Please Help Me Choose a Wedding Dress UPDATE pg. 9: It's been chosen!

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I posted this on the Wedding board but thought I might get more opinions here as this board has more traffic.

Tomorrow my Maid of Honor and I are going dress shopping. I have narrowed down the candidates, and would love some honest opinions. The wedding will be taking place the week before Christmas at a Catholic Church in Missouri. We do not have a reception location yet, but we are leaning toward a historic mansion or hotel ballroom. We had initially discussed a Disney Wedding, but travel was going to be too hard for the families, but I do plan on incorporating some of that kind of theming. Due to the restrictions of the church, I will need to have some kind of cover up for the ceremony itself.

Here is my first choice. I used to tell all my friends that I was giong to be married in a replica of Belle's dress. It's not the exact same, but it has that kind of feel to it. I love the lace up back because it reminds me of the things I wear when I do Renaissance Festivals- it also means fewer alterations. I have a problem with zippers since I am rather short and the zippers don't hit me right on the back. I really love everything about this dress. As a bonus, that size fits me so I can buy it in the sample sale as long as I am okay with gold.

This is another dress from the same shop. Same idea, but much simpler. Obviously I would need to go up a couple of sizes. I like the simplicity and the subtle glitter of the beading, but I'm not as crazy about it as I am the first dress. It's hard to see the beading in the pictures.

The last dresses are from David's Bridal.

My parents really love this one and I do too. The one issue is that it has been discontinued, so I would have to find one at another shop in my size as the shop in Independence does not have my size. I'll probably put some kind of colored sash with it, but I'm not for sure.

I like the simplicity and higher neckline on this one. Once again, there may or may not be a colored sash paired with it.

I really like the softness and detail on this one:

The last one I do not have a picture in. It looked nice on I thought, and it has sleeves which would elminate the need for a cover up. I'm just not sure about the style.

I can't display the photo here, but here is the pic of it on David's Bridal website. It looks a lot prettier on the model because she is not short and fat, but I thought it still looked nice when I tried it.

David's Bridal

 

[piglet too]

Love #1, but not sure about the straps.

Like #2, strapless look is better to me then the first one

Really like #3, but without the colored sash, at lest not purple.

Sorry, don't like #4 at all.

#5 is real nice too.

ETA ~ #6 is real pretty. Like the sleeves a lot.

 

[NMAmy]

I really love everything about this dress.

If that's the way you feel about the first dress, then that's the one you should get! I like it, too, it's very pretty.

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I can take the straps off of number 1.

 

[Trish Bessette]

I LOVE dress #1!!! much more than the others. Looks so pretty on you

 

[Darsa]

First one, by a long shot, in my opinion! What a gorgeous dress; the others really don't do much for me, especially the two with the colored sashes.

 

[SeaShelley]

Dress #2....it appears to fit you the best and is the most flattering on you.

Dress #3 is pretty, but I'm not a fan of the sash.

The high neck dress is a no-go, IMHO, it does nothing for you....

Good luck!!!

 

[Wishing on a star]

OMG!!!! hard choice...

I always say go with your gut, what you feel you look 'beautiful and feel comfortable in! So I would have to say, maybe the first one... Since that seems to be at the head of the pack. From your description, it may seem a bit more 'you'?????

I really like the lacey strapless one! (the seventh photo posted) WITHOUT any sash.... It is so beautiful and simple without the purple sash... A sash cuts one off at the middle and is not slimming.

This dress would be wonderful for the setting of your wedding, in a church, with the reception you are describing.

The last two posted would be my least favorites... the design of both of these is cut off by a waist/sash in the middle.


PS: Did you say December????
Have you considered any gowns with sleeves....

Congratulations!!!!

 

[AshleyW]

I like #1 (without the straps) and #5 the best. If it were me, I'd probably wind up picking #5 more for practicality reasons - it looks like it's a lot easier to move around in, which would be nice for the reception, and I like the white a little more versus the gold. But really, both of them are beautiful.

 

[Tinkermommy]

My vote is for #1 as well. Really seems to flatter you and looks great!

 

[LilyWDW]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE number 1! Though I would see if it could be altered to get rid of the straps as I think it would be even better that way.

I also really like number 2 so that would be my second choice. These two dresses give you the best shape in my opinion.

I really do not like any of the others. Sorry.

 

[StacyMarie]

#1, take the straps off though! You look BEAUTIFUL!

 

[MarilIncredible]

My order of preference would be:

1

2

5

3 (w/o purple sash)

and I do not like 4 very much for you. I think it doesn't look as good b/c the neckline is so high. I think it makes you look very stocky.

 

[RitaZ.]

Dress #2....it appears to fit you the best and is the most flattering on you.

Dress #3 is pretty, but I'm not a fan of the sash.

The high neck dress is a no-go, IMHO, it does nothing for you....

Good luck!!!

MTE on #2 and #3.

#1 is a gorgeous dress, but all that fabric overwhelms your petite frame. JMHO.

 

[Hoodie]

#1 is nice but looks like it would be hard to maneuver in.
#2 is my favorite - but probably because it's a lot like mine! It's VERY slimming.
#3 I like without the sash. The sash detracts from the lace.
#4 I don't like at all. Makes you look very puffy. Nix that one.
#5 Looks more like a debutant dress than a wedding gown and i don't care for the flower.
#6 is very pretty. I love the cap sleeves.

We seem to have a similar build and I have to say since my dress was REALLY similar to #2, it is VERY slimming, esp, in pictures. Mine came with a halter strap which also looks better than the thin spaghetti straps (which tend to cut into any skin/fat you may have on your shoulder which isn't the best look). If you go strapless, see if you can have someone create a halter strap instead. It was probably the best part of the dress (and no sliding straps!!)

 

[Sandy V.]

I vote for #1 without the straps. You look lovely in it, and it seems to be your favorite as well. That's the most important thing - which dress calls out to YOU, not to your parents or anyone else.

Congratulations on your wedding and marriage!!

 

[Magic Mom]

I like #1 a lot. The details are very pretty and I think the color and style are very flattering to you, but the straps don't fit right on your shoulders. Maybe they can alter it so you don't need the straps?

#2 Pretty, but not wow

#3 Again pretty but not wow, And I think all the lace is overpowering.

#4 ...no

#5 kind of old for you. OK, not kind of old, very old like maybe it was your Grandma's dress.

 

[mom2travel]

I like the first one the best - it looks really nice on you and you seem to be most excited about it

the next 3 don't do much for me. You look pretty in the 5th one too

 

[Jennasis]

1 IS beautiful but I think dress 2 is the most flattering on you.

 

[cheerful chickadee]

While I like #1 style wise, I don't like the color, just my opinion. If it makes you feel beautiful, I say go for it!!


My favorite is this one....

I really like that it's soft and romantic PLUS being a short girl myself, I love the length and the fact that I won't spend the day/evening getting tangled up in it, carrying it around etc. It seems lightweight too, was it? I think it would look pretty with hair half up, half down with some soft curls. Oh, so pretty!!