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Okay so yesterday I went to a bridal boutique, ran by a local dress designer. She sells Sottero and Midgley gowns and that is specifically what I went in there for. So I tried on a few S&Ms some were bleh, some were awesome, but she slipped in one of her OWN designs and I absolutely LOVEDDDDD the gown! Like it was gorgeous!! Everything I wanted in a gown and MORE. I asked which S&M and she told me it was actually her design...so at first I was like wow, this is great! Most of the time when I see people get their dresses made I never like them b/c they look cheap and homemade. But this dress was the total opposite!
After I kept it on and continued to drool over it...my "label whore" tendencies started to creep in...I really wanted to be able to say I had on a designer label wedding gown...so it's like how can I just go with a local dress designer? I'm soooo embarassed about feeling that way and I know it's vain but does anybody see where I'm coming from? Or am I just being absolutely ridiculous? The dress was VERY affordable might I add, WAY under my budget.
No one is going to care what label your gown is except you! They will be much more blown away by how the gown actually looks, fits and how you feel in it! I say go with the one that looks and feels better.
I think that a local designer's dress is going to be more original and actually would be greater than S&M...which is a VERY popular brand...that a girl in every city wears...hell, I'm not that into dresses and I actually know the names of all the soterro dresses becasue I see them so much.
If the dress is gorgeous and you like it...what's the hold up?
I agree, labels don't matter! If you love the dress and it makes you feel beautiful, that is all that you could ask from your wedding dress! And, it makes your dress even more special and unique! I think it NOT being a big label is a major plus! And if people ask, you could say it's an exclusive/private designer gown if you don't want to say it's local.
I think I would actually be *more* interested in a dress that was not by one of the designers everyone wears. Instead of having a dress that you've seen 100 times on other brides online, you'll have one that you've never seen on anyone but yourself.
And if it's under your budget, even better! It's not as if all of your wedding guests are going to ask you who designed your dress, so why spend more on a well-known name if you really love this dress?
I can relate. It's tough to let go of that "designer ideal". Go try on other S&M gowns and see how they compare to how you felt in the store's private design.
No one is going to care about the label on the dress except you, and there are soooooo many gowns out there, most people except maybe other brides who have been going dress crazy too will even know what's what. I have never once been to a wedding or looked a pictures and wondered who made the dress or how much it cost. (Well, i mean i wondered who made it when I was shopping of course if I saw something I liked, but other than that - no) I know S&M is not cheap or anything like that, but in the world of designer wedding gowns, is it even condsidered deisnger with the likes of Vera, or Panina, etc
Hey, your's is probably one of a kind, isn't that way better than a label???
If you love it then get it! 
Go with the one she made! It sounds like you really love it. Nobody will care about the "brand."
I don't think many people outside of the wedding world even know the "Sottero & Midgley" label, it's not like Oscar de la Renta.
Wear a great gown you love, don't be a snob.
Thanks for the feedback you guys are really right!! I know S&M isnt like high end designer but deep down inside I was hoping FI would let me splurge on my real dream gown the Kenneth Pool for Amsale Ethereal. BUt like many of you said there is no real reason to go and break the bank for a dress you'll only wear for a few hours and nobody will see the label! It's not like it has LV's or C's all over it to scream designer! SO you are right I am really leaning towards that gown, I wish I was allowed to take pictures so I could show you all what it looks like!
Not one person aside from yourself will know what designer your gown is. I don't think anyone asks at someone's wedding, oh what designer is that? Unless someone has gotten married, no one knows wedding dress designers outside of Vera Wang. So definitely go with the dress that you love. It will be so much more unique and you likely won't find a dress twin.
When people ask you tell them the actually designers name (the lady from the boutique). Then if they say they have never heard of it you can tell them it's super exclusive, which it is! :)
Do you have a pic? I'd love to see it!
several people asked me at my wedding who my dress was by, I wasnt expecting them to ask but they did! Having said that I dont think any of them know the different labels and know which ones are pricier than others. For me the most important thing is the construction of the dress if it is well made with high quality fabric then go for it.
@bells: Really?!?!? Ppl actually asked you?? Most of the time when I go to a wedding I can take an accurate guess at who the bride is wearing but I would never actually ask her in the midst of her wedding day! Did you feel offended or like it was rude, when ppl were asking?
get the dress! may not be name brand but i bet very few other brides have that dress :)
I think labels can make the dress less special because thousands of girls have the same dress as yours! The labeless dress is unique and one-of-a-kind! WAY better!
Well, why didn't she let you take a picture of the dress? I don't like when bridal stores do that. It would have helped you make a decision. As it is, I didn't really care about designers. I just wanted something under budget and that was lace. I ended up with a gown that was an '09 but I didn't care because I loved it. And I didn't see any difference between it and current designs AND it was under budget. See if you can get the lady to allow you take pictures. Oh, and the only reason I can see a bit of a problem is if you want to resell it. Other brides might not want to give your dress a chance. But if I remember correctly, you are Nigerian right? You are going to be wearing the dress for only a few hours. You gotta go change girl!
@bells: I can't believe someone asked you that!
I voted "grow up" but I also know that if you're anything like my friend you'll never get over the fact it isn't brand name. So for you, you should probably get brand name.
I voted "grow up" as well.
To be honest not one person has asked who the designer of my dress is (it happens to be a S&M as well) and honestly I don't think anyone cares. My family/friends so far are just overwhelmed at the dress itself.
EDIT: I would like to add that I too am a "label whore" when it comes to most things. For wedding dresses most people don't know a good designer from the rest (MOST, not all). My family wouldn't have a clue who Maggie Sottero was.
I think having a unique "one of a kind" gown by a one of a kind designer is especially awesome!! You could be a "FIRST" in that designers future! Best of Luck!
@bRooklynRocks: Loll! You are so right! The "aso oke" will be in the back waiting after just a couple of hours! Yeah I hate when they dont allow pictures either, ESP since I go by myself to try on dresses, closest friends and fam live an hour away and I dont have time to always wait for them, so I've been to like 3 dress appts all by myself and then I leave so confused b/c I have no dress to look at! Aarghh!
@Treejewel19: You are very right! It's good to know I'm not the ONLY label whore, hahah!
Yeah I never thought about the idea of having an "exclusive" design! It's actually a good thing, lol!
If you really like the dress the girl designed, I definately think you should go for it!! :D
Nobody will tell that it's not a designer brand, and least to say, it's all about how the dress makes you feel and look.
I voted that you should grow up! :D Brands are not always the better one.. :D
@MrsWeddingbliss: Thanks! You are so right! I'm gonna take my Mom and MOH back to look at it. There are 2 dresses I want them to look at. I'm stuck! AHH!
oh I admit I can be a label whore too! but i'd much rather wear something original like a local designer than any brand names, because every other person would be wearing a S&M as it's such a popular brand. Especially for my wedding dress, I want to be special and unique!
Omg if you found THE dress, suck it up and buy it.
AND now you can go crazy and splurge on shoes!!! Louboutins, Jimmy Choos, Manolos... I don't know how far under budget you are, but if I had ANY extra $ it would be going right to my feet!
Who knows, maybe one day that designer will be the next Vera! I'd much rather have a one-of-a-kind unique dress, as long as it looked well-made. The fact that it's under budget is a bonus! That's awesome!
I think that the dress sounds MORE appealing since it's not a well-known label. I wore a Casablanca gown but I made so many unique changes to it, I loved knowing that no one had the same dress as me. All of my guests that asked me about my dress loved that I made it unique too!
It's WAY cooler to have a one-of-a-kind dress by an independent designer. Wouldn't you rather wear a dress that no one else has and be original rather than look like everyone else and wear a cloned dress?
Disclaimer: Not by any means knocking designer labels, I just think it's an awesome opportunity for the OP.
I had this thing about being a "Maggie" bride and was very hung up on the fact that the dress that I picked was an Allure dress so I totally understand what you are feeling.
But I will say that Maggie and SM gowns are getting over used. I now think 1 out of every 10 brides is an Adore bride or an Ambrosia. You are lucky!
@HisWifey2012: I understand where you're coming from and think it is just the result of bridal industry brainwashing. We're shown tons of photos of this designer or that designer, that this one is desirable over that one. Everywhere you look. I think you should be proud you found an independent designer with a dress sense so chic it completely took your breath away, forcing you to see yourself in the dress, rather than yourself in the dress filtered or overshadowed by a label. (Of course this is not to say that one can't appreciate themselves in a dress that is a label. I'm speaking specifically of memzy08's situation.)
I think you are so lucky to have found a dress under budget! That is awesome, just think how you can use that money in other areas of your wedding. You are getting a dress made and you have met the designer, pretty rad if you ask me :)
Thanks so much for the wonderful comments guys!!! I'm still trying to get you guys a picture! I want to go back in a few weeks with my BMs and Mom to see what they think! I'll keep you guys posted AND get them to smuggle some pics
I'm in the 97%... wear what is gorgeous and don't be swayed by the brand. I wore a Demetrios gown and I don't remember one single guest asking who the designer was.
At the risk of sounding snobby myself, I will echo what other posters have said: I don't really consider S&M to be a 'designer' brand anyhow, so I think you should go with what you love most. Unless it was Vera, Carolina Herrera, Marchesa, Oscar de la Renta, etc., most people who might ask you won't know the name anyway. And how awesome would it be to support an up and coming designer?!
Im sorry but nobody is going to give a shit if you are in a designer lable gown or not!! You just said this dress what everything you wanted in a gown and more. How could you not get this dress that made you drool (your words) simply because it didnt have a designer name and price tag!! Big deal. Everyone is going to say oh you looked so beautiful in your gown.. How stunning yadda yadda! And if anybody does ask who makes your dress tell them with pride!!! Who knows other brides will find out how great her dresses are and start ordering them, then you will be one of the first brides that wore her gowns before it turned into some big name or whatever. But still.... IF you love the dress get it, who cares if its a name brand, so to answer your question.. Yes you are being rediculous.
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