I found a dress that I completely fell in love with the first time I went dress shopping. It's a beaded Lazaro, and it's pretty formal, and my MOH and I both loved it. I tried it on two months later the second time I went dress shopping and loved it then too, as did my other friend and the consultant. I just went for the third time with my mother, and she and a different consultant didn't exactly talk me out of it, but they both liked another dress better. The second dress is a Birnbaum and Bullock with a beaded top and a fun (but a little boring) organza skirt.
Here's the dilemma: the first dress is (for me) the most beautiful dress that I've ever seen (and it looks good on), but you end up looking more at the dress than at the person wearing it. The second dress is more fun, more comfortable and would probably be more appropriate for our outdoor summer evening ceremony in the Texas heat. It's very flattering, but not as interesting on its own.
At this point, I've been seriously dress shopping three times, have looked at hundreds of dresses and have tried on thirty or forty. This seems like a lot to me, but how many did you look at/try on? What were your primary considerations? Did you care if you "matched" your venue? Did you pick a dress that was prettiest on its own or did you pick a dress that was less gorgeous but was more flattering to you?
A dress doesn't need to be interesting on its own, it needs to be interesting on YOU! Ever tried on something that looked ugly on the hanger, but when you had it on, it was fabulous? Or vice versa? An attenuated version of this sounds like it's happening to you:
The Lazaro dress is gorgeous on the hanger, but when you put it on it sounds like you feel a little overpowered (like everyone will be looking at the dress and not the person wearing it--you certainly don't want that!).
Conversely the Birnbaum and Bullock dress is not as jaw-dropping on the hanger, but when you put it on you describe it as being fun, comfortable, very flattering, and appropriate to your ceremony venue, place, and time. You did not use those words to describe wearing the Lazaro dress--just that it looks good on.
Sounds to me like you're well on the way to already having made this decision yourself. Good luck---and know that no matter what choice you make you're going to be a beautiful bride.
It's hard to say without photos . Which one feels right to you? I think it's important for a gown to reflect the bride's personal style, her figure, and the setting for the wedding/reception. It sounds like neither the Lazaro nor the Birnbaum and Bullock meet all the criteria for you. Not knowing much about the sillhouettes and your taste, it's hard to make that call though.
I tried on less than a dozen dresses total. I wanted my dress to match the level of formality of our ceremony and venue (we are not having a big church wedding) and I wanted it to be something I would be comfortable wearing for 6+ hours - photos, ceremony, reception - as I do intend to wear it all evening, and to enjoy it!
I knew that I had found my dress when I put it on - it was everything I wanted. I did try on one other dress that was just gorgeous; lots of lace and beads - and if we were having a much more elegant evening I would have been really tempted to get it. It did meet my wearability criteria as well. But it was really just a lot fancier than I wanted. I've gone back and looked at photos of that dress several times, but my dress came in two weeks ago and I couldn't love it more. It isn't as fancy, but it's absolutely me, and looks fantastic on, and completely fits with the style of our event.
Yes, photos would make this easier. Do you have pictures of you in the dresses, or at least have the style names of them? If just the latter, what is your body type? You described the weather-is it outside or inside? Is the venue formal or informal?
These aren't just questions that will help us form an opinion, but all questions that a person picking out a wedding dress must consider.
I know I picked my dress based on my church. My church has a very long aisle so I really wanted a long train. The original dress I feel in love with couldn't have fabric added to make the train longer and the designer wouldn't make the skirt fuller...basically they wouldn't work with me at all. So, I found a second dress that I also liked. I'm not gonna lie, I keep thinking about that first dress, but honestly didn't pick it because I didn't feel like it was grand enough for a church as formal as mine. I still don't even know if I made the right decision, so I really feel your pain. I, too, tried about as many dresses on as you and wondered how many it took before you knew if you found the right one.
You are absolutely right, and those are great questions. Here are some photos of the dresses. I don't have any decent photos of me in them because nowhere would let us take them except the last place. So, I only had my cameraphone, and those pictures aren't so helpful. As for my body type, I'm a slightly curvy 5'3" and a size 6 in regular clothes. Both dresses look good on my body type.
This is the first dress that I initially fell in love with. It makes me feel bridal and princessy in a good and hopefully not obnoxious way ;) However, it's a heavier dress that is slightly more formal than my venue. http://www.lazarobridal.com/laz_b/display_dress.php?imageno=3802&multimatch=x Please click "alternate views" for a better picture.
So sorry for the long link, but those are the best pictures I could find for that one.
The wedding is at 6 pm in Texas in May. While we're at it, here's the venue: http://www.barrmansion.com/ The ceremony will be outdoors, but the reception will be indoors. I had always planned on having a church wedding (maybe that's where the fancier dress wish also comes from), but we're an interfaith couple, so that wasn't appropriate for us.
Did that answer all the questions? Thanks so much again for your help!
Your site looks like it could be as formal as you wnat it to be and since it's an evening wedding, I don't think you need to worry about the Lazaro dress being to much.
"Here's the dilemma: the first dress is (for me) the most beautiful dress that I've ever seen (and it looks good on), but you end up looking more at the dress than at the person wearing it. The second dress is more fun, more comfortable and would probably be more appropriate for our outdoor summer evening ceremony in the Texas heat. It's very flattering, but not as interesting on its own."
Sounds like you love the way you look and feel in the first dress. I'd go with that, instead of trying to be "practical" or "appropriate" Neither of those should be priorities on your wedding day, especially when it comes to your dress! :) I've seen pictures of plenty of weddings, where the bride is barefoot on the beach, but in a full gown. This is the one occasion that you get to wear whatever you want, no matter what.
My opinion is go for the dress that makes you happiest! You are much more important than the venue or whatever other concerns you have. A question to ask yourself: If you don't get the Lazaro, are you going to regret it? This is your one chance to get what you love as far as wedding dresses go...so go for the one you love. I also would not be concerned about that dress taking attention away from the wearer. People will be looking at how happy you are!
Love the 1st dress!!! NY Times recently ran an article about how weddings aren't about a bride and a groom, they are about a mother and a daughter. It seems like you are swayed because your mother didn't tear up and call the dress "the one" like you'd (understandably) hoped. Was it the first time you went dress shopping with your mom? The first time I went with my mom, I ended up in tears when we got home. We chatted, and we realized we were both so nervous. "Shopping for your wedding gown with your mother" has been idealized in the western culture, and that was a lot of pressure for both of us. Once we talked about it, and admitted we may not have a teary, breathless, "it's the one" moment, it relieved the pressure. We also brought chocolates and champagne to every dress shopping/fitting since! In the end, relieving the pressure was exactly what we needed, and we ended up having a teary, breathless, "it's the one!" moment after all. So, my advice is have a nice chat with your mom about the pressure of dress shopping, how much you love the first dress, and how you want to go try it on with her again. Then grab a box of chocolates, a bottle of champage, two ikea flutes (if they break, you're not sad), and napkins - and go try on the first dress - and then buy your first dress. Congrats!!
I always do this - I didn't answer your question. My mom and I went to 5 bridal boutiques - on 5 separate days. Each appointment was around 90 minutes, and I never tried on more than 10 dresses (usually closer to 7). We never went to more than one bridal boutique in a day (too exhausting). We did all of this in two weeks - so I probably tried on 40-50 dresses. I chose the first dress at the second store (but remember, the first store was a bad experience because my mom and I hadn't relieved ourselves of the pressure to have a "perfect dress shopping moment."
Primary considerations - how it looked on me. I did care that it "matched the venue" - but that came naturally. Since I wasn't inclined to choose a ballroom as a venue, I wasn't inclined to choose a ballgown... I think your venue and first dress go together very, very, nicely.
Go with the dress you love best. Looks like you have some leeway with your venue and you could have a more or less fancy dress and still not seem out of place (i.e. a super fancy beaded full ball gown at a backyard bbq reception).
I only went to one boutique and ended up purchasing the first dress I tried on! I tried on about 11 dresses total, but that was the one. I went back a few days later with a friend to confirm and order. It was not at all what I expected to get, but made me feel like a bride. There were a couple of runner ups, but this one won out. It was actually the faciest dress in the store! *sigh* Ultimately, you're the one in the dress - opt for the one you feel best in.
Definitely go with the dress that makes you feel spectacular and that you love most. You don't want to have regrets and it's really the one day in your life when you get to wear a gown that makes you feel your most beautiful- go all out!
FIrst of all, you say you love the first dress the best...so that should be the most important thing. Besides that, it's beautiful! After looking at your venue, I think it will still work there.
now that i've seen the the gowns and your venue, i would go with the first dress. you're having an evening wedding. the venue has flexible formality and the first dress is beautiful.
you love it and honestly, i dont think anyone is going to be looking at the dress more than you, its more intricate but in no way do i think it would be overpowering. (if they have this dress in a petite size, i'd go with that). since you like the beading on the first dress, the second dress seems like an odd choice, there really isn't much sparkle to it.
i really think enmorre66 is onto something. you began to 2nd guess yourself bc of your mother's reaction. i had something similiar to that too, but ended up going with the dress that was more 'me'.
i have over 30 pictures of myself in different dresses....and i didnt bother to take a pic of each dress i tried on so i would at least double that. To be conservative, lets say i tried on 65 dresses. I was looking for the dress that gave me that special feeling and fit all the criteria that i was looking for (i was very specific on how i wanted my dress to look). for me, the realization wasn't sudden.....it basically came down to the fact that the dress looked beatiful on me, and i didn't want to change anything about it.
what i would suggest is take a picture of yourself in it and see how both looks in the picture b/c that will tell it all if you photograph well in the dress. personally i would pick the dress you feel most like you in!
I LOVE the first dress!!! Even if the dress was more formal than your venue, who cares? It's your wedding, you're the bride and you should feel spectacular!
I would say #1 too. It looks much more classic and expensive.
Since the dress is so pretty you can get a more simple veil and jewelry.
The simpler the dress the more you usually need to dress it up. If you were planning on having really ordinate jewelry and veil, then maybe you might need a more simple dress?
Thanks everybody. You were right: I wanted my mom to love the dress that I loved too, so that made me second-guess myself. I went back to the store today before I left town and convinced the very nice salespeople to let me take actual photos of myself in the dresses. Once I saw the photos myself, i saw exactly what they had seen when they compared me in the two dresses. The first dress is prettier on its own, but the second dress is prettier on me. I also started to love the second dress as soon as I didn't feel any pressure to love it, if that makes any sense!
I was feeling pressured because, even though we've got time before the wedding, I don't know if I'll be able to go dress shopping with my mom again in time. Out of nowhere, that suddenly became important to me. So who knows what I'll pick, but thank you everybody so much for your feedback.
Hi ladies:
I found a dress that I completely fell in love with the first time I went dress shopping. It's a beaded Lazaro, and it's pretty formal, and my MOH and I both loved it. I tried it on two months later the second time I went dress shopping and loved it then too, as did my other friend and the consultant. I just went for the third time with my mother, and she and a different consultant didn't exactly talk me out of it, but they both liked another dress better. The second dress is a Birnbaum and Bullock with a beaded top and a fun (but a little boring) organza skirt.
Here's the dilemma: the first dress is (for me) the most beautiful dress that I've ever seen (and it looks good on), but you end up looking more at the dress than at the person wearing it. The second dress is more fun, more comfortable and would probably be more appropriate for our outdoor summer evening ceremony in the Texas heat. It's very flattering, but not as interesting on its own.
At this point, I've been seriously dress shopping three times, have looked at hundreds of dresses and have tried on thirty or forty. This seems like a lot to me, but how many did you look at/try on? What were your primary considerations? Did you care if you "matched" your venue? Did you pick a dress that was prettiest on its own or did you pick a dress that was less gorgeous but was more flattering to you?
Thanks so much.
posted by pgar 14 posts 6 months agoA dress doesn't need to be interesting on its own, it needs to be interesting on YOU! Ever tried on something that looked ugly on the hanger, but when you had it on, it was fabulous? Or vice versa? An attenuated version of this sounds like it's happening to you:
The Lazaro dress is gorgeous on the hanger, but when you put it on it sounds like you feel a little overpowered (like everyone will be looking at the dress and not the person wearing it--you certainly don't want that!).
Conversely the Birnbaum and Bullock dress is not as jaw-dropping on the hanger, but when you put it on you describe it as being fun, comfortable, very flattering, and appropriate to your ceremony venue, place, and time. You did not use those words to describe wearing the Lazaro dress--just that it looks good on.
Sounds to me like you're well on the way to already having made this decision yourself. Good luck---and know that no matter what choice you make you're going to be a beautiful bride.
posted by chelseamorning 214 posts 6 months agoIt's hard to say without photos
. Which one feels right to you? I think it's important for a gown to reflect the bride's personal style, her figure, and the setting for the wedding/reception. It sounds like neither the Lazaro nor the Birnbaum and Bullock meet all the criteria for you. Not knowing much about the sillhouettes and your taste, it's hard to make that call though.
posted by lulubelle 67 posts 6 months agopqar,
I wanted gowns that would match the formality and vibe of the event in addition to the venue.
Don't settle for the second dress unless you really love it. It sounds like you love the first one more so go for it.
posted by JCM9608 470 posts 6 months agoI tried on less than a dozen dresses total. I wanted my dress to match the level of formality of our ceremony and venue (we are not having a big church wedding) and I wanted it to be something I would be comfortable wearing for 6+ hours - photos, ceremony, reception - as I do intend to wear it all evening, and to enjoy it!
I knew that I had found my dress when I put it on - it was everything I wanted. I did try on one other dress that was just gorgeous; lots of lace and beads - and if we were having a much more elegant evening I would have been really tempted to get it. It did meet my wearability criteria as well. But it was really just a lot fancier than I wanted. I've gone back and looked at photos of that dress several times, but my dress came in two weeks ago and I couldn't love it more. It isn't as fancy, but it's absolutely me, and looks fantastic on, and completely fits with the style of our event.
posted by suzanno 1,976 posts 6 months agoYes, photos would make this easier. Do you have pictures of you in the dresses, or at least have the style names of them? If just the latter, what is your body type? You described the weather-is it outside or inside? Is the venue formal or informal?
These aren't just questions that will help us form an opinion, but all questions that a person picking out a wedding dress must consider.
posted by Niki 432 posts 6 months agoPhotos would for sure make this easier.
I know I picked my dress based on my church. My church has a very long aisle so I really wanted a long train. The original dress I feel in love with couldn't have fabric added to make the train longer and the designer wouldn't make the skirt fuller...basically they wouldn't work with me at all. So, I found a second dress that I also liked. I'm not gonna lie, I keep thinking about that first dress, but honestly didn't pick it because I didn't feel like it was grand enough for a church as formal as mine. I still don't even know if I made the right decision, so I really feel your pain. I, too, tried about as many dresses on as you and wondered how many it took before you knew if you found the right one.
posted by Lillindy 279 posts 6 months agoYou are absolutely right, and those are great questions. Here are some photos of the dresses. I don't have any decent photos of me in them because nowhere would let us take them except the last place. So, I only had my cameraphone, and those pictures aren't so helpful. As for my body type, I'm a slightly curvy 5'3" and a size 6 in regular clothes. Both dresses look good on my body type.
This is the first dress that I initially fell in love with. It makes me feel bridal and princessy in a good and hopefully not obnoxious way ;) However, it's a heavier dress that is slightly more formal than my venue. http://www.lazarobridal.com/laz_b/display_dress.php?imageno=3802&multimatch=x Please click "alternate views" for a better picture.
This is the second dress. It is lighter, more fun and more comfortable. It's a little more flattering. I don't feel as amazing when I put it on, but it also fits the venue better: http://cgi.ebay.com/Birnbaum-Bullock-915-Wedding-Dress_W0QQitemZ190137397731QQihZ009QQcategoryZ63851QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262
So sorry for the long link, but those are the best pictures I could find for that one.
The wedding is at 6 pm in Texas in May. While we're at it, here's the venue: http://www.barrmansion.com/ The ceremony will be outdoors, but the reception will be indoors. I had always planned on having a church wedding (maybe that's where the fancier dress wish also comes from), but we're an interfaith couple, so that wasn't appropriate for us.
Did that answer all the questions? Thanks so much again for your help!
posted by pgar 14 posts 6 months agoYour site looks like it could be as formal as you wnat it to be and since it's an evening wedding, I don't think you need to worry about the Lazaro dress being to much.
"Here's the dilemma: the first dress is (for me) the most beautiful dress that I've ever seen (and it looks good on), but you end up looking more at the dress than at the person wearing it. The second dress is more fun, more comfortable and would probably be more appropriate for our outdoor summer evening ceremony in the Texas heat. It's very flattering, but not as interesting on its own."
Sounds like you love the way you look and feel in the first dress. I'd go with that, instead of trying to be "practical" or "appropriate" Neither of those should be priorities on your wedding day, especially when it comes to your dress! :) I've seen pictures of plenty of weddings, where the bride is barefoot on the beach, but in a full gown. This is the one occasion that you get to wear whatever you want, no matter what.
Good luck!
posted by ynichole 147 posts 6 months agoMy opinion is go for the dress that makes you happiest! You are much more important than the venue or whatever other concerns you have. A question to ask yourself: If you don't get the Lazaro, are you going to regret it? This is your one chance to get what you love as far as wedding dresses go...so go for the one you love. I also would not be concerned about that dress taking attention away from the wearer. People will be looking at how happy you are!
posted by lhm11271983 10 posts 6 months agoLove the 1st dress!!! NY Times recently ran an article about how weddings aren't about a bride and a groom, they are about a mother and a daughter. It seems like you are swayed because your mother didn't tear up and call the dress "the one" like you'd (understandably) hoped. Was it the first time you went dress shopping with your mom? The first time I went with my mom, I ended up in tears when we got home. We chatted, and we realized we were both so nervous. "Shopping for your wedding gown with your mother" has been idealized in the western culture, and that was a lot of pressure for both of us. Once we talked about it, and admitted we may not have a teary, breathless, "it's the one" moment, it relieved the pressure. We also brought chocolates and champagne to every dress shopping/fitting since! In the end, relieving the pressure was exactly what we needed, and we ended up having a teary, breathless, "it's the one!" moment after all. So, my advice is have a nice chat with your mom about the pressure of dress shopping, how much you love the first dress, and how you want to go try it on with her again. Then grab a box of chocolates, a bottle of champage, two ikea flutes (if they break, you're not sad), and napkins - and go try on the first dress - and then buy your first dress. Congrats!!
posted by enmoore66 217 posts 6 months agoI always do this - I didn't answer your question. My mom and I went to 5 bridal boutiques - on 5 separate days. Each appointment was around 90 minutes, and I never tried on more than 10 dresses (usually closer to 7). We never went to more than one bridal boutique in a day (too exhausting). We did all of this in two weeks - so I probably tried on 40-50 dresses. I chose the first dress at the second store (but remember, the first store was a bad experience because my mom and I hadn't relieved ourselves of the pressure to have a "perfect dress shopping moment."
Primary considerations - how it looked on me. I did care that it "matched the venue" - but that came naturally. Since I wasn't inclined to choose a ballroom as a venue, I wasn't inclined to choose a ballgown... I think your venue and first dress go together very, very, nicely.
posted by enmoore66 217 posts 6 months agoGo with the dress you love best. Looks like you have some leeway with your venue and you could have a more or less fancy dress and still not seem out of place (i.e. a super fancy beaded full ball gown at a backyard bbq reception).
I only went to one boutique and ended up purchasing the first dress I tried on! I tried on about 11 dresses total, but that was the one. I went back a few days later with a friend to confirm and order. It was not at all what I expected to get, but made me feel like a bride. There were a couple of runner ups, but this one won out. It was actually the faciest dress in the store! *sigh* Ultimately, you're the one in the dress - opt for the one you feel best in.
posted by missm 485 posts 6 months agoDefinitely go with the dress that makes you feel spectacular and that you love most. You don't want to have regrets and it's really the one day in your life when you get to wear a gown that makes you feel your most beautiful- go all out!
posted by daydreamer33 78 posts 6 months agoFIrst of all, you say you love the first dress the best...so that should be the most important thing. Besides that, it's beautiful! After looking at your venue, I think it will still work there.
posted by Lillindy 279 posts 6 months agothanks for giving some pics....
now that i've seen the the gowns and your venue, i would go with the first dress. you're having an evening wedding. the venue has flexible formality and the first dress is beautiful.
you love it and honestly, i dont think anyone is going to be looking at the dress more than you, its more intricate but in no way do i think it would be overpowering. (if they have this dress in a petite size, i'd go with that). since you like the beading on the first dress, the second dress seems like an odd choice, there really isn't much sparkle to it.
i really think enmorre66 is onto something. you began to 2nd guess yourself bc of your mother's reaction. i had something similiar to that too, but ended up going with the dress that was more 'me'.
i have over 30 pictures of myself in different dresses....and i didnt bother to take a pic of each dress i tried on so i would at least double that. To be conservative, lets say i tried on 65 dresses. I was looking for the dress that gave me that special feeling and fit all the criteria that i was looking for (i was very specific on how i wanted my dress to look). for me, the realization wasn't sudden.....it basically came down to the fact that the dress looked beatiful on me, and i didn't want to change anything about it.
posted by GetMarried4Less 403 posts 6 months agowhat i would suggest is take a picture of yourself in it and see how both looks in the picture b/c that will tell it all if you photograph well in the dress. personally i would pick the dress you feel most like you in!
posted by ecochicbride 50 posts 6 months agoI LOVE the first dress!!! Even if the dress was more formal than your venue, who cares? It's your wedding, you're the bride and you should feel spectacular!
posted by LeahB 342 posts 6 months agoI would say #1 too. It looks much more classic and expensive.
Since the dress is so pretty you can get a more simple veil and jewelry.
The simpler the dress the more you usually need to dress it up. If you were planning on having really ordinate jewelry and veil, then maybe you might need a more simple dress?
posted by cyshas 262 posts 6 months agoThanks everybody. You were right: I wanted my mom to love the dress that I loved too, so that made me second-guess myself. I went back to the store today before I left town and convinced the very nice salespeople to let me take actual photos of myself in the dresses. Once I saw the photos myself, i saw exactly what they had seen when they compared me in the two dresses. The first dress is prettier on its own, but the second dress is prettier on me. I also started to love the second dress as soon as I didn't feel any pressure to love it, if that makes any sense!
I was feeling pressured because, even though we've got time before the wedding, I don't know if I'll be able to go dress shopping with my mom again in time. Out of nowhere, that suddenly became important to me. So who knows what I'll pick, but thank you everybody so much for your feedback.
posted by pgar 14 posts 6 months ago