Weddingbee boards

Hi Bees!  Yes, I know everyone is tired of my shameless dress promotion, but I just wanted to share my final dress fitting photos...Mainly because I had a lot of questions about adding a corset and I know sometimes bees post and wonder about it/if it's okay to change the dress that much, etc etc.

As some of you may know, my dress is once wed from preownedweddingdresses.com.  Although I measured my hips, waist, etc., meticulously.  I did not pay such close attention to the chest.  The seller was a 34C.  I am a 34C.  Ok, we're done.  Ummmm, as you can tell, I am not a seamstress for a living:)  Needless to say the dress comes in, fits PERFECT in all the places I was so worried about, and of course it won't zip all the way up.  

So I frantically went to a bridal seamstress, and she said the only way to rectify things was to add a corset.  I didn't want it to go all the way down because I didn't want to alter the fit in the waist and hips.  I found pics online of dresses that were corset/zipper combos, and I went with that.

I think she did a great job, considering the material's pretty fragile, and every "ivory" is different than the next.  She also added an large clip inside the dress at the waist where the zipper stops and the corset begins, so that the zipper will be reinforced there and not "rip."

I also got her to simmer down when she strapped me in the corset...In the last fitting photos it looked like she was trying to make mashed potatoes with my boobs!  

I also tried this on with my shapewear - the VS Very Sexy strapless, and the unitard thing from Victoria's Secret which I will also post a review on because inquiring bees want to know.  I didn't have anything on in the first photos, just a squasher of a tied-up corset:)

Note:  The seamstress was having a crisis on the phone, of some sort, in another language. And therefore she just left me to snap photos with my train all wadded up and it was too much for me to sort out myself.  So just pretend like it's not in a ball:)

So, here is my Used and Improved Vera...I like the corset, it makes me feel supported, holds my strapless bra in place (hello DANCING) and my unitard VS Shapewear can't roll down on me:)

I love this dress so much! So gorgeous!

Thank you, everyone!  The only thing I don't LOVE is that the zipper is still attached at the corset...It couldn't be removed without risking a whole hot mess of problems with the "ruching" of the English tulle.  I really don't think it's noticeable in person, but I do see it in the photos, maybe because of the lighting and my iphone doesn't have flash.  Gotta get the 4!!!  But I hope that is not very noticeable, well, because there's nothing that can be done about it, and ultimately, I still love this dress and always have from the first time I saw it online:)  I never even tried it on in real life, just decided to take my chances because as I've said before, it truly haunted me.  And if having it means that I had to modify it and part of the zipper still shows, I'm okay with that because I simply had to have it or I would die.

@MrsNeutrino:  At a bridal alterations/tailor in Coconut Creek, FL..It's called Moda Tailor.  I was referred to her by several brides, who all raved about her. She also designs custom wedding dresses, and while she's very good and very detail-oriented, like anything with the word "bridal" attached to it, the alterations weren't cheap.  But I didn't really have a choice with my Oh-we're-the-same-bra-size-so-I'm-sure-the-top-fits self.

@MrsNeutrino:  The girl before me had the bustle done, so I only had her build the corset... Just for the corset $250.  Yeah, I know - jaw-dropper.  I had another seamstress called Birdy's Bridal in Oakland Park that said she'd do it for $150, but her "shop" was really her garage, and I just didn't feel comforable leaving my dress there, although I've seen her on Miami Today a couple of times, because part of her business is to rent wedding dresses and alter them for each "renter."  I pulled up in her driveway, and her automatic garage door opened to reveal a ton of wedding dresses and bridal crap.  Nope.  Sorry.  I wasn't feeling it.

So even though Moda Tailor got an extra $100 out of me...She is GOOD.  And I thought this was just something that could be screwed up so easily by someone who didn't know what she was doing, and so I sadly handed over the $250, because I knew that she would do it perfectly and I could rest easy that she would take care of it. She managed to even find material for the flap that matched the exact color and texture of the lining of my dress, so it looks like it's really part of the dress.  I really do recommend her.

Her info:

4631 N State Road 7

Coconut Creek, FL 33073-4380
(954) 420-1072

@MrsNeutrino:  what alterations do you need? Are you getting a corset?

@MrsNeutrino:  Did you ask Boca Bridal about the price?  I tried on a Marisa there when I was trying to shake my dress out of my head, and the saleswoman told me they would cap alterations at $350...Which is honestly not bad for bustle, hemming, etc. etc.  She said they cap alterations and give an all-in-one price if you get your dress from them.  It may go by the price of the dress, I'm not sure...I only tried on a few and the Marisa was the only potential prospect and I think it was around 2K.  They may cap alterations at a higher price for higher priced dresses.

I would think in SoFlo that you would have to expect $300-$350 for alterations for general stuff, like taking in, hemming, etc.  EVERYTHING is more expensive here!  And we're at the top end of every range in pricing, unfortunately.  It totally sucks.

Thanks, Bees!  I really am excited! I'm glad no one thinks the zipper on the corset is super-obvious:)  I appreciate all of your generous compliments:)  You know how to flatter a girl!

Beautiful!

@techie:  Thank you, techie:)  I appreciate that coming from someone with a razor-sharp eye for style and detail like yourself!

Your dress looks stunning on you! And the back really does looks great!

I just hope you all realize how much it means to me when you all post such lovely comments:) I moved away from home for the first time in my life with FI about a year ago to take an awesome job in Fort Lauderdale.  I am planning my wedding alone, as FI works offshore so he's gone for weeks at a time.  My mom, my best girlfriend, and my sister/moh, are all far away in Louisiana.  So I'm winging it with no one else's opinions but my own when I have to make decisions, and it is just so gratifying when you all back me up and squash my fears/worries (damn zipper!).

Thank you so much...You may not think taking a few seconds to post is a big deal, but I hope you all know it's a big deal TO ME.

Absolutely beautiful, I'll never tire of you posting your dress :)

And I didn't notice the zipper at first look, or again when I went back to inspect. You are good to go, gorgeous!