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Mrs. D'orsay, Baltimore/Lancaster UK Age and Occupation: 24, Stay at home fiance (formerly in nonprofit communications) Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Web site developer and designer; co-owner of men's skincare shop Engagement Date: August 10, 2008 Wedding Date: August, 2009 Venue: Oakland Manor About Me: I'm a Maryland raised environmental policy wonk/activist/organizer and communications aficionado. In the past year I've lived in Baltimore, MD, Tucson, AZ, Miami, FL and Lancaster, England. In my not so spare time I enjoy planning trips with Mr. D' Orsay, visiting friends and family and crafting like a mo-fo. I also enjoy modern dance classes, rugby and soccer but have been banned by my mother, MOHs, and Mr. D' Orsay from playing till after the wedding. I have an unnatural addiction to cheese and shoes, but love Mr. D' Orsay more than either and can't wait to become Mrs. D' Orsay!
About Mrs. D'orsay

Tip 1: Pick out a dress for your team, have 2 of the girls purchase them. Then VOILA! Change your mind completely.*

I have a confession, because although I may seem like a nice person, it turns out I’m a pretty terrible one! After purchasing these dresses from David’s Bridal, I decided I didn’t like them anymore. Not just didn’t like them…HATED them.

d1

Thus began the search for the long lost perfect bridesmaid dress. I went from wanting something not “too bridesmaidy” and fell head first into a shiny taffeta/silk shantung/silk dupioni/duchess satin-fever. I was looking for a tea or knee length, V in the front and V in the back straps (you’ll see why later) and I wanted it to be SHINY. I told you, I had the fever!

Once the fever had bitten me I really wanted the Ann Taylor Christine dress. But by the time I got to a city that carried the line—they were gone—no more Celebrations line!!! No sizes above a 12 in Concord Grape! Heartbroken, I began an internet search for the dress but I had little luck. The hunt continued.

The first two stores were your average bridal stores, where there was a ton of dresses, but not in the right size or color or length. Our favorite dresses from each store were just a bit… lackluster? We just weren’t having very much fun or enthusiasm for the dresses.

Then we headed to DC to check out the Aria dresses. I already knew I liked the way they photographed (SHINY!) from the gallery on their site. This experience was completely different; it was nice, quiet, and felt sweet, simple, and relaxed in the showroom. They had dresses of all sizes and colors to try on and everyone felt happy and excited to be there.**

The dresses I intended to see:

d2

d3

I also debated about having everyone in the same dress, or everyone in their dress of choice. As it turns out, everyone chose the same dress, but not only that, everyone looks great in it and we all love it!

The dress we chose:

IMG_07501

I was sad that MOH Beth and I wouldn’t get to go dress shopping together (at least for my wedding) but I scheduled her an appointment when she was in town for the holidays and she and the rest of Team US headed back sans bride.

How did you handle your bridal crew being spread out? Did you change your mind several times about their dresses?

*Don’t worry, we’re trying to sell the dresses and I’ll pay them back the difference/full amount if we can’t sell them.

**This could be due to the 3 cups of coffee/chai we’d all had prior to going in, but I’ll chalk it up to natural excitement…

Tags: , |   Link for this post | Share this post: Bridesmaid Dresses - FUBAR’ed Then Fixed      
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16 Responses to “Bridesmaid Dresses - FUBAR’ed Then Fixed”

1.
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Guest
nikkinicole

oh! my gals (all shapes and sizes) wore aria dresses in aubergine for my 9/20/08 wedding!

photos on my blog:
http://promtoaltar.net/blog
and on our gallery of pro photos:
http://nicoleandpatrick.upstatephotographers.com

i loved the shopping experience (we went to the DC and boston stores) and the girls loved the dresses (or at least claimed to!). they photographed beautifully. the dresses are also made of natural silk AND made in the USA. i liked that a lot.

good choice!

 
2.
adias.angel
Member
adias.angel (message)  76 posts, Worker bee

2 points just for being able to use FUBAR and bridesmaids in the same sentence! LOL

 
3.
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Guest
pdxkate

I have three bridesmaids in our wedding. One lives in Oregon (where I am currently living), one lives in Boulder Colorado, and the other lives in Chippewa Falls Wisconsin!

So yeah! I hear you on the long distance thing. It is tough. I basically started throwing out ideas to them via email. They voted on the dress they liked best and then bought their size on Macys.com. Turned out great! When they went to buy, they were on clearance!

Here is a link to the dress (was also carried by Nordstrom):
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2992119/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6014164?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6014164&P=1

Each is going to have the dress altered to fit them, but we were lucky. All three loved them! Whew! And can be worn again! Whew again!

Glad everything worked out for your ladies! It can be tough! That is for sure! :o)

Take care,
Kate

 
4.
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Guest
yelli

@pdxkate: Those dresses are GORGEOUS! Good find.

 
5.
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Guest
Kirsten44

Just curious, what did you hate about the first dress? I think my only issue is that it would look sooo much better in a tea or cocktail length! It looks awkwardly long, without much shape on the bottom.

I have 2 bridesmaids in Michigan, one in Massachusetts, and one in Iowa. And I live in Minnesota…! Its definitely going to be a challenge!

 
6.
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Guest
Sarah

My five maids all wore different style Aria dresses in dark red. We went to the DC store a few times and each experience was great. Costumer service in LA was also wonderful with some minor snaffus.

The dark red photographs GORGEOUSLY for anyone that is considering that color.

 
7.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Peep Toe (message)  1,636 posts, Bumble bee

Great choice!! They look great in that dress.

 
8.
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Guest
buttercup

I changed my mind several times, although we didn’t buy any before I changed my mind :) But I would worry about it all the time, and look up bridesmaid dresses online every day. I felt obsessed. Then one day I was at the mall and found I dress I really liked and tried it on. Then I realized it was in one of my wedding colors and it was very cute, and fancy enough for a wedding. And way way cheaper than any “real” bridesmaid dress. Problem solved! I called and got my bridesmaid’s sizes then sent them to them, and I think only one had to get hers altered slightly.

 
9.
Lillindy
Hostess
Lillindy (message)  4,255 posts, Honey bee

Did you see this dress that Miss Powder Puff poster earlier? http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2962795?Category=&Search=True&SearchType=keywordsearch&keyword=Adrianna+Papell+Shantung+Dress+in+All+Categories&origin=searchresults

Did you already buy those? If not I think this one would work out really well because it’s so beautiful and seems to match all of your criteria.

 
10.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss D'orsay (message)  1,293 posts, Bumble bee

@Lillindy: I know - they’re going to try them on soon, I thought I had figured it out… but maybe not! :)

@Kirsten44: The materials are mostly jersey cotton and it tend to photograph a bit flat, esp in outdoor light. Good luck with cross state maids!

 
11.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Glitter (message)  880 posts, Busy bee

Those dresses are gorgeous! Mr. G’s cousin had her bridesmaids wear the same dress. They all had different body types and different skin tones, and honestly - it was flattering on all of them. Great choice!

 
12.
Guest Icon
Guest
pdxkate

@yelli

Thanks!

Yeah! I feel VERY lucky that a.) the ladies like the dress and b.) we got them before they sold out!

:o)

 
13.
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Guest
Heidi

I LOVE the aria dresses, i have an appointment for one of my BM’s that’s here in DC on 1/24 - i’m hoping to check them out in boston. the only crappy thing is that my jr bridesmaid and sister (MOH) are in VT and won’t likely be able to make it to boston or dc to get fitted for aria dresses - if they’re my favorites (i have a few other designers to look at) they’ll make it work!

the dresses look fab on your girls!

 
14.
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Guest
Claudia

I’ve been a bridesmaid 5 times, and have worn Aria dresses twice - once in light blue and once in red. Loved the both and have worn both dresses again!! Good choice! :o)

 
15.
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Guest
US meets UK » Blog Archive » Is it just me?

[...] know I already said we picked the dresses…but then I couldn’t resist after I saw [...]

 
16.
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Guest
Is It Just Me? » Weddingbee » The Wedding Blog

[...] know I already said we picked the dresses… but then I couldn’t resist after I saw [...]

 


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Mrs. D'orsay Mrs. D'orsay, Baltimore/Lancaster UK Age and Occupation: 24, Stay at home fiance (formerly in nonprofit communications) Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Web site developer and designer; co-owner of men's skincare shop Engagement Date: August 10, 2008 Wedding Date: August, 2009 Venue: Oakland Manor About Me: I'm a Maryland raised environmental policy wonk/activist/organizer and communications aficionado. In the past year I've lived in Baltimore, MD, Tucson, AZ, Miami, FL and Lancaster, England. In my not so spare time I enjoy planning trips with Mr. D' Orsay, visiting friends and family and crafting like a mo-fo. I also enjoy modern dance classes, rugby and soccer but have been banned by my mother, MOHs, and Mr. D' Orsay from playing till after the wedding. I have an unnatural addiction to cheese and shoes, but love Mr. D' Orsay more than either and can't wait to become Mrs. D' Orsay!
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