The thing about being an engaged woman who’s set a date for her wedding is that everyone wants to hear about your dress. They say things like “SO, tell me about the dress,” and “What does your dress look like?”, and “I can’t wait to hear about your dress!” These inquiries started rolling at me the week after I got engaged. Since September, I’ve been telling all interested parties that no, I don’t have my dress yet, and I’m really not that worried about it.
For the first few months, this was an acceptable answer. But here we are, just under 6 months until the wedding (holy. shit.) and I don’t have a dress. I really wasn’t worried about it. And I don’t think I would have been if not for the looks of terror, shock, and panic that wash over the faces of each and every dress-asker-abouter. “Oh no! Aren’t you worried?” they all ask, having done the math in their heads. Ok, guys. You’ve worn me down, I’m worrying.
I wasn’t in a hurry to find a dress for several reasons: I have no intention of setting foot inside a bridal boutique, I’m not looking for a gown, I’m not spending more than $500 or $600 dollars, and most importantly, I have no idea what size I’ll be in September.
Under pressure, I’ve started looking. I’ve known what kind of dress I want all along but what I want is hard to find. I’ve amassed a small list of wedding dress criteria: not stark white, has a bit of a sleeve, not more than 50% lace, knee length, less than $600, preferably belted. Basically I want something that looks a bit like these:
1.) This dress by Orla Kiely is perfection. It meets all of my criteria. However, it is last year’s dress and it’s sold out and no longer available.
2.) I love the neckline on this vintage dress from DearGolden. It would be lovely in a pale gold or champagne.
3.) Another beautiful dress from DearGolden. If I could have someone remake this one for me in a wedding-appropriate hue, everything would be perfect.
4.) I saw this Honor dress in the Spring 2012 Martha Stewart Weddings. It’s $7,600. I don’t like it as much as I thought I did.
Even though I still haven’t picked a caterer, I feel like I need to at least have a lead on a dress. So please, if you’re holding on to some great secret about where they keep all the good wedding dresses, please, please, share.
7 Comments
I’m on it! Watch out, I’m tracking down your perfect dress! (and anything else you want me to do <3)
it will work out- you’re not looking for the type of dress that needs a bunch of alterations, so you’re fine if you get it the month before!
i think this is pretty, though!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/96002606/every-season-dress-artistic-sweet?ref=cat2_gallery_1
Ha, I felt the same way. I ended up finding the perfect dress on my lunch break one day at Marshalls for $50. This was after I’d spent about $200 on a bridesmaids dress that I’d bought in ivory. If you can’t find anything on etsy (my first recommendation), try looking at all the bridesmaids dresses out there (most of which come in white, champagne, or ivory). You can see my photos if you go to http://www.ourlaboroflovebyheidi.com/ and search for “avigail + bill”
Your dress looks so perfect! And I love that you paired it with those amazing green shoes. It gives me hope that you found something so perfect for such a great price.
I’ve been combing through etsy in the evenings until my eyes won’t focus anymore. I’ve found some dresses that are pretty close but I’m so worried about not being able return something that I don’t love when I try it on.
Isn’t it funny how designers sell the same dress to bridesmaids and brides at completely different price tags, simply because one comes in white? So sneaky!
Thanks for your tips! They’ll come in handy as my search drags on!
Oh, and by the way, one of my best friends in the world got married at the Barn at Falling Water and it was amazing!!!!!!! Such a beautiful and inspirational place. Her ceremony was up in the woods behind the barn.
Hey – don’t worry about it. 6 months is HEAPS of time! (I had 4 months.)
And get your dress made! I walked into a local dressmaker with a drawing I’d done and the lovely ladies kept adjusting it until pretty much a week before the wedding. So it doesn’t matter if your body changes between now and then. People seem to go crazy with wedding stuff… But the reality is that it is just one day of what will hopefully be a lifetime of beautiful days. Sometimes the simplest things can be the sweetest and most memorable.
Thank you, Elise! That’s so good to hear.
I’ve been considering having a dress made but for some reason wasn’t thinking of looking locally. Was it expensive or did it end up saving you time and money?