Okay, I guess the bottom line is..... I don't know what to advise, but I am perfectly sure that whatever you decide, you will look amazing!!! Sorry I can't be more help!!
I wanted to do a multi-quote reply, but I've been fighting with the DIS boards since last night and keep having to refresh pages to get them to load properly and I can't quote -- I lose them every time!
There's a pretty big David's near my mom-in-law's house and while they didn't have THE dress, they had one with an inset of the floral fabric, so Jeff took me over there this afternoon. However, there were 2 big issues. The first being that it's an 18-week order and we wouldn't have time to order it, and no salon was going to be stocking plus-sizes ... any plus size in that dress had to be special-ordered. So there was zero chance that I'd be able to find it IN a store to buy, and I'm too close to our VR to order (and David's doesn't do rush orders). 
Definitely NOT the look I'm going for. 
And it needs NO alterations!! It's due in 6 weeks. 
I can't spend too much time being sad about that, though, cuz I now have MY DRESS! 
And we'll just go see Mickey in his nifty new greeting spot in the Magic Kingdom instead (and it won't cost us $900! LOL).
So today was dress-hunting day ... trying to find someone that had that new dress or a swatch of fabric or something to help me decide what to do!
I was almost hoping I'd hate the fabric so I wouldn't be tempted to try and get the dress. But of course, the fabric is gorgeous. Absolutely beautiful. So of course I was tempted.
The other issue was the fact that the dress is an empire waist, and since I'm short and big-busted, the empire waist dresses I tried today made me look pregnant.
So, the consultant (who was wonderful and patient) sat down with me and discussed the whole dress dilemma. She asked what I was going for as far as look and feel, and she suggested a particular dress. I've seen it on the website over and over and never even considered it. It just wasn't my style. But she convinced me to try it, and when I put it on, I didn't hate it.
In fact, I sort of loved it.
I was wearing these cute ivory satin platform heels with bows on the toes and the dress hit me just above the ankle (it's tea-length on normal people, LOL, but I'm 5'1"), and it just felt all lacey and sparkly and swishy and swingy and FABULOUS! I looked up in the mirror and Jeff was sitting in his chair grinning at me. I said, "What are you smiling at?" And he said, "I can tell you like that dress. Do you know that you're up there dancing?"
So we bought it!
And I got the shoes, too! The shoes were really a necessity cuz as much as I love my other blingy shoes, I was wearing them around the house on the carpet and I was already starting to get blisters and I would've ended up bleeding on our VR day! The new shoes are way more comfortable and I am going to bling the heels on them, too.
And the bows on the shoes go with the bow on my purse, too!
The only bummer thing about today was we decided to cancel Mickey and Minnie to save money.
If I hadn't, I probably would have gone to David's and tried this one on. I am sure it will be lovely. I love the shoes too. Wish I could do them, but with Rheumatoid Arthritis in my feet, heels are not an option.
Please forgive me because I wanted to respond to each of you and I'm gonna give it a shot from memory! Thank you each for the compliments and good vibes about my new dress! 
and since we're 4 months out, I need to get going! 
takes a lot of photos!!!!
happy for you that you sorted out your dress dilemma! I love the purse bow and the shoe bows!
Amy sweetie - OMG!!! I was not able to get to a computer yesterday and come back to find that gorgeous dress and shoes post!!!
Love , love, love it!!!!
I adore tea length dresses and nearly went for one myself!!!! You are going to look so beautiful!!
The shoes are to die for!!! It is really important that they are comfortable!!! Mine were very comfortable and totally 'broken in' but I still changed in to my flip-flops at the end of dinner for the journey to BLT on the monrail as my legs and feet were aching. I think it is all the standing about for photos that does it!!! And Randy
The flip-flops are a good idea -- I'm thinking I'm gonna get a pair of comfy flats, too, with all the walking we'll be doing.
Now we just need to finish paying for everything, LOL!
