Thanks Holly! Once we decided on Sunset Pointe I knew exactly what type of dress I wanted - simple understated elegance. Although I had fun trying on the more extravagant dresses, I couldn't imagine myself walking up the path at Sunset Pointe with a ball gown on - definitely wouldn't fit.
Looking forward to the TR!
I have to agree. Something just wouldn't be right about wearing a ballgown at Sunset Pointe. Trying on those extravagant dresses was fun though, especially in the beginning.
Now I know why I didn't see my fiancee for 7 months.
:ROFLOL:
oh my gosh!! you had me laughing so hard at these dresses that the consultants thought were "your" dress. the linen tablecloth and the dress that turned into a short dress were my favorite of the hideous dresses! consultants are crazy sometimes. and i don't think you are crazy...at least, not that crazy! all brides are a little crazy and rightly so! its a lot of stress to pick out "the" dress for your big day that will be in all of your pictures that you will look at for the rest of your life! no pressure, right?! thanks for sharing your dress stress story!
Yeah, the tablecloth dress was incredibly hilarious. But you are so right... I was so focused on the fact that whatever dress I picked would be in ALL my pictures of the big day.
It's heartbreaking to hear that what should have been one of the greatest and most exciting times in your life turned out to be so incredibly stressful! What a great idea to write all this down though, it will really make you laugh one day.
I don't think you should feel crazy or like a Bridezilla at all. It was YOUR wedding, YOUR gown...who cares if you tried on 100! You should have tried on 100 more if you hadn't found the right one. It's a lot of money and one of the most important days of your life so I don't think anyone should have been rushing you or pressuring you to pick "the one". This is why I despise shows like "say yes to the dress" because the consultants seem like sometimes they only think of a customer as a comission or sale. They rush the girls along and complain if they are taking too much time. If you're spending $xxxx on a gown, you should be able to think about it first.
The gown collage was awesome! Haha! Let's be honest though...you would have looked gorgeous walking down the aisle in a paper bag! And smart move on boycotting all wedding shows until the wedding was over. I did the same thing!
I have been obsessed with wedding gowns since I was a little girl. Even at 8 years old, my friends would be buying TeenBeat and Bop magazine and putting pictures of Justin Taylor Thomas on their walls and I was buying wedding magazines and cutting out the gowns, hairstyles, bouquets that I wanted. I even went so far as start a wedding gown fund when I was in high school (I wish I was making that up....) I didn't really have that OMG moment either with my gown. I don't think every girl does. I loved my gown the moment I tried it on but I didn't realize at the time it would be the one. Soon I found myself comparing all other gowns to that one. That was when I realized it was the one for me.
Thanks again for sharing this very personal time in your life! Can't wait to read the TR!!
I'm definitely able to laugh about it already, and for the most part I was able to laugh about a lot of it as it was happening. The only ones that really got to me were the ladies in that last store who "tricked" us into saying yes to the dress.
I'm not a fan of "Say Yes to the Dress" either. In fact, until I got engaged I had never watched an episode. Then of course, I became consumed with it as I was dress shopping. And it always irritated me how they would find a gown that was way over budget and then try to convince the girl that it was the only one for her. Like, there weren't a bunch of other ones in the actual price range to try on. Ugghhh. All about that commission.
Would you believe I have enough pictures to do a couple more dress collages?
And you are too kind, Diana. Thank you. Ahh Teenbeat, and JTT. Those were the days! It cracks me up that you had a wedding dress fund in high school. That is awesome. And it's even more awesome that you admit it!! :sohappy:
Like you, I didn't realize my dress was my dress until after taking it off and moving on even though I did love it when I first put it on. After trying it on and then ruling out the satin one AGAIN, I went the following weekend to another couple stores. When we got home, my mom and I uploaded the pictures of those dresses to add to the growing "collection" and somehow MY DRESS accidentally popped up on the screen as we were looking at the newest ones. That's when I knew. Now, going back and actually purchasing it brought on a whole other host of stressors. :lol:
Holly...you have totally terrified me for my wedding dress shopping! (whenever that may be...) I am so incredibly indecisive. And the one who usually calms me down and helps me make decisions is Bill...the one decision he can have no say in! Ha Ha! No I'm sure my mom would be just as supportive (I hope!) because I think I'll have some major dress stress. BUT it was totally worth it to find THE dress! I (like Kelly) am patiently waiting for the perfect picture of the perfect dress at the perfect wedding in the perfect destination. Perfect much?
But beware my patience is totally wearing thin... No take your time...you have 40ish days until I go on my trip to post the TR Nothing helps get excited for a trip than reading a Holly/Brett TR! Especially the PERFECT trip. Can't wait!
My apologies, Jess! You'll be just fine. And I'm totally with you on leaving Bill in the dark on the dress decisions. I wouldn't speak a word of it to Brett. If I was watching "Say Yes to the Dress" I didn't even want his commentary on what he thought was hideous or pretty, because I totally didn't want to make my decision based on some offhanded comment he made about what he liked.
Oooh, perfect is too strong of a word! How about we go with "just right" instead?! I finally finished editing the photos and I'm just starting to work on the text. My hope is to get the trip report going sometime towards the end of next week.
40 days?! That's nearly right around the corner, how exciting!
Oh my goodness, Holly...I can't believe some of those consultants (this coming from someone who works in sale) and I totally think your face in that one picture said it all. To me it read "Get me the H outta this dress and away from these ridiculous women
I know how it is when you have a vision for what you want and try so hard to stick to it especially when you want to stay on budget. My "dream dress" was a white cap-sleeve, empire waist, loose fitting, simplistic design. What I ended up with was an ivory strapless A-line with beautiful embroidery and beading on the bodice. It was about the 10th dress I tried on in one shop and I knew it was the one as soon as I paired it with the veil.
You seem to be one of those people who will work very hard to achieve a goal...and there is nothing wrong with that. Your wedding is one of the most important and memorable days of your life so why not be discriminating when it comes to choosing a dress that suits you? I'm sure you would have looked stunning no matter what you chose.
I can't wait for the big reveal!
Great point about how your "dream" dress was polar opposite of what you actually ended up with. I never really had a "dream" style or dress, just a vague idea of what I wanted. One thing I completely did a 180 on was color. I was convinced I wanted white because I thought it would really pop with Brett's white shirt and suit, but the ivory dresses were so much classier and more suited to my skin tone.
You were totally one of those girls I envied, being able to clearly state that it was your dress when you put it on. And thank you for the kind words, I definitely didn't stop until I found the right dress for me. Granted I'd tried them ALL on, but hey, that's okay. :lol:
Omg Holly. I understand why you were so stressed! Don't feel bad though, I went to 4 different salons, about 15 dresses each I think (we live in a rural area, not many choices unless you travel to the "big city" - i.e. St. louis - which I ended up doing pretty much). I got the same reaction. We got engaged in August, I waited until we got back from vacation in September, and everyone looked at me like I was crazy, like I would NEVER have enough time to order. And it blew my mind that the people at the salons were so not helpful. If Steph hadn't been with me, I would have never been able to try on dresses. We pulled them off the racks, drug them to the dressing room, tried them on, and hung them back up all by ourselves. I knew the one was a bad idea, when a girl in front of the mirror in a dress she had bought said "you should really try xxxxx salon, they are much better" Coming from a girl who purchased her dress here.
Yay for having Steph! By the way, I can just tell you two are like BFF's of the century. So awesome! That totally sounds like our experience at the bridal outlet store... we were going and grabbing the dresses and hanging them up ourselves. Although, I've got to say that was an ideal situation on some levels, not to be hassled by a consultant.
We ended up going to STL (well, right outside) to the David's Bridal and I had a MUCH better experience. I, also, had set my budget at $800 (which is extremely low I found out!) and my consultant there was AWESOME! I ended up getting the first dress she found for me, after she brought me what seemed like a thousand, and I finally said "NO MORE DRESSES" when I felt like I was going to pass out from being so overwhelmed. She told me from the beginning "you don't look very happy about doing this, you look stressed out and almost sick!" (which I was). And I almost said "no" to the dress because it was $50 over budget hahaha.
You would HATE my dress btw. It is sparkly and fluffy and what I think is almost "fairy-like" (Brett says "wow mommy you look JUST like Tinkerbell!") with lots of vertical ruffles and a huge train and what-nots. It was actually a designer spring of 2010 dress on sale for like half off. There is NO WAY I would have EVER been able to buy it full price! The thought of its full price makes me nauseous.
I definitely know what you mean about being overwhelmed. I had moments of that, myself. I found that in some of the stores, once we found an "okay, maybe this could work" kind of dress, the consultants would start with the veil and jewelry shenanigans and try to close the sale. In a lot of cases we were wasting time being polite with them and letting them do their thing, knowing full well that we weren't going to buy it. Sometimes it was just really hard to stop them from going on and on.
Don't you absolutely love getting a good deal?! Especially on your wedding dress, that is awesome. I totally wouldn't hate it, by the way, even though I didn't like the ballgown dresses on myself, I saw a bunch of them that I loved. I just didn't think I could pull it off. Plus, with the venue it was a no-go. It definitely suits a bigger wedding like you're having. So your dress has vertical ruffles and beading on the bodice? I think I may know which dress you're talking about... I saw one that fits that description in David's and thought it was beautiful, and just screamed "princess" in a really good way!
The whole thing about making your veil I think it awesome. That was another disaster I experienced. After almost puking my way through the dress selection, the consultant said to my mom "I'm not even going to try and make her pick a veil" Very wise, bridal consultant. So I waited until February. My sister and I went to pick up her dress, and I went to look at them and the lady FREAKED out "omg! You need to order today! Yada yada yada!" The cost of tulle must be outrageous! Those things are like $200 +! I found one on sale that I LOVED, and matched the detail on my dress PERFECTLY and of course they couldn't get it in white. So I had to settle on my second favorite, which is OK since I didn't have another choice except ivory that looked dirty next to the white dress.
I can't wait to see all of your wedding pictures! And to hear about the cruise! So glad everything worked out for you!
Ugghhhh... the bridal industry. They get away with so much. My veil cost all of $10 to make (but it doesn't have any beading). Tulle is like the cheapest thing on the planet. I'm glad you finally found one you like, and at half off... you my friend are my kind of shopper!
omg I'm totally teary too !!!
Aww, thanks, mamamouse!
Oh goodness, I think I tried on some of the same ones from your collage of dresses. I'm sorry it was so stressful for you, but I can't wait to see the dress that you finally found. I agree that the hours of bridal stores are absolutely ridiculous. Plus, I can't believe some of the treatment that you received. As much as people go to bridal stores just to look or because of the designers they may carry, I always tell brides-to-be that I know to check out the store where I got my dress because of the quality of service I received. Oh well. Actually, I'm glad you went somewhere else for the dress since those consultants were so stinkin' rude.
Thanks, Rachel. How funny that you tried on some of the same dresses!? For the most part it was all the popular budget-friendly designers like Allure, Maggie Sottero, Mori Lee, and Casablanca. I agree with you about the quality of service being so important. The consultants at the place where I bought my dress were absolutely amazing; it was a family business (with no pedastals I might add). Unfortunately, they lost my vote based solely on their seamstress.
Awe, thanks so much Holly.....we think so too When I get a sec I will forward you a picture of him in his captain's suit.....yep, that's right, I dressed him up for the Captain's party and he was so darn adorable.
I love your dress story, luckily I found my dress really quickly but I am certain I would have been the same. I had a "wedding bible" which was a binder with tab dividers for each section and more spreadsheets then any one person should ever have, my family thought I was nuts
A wedding bible?! The organizer in me loves the idea of keeping tabs on everything with a wedding bible. I'm guessing you saved it right? That will be so fun to look back through.
Love the dress pictures! I especially love your expression in some of them
Thanks, Joanna. I learned that I should stay as far away from a poker table as possible in the future!
I'm sure you've lost most of the men, but I, as a woman, was enthralled!! That was awesome! I was hoping we were going to see a ton of dresses.:sohappy:
I felt like I was watching "Say Yes to the Dress"!
I can not wait for the real one!
Yeah... I guess losing the men was the price I had to pay. :lol: But it was soooo worth it to share the dress stress.
