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Thank you. Do you think there is any way to add straps to the first dress without it looking mismatched? The older lady at the store where I tried this dress on did not speak very good English and she just kept saying 'Yes, I add strap, I add strap" but I'm afraid that the language barrier could be disasterous, we may not be on the same page. All of the ladies there spoke in broken English.
Have you looked at David's? I know, I know ... but I tried on a dress there that is everything you're saying!
Lemme find a picture...
It's this dress.
I tried that exact dress on and I just didn't love how it looked on me, neither dd the person who came with me. I love it on other people. The dress I purchased is from David's. I tried on a few dresses there but didn't find anything that I loved on me. I really do LIKE the dress I bought but I don't love it, I know there is a more flattering dress out there for me.
otherwise I think it'd be easy to add a halter to that first dress, or straps. The only worries I would have with adding straps would be 1) would the lace match? (since you want lace straps) and 2) Since the bodice is created to hold itself up, your straps will need to be fitted very closely or they'll shift around a lot (like a built in bra tank top where the tight bust keeps it up and the straps are constantly falling off your shoulders), and I would worry about them digging in depending on how you're holding your arms. Also, this probably isn't an issue since you tried a dress on with the straps you like, but I'd worry about itching, personally. Lace seemed to bug me on most of the lace dresses I tried on, but I have crazy sensitive skin.
I think David's has several straps that they can add to any dress... http://www.davidsbridal.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplayView?storeId=10052&catalogId=10051&catentryId=6097491
If you search "sleeves" on their website, several examples come up that they can add to any dress. None are exactly like the ones you like. :)
daydream: All very valid points and everything I worry about, haha! I'm not a fan of halter, especially since I'm a 34DD. I'm not dead set on the first dress, I'm open to options. I also like this style: (hopefully this works) Does anyone know who makes this dress?
Lavinia_B.jpg (77.4 KB, 57 downloads) 2 years old 
I think you can find what you're looking for in your price range without having to add anything... daydreamwanderer's point about the physics of it makes a lot of sense.
I remember seeing lots of lace mermaid non-strapless in my searches. I can't remember them right now but I'll try!
Also, what about getting an A-line and modifying it? A clever seamstress can take it in in all the right spots. Maybe something like this?
Yes, having a dress modifyed from an aline to mermaid is very possible, good idea! :) This expands my options. Thank you.
I think it's going to be difficult to find a dress with a sweetheart neckine AND straps. I really like the strapless dress you posted. If you are concerned about the language barrier of the women from the shop (I would be too), maybe you could take it to a different seamstress so you feel better about knowing you and her are on the same page regarding the straps.
Personally, because you have a 34DD bust, I would go with the latest gown you posted. It might be a Pronovias (not sure but possible).
leafy-OMG i am in LOVE with that dress (the third one you posted by itself). It is perfect.
Isn't it gorgeous! I love the unusual neckline, I think this may be considered a bateau neckline? I will look on Pronovias now and see if I can track it down.......I found it online with no info other than the pic was titled Lavinia, anyone recognize that name? I was in love with the Pronovias Daven which is very similar but this looks too fitted to be the Daven.
daven.jpg (67.3 KB, 41 downloads) 2 years old 
omg first dress is freaking amazzzzzzzzing! im totally drooling all over my keyboard :)
I actually love, love, love that second one!
I don't know if you like this, but I loved this dress... and it was very bust flattering on me (36 C)
By the second I'm wondering are people meaning the one with the girl with the dress clips or the one with the scalloped neckline? :)
Mrs DG, the bustline does look flattering, I like how it's slightly sweetheart but doesn't dip too much. I like the back too but the rest is a bit too poofy for me personally. Thank you so much though, I welcome all suggestions, I clearly need all the help I can get, ha!
Yes that dress is beautiful, if only it were all over lace.
I have found a dress online that I think it gorgeous but it seems to be from one of those overseas "we make your dress" company which I'm highly skeptical about:
*******picture 2 is me in my dress*******
PLS be kind with your comments and @Leafy - - I am glad my dress offers inspiration...
jackie-o, so glad you seen my post! Yay! I found your dress when I did a Google image search for mermaid with lace straps. It's incredibly beautiful and pretty much what I'm looking for only I had hoped to find a lace dress. May I ask the designer of your dress? The dress is incredibly flattering, you look awesome in it- it's got that va va voom vibe!
P.s: I hope you don't mind that I used your picture?
Priscilla by Boston Vineyard Nora has detachable straps that make a keyhole back. It's pretty! check it out here on my post http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/im-a-dress-floozy-the-shame It's 2500 though...the other lace one in this post is a Paloma Blanca and I think was 2900. good luck!
What about one like this? I ordered my dress through Jeff Liu (that's his ebay shop) and am waiting for it to arrive at my parents' house .... probably sometime this week. He was the most consistently, highly reviewed replica maker I found (and I did a lot of research), so I have high hopes.
He could easily change the halter into straps.
I wouldn't blame you if you wanted a 'real' dress instead of a replica though. My dress budget was about 1/4 yours ;)
@Leafy - - No lie, when I first saw my picture on your post I was wondering why you didn’t pm me and ask about my dress. Then I wondered why you didn’t crop the picture so it showed the back only (right side of image…) Then I read the thread and saw that you didn’t know it was me in my dress - - you merely stumbled upon it by simply Google Imaging it 
Yup that’s me in ‘Rennes.’ She is a modified A-Line ordered against my hollow to hem (I’m only 5 ft) and we also did a design change - she’ll have a sweetheart neckline - that square makes me look too broad, lol. Rennes is by Rivini – I have an idea…What about getting the dress of your dreams & if they have to hem it you can then use that to create straps?!?!?!? Below is an up close of the strap detail on my dress – if it helps……
ktbrady: loved the titled of your thread- haha! I tried on a keyhole back and was not happy with how it looked on me and I was so bummed since it looks gorgeous on others plus having a DDD bust I really need a bra of some sort, cups don't seem to give me enough lift. The other one is pretty but not fitted enough. Thanks so much for the help! :)
Daydreamwanderer: I'm worried about ordering something I'm unable to try on first, hence why I'm hesitant to have a local dressmaker make a custom dress for me.
jackie-o: Aaaaaaaaah, I'm swooning at the close up, the detailing on the straps and the side bust area are perfect. Good idea about using the excess for straps, that thought hadn't even crossed my mind- doh! That's the thing, stores tell me..."Oh yes, we will add straps" but they never match the lace on the dress, I also want there to be a natural flow, like it's all one piece, not a stitch line, does that make sense? I guess I'm a picky bride- just as well we are not having a big wedding because I'm sure I would be picking over every detail. :P I bet you are so excited to wear your dress, you look gorgeous in it, even without the sweethear neckline in the pic, I honestly love it just the way it is on you but a sweetheart would be fantastic too.
I love Jackie-o's dress! During my dress search that was one of the types of styles I was looking at. I know you said you wanted lace and sweetheart but I thought this dress was beautiful (I ended up getting something different) and very reasonably priced (I think it was under $700.)
I did end up with an Allure Bridal dress. Check out their website, they have a lot of beautiful things.
Have you tried Cymbeline? this is my dress from there:
IMG_0437v1.jpg (36.3 KB, 40 downloads) 2 years old 
Leafy, I am so sorry you are having such a difficult time finding the dress of your dreams! Your criteria are the same as mine were (I think I told you this before) and I found myself gravitating towards Spanish designers when I was first searching...Aren't there any stores near you in Michigan that carry several of the Pronovias brands (i.e. San Patrick + La Sposa, too)??? I'm sure you can find something within one of their lines, they have several styles similar to what you are going for and the price is right (as long as you don't go for a Manuel Mota or Elie Saab Pronovias!)...Good luck to you again!!!
i know all these differing opinions might not be too helpful but i just had to tell you that the SECOND dress is absolutely stunning on you, and if i were you i would probably settle on that one :)
this is what i found..i hope one of these could be the "ONE"
http://www.tomsbridal.com/white-one/white-one-435.htm
http://www.tomsbridal.com/white-one/white-one-450.htm
http://www.tomsbridal.com/white-one/white-one-428.htm
http://www.weddingshoppeinc.com/pr/White-One-3007/24872
I tried on 2 Jasmine dresses tht are similar in feel to Jackie-O's (my dress is the same Old Hollywood, satiny look as hers). They both looked fabulous on. I don't have pics of me in it and the model is sooo blah, but here it is. It's really much prettier in person, the model doesn't do it justice.
Also, I tried on La Sposa Frutal. It's GORGEOUS.
@Leafy:I've got it. It's a E42 (US10) size, off-white, and it's NEW. I changed my plans and weared another dress. I don't know anything about the price, I'm open for any PMs about it :)
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I hate to think of myself as a fussy or high maintenance bride but I guess when it comes to my dress I have high expecations- I think most brides-to-be do?
We are eloping in Sept (just the two of us) so I'm coming down to the wire as far as time to purchase a dress since most seem to take at least six months to arrive. I know it's an elopement but I still wanted a beautiful dress, we are to be married in Rocky Mountain National Park with beautiful scenery and a professional photographer, FI will wear a kilt and we will have a traditional Scottish handfasting ceremony. I purchased a dress late last year that I really liked at the time but honestly, I felt sort of rushed in to buying it since it was being discontinued- I was fearful that it would be the only one I really liked but then it may not be available to buy if I decided on that one later. The dress cost just under $500, I got it on sale- it's the Oleg Cassini CV226.
Since then I have looked at many, many dresses online, tried about six more on and seen many beautiful dresses here on Weddingbee and have since had my heart set on something more form fitting and a mermaid or drop waist is just beautiful, to me. One dress I tried on I loved but it seems I always find something wrong with each one- I'm so picky and indecisive when it comes to my dress and I embarrassed to admit that about myself. I don't have any females to come with me to the bridal salon, my friends live out of state or out of country, I don't have a Mother/Aunts in my life and my Sister lives in another country.
I know what I want in my head but I'm anxious about having a dressmaker make it in case it turns out nothing like I had hoped. I do know that I would like:
All lace
Sweep train or shorter
Sweetheart neckline would be great
Ivory/Champage color
Mermaid fit
Not strapless, this is an absolute must
Not cost more than $1200
If I could somehow take the shape of something like the Melissa sweet Lia, make it lace with a strap that would be fantastic. I love how form fitting the Lia is. Does anyone know if a dress like this exists? If so please share. :)
I have attached a pic of me in a mermaid dress that I really love but I'm not sure how straps would be added and a pic of a dress with straps that I like.
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