Yay! I know the wedding is 10 months away, but it just seems like a fun way to spend a Saturday. My mother, sister, and maid of honor are going along with me to David’s Bridal. I’m really excited–as much of a non-girly girl as I am, I still like pretty dresses and dressing up in them. I’ll be trying on and looking around, but not necessarilyu buying. I want the dress by the end of the summer, and am just starting the search process tomorrow. And hey, if any of y’all have any tips about shopping for a dress, pass 'em on.
A fellow LA doper and newbie would like to wish you nothing but the best. I hope I’ll have a chance to meet you and your fiance/hubby in person one day. I’ve read your posts and find them to be unfailingly intelligent and thoughtful.
(Sorry, no recommendations about shopping for a dress.)
I am 7 weeks away from my wedding and have picked my dress out but haven’t bought it. The best thing i likes about dress shopping was that EVERYdress looked awsome on me. I defintly recommend getting someone in the dressing room who you are comfortable being almost or completely naked around. I had my mom with me, and ever since my high school prom dress picking I have been OK with her seeing me undressed. Also throw a veil on with every gown so you can get the full effect. The veil can make a dress look stunning. I also have been shopping at David’s Bridal. THe one in orlando has VERY pushy sales women. Don’t let them push you for the sale. Don’t let them tell you what kind of dresses you will look good in ONLY either. My sales lady told me, after putting on my favorite, that “any dress like that isn’t going tolook good on you.” What a bitch! I settled on a very poofy princess type dress. I have a pearl headband veil as well. Go and look at the dress at least three times before buying too. Bring as many relatives and friends to give opinions as well. good luck.
Al, you assume my groom is at all involved in this. He’s not. At all. He’s out running errands, doing his thing. I’m not talking to him about the dresses, and certainly not taking him with me. He’d be bored out of his skull! He knows I’m going, and that’s it.
I’m not a girly-girl by any means. My post in the thread about women who can’t identify with women spelled that out clearly–I hate froo-froo crap, shopping endlessly, and girls who spend their engaged months talking wedding, dress, cake, wedding, dress, ME, ME, ME. This is a celebration of two people. (Three times someone said “This is all about you,” today, and I wanted to slug 'em. It isn’t all about me! Frick.
But, I like dresses, and it was fun to look. And now I’m done. I didn’t buy anything; just took pictures of what I liked and left. I’ll buy the dress at the end of summer, after a few more shopping trips. Then that will be done. Bleh.
What I do NOT understand is why wedding dresses run two sizes smaller than a normal dress! What, they want to make the bride feel fat? Sheesh. And whatever.
Thanks for musing along with me, those of you who did.
Here’s a tip: Some bridal salons use pink lights in front of their mirrors so everyone looks good in their dresses. I didn’t encounter this when I went shopping, but I went with a friend and she showed me her dress. It was a very nice soft pink, and looked really good against her pale skin. Later the groom told me her dress was ivory and I didn’t believe him.
She looked ghastly at the wedding, because the dress was about the same colour as her skin. I went back to the store to investigate and noticed the pink lights.
I agree totally about the traditional girly all-about-you crap. But just try to get a red wedding dress in this culture!
Stick to your guns. I caved, and I wish I hadn’t, because my way was cheaper.
I picked out mine in two hours, much to the total and complete annoyance of my Mother. To think she’d waited 45 years ( from her wedding day, not my age, you wankers) to do the dress shopping experience with me and I find my dress with the fifth dress I tried on. Naturally, on the clearance rack, too.
Shirley’s shopping advice:
Make notes of your dress ( make and model number )and price and then either go or call to the “poor” side of town to a dress shop. You can save a truck load of cash by doing this.
I told this to a friend of mine who saved several hundred dollars from the store she really wanted to buy it from ( snob central) and the store that was in the blue collar section. I think she saved like $400.00.
Oh, and don’t forget to take your wedding shoes ( or something like you will wear in heel height) with you.
Another suggestion: check out sewing shops, and look through the pattern books. There are some lovely dresses, and you can have them made the way you like. For me, I wanted something lightweight, as I was getting married at one of the warmest times of year. I got the pattern and had it made in a fancy cotton – it was lovely! Also, there are times when hiring a seamstress is a lot cheaper, and you know it will fit.
Ruffian, congratulations!
My name is also Laura and I am regarded in my family as the wedidng expert because I put together my whole wedding basically alone last year, and it turned out spectacular (if I do say so myself). Anyway I don’t want the Straight Dope to turn into a huge wedding forum (there are enough of those out there) but if you want advice or suggestions or whatever, let me know.
One thing I will say: go buy the book Bridal Bargains. It is the best $10 I spent on my wedding.
)and price and then either go or call to the “poor” side of town to a dress shop. You can save a truck load of cash by doing this.