Wedding gown

[Pam]

Yes - it's me. Your resident "Drama Mama."

Yesterday my daughter and I were supposed to travel 3.5 hours ONE way to a bridal trunk show to see gowns by a designer she liked. That store is the closest one to carry the Winnie line.

We got 4-5 inches of snow on Friday, then freezing rain followed by 8 inches of additional snow yesterday. Needless to say, we couldn't go.

So -- we did venture out 45 minutes to another bridal salon and checked out their gowns. DD tried on 5 gowns and liked none of them. (We also had a little trouble getting home! )

She knows what she wants -- a sheath that is very form fitting with NO poofiness or frou-frou embellishments. (I love poof and frou-frou but I realize that this is not my wedding, so I sit on my hands and bite my tongue! )

Back in January she tried on a Jim Hjelm gown and fell it love with it - silk gown with Alcenon lace. It was $3300.00! We both agreed that was over the budget -- but she hasn't found anything since.

I am asking all of the wise and wonderful DIS brides if they know a super secret place that we can find the gown of my DD's dreams at a price of my dreams!

 

[caryndisneydiva]

EBAY! i got mine for half price on there, brand new!

 

[momofbride010103]

Hi Pam,

Oh boy let the fun begin... hang in there it will all fall into place I promise your DD will find a dress she loves that is affordable. Living in South Florida we don't of course have snow issues (just hurricanes ) spring is around the corner and then let the shopping begin!!!!!!!

Wishing luck in your search! Lori

 

[Pam]

Caryn - I tried the eBay thing -- but so far the gown style she likes is not on there!

Amanda's Mom - I came home yesterday, took three aspirins headache: ) and hit the couch! Her wedding isn't until Oct. 2009 -- dear Lord, please give me strength!

The bridal salon consultants keeping telling her: "You have very good taste." No duh, ladies. She automatically gravitates to the finest things in life. The gowns that she tried on yesterday had price tags of $3600, $2900.... and she didn't even look at the price tags when she decided to try them on.

I am sooooo never gonna be able to afford that **** lift and liposuction now!

 

[momofbride010103]

Well look at it this way you have a year and a half to go.... Maybe the dresses she looks at now could go on sale to make room for the next seasons stlye!!!!

Of course under any circumstances DO NOT LET HER LOOK AT THE NEW STYLES.....

 

[B2B-2008]

I had this problem, most expensive dress I tried on I fell in love with (and so did my mum). We then spent six months trying to find something the same but not as expensive. This did not happen but I did get lucky when we visited a wedding dress show I was able to order my dress from a local-ish shop and they gave me 10% off and free alterations. This helped with the price and my mum let me order it

 

[cmd0819]

Try bridepower.com I got my $3500 dress there for $299! They sell the samples for high-end dept stores which is how they can provide them at such a great discount. Mine was in great condition and with a cleaning is now perfect!

 

[Pam]

Well look at it this way you have a year and a half to go.... Maybe the dresses she looks at now could go on sale to make room for the next seasons stlye!!!!

Lori,
I already asked that question about the dress going on sale - it's not.

I had this problem, most expensive dress I tried on I fell in love with (and so did my mum). We then spent six months trying to find something the same but not as expensive. This did not happen This helped with the price and my mum let me order it

I don't think we're going to find a knock-out version of "the dress" either -- but I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Your mum is much nicer than me!!

Try bridepower.com I got my $3500 dress there for $299! They sell the samples for high-end dept stores which is how they can provide them at such a great discount. Mine was in great condition and with a cleaning is now perfect!

Thanks - I have been checking pridepower.com for over a month now but so far I haven't had any luck. Hopefully they will get in something that will work in the near future!

 

[KQAN]

I am looking for a similar type dress as your daughter - simple, elegant, sheath-style. I don't want the puffy skirt or the crinoline. You should check Nicole Miller - a lot of her dresses are the sheath style, and the prices are suprisingly reasonable: many are from $400 to $800. I actually saw a dress there yesterday that will most likely be "mine". Hope that helps!

 

[twiu]

How about sample sales?

 

[pixie2416]

A lot of the designers have destination lines which usually feature simpler designs (less frou frou) and are usually less expensive too. I got a Mori Lee sheath dress for $700. I probably could have done better price-wise, but time was of the essence and didn't have time to shop around. Keep looking--you're sure to find something. A good online resource is houseofbrides.com.

Good luck!

 

[hiwaygal]

It sounds like what she wants is actually fairly simple. I would try to find a pattern, and contact a local seamstress to see what they would charge. That might seem outrageous, but it's worth a shot.

 

[cinderbear]

Hi Pam,
I bought my dress from the internet. I searched until I found what I was interested in than I found a bridal shop that carried the gown, tried it on plus others. I liked the MoriLee Gown so I got my measurements(with no intention of buying the gown from the shop as it was $1000)went home and ordered it from www.houseofbrides.com and payed $450 for the gown. It was a beautiful gown and everything I wanted. It was the one. I hope this website will help you or future brides as some were saying they got theirs from ebay for a great price.

 

[lurkyloo]

Three ideas:

1) I got my gown from www.marrygoround.com - I just contacted the owner and told her the style I wanted, and she was able to order it for me, cheap.

2) There is a line called Tara Keely (I think it's actually a division of Jim Hjelm) that has a lot of slinky, sheath-y dresses. I almost got one. Sometimes they can be found on eBay for 40-60% below retail.

3) Julius Bridals is a New York retailer that has knockoffs made in China. They can also make a dress from a picture. This might be the scariest route because you have to work with them to describe what you want and then wait a few months to get it and see how they did, but I've heard many stories of brides who were thrilled with the result.

Do you and your daughter have a copy of Bridal Bargains by Denise and Alan Fields? It saved me a BUNDLE, and about half the book is devoted to gown shopping, including reviews of all the major manufacturers and advice on avoiding bridal-shop scams.

 

[Pam]

I am looking for a similar type dress as your daughter - simple, elegant, sheath-style. I don't want the puffy skirt or the crinoline. You should check Nicole Miller.

Thanks! I went to her site and she does have a lot of beautiful gowns! I bookmarked the site to show my daughter.

How about sample sales?

Oh, we rush to those first thing -- buy my daughter is 5'1" and a size 2 -- samples are usually a 10, a few have been 8. We did get the chance to buy one sample -- but it wasn't discounted as much as it should have been and the color wasn't my daughter's first choice. They wanted over $2100.00 for a sample gown in a color that she didn't really want so we passed on it.

A lot of the designers have destination lines which usually feature simpler designs (less frou frou) and are usually less expensive too. I got a Mori Lee sheath dress for $700. I probably could have done better price-wise, but time was of the essence and didn't have time to shop around. Keep looking--you're sure to find something. A good online resource is houseofbrides.com.

Good luck!

You are right -- the destination lines have been more of what she's wanting. I'm heading over to the House of Brides website, thanks so much for the help!

It sounds like what she wants is actually fairly simple. I would try to find a pattern, and contact a local seamstress to see what they would charge. That might seem outrageous, but it's worth a shot.

Simple in style, yes! Expensive in fabric and lace! I found a place in China on eBay that makes knock-offs real cheap - but we're hesitant to have it made that far away, especially when they don't specify the material being used

Hi Pam,
I bought my dress from the internet. I searched until I found what I was interested in than I found a bridal shop that carried the gown, tried it on plus others. I liked the MoriLee Gown so I got my measurements(with no intention of buying the gown from the shop as it was $1000)went home and ordered it from www.houseofbrides.com and payed $450 for the gown. It was a beautiful gown and everything I wanted. It was the one. I hope this website will help you or future brides as some were saying they got theirs from ebay for a great price.

Thanks, seems as though House of Brides has a good reputation!

Three ideas:

1) I got my gown from www.marrygoround.com - I just contacted the owner and told her the style I wanted, and she was able to order it for me, cheap.

2) There is a line called Tara Keely (I think it's actually a division of Jim Hjelm) that has a lot of slinky, sheath-y dresses. I almost got one. Sometimes they can be found on eBay for 40-60% below retail.

3) Julius Bridals is a New York retailer that has knockoffs made in China. They can also make a dress from a picture. This might be the scariest route because you have to work with them to describe what you want and then wait a few months to get it and see how they did, but I've heard many stories of brides who were thrilled with the result.

Do you and your daughter have a copy of Bridal Bargains by Denise and Alan Fields? It saved me a BUNDLE, and about half the book is devoted to gown shopping, including reviews of all the major manufacturers and advice on avoiding bridal-shop scams.

Carrie, we don't have a copy of Bridal Bargains - sounds like we need one, though! And the one shop was totally trying to scam us! I'm going to google Julius Bridals in a little bit.

I went to Marry Go Round's website -- do they not show any of the gowns or designers that they carry?

I web searched yesterday and found a big bridal store near Cleveland, Ohio (just under 2 hours from us) and we have an appointment on Wed. morning. They have a very large selection of gowns and designers - with gowns starting at $400 and going up to the $thousands$! The woman I spoke to said that they do not work on commission. The one bridal salon took DD and I in a room, talked with DD and then brought in 3 or 4 gowns that the saleswoman thought "she would like." We never got to browse through the gowns, look at the selection, etc. In fact -- the bridal gowns were NOT out on the main floor when you walked through the door -- I felt like I was the Tin Man and I was talking to the Great and Powerful Oz who was behind the curtain. I kept saying to my daughter, "Where do they keep the gowns, why can't we look for ourselves?"

And the woman really tried to push the $3300.00 Jim Hjelm on us - said it wouldn't be available in the next collection (found out later that it will be) and when we said it was too much money -- she brought out a cheaper gown (it was only $900!) with a poufy skirt and told us that we just wouldn't be happy going down to a lower level.


I thank all of you for your help and advice -- the good thing is that we have time to look around and find the perfect gown -- at an affordable price!

 

[Lindsay22]

Three ideas:
3) Julius Bridals is a New York retailer that has knockoffs made in China. They can also make a dress from a picture. This might be the scariest route because you have to work with them to describe what you want and then wait a few months to get it and see how they did, but I've heard many stories of brides who were thrilled with the result.
QUOTE]

Juluis bridal actually has a bridal shop in Queens where they will show their gowns. We went there for my best friend (and bridesmaid) to try them on and they were REALLY nice and almost totally customizable (sp?)

You could also try www.preownedweddingdresses.com
They have designer dresses that people wore or bought and then didn't wear.

And keep checking ebay, you never know!

 

[Pam]

Juluis bridal actually has a bridal shop in Queens where they will show their gowns. We went there for my best friend (and bridesmaid) to try them on and they were REALLY nice and almost totally customizable (sp?)

You could also try www.preownedweddingdresses.com
They have designer dresses that people wore or bought and then didn't wear.

And keep checking ebay, you never know!

First off, congratulations Lindsay on your engagement and upcoming wedding!

I just went to the website you listed and bookmarked it. Lots of beautiful gowns, hopefully the style she likes will turn up someday soon!

Our neighbor's daughter lives in NYC - she's an attorney and her Mom said that she bought her wedding dress really cheap up there. We're thinking of going up there in the summer and hitting the stores if we can't find something around here!

Oh - and I love your Princess Aurora and Prince Philip figurines!
My daughter loves anything Sleeping Beauty!

 

[Briarrose09]

WoW.. Sounds like a rough start. One, have you ever thought of contacting a local tailor or pageant gown designer and having the dress made to your daughter's specifications? Also, I know sometimes Bridal Salons will sell you the model dress if you push them really hard... and they offer these at a discounted price.

 

[lurkyloo]

I went to Marry Go Round's website -- do they not show any of the gowns or designers that they carry?

They don't - you just have to know which dress you want and then ask them if they can get it. I know that's a drag... I just happened to luck out by choosing a dress and discovering that they were selling it on eBay. It was the wrong size, so I called them directly and asked if I could order it and they were able to. They sell many other brands, so I thought maybe your daughter could do the same with the Jim Hjelm dress - call up and ask if Marry Go Round can get it.

At any rate, my best advice is don't go back to another bridal shop til you've read Bridal Bargains! You can usually find it at the library, but it's pretty cheap to buy on Amazon!

 

[Pam]

Announcement! Announcement!!

WE HAVE "THE" DRESS!!!



Thank-you all for your help! And trust me - I'll be bothering you all for the next 18 months!