Post # 1

Member
296 posts
Helper bee
Finding what now has to be the “The” gown. Has not been easy. Bought one. Changed my mind. Sold it. Now I have this one and it is lovely. It is way more bridal. If I could have I would still want another -more in the over $5000 category. Alas I went way over budget with this Stephen Yearick. So I think it is the best I can do for under $3,500. This is my second wedding. I loved the gown from the first wedding. Sold that one too. I think now that Im older its not the same WOW feeling. Does not help that the dress shop wanted to charge 425.00 for a bustle and to sew in the 90.00 bra. I took the dress home in snit with a sour taste from them trying to overcharge me. 
What do you think? Any alteration Ideas to make it more Fabulous?
Any brides expect more? What did you do to get over it? Encore brides did this happen to you?
Post # 3

Member
483 posts
Helper bee
That is a beautiful gown. You look great. Cheaper alterations can be found!
Post # 4

Member
4435 posts
Honey bee
@diamondsragrlbf: You look spectauclar- I think there is already WOW factor in the dress! I would shop around for alteration costs that are more reasonable as PP stated.
Post # 6

Member
1004 posts
Bumble bee
@diamondsragrlbf: I am an encore bride, however I never had a wedding the first time , very disappointing!
I bought a first dress, it was pretty but didn’t make me feel like a bride ($620 dress)…
I sold it, bought the dress of my dreams, paid a lot more…alterations alone on the second were $425 but that was bustle, side seams and bust cups sewn in ( this was a huge slap in the face for me as I did not budget for them being that high, but whats a bride to do…)
In the end I wore a dropped waist lace ball gown, I’m 38 and I felt like an absolute princess on our day <3
here’s a pic of mine…I think you have to go with what says you and what makes you feel like a bride. That being said I didn’t even glance at $5000 gowns because I knew I couldn’t afford them. The one claire pettibone I did love was around $3500-$4000 though, but I never even considered it, just moved on lol
I wore San Patrick Resina 🙂

Post # 7

Member
1004 posts
Bumble bee
@diamondsragrlbf: and you do look amazing in that dress…I dont know what the other gown you had in mind looked like but seriously stop the train girl, you found a keeper!! 😉
Post # 8

Member
3276 posts
Sugar bee
@diamondsragrlbf: my friend wore that same dress to her wedding last Saturday! It was beautiful, lots of sparkle.
Post # 9

Member
296 posts
Helper bee
@beautifulmama28: You look stunning and soooo young. Thanks for sharing your story and pictures. What a stunning couple. Thanks for the advice.
Post # 10

Member
296 posts
Helper bee
Sitll looking for alteration Ideas.
Post # 11

Member
384 posts
Helper bee
@diamondsragrlbf: Hi! I just found your page when I googled “mori lee 1855.” Your new dress is gorgeous! Just want to share my experience with alterations (so far). I put out a plea on Facebook, and my friends gave me about 10 different names for alterations. I’m going to a woman in my home-town who has a small tailoring shop. She’s changing my gown from a size 14 to a 10. It’s wasn’t as easy as it may have been if I had bought and had alterations from the same salon, but so far, it looks like my alterations will be only about $150, versus $400 at the bridal salon.
Good old Facebook! Again, love your dress… it’s so, so pretty!
Post # 12

Member
296 posts
Helper bee
@FutureMrsHarris2014: Thank you so much. I have the gown at a seamstress right now. Having the trumpet pleating more emphasized. Just a few tweaks. I hope this works. Only 3 weeks to go. BTW the morie lee 1855 is a very nice gown. When it came in it just didnt look right on my body. Smart move to find local alterations. Good luck
Post # 14

Member
622 posts
Busy bee
@diamondsragrlbf: I love your dress !!! Wedding day will be here in no time
Post # 15

Member
296 posts
Helper bee
@DreamInColor: Thank you so much!
@anna.mariebrickhousetobe: Thanks! We are both getting vary close to the wedding dates 🙂 My next fitting is this Thursday if I can I’ll post an update.
Post # 16

Member
38 posts
Newbee
I had a couple of “dream gowns” in mind (Theia petal dress or WTOO Astoria) but I knew I would never find a place to try them on or even consider buying them because of the price. So I kept an open mind and shopped the sales and found something unique that I love for only $10!