Where can I get inexpensive BM dresses that are still beautiful?

[violet3]

One in a non-satin...bet you this is jstar's color (celedon), maybe?

 

[violet3]

And one last one.....from what i understand with AA, you can order any color you want and anything that has a sash could be customized to be whatever other color you want. I think that''s the same in BL too, but there are tons of great lines out there!

someone should have held this in on her - i think it was a size or 2 too big....

 

[jstarfireb]

Date: 4/22/2009 10:40:30 PM
Author: violet3
One in a non-satin...bet you this is jstar''s color (celedon), maybe?

Hey Violet! A little o/t, but that color actually looks quite a bit lighter than mine. Of course this may be variation from the camera and monitor, but I doubt it. My celadon color is actually pretty dark, almost olive.

 

[violet3]

Date: 4/22/2009 10:53:45 PM
Author: jstarfireb

Date: 4/22/2009 10:40:30 PM
Author: violet3
One in a non-satin...bet you this is jstar's color (celedon), maybe?

Hey Violet! A little o/t, but that color actually looks quite a bit lighter than mine. Of course this may be variation from the camera and monitor, but I doubt it. My celadon color is actually pretty dark, almost olive.

Hey

No, you're right....I just checked the website and i think this is wayyyyy too minty for celadon huh? i think this might be seafoam - I prefer your color - the celadon looks really sage-y on the computer.

But i LOVE that vneck! on my BM it was too big, but it fit me perfectly! it's so cute.

 

[Kelli]

Man violet you really went above and beyond to help me out! You are truly a sweetheart! Thank you so much! I think I''m going to go on Friday with one of my girls to look at the place I got my wedding dress. It''ll actually be a Sacino''s that''s one floor above where they have the wedding gowns. Supposedly they have a pretty big selection. I know the bridal store did anyway. The girl I''m going with is the athletic one, so she''ll look great in anything, but at least it''s a start! She''s also the one who''s moving so I''d like to get something picked while she''s still here. I wasn''t able to call and ask about what brands they carry today because they''re closed on Wednesdays.

Anyway, I''ll come back with some pictures after we go, probably looking for more opinions since everyone here has such great taste. THANK YOU!!!

 

[Kelli]

BTW it seems as though any of these brands should have something to flatter all the different body types, and it seems like they all have a pretty decent selection of colors. You guys are making me think it won''t be as hard as I thought. Thanks for putting my mind at ease! Now I just need to get over my budget guilt.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Hi Kelli!

I know someone''s already mentioned J Crew, and I don''t have a lot of experience with them, but many of their dresses are rewearable. Most of them are $200 and above, but 2 of them on here right now are on sale for $50 and $60: http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/WeddingParties/womens/w_bridesmaids.jsp

Also, I know you''ve never heard of Group USA, but if you do happen to have one near you, it''d be great to walk in and take a look around. I went to school in Charlotte, NC and there was one 10 minutes away - great store for MANY occasions!! - they even have just normal, nice clothes for everyday or professional work wear, plus prom, plus nice dresses, plus bridal. I used them for a few different events. Here''s their website for the bridesmaids dresses - they do tend to look more formal than, say, the JCrew bridesmaids: http://groupusa.com/c-prodsub.cfm?gid=1&cid=2

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

This is the bridesmaids dress I and all 8 other of us bmaids are wearing in my cousin's wedding this fall - Alfred Angelo style #6548 - in eggplant. I paid $148 total for this when bought though the local bridal store. It's very comfortable and relatively inexpensive, I thought, for a bridesmaid dress, plus the back is really pretty. The store had a lot of other AA dresses too, and if you order them all together for the same color lot, you can get various coordinating dress styles and the same shade, which is what we did, except she wants us all wearing the same dress.

All their bmaid dresses: http://www.alfredangelo.com/Collections/DisplayCollection.aspx?CategoryId=772F03C9-DE43-4942-BFA0-DA77E21EBD65

I don't have a photo of me in it yet b/c it's in terrible need of some alterations up top... let's just say I don't fill it out like it needs.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

And lastly, I never went into David''s Bridal to try on wedding dresses, but I did go there to find a dress as a guest at a wedding. I looked through the racks, and some of the stuff was kinda cheap looking and not very nice, but there was also a lot in there that was nicer and something I would definitely consider. I ended up finding one on the rack (my goal that day) - knee length halter top. I know a girl that''s also using this in a different color (navy I think) for her bridesmaids dresses this coming Saturday. I got it in Watermelon I believe.

Here''s all their bmaids dresses - I think there are a lot of them that could easily be coordinated as different styles in the same color, which is what it sounds like you''re after. I think some of these could look great!! http://www.davidsbridal.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Category_-49998974

The one I got - style #81594 - I don''t think I even paid the $105 in store for it, I think it was less than that. I thought it was fun and simple, and totally rewearable, for a very good price.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Maybe a more lifelike picture of me actually in the dress would help.

Ok I''m done now!

 

[Kelli]

Thanks luvthemstrawberries! That looks really cute on you! I''m actually wearing one really similar to that one in a wedding in June. It''s not exactly the same, and unfortunately I like yours a little better.

I don''t think I have a Group USA anywhere near me, but I''ll do a search online tonight when I get home from work. There''s a J Crew in a mall near me, I wonder if they''d have anything in the store? I don''t like having to order things without trying any of them on first.

That AA one is really nice too. I hadn''t considered a longer dress since I live in FL, but given that it''ll be February on the water and the outside decks of the boat will be pretty cold, it might not be a bad idea to ask the girls about longer ones. I have to say that I really love all the Alfred Angelo ones that have been posted. I loved Essence of Australia wedding dresses too, and ended up picking one without knowing the brand until I bought it!

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Haha thanks.

Everything about that outfit except the dress was thrown together at my mom's house before we went, asking her what sweater/shoes/jewelry to wear... ugh! Haha. I'm sure you'll look great in yours!!

I also don't prefer to order online without having seen (and usually tried on) first as well. I actually don't think I've ever ordered clothes online.

The Group USA was usually great in store. But I'd have no idea about online. In my case, if it wasn't near me, as it isn't now any longer, I probably wouldn't worry about using them. There are a few there around $100, but it sounds like you're not looking to go so formal, and I think they seem pretty formal to me.

I've only been in a JCrew once or twice. I just know a lot of people recommend them as great comfortable but nice clothes, even on here for bridal wear. I don't imagine they'd have much of the bridesmaid dresses in store though. I think they're kind of expensive anyway, for something that appears so casual. Hehe, but I'm just kinda cheap like that. I know it's a very nice quality company.

I think something like Alfred Angelo or David's Bridal would be good places for you to look. I think a lot of bridal stores carry AA. Don't know about all the prices though - the website just gives a range with their price icons for each dress - the one I have says it's between $150 and $175, so I think we got a discount to $148 by ordering them all together at the same store. Their website has a lot of cute knee-length dresses that still look more "formal" than casual - I LOVE the ones violet already posted on here! According to what she said too, you can do the same thing with AA that David's Bridal does with various dress and sash colors.

And who knows, David's Bridal may not have been the place for you for gowns, but may be just the place for cute and inexpensive bridesmaids dresses - they're very good with the coordinating colors among different style dresses, and I know they have a beautiful navy! The "marine" and "dark blue" both look very nice - they also have "horizon" and "blue velvet" but those look too light to me to be considered navy. I believe you can also get sashes with a lot of the dresses, so maybe a gold sash would be a possibility? Or even gold dresses? They have "gold" and "champagne" colors also.

Hehe I hear ya about surprises with the wedding dress - that's great you found one you love, in the brand you originally loved!

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

I''ve also always thought this was such a cute dress at Davids Bridal. It''s gold. I tried it on in the store though, and it was SO unflattering on my body. Just a thought though. http://www.davidsbridal.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplayView?storeId=10052&catalogId=10051&categoryId=-49998974&currentIdx=34&subCategory=-49998976%7c-49998975%7c-49998974&catentryId=1000113