced with one that doesn't compete so much with the lace?

Otherwise, if you are fine with the expense of a second dress, try EVERTHING on.

 

[misysu2]

I''m a 2-dress bride and I know how you feel. I bought the first one on a whim because it was off the rack and it was the only one there.

Make sure you try everything on, and know what you like and look good in. When you find the perfect dress, you''ll feel 10 times better! No worries. We''re here to help if we can. BTW, let me know if you have any tips on selling your current dress-- my mom is trying to sell mine to the prom audience haha!

 

[basil]

For what it''s worth, I like the dress you have! But, I think it''s valuable to have clear and coherent reasons as to what exactly is wrong with it before you start searching for another dress.

 

[isaku5]

I''m sorry to tell you that in my opinion, there is far too much going on in this dress.; it looks a little as if the designer couldn''t make up his/her mind about how to style it, and ended up throwing all the current bells and whistles at that dress. I can''t think of one person, including 6'' models, who could carry off that look.

Choose what feature(s) you like best about it, and then go looking for a dress that has it.

Good luck; glad your mom is going along!

 

[portia]

I have to agree [winces]... I''m not loving this dress on you either. You''re right... aspects of it are lovely - maybe just not all the aspects together on you. I say if you''re not happy with it then keep looking. I think you should be excited about your wedding gown and feel good wearing it. Is there any way you can try on that ML dress before ordering off of ebay? Or at least something similar in style?

 

[cara]

I don''t think this dress is working that well for you.

I sympathize with the excruciating dress shopping and too-small samples. I was on crutches, not really able to stand evenly, trying on tiny samples and trying to imagine them in the right size.

For the record, I saw that dress on a completely different body type and loved it, but it wouldn''t have worked for me and it doesn''t appear to be hitting you in the right places.

Before you go buying ebay specials, can you go shopping and try on dresses with similar silhouettes? To see what works for you and what doesn''t?

And if you are game to try alterations, I would love to see what this dress looks like without the brooch, with the sash tied in back, with less volume or pickups in the skirt somehow and no veil/less volume in the veil.

You might even try skipping the sash or experimenting with a lighter colored sash.

Cause you have some amazing fabric there to work with, and you could try to get it to work for you.

 

[blueyes157]

Personally, I love the idea of the dress, but agree it seems like all the current trends in bridal gowns thrown in one. Less is deffinitely more with this dress.

I think the combination of the lace and pickups is gorgeous! and the colors, they appear to almost be 2 slighty different shades, lovely combo.

How does the dress look with out a sash? Or if it needs a sash, pick a color that matches the skirt and tie it in the back, and lose the broach. I also think, with the tiara (I think you are wearing one, I apologize if you aren''t) it is too much. Maybe a low veil or better yet a simple flower!

I really do love the dress, and I think we women always second guess our dresses. You only get to wear a wedding gown once (hopefully), and for the rest of your life that is your WEDDING DRESS. It will be in pictures forever, you may even be showing your daughter one day... a lot of pressure, so I do not blame you for second guessing.

I would try and work with the beautiful gown (makes your waist look mini) and if you really aren''t happy, start the shopping experience again.

 

[surfgirl]

Well, I''m gonna be blunt and honest and say that I am extremely BITTER that you have a ML dress and you dont want it and are getting another ML dress. I would have killed for a ML gown. That said, I love, LOVE the top of your current dress and I LOVE the sash and brooch, but yes, the skirt portion is too much with the pick ups. Why not simply have the skirt altered to be sleeker and less busy? The rest of it is gorgeous. You can totally salvage that and turn the bottom into whatever shape best suits you!

 

[Harleigh]

Two dresses? That''s it? Sister, you need to catch up to this umpteen-million dress ebay queen over here! Hee hee hee...I just thought that would make you feel better, but seriously, I have bought several dresses off of ebay and if you can afford it, I say go for it! I am personally not in love with ANY of my dresses, and I think I may be buying the wrong style for my figure. So, off we go to Bridal Mart this weekend to find a style a like, then back to ebay I go to find whatever I like at a better price!

I remember your dress from your first posting, and I absolutely LOVE the top of it, but to be honest with you, I don''t like the pick-ups. I think a smooth skirt would be much more flattering on you...is there any way you could have it altered to be less busy? Just a thought...

Best of luck to you, and I''m looking forward to hearing what you decide!

 

[bee*]

Date: 1/18/2008 1:23:54 AM
Author: surfgirl
That said, I love, LOVE the top of your current dress and I LOVE the sash and brooch, but yes, the skirt portion is too much with the pick ups. Why not simply have the skirt altered to be sleeker and less busy? The rest of it is gorgeous. You can totally salvage that and turn the bottom into whatever shape best suits you!

I agree-I love the top of it-it''s so pretty and romantic. I would definitely try and alter the skirt to make it more a-line.

 

[Krissie]

Thank you all so much for weighing in! This is such a great community.

It''s funny that so many of you mention the skirt. In fact, that was the one part of the dress that I really loved! I love the lace on the jacket, but am just not loving the overall look. I figured perhaps I could look into getting a ML lace corset to wear with the skirt - but now I''m thinking maybe the skirt is what''s wrong! I think the sash is bothering me, too.

I agree it looks too busy; there are also so many "moving pieces" that I''m slightly worried how it will all come together. It really helps to hear all of your suggestions. If I keep the current dress I''ll still need to get a corset for underneath the lace jacket, and alterations will no doubt be a significant added expense! In my mind, I''ve somewhat rationalized that I could find another dress that I love more on me, which may end up needing less done to it. I know it''s a big expense to buy a second dress, which is part of why I''m ashamed to second-guess myself. If I decide to get a new dress, I will hopefully be able to recover at least 50% off this one. Having done some internet searches, that seems feasible. If not, I can absorb the cost and eat PB&J for a month! [JOKING!]

I just want to look (and more importantly, feel) stunning. It will take some work, that''s for sure

Anyhow, dress shopping will recommence when my mom visits the first weekend of February.

 

[HollyS]

Krissie, you are obviously a beautiful young woman. You do more for that dress than it does for you; there''s just a bit too much goin'' on with all the elements of the dress. Your gorgeous curves are begging for a dress that shows them off. It''s a bit pricey to change your mind now, but I think you''ll be happier in the long run.

 

[October2008bride]

Prior to buying my dress, I had my eye and heart set on a dress similar to the ML you have - however the skirt was much simpler and I think made it look better.

This is the dress I was trying to find - it is a Marisa gown. Clearly it is a copy of the ML, minus the pickup skirt and I think it looks really great!

In all honesty, when I saw your dress, I was envious because it is the one style that I never got to try on (for some reason, only netbride could get this one in for me!) and I always think ''what if'' about it. However, I too prefer the simpler skirt with it.

Good luck!

 

[karasue91]

Hi there, I wanted to let you know that I feel you on the embarassment of wanting to buy another dress. I had a dress that I thought I loved, but when I started looking at pictures of another bride wearing it, I thought wow that is REALLY unflattering on her! And then I looked at the pictures of myself in the dress again and realized that it was really unflattering on anyone..now I bought the dress that I LOVED when I first started trying on dresses and the relief I felt when I bought it was unbelievable. I am so ecstaticly happy with my dress now, and I don''t regret buying it one bit. BUT I really want the fact that I bought 2 dresses to stay a secret with the inner family and PS!!

Having said that, I don''t normally like pickup skirts, but the higher end designers really do them well. Yours is gorgeous, and the top is gorgeous but I agree that together they are a bit much. I think a lace bustier might look really great, can you go try one on with a similar skirt and take some pics?

Good luck, and don''t worry we won''t tell anyone you know if you buy another dress!

 

[tberube]

I think everyone goes through this...you look at dresses all your life, you finally get a chance to choose your dress, and there are so many choices, how can you pick just one? I decided on a dress with a slimm a-line, and lace, and I loved it. But I always come back to the big dress with the pickups, or the sweetheart neckline, or the mermaid style that's so in fashion....blah...blah...and it goes on from there. But I know that if I picked one of the other styles of dress, I'd have the slim a-line lace dress on my list of dresses I wish I could have.

sigh.

I think the best advice I ever got regarding my wedding dress was to STOP LOOKING once I've chosen my dress. Stop looking at other dresses, because you'll always wish for a different style than you got and second guess yourself. If you loved that dress, felt good in it and bought it, you should try to remember why you got it in the first place and be happy that you found it.

Not that I have anything against 2-dress weddings....if I could fit it in my budget I might do it too. Or on second thought - maybe I wouldn't - I didn't want to take off my dress in the dressing room that day I ordered it, I probably won't want to take it off on my wedding day, either.

Good luck with your choice though. Just try to remember - there's a reason you fell for it in the beginning....

 

[violet02]

Date: 1/20/2008 1:02:07 PM
Author: tberube
I think everyone goes through this...you look at dresses all your life, you finally get a chance to choose your dress, and there are so many choices, how can you pick just one? I decided on a dress with a slimm a-line, and lace, and I loved it. But I always come back to the big dress with the pickups, or the sweetheart neckline, or the mermaid style that''s so in fashion....blah...blah...and it goes on from there. But I know that if I picked one of the other styles of dress, I''d have the slim a-line lace dress on my list of dresses I wish I could have.

sigh.

I think the best advice I ever got regarding my wedding dress was to STOP LOOKING once I''ve chosen my dress. Stop looking at other dresses, because you''ll always wish for a different style than you got and second guess yourself. If you loved that dress, felt good in it and bought it, you should try to remember why you got it in the first place and be happy that you found it.

Not that I have anything against 2-dress weddings....if I could fit it in my budget I might do it too. Or on second thought - maybe I wouldn''t - I didn''t want to take off my dress in the dressing room that day I ordered it, I probably won''t want to take it off on my wedding day, either.

Good luck with your choice though. Just try to remember - there''s a reason you fell for it in the beginning....

I have 10 months before my wedding, a bit less actually. Anyways the advice therube is giving here is exactly what I''m doing. I''m trying my very best to STOP looking. I browse through bridal magazines and tell myself nope I don''t like ANY of those. With the money I spent on my current dress I absolutely cannot be a two dress bride. I''m happy I found a dress so quickly and just sticking to that. I know it''s hard not to change your mind but when you''re dealing with so much money it''s painful to have to buy another one. One thing that helped in dress shopping... not having the mom or MIL help pick but having a fashionable friend and a guy friend help. A guy''s opinion really helped me in picking out the dress as well.