Post # 1
Member
24 posts
Newbee
Forgive me if this post is too long and paranoid. I’m getting married 9 months from today and people keep implying I need to get my dress ASAP. I’ve heard 6-9 months before the wedding is the usual, so I understand that the clock is ticking now… but is it ticking so loudly that I should be spending every second of every day researching dresses?
I’ve been to a good number of stores and I know exactly what style of dress I want, but I’ve only actually seen (in person) one dress that fits my criteria (Maggie Sottero’s Scarlet.. but without the belt/bow), and it’s slightly out of budget. There are a couple more Maggie dresses that are the same style I like (Holly and Madison) but I’m having the hardest time trying to find stores that carry these to try on. (Side question – anyone know any dresses from other designers that are practically identical? I’m overwhelmed with the task of sifting through so many designers’ websites, and anyway, part of me thinks I should stop “looking” beyond these 3 options since I know I love them…they’re just so darn hard to find in New England!)
Here’s the thing:
I’m leaving for my senior year of college in less than 2 days. I only started feeling this pressure to BUY NOW OR ELSE this week, otherwise I would have done a LOT more over my summer vacation… I spent all morning calling stores/getting discouraged… I’m going to call the Maggie Sottero company # on a weekday when they’re open because apparently they can tell you exactly what stores carry particular dresses… but from now on my weekdays are at school, which means that I’ll have a million other things on my plate, and I’ll be farther away from many of the bridal stores that might have the dresses.
Basically I’m spiraling into a dress panic. Do I need to be??? Or can I just chill out and deal with it over the next couple busy months of school, even if that means some long day-trips home (and beyond) to try on these dresses?
Post # 3
Member
3570 posts
Sugar bee
You’re fine. I got engaged and got married 7 months later. Ordered my dress at a shop in NYC, and it arrived in three months. They just want to pressure you into a sale.
Post # 4
Member
1002 posts
Bumble bee
Definitely no need to be in panic mode, but I would start looking to buy within the next month or so. From what I have read on here, some maggie dresses can take 6 or 7 months to come in, and you want to make sure you have enough time for alterations.
Post # 5
Member
1083 posts
Bumble bee
I just ordered my dress and was told that it should be in around mid-December (3 1/2 months ish). I, too, am getting married in 9 months (give or take a few days). I think you’re still okay!
Post # 6
Member
13 posts
Newbee
You are fine! Dont let people bully you! If you are really scared, start looking soon or if you know where you will be looking for a dress call up the store and speak with them about it.
Post # 7
Member
37 posts
Newbee
@RobinThePerson: You are just fine! 🙂 listen to all the other girls ! I helped a friend in a similar situation. The dress will happen – it’s really hard to plan for a wedding just after graduation. Breathe and take everything in stride! You can totally take your time over the next few months and the right dress will happen!!
Post # 8
Member
406 posts
Helper bee
For some reason Maggie’s dresses seem to take a little longer than other designers’ dresses. Something about waiting for 10 identical dresses to be ordered so they can cut them all at once. They still only take 6 months, though, so you have time! Relax and don’t make a hasty choice! Good luck with your senior year!!
Post # 9
Member
7899 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
- Wedding: March 2012 - Pelican Grand Beach Resort
You are fine. Dresses usually take a maximum of 6 months and then you need 1.5 for alterations, so you have easily until the 7.5 mo. mark, but many dresses will come faster than that and you can always place a rush order.
Post # 10
Member
879 posts
Busy bee
You are fine! No need to stress. I am getting married in six months and I just purchased my gown two weeks ago. They said it should be in by the end of December. 🙂
Post # 11
Member
1621 posts
Bumble bee
I was told the same thing (to rush, as I needed 6 months “at least”). Well…..I ordered my dress in February and it came in at the end of May. And now it has sat around for 3 months waiting for alterations, LOL.
Plus, lots of dresses can be rush ordered if necessary. Not ideal, but good for reassurance!
Post # 12
Member
331 posts
Helper bee
Dont want to worry you – but I dont think that Maggie Sottero corporate will be able to tell you which store has which dress – I have seen that request enough times on their facebook page and they always say no, they can’t. I don’t think it would be possible for them to keep track of that sort of detail, stores sell their sample dresses all the time and those ones are a couple years old now. So I would just call any local shops to see who may have one or all of them in stock. I had the Madison Marie dress so I have to say that’s one of my faves 🙂 If you are tight on time to order and you do figure out what style you want, you can always scour the dress sites (like here, oncewed, powd, recycled bride etc) and you may be able to find a dress, new/sample/used right away.
Post # 13
Member
807 posts
Busy bee
If it helps at all, I ordered a Maggie and was told when I bought it that it would be 4 months…I’m still a few weeks out from that due date but it’s still on schedule to be here as promised. You have plenty of time!
Post # 14
Member
24 posts
Newbee
Oh boo, you’re right, jennifer_nz… I found some forum yesterday that said the thing about calling the manufacturers to find specific dresses with a lot of comments saying it worked… but then I skipped a few pages over and someone mentioned that they stopped because the information was getting innacurate. 🙁 I guess I’ll just have to call all the stores.
Thanks for your reassuring words, everyone!
Do Maggie trunk shows only showcase new collections? Would there be any chance of Madison, Holly… or maybe even Melissa Brooch?… being at a trunk show? There’s one in about a month that I could wait for if I thought it would be fruitful enough, but I don’t know…
Post # 15
Member
64 posts
Worker bee
I think you are fine. I ordered my dress in November and was told it would come in by June. It actually came in around February.
Post # 16
Member
331 posts
Helper bee
The trunk show I went to only had the newer dresses, so I still think the best bet is to check with the stores what they already have in stock. The good thing about them being older dresses is there should be lots of photos that you can find online of girls in them to give you a better idea how they photograph and look on real bodies vs models. If you ever need photos of Madison Marie – same as Madison just with some bling – I have tons plus a lot of links from when I dress stalked before buying haha!