Weddingbee boards

I understand that not everyone has time for and/or interest in the novels I have a tendency to write, so allow me to offer you a long version and a brief synopsis of my dress shopping experience.

The Long Version:

Last weekend, I went to David's Bridal in search of a clearance wedding gown, only to discover that we had caught the very beginning of the $99 Dress Sale! I went with my mom, grandma, and 3  of my 5 bridesmaids (the other two had midterms to prepare for!) I went in with very open expectations, because we're trying to do this whole wedding thing on a tight budget, and let's be honest; beggars really can't be choosers in this situation.

My consultant was wonderful, and she let us know right off the bat that the sale isn't really as big as the advertisements make it seem. Although there were a few dresses in the size 8-12 range that were $99, most of the clearance items were closer to $199. She asked if I had anything in mind, and I told her to pull anything and everything in my size that might have potential.

I probably tried on about 10 dresses total. Half of them were awful- I tried them on and we all went, "NOPE. Next."

But four of them ended up looking fantastic, and they were all TOTALLY different styles. The girls made up a name for each one of them- "Helen of Troy," "Traditional Cinderella," "Dramatic Elegance" and "Boobalicious Garden Princess" (I kid you not on that last one; the padded bra they had on me the first time was just NOT working out).

Two were white, two were ivory, and they were all TOTALLY different. I ended up nixing Helen of Troy because it didn't suit the mood of the New Year's wedding, and Boobalicious Garden Princess because A) it's winter, and B) I'd like to bend over to dance with my 3-year-old brother without pulling a Janet Jackson.

And then we were down to two.

Traditional Cinderella wasn't really a huge poufy dress, but it was the bright white A-line traditional dress that I had always sort of envisioned myself wearing. It was gorgeous. It was classic. It was the dress I used to dress my barbies in.

Dramatic Elegance, on the other hand, was SASSY. It was this sort of couture-style trumpet gown with ruffles down the back. It was elegant and sexy and sophisticated. It was a grown-ass lady dress.

I loved them both. My bridesmaids, mother, and grandmother agreed.

I had this sort of existential crisis. With a wedding that is so vastly untraditional, I think I felt some sort of obligation to hold onto a sense of predictability with Traditional Cinderella. It was, after all, a WEDDING DRESS.

But Dramatic Elegance was, in all honesty, a better representation of the woman I have grown to be since those days of playing with barbie dolls. Especially in the past six months, my life has grown wildly unpredictable, and I'm learning to embrace that. Why would I do the safe thing and wear the dress that everyone expects me to, when in my heart I really wanted to feel glamourous and sexy and sophisticated on my wedding night?

Either dress would have been beautiful, but Dramatic Elegance was memorable. So after an hour of going back and forth between the two, I finally said, "I want this one!"

I'll own up to it. I cried. But so did my mom, my grandma, all three of my bridesmaids, my consultant, the woman who had been trying on dresses in the room next to me, and her sister. It was kind of a moment. And even though I don't usually get sentimental in situations like that, it happened. I'm pulling out the Bride Card as an excuse.

It needs some alterations, but a family friend has agreed to do them for free for me! I'm so excited! It feels so real right now!

Short version:

I bought a $750 Galina wedding gown from David's Bridal for $99 like a boss. I picked this one over the "Traditional Cinderella" dress because it made me look and feel like a grown-ass sexy lady, and I'm proud of myself for following my own desires instead of caving to societal pressures and wearing a "predictable" wedding dress.

And without further ado:

A) I'm sorry that these pictures are going to be huge,

B) These first two

pictures are taken without the proper undergarments, so just trust that everything lays a lot nicer when the extra length is off the floor and my belly is smoothed out with a better slip.

C) This angle... not the best.

I'm actually wearing all the proper things in this last picture, so you can see what it actually looks like. AND OH MY GOD I LOVE MY BUSTLE SO MUCH I COULD DIE. Which is saying something, considering I generally hate bustles.

Thanks for reading my novel, Bees!

@Miss Fish: We need picsss ahh!!!

Hope you come back soon to fix the picture issues. Congrats!

Oh gosh, I'm so sorry! My laptop doesn't let me post on here for some reason, and the work computer apparently didn't feel like posting them properly. We'll try this again. Let me know if it works!!

This is the front of it, where I am obviously NOT wearing the proper slip underneath.

This is the back of it, which obviously needs steamed and pressed.

Annnddd, this is the picture in which I am actually wearing the right slip and have the bustle all done up, and I LOVE it! I think this is the beginning of my ugly cry:

Oh good, it worked this time!!

Thank you, ladies! It needs some alterations because I am really just extraordinarily short. And the top actually needs taken in quite a bit, which is shocking since I'm a 34DD! but overall I love it and I love that my waist looks TINY in it haha!

Just a quick update on this... I asked Mr. Fish what he thought my dress looked like, and he described the traditional dress almost EXACTLY. "A-line, with some lace on the top, but a fairly plain bottom, strapless and straight across the top, a little bit of pouf but not too much." It was all I could do to keep from cracking up. I was totally right-- the first dress was exactly what EVERYONE expects me to wear, so I'm thrilled that people will be surprised by my choice :)

I LOVE it!! It's so unique and gorgeous and I love that ruffle that comes down the back :) Nice find!

Thanks ladies!! I go for my first fitting a week from tomorrow, so I will be sure to post more pictures once we get a better idea of what it will look like on the big day!

That dress is amazing! And only $99?! Such a steal, well done Miss Fish! You look amazing in it. Can't wait to see the wedding photos of you all done up and rocking that dress. 

Any chance you have pictures of the Cinderella dress? Just for fun. :)

I haven't seen a dress like that one before either. I love the back.

Awww thanks girls!! You're all making me blush :) I feel like I made a good choice!

@Tickles: I personally don't have any pictures of the runner-up, but I could see if my BM could send them to me!

I couldn't believe the bargain, either... I mean, a $750 dress for under a hundred?! Crazy. And the quality of fabric is just soo nice, it's so smooth and well-made, and I feel like it was made for me when I'm in it!

@Miss Fish: Don't go to too much trouble, but I'd love to see them. I'm still gasping at the bargain of a beauty you bagged.

I couldn't find a picture of me in the other dress, but here's the dress on the website:

http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Satin-A-line-with-Pleated-Bodice-T9568_Bridal-Gowns-Sale

I'm so happy I got the one I did!

@sheilad72: Thank you! I'm gonna go creep on yours, too, haha. I love seeing people's interpretations of the New Year's wedding.

And than you to everyone for the kind words! It makes me feel so good to have so many people saying that it was a good choice!

@Running Elley: Thank you! That was what I was going for!