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akh - welcome to the hive and congrats! You have to check out the Encore Board! This would be the place to get all that type of information. It sounds like you are totally excited about your wedding, and though it may be your second marriage -- it doesn't sound like you had much of a wedding before! There is so much great information on Weddingbee ... there are a lot of people on here who have children and they're trying to figure out how to include them in the ceremony. Miss Crab Cake has a daughter - Mini CC as she's called, and she seems to be including her in a lot of things. You should use the search function (upper right hand corner above the advertisements) for more specific questions or you can click on a specific board - Dress for example, to get some opinions on potential dresses.
Have fun!!!
Try looking at white dresses that aren't specifically for weddings.
I'd check out JCrew. Their full-on wedding gowns are still simple and elegant and they have some fabulous cocktail dress options (hello rewearable!). Plus lots of options are easier on the budget than typical wedding dresses - especially in the sale section!
Also take a look online at department stores like nordstroms or eveningwear stores like BCBG.
Just my personal style, I like regular evening dresses better than wedding dresses not only for the style but also for price, quality, and rewearability.
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If you still want a real "wedding" dress, you should definitely also go to a few bridal salons. Many designers are making dresses meant for second weddings (often this means colored, but overall the number of silhouettes out there for all kinds of tastes and body types will astound you). Probably it's a good idea to talk to someone at the salon when you're setting up your appointment to make sure they have what you're looking for, but I think you could certainly find something both bridal and age-appropriate. I ended up with a much more traditional dress (though still a little bit unusual), but I was very much steering away from super traditional poofy dresses as well. It turns out that many of the dresses I liked were designed as second wedding dresses (I'm not sure why that's *such* a different category but whatever).
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I would look at Vera Wang. Her gowns have regal, clean lines without a lot of frouf. They are expensive, but there are lots of second-hand Vera gowns for sale online.
I am of the thought that it truly does not matter if you have been married before, it's STILL your wedding and you deserve to look and feel like a bride. I'm not a very princess poof type of a gal myself. There are TONS of options out there but I would try going to a salon just to figure out what style is going to look best on you . Try things you think you'd never like , you may be surprised ( I know I was!). Good Luck.
Hey ain't nothing wrong with a bride in her late 30's!!!!
Welcome to the encore board! We've got alot of good ideas here too.
Btw, I'm in my late 30's and wearing whatever in the heck I darn well want to and having the wedding of my dreams, as we wish to! There's no right, no wrong. I think a dress that flatters your curves just right and looks great with your skin tone is what to go with and also season appropriate.
Definitely check out a salon. Several. There are no rules as to what to wear this time. You are the same as any other bride! Happy, in love, and glowing.
Congratulations and again, welcome.
I loove the idea of doing something super chic- grown up and cool! I love it that you're being married near your parents home.. that's really special. For your dress- personally, I wouldn't worry about it being white. Why? I think if a dress makes you feel spectacular who cares what color it is?
I'm drooling over these gowns:
this is very old school cool http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod80800009&parentId=cat9360739&masterId=cat9360734&index=10&cmCat=cat000000cat000001cat17740747cat000131cat9360734cat9360739
Another gorgeous dress:
Secondly, I would visit style me pretty for some place setting ideas. I saw this really cute table that used damask linens and the centerpiece was a white bowl with lemons. It was done beautifully! You do anything and it would be gorgeous.
You said you don't want a really large wedding- I would set up a few intimate tables either outdoors under a tent or at a local restaurant and just decorate them beautifully. Rent a few linens, charger plates, glasses- and have a really nice meal. I love the idea of a small intimate wedding/reception. It doesn't have to cost a lot of money- it can look great and still be in your budget. Goodluck!
And I'd just like to add you're only 36. Women become more beautiful as they age (regardless of how many children they have :)
I second looking at Jcrew -- we also ( as you well know) have some super sweet, trendy encore brides ready to help -- I love reading about their weddings and plans so I'm sure they'll be a great resource!!
Congrats and GOOD LUCK!
I would say don't limit yourself to "wedding" gowns but look at bridesmaid styles which will usually be significantly cheaper and can come in white or ivory depending on what you are looking for.
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Do you watch Jon & Kate Plus 8? Kate bought a dress for her vow renewal in Hawaii from Kleinfield and looked beautiful!
I also agree that Nordstrom and J.Crew have beautiful wedding gowns for a wide range of ages, shapes and budgets!
Nordstrom wedding dresses: http://shop.nordstrom.com/C/6014155/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6014155?mediumthumbnail=Y&P=1&viewAll=0&origin=styleCollectionPager_numbers&pbo=6014155
J. Crew wedding dresses: http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/WeddingParties/womens/forthebride.jsp
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Check out this beautiful wedding!
http://www.polkadotbride.com/wp/index.php/2009/03/03/manyana-and-nathan/
Invloving their kids and while the bride is beautiful, she's not exactly just over the voting age. ;)
Its your wedding (and I mean as a couple) - so do it up the way you want.
You are younger than me, and I'm going all out... I don't think there are hard and fast "It's your second wedding so you should tone it down" rules anymore. It's all about you and your personal style. Do what feels right to you, not others! A little leg (and pixel) work, and you'll find just the right dress!
Congratulations :)
Check out this wedding from Style Me Pretty last week. It's a sweet, relaxed second wedding the includes the children really well. http://www.stylemepretty.com/tag/brideface/
Not to mention, the flowers are amazing and exactly what I emailed to my florist. :)
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Oh and if I were in your shoes... I'd wear this one.
http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/WeddingParties/womens/forthebride/PRDOVR~11834/11834.jsp
What do you think of the idea of wearing a very lightly colored gown, like pink, gold, or even baby blue? I've seen pictures of weddings like that, and the bride still looked very "bridal". Check out Mrs. Lovebug's wedding recaps - her dress was pink! Congratulations!!
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34 here! I've got 2 kids and I'm having a wedding and wearing white this time. I bought a simple white gown at David's Bridal. My wedding is low budget and we are having simple yet elegant decor for the wedding and reception. Cake, photographer, wine, dinner---do it all honey!! This is my fiance's first so we are doing everything like it's a first for both of us...It's going to fabulous! Throw out all rules!!! Do what you want!!
David's Bridal has a ton of dresses at affordable prices! Also, what about finding a dress you like and lok here, or on some secondhand sites to find it at a less expensive price!
I agree with everyone else who has already posted - it is STILL your wedding day and should totally be whatever you want it to be!
I am an encore bride as well, and regardless of what has happened in the past, what I did or did not have at my other wedding, THIS is the wedding that I'm doing right now, and it will totally be about me and my fiance. We each have a child, and they will both be included in the wedding.
My mom is not supportive of this wedding, so I hear your frustrations with your family. At a time when you would expect them to rally around you, all that they are giving you is grief. Hang in there and keep your chin up, is the best advice that I can give you. Oh, and don't push. My mom isn't against my marriage, just the big wedding - she thinks that it's a little bit tacky...so I have had to learn to sit back and wait and let her be involved at the level that she wants to be involved at, not where I had wanted her to be involved. Is this disappointing to me, yes, but that's ok.
At the end of the day, I want to be happy with my wedding.
Also, being a mom, I can tell you that there are a LOT of styles out there to compliment a mom's figure now. Especially since the high-waist look has come back into style...I tried on several wedding gowns at Alfred Angelo that were not "princessy" and very much complimented my figure. Not to mention that they worked to hide what I considered to be some of my problems areas.
You'll be a beautiful bride, no matter what!
38 here and will be 39 when we say our "I do's". I found a dress at a local bridal shop-surprisingly. My issue is that I am a plus sized (more on the plus, plus size) and had to find a place for "the girls"! Alot of things just looked to bridey, and most informal wedding dresses that I found were halter style, strapless or spagetti strap. I just didn't want to be falling out all over and didn't particularly want my upper arms to show. I found this dress below (at a TERRIFIC price) at Aurora D' Paradiso, it's #6872. We are having a morning wedding followed by a brunch reception, so this was perfect for me.
PS-there is an encore board?!?! Can't wait to join you girls over there!!!!
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Also, to agree with many of you here-this may be my second wedding, but it's the first time we are marrying each other. I have actually had to say this a couple of times and it, for lack of a better word, shut some people up really quickly!
There are many mom encore brides out there, myself included! I'm searching for a subtle blue chiffon/organza that is anti-prom... NOT because I did white before, I'm planning a beach wedding, and want to incorporate the tropical feeling... Do what you want and don't second guess! It's your day... 30, 35, 40, 45 WHATEVER your age!
Heck I'll be one too~
There are no rules anymore about what you can or cannot wear. The sky's the limit! Whatever you feel comfortable wearing and what imho, best suits you, suits the theme and venue of the wedding, and makes you feel gorgeous.
congratulations btw!!
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This will be my second and his third, but for both of us it will be our last. My first wedding wasn't about what I wanted. It was about what everyone else wanted. I am looking to correct that this time around.
As far as wedding dresses go, I found mine here - http://www.lightinthebox.com/wholesale-Wedding-Dresses_c1181. The dress I want is a tea length dress but with a princess skirt - http://www.lightinthebox.com/A-line-Strapless-Knee-length-Satin-Wedding-Dresses-for-Bride---Reception-Dress--HSX1249-_p35293.html. They have lots of styles and all are very reasonable.
I want our reception to be a time where friends and family can come and celebrate. We're having a strawberry shortcake for the wedding cake and chocolate cakes from a local fast food joint (the best chocolate cake in the world)! Very non-traditional, but it's what we want. I'm actually considering finding somewhere that we can do a pig roast :)
Most "older" brides look better in a color other than stark white. However, an ivory or a pastel would work well. And forget all the "rules" on second weddings. You can wear a traditional wedding gown or a regular dress or anything in between.
I was recently married for the second time, at the age of 56, and wore an ivory strapless dress:
2D is exactly right (and looks beautiful w/her bride in the pic above too)! You can wear whatever you want.
Do check out some of the beautiful destination dresses from Alfred Angelo and Maggie Sottero destination weddings. More budget-conscious but still gorgeous and glam for the $!
Like the restaurant Outbacks says.."No Rules..Just Right"!
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I am struggling with everything from finding an age appropriate/body type flattering, affordable dress to explaining to my parents that although I have been married before (military wedding with 2 friends attending 16 years ago that cost $302.00 grand total) this is in fact my first real wedding, and yes I want something a bit more than a court house ceremony.
We have a combined family of 4 kids and of coarse cost and budget are important. I have a huge family as well. We are planning a Nov 14th fall wedding on the Suwannee River ( my parents front yard overlooks the water and is beautiful).
I do not want a huge wedding with a strapless princess dress ( which would have been great when i was a size 2 and 21). But 3 kids later just seems like I am pretending to be younger than I am. Anyone out there have any suggestions regarding simple, elegant gown and wedding ideas?