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I toyed with this idea a while back, but now I officially decided that I want another dress… in fact, I NEED another dress. My rationale? Well, we are having back to back weddings! Saturday will be our big ol’ American white wedding, aka the wedding I’ve dreamed about my whole entire life (yeah, I am one of those girls, no shame here! hehe 
). Then on Sunday we go right into the Chinese banquet reception, where I will again make use of my wedding gown (in addition to the traditional Chinese qui pao which I will change into later in the evening).
So you see, back to back weddings, and no time to clean the dress between the events. And anyone who has been around me a few times will tell you that I am a notorious klutz. I trip constantly, spill things, drop food on myself… you get the idea. Not to mention the fact that I plan to do some serious booty-shakin’ on Saturday night, which will no doubt require breaking a sweat.
I just cannot do this to my dress!! If it was a one-time wear, then sure, I guess I wouldn’t bother. But now I have visions of me somehow ruining my fabulous alencon lace concotion, so I must find something to change into at 10pm when the hip hop kicks in. What am I looking for? Hrmm… something white, floaty, with an empire waist, NON strapless, preferably long, but simple and INEXPENSIVE (under $200)!! I need to start looking now!!
The other day I tried on this dress at Lord and Taylor and it actually looked really lovely. On sale at $117, it is definitely a contender, however I do wish it was longer and more formal. Oh well, I guess it would be easier to dance in…
I found this one on Smartbargains
I saw this one on Dillars for only $66, and it is seriously hot!! But I don’t think this will be flattering on my body shape and my shortness. Satin shows all your lumps and bumps. 
*sigh* What to do what to do… where else should I look? Ohhh, I know, White House/Black Market! Duh! This one is $198.
Where else should I look??
JCrew, Banana Republic and Ann Taylor and Target online are my suggestions
(PS - love your wedding date 
You are in Chicago, right? You might want to try hitting up the Macy’s on State Street. I was just in there the other day looking for a “backup” wedding dress, and they had some good stuff. For example, there was a really beautiful BCBG dress in ivory that they don’t have online.
Or you could also try going to some of the shops over in Wicker Park (like Habit on Division or Jade on Milwaukee), you never know what you might find at some of those shops.
I ended up getting my second dress from Anthropologie, but it’s not really that formal looking… but you may still want to take a look.
Target online. Though my dress isn’t from there… my veil is and you would never know it was $15.
Try Nordstrom.com, they have tons of white dresses, and not all of them are terribly expensive. Check anywhere that sells BCBG and has sales, too- my friend’s “backup” white dress for her wedding was a long, sassy BCBG that she got at their store for $100. And don’t forget about ebay!!!
nordstrom.com and bluefly.com
I’d say choose something shorter than floor length so you can get your groove on with no fear of tripping or getting your heels caught in the hem. I really like that 1st one. It’s your wedding and after 5 or 6 or more hours of lugging around the big wedding gown no one’s going to care if you put on something lighter and less formal for dancing. By that point other ladies will be shoe-less, guys won’t have their ties on, the older folks will have left.
I ended up getting a second dress for dancing, too. I never ever would have thought that I would be a two dress bride, but my mom helpfully pointed out that my fiance may not be able to undo all the tiny buttons on my dress when the night is over (!) I bought this Dessy bridesmaids dress online in champagne with ivory lace. It mirrors the lace in my main dress, and since I bought them both for under $700 I don’t feel too guilty about having two dresses.
http://www.houseofbrides.com/product.php?productid=17877&cat=452&page=3
Here is a gorgeous dress from Nordstroms: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2936586/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6001837?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6001837&P=1. Or you can also check David’s Bridal when they’re having one of their sales.
Check the jcrew sales and check often! I got my wedding dress from them for $99 !! My mom is going to personalize it, but it would have been lovely just as it came. They update the clearance everyday so one day they won’t have your size, but the next day they might! Good luck!
lucky you! two receptions. i have a lot of asian friends and have been to a lot of chinese banquets and love the food!! so good…and so much of it too. *oink oink*
i think a shorter dress would be great for dancing. the 1st one is cute & flirty! bluefly.com has some great options. check it out.
I want another one because the dress I bought is too hot for our summer wedding. I like the one from smartbargain.
The one from smartbargains would be pretty beautiful and less scary for the girls if you could have a piece of lace (like from your dress) inset in the plunge.
Definitely nordstroms! Their half yearly sale starts on Wednesday too.
I never thought I would be a two dress bride, but I got a second, shorter dress for dancing after my mom thoughtfully pointed out that my husband may not be able to undo all the tiny buttons on my dress at the end of the night (!) I got a ivory lace bridesmaids dress from Dessy that echoed the lace in my ‘real’ dress from House of Brides. It cost under $200, and I think the quality is great.
Agree — short & danceable! What shoes?
I like the first one! It’s really cute! But if you want something longer, I think the last one works. Beautiful, elegant, wedding-y. But at the same time, it kinda nightgown-y to me too, hah.
I love that first dress from Lord and Taylor too! I think they have the greatest dresses at the best prices, and you always go home with something you love!
the L&T dress is so adorable… have you checked BCBG? It’s not too cheap but under the ready to wear section of evening-wear there are a few gorgeous white dresses… L&T and/or Nordstrom’s can have their stuff on sale sometimes.
or another idea: is there a swank vintage clothing store near you? inexpensive and fun!
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Mrs. Emerald, Chicago Age and Occupation: 26, Wedding Planner Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Paralegal Engagement Date: October 8, 2006 Wedding Date: September 2007 Blogging Since: November 29, 2006 Venue: Hyatt Lodge, Oak Brook IL About Me: I have been dreaming about my wedding forever, and flipping through bridal magazines since high school, so I am in my element! I am calling our theme "Vintage Inspired French/Asian Fusion." Mr. Emerald is very involved in the planning process, but of course he generally defers to me cuz I have a strong opinion of how I want everything to be :-).
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