Post # 1
Member
11 posts
Newbee
- Wedding: June 2018 - Outdoor
Honestly, I really hated going shopping for my wedding dress. I went to five different bridal shops and was consistently let down at almost every one (obviously except for when I finally found THE one). The biggest hurdle for me was the shape of my body. I have a real hourglass figure (10″+ difference between my bust, waist, and rear) and they simply don’t make many decent dresses for people like me. Usually the bust was WAAAAAY too small and the hips were super tight and the waist would be baggy. My experience at these shops usually left me feeling terrible about my body because every dress I happened to like made me fat and my mothers/bridesmaids liked me in dresses that I absolutely hated and didn’t really support my choice in dresses. In the end, I feel I got rediculously lucky. I picked up a dress to try on that was over my budget (just for fun because it was blush and tea length) and it fit me like a dream. Surprisingly, the bust in my dress is too big and has to be taken in slightly! The sales associate admitted she hated the dress on the two other girls who had tried it on and cringed when I picked it out to try, until she saw it on me. I was in love with a dress that was out of my price-range and I was struggling to let go but she called the store owner and the owner dropped the price by $400 if I bought the floor model that had only been tried on twice before me. So I said yes to my dream dress that was now also within my price range. So it ended up good but every time I look back on how miserable I was, trudging from store to store, I cringe and never want to experience bridal shopping again. Have other brides had similar experiences or has dress shopping generally a good experience for you ladies?
Here’s my dress, in case anybody is curious. It’s the Casablanca 2283 Clover in blush. I’m not wearing any crinoline of slip. It’s naturally that poofy and perfect for hourglass figures. If you look up the dress, be warned that the model the company used doesn’t do the dress any justice in my opinion. My pictures are before alterations and you can see how much better it looks on someone who isn’t a stick like the model.
I want to see your dresses! I always love having an excuse to ogle at another bride’s beautiful dress (especially if it’s blush!).
Post # 2
Member
3437 posts
Sugar bee
- Wedding: September 2017 - Poppy Ridge Golf Course
You’re my body spirit twin! I despised wedding dress shopping. 😝 Measurements 36-28-44. I was size 6-8 up top but 12-14 below plus I’m only 5’2 so every dress was ridiculously long. I felt like a child playing dress up and the clips didn’t make anything better. I ended up purchasing online listed under prom dresses and glad I did. You look amazing! 😄 I love that dress on you. Refreshingly different.
Post # 3
Member
1571 posts
Bumble bee
For me it was the opposite. I normally hate shopping and feel I look terrible in everything. Except wedding dresses. I’d love to wear those everyday.
Post # 4
Member
1823 posts
Buzzing bee
I haven’t had the typical dress-hunt experience as mine has been made by a local tailor. I’m just popping in to say that dress was made for you! Beautiful!
Post # 5
Member
1199 posts
Bumble bee
I didn’t like it (bought the second dress I tried on) but that’s just my personality. I’m a tomboy so I have little interest in clothing shopping, shoe shopping, purses, getting hair/nails done, etc. so no surprise I just wanted to get it over with quick.
I will admit, for the first time in my life, I felt like a princess wearing this! A poofy ballgown was the last dress I thought I’d end up in. This is from David’s Bridal and was $500.
Post # 6
Member
9576 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
i wouldn’t say i hated it but it wasn’t something i would want to do again. i went to a number of shops. my mom said i looked great in everything. i never found “the one.” i picked a dress when i got tired of looking and said this one will do.
Post # 7
Member
11 posts
Newbee
- Wedding: June 2018 - Outdoor
heavenlyflower : I’m so relieved someone else had the same issue. My
measurements are 41-31-44 (same size lower body!) so I wear about a 14 in everything and it never fits my waist. I think the dresses are so long to acomidate taller women but I agree. I couldn’t walk in anything and I’ve got a good 2″ on you. There are some lovely prom dresses out there and they tend to be a fraction of the price. does it fit you well or will it have to be greatly altered?
curiouscat2017 : I’m so glad you had a good experience! I’m envious.
sensoda : Wow, a dress made by a tailor? was it everything you hoped it would be? What was your experience like? Thanks for the compliment! it really feels like it was made for me!
eurasianbee : That makes a lot of sense. That dress is lovely by the way! I could never pull that beauty off. I think every bride deserves to feel like a princess on their big day. With that lovely v at the bottom of the bodice, the massive amount of tulle, and the lettuice hem along the bottom, I can see why!
ajillity81 : I almost had to do the same. The shop I found this at was the last one I was going to try.
Post # 8
Member
688 posts
Busy bee
I didn’t hate it but I was dreading it. I’m not a super picky person but I am really tall (6’1) so I thought that might be a problem. I first went to david’s bridal where i tried on 5 or so dresses but didn’t find anything I really liked. From there I went to BHLDN where I tried on 5 dresses and really liked two so I had to pick from them. I ended up with this gown. My wedding is small and in a vineyard and I feel like it actually made my long, lanky body look decent.
Post # 9
Member
2806 posts
Sugar bee
Yeah, I was not a fan. I’m super petite (32-23-32, 5’1″) and have to get clothes tailored much of the time anyway, so all the sample sizes were swimming on me and looked pretty awful. And I just am not the biggest fan of wedding dresses, I came to realize. Anything with a poofy skirt or tons of rhinestones made me feel like a kid playing dress up.
mikaylaauel : I love that dress! I actually bought it but I had to return because it’s definitely made for a tall person. I’m glad you rocked it!
Post # 10
Member
3437 posts
Sugar bee
- Wedding: September 2017 - Poppy Ridge Golf Course
sieacox : I had to order a size 15 juniors to accommodate my hips then the seamstress altered the hem, bust and sides to fit. Dress was $258, alterations cost $140 and it fit perfectly once altered. Not much of a dress fan but it was comfortable, I liked the way it hugged my curves and I didn’t mind wearing it. 😊 That was good enough for me.
Post # 11
Member
688 posts
Busy bee
browneyedgirl24 : ha! that’s so cool! I actually have to have length added to it because I don’t want people to be able to see my feet lol
Post # 12
Member
11 posts
Newbee
- Wedding: June 2018 - Outdoor
mikaylaauel : That dress is so elegent! I love that it doesn’t have any rhinestones or extra gaudiness. It’s lovely! The back is so nice!
browneyedgirl24 : I didn’t care for the rhinestones either because I thought they looked tacky on me, were itchy, or just way too much so I get what you mean (though I did end up with a dress that had some rhinestones, pearls, and glass beads).
heavenlyflower : You spent about half of what I did and I havent even had alterations yet! I’m glad it worked out so that you were able to get something that worked for you.
Post # 13
Member
3286 posts
Sugar bee
I wasn’t a huge fan of dress shopping. I wasn’t a girl who grew up dreaming of a wedding. I’m petite with small breasts and large hips. So, that made it tricky to find something. I’m also older (40’s). I didn’t want to spend much money.
We didn’t spend much time in the bridal store, but I was happy with the final selection. I certainly wasn’t going to drive all over town trying on lots of dresses.
Post # 14
Member
516 posts
Busy bee
Looks gorgeous on you!!!!
Post # 15
Member
1199 posts
Bumble bee
sieacox : Thank you! Your dress looks perfect on you <3