Weddingbee Blog

Being the fickle person that I am, I went through several phases while looking for the dress. Each time I narrowed the dress requirements (e.g., sweetheart neckline, fit-and-flare, strapless, white, etc.), I would find a dress that met all the requirements, yet I was never able to pull the trigger in fear that I was succumbing to another impulsive buy (much like my Filene’s purchases at the running of the brides). The good news is that one requirement stayed constant throughout my dress shopping journey, which really helped narrow down the selection of dresses at the boutiques. I wanted a dress made of silk organza. The fabric is so light, airy, and comfortable, PERFECT for our outdoor ceremony. The two almost-dresses were both by Melissa Sweet and are quite popular amongst the hive.

Contender #1: Melissa Sweet Aurora. This dress fit the bill. I tried it on several times and convinced myself that this was the dress. The one aspect holding me back was the comfort factor. I’m pretty lanky and bony with the exception of my poochy mid-section area. I didn’t want to feel self-conscious throughout the night, so I opted to continue the dress hunt.

Contender #2: Melissa Sweet Dora. I adored the Swiss dot organza fabric and the A-line silhouette was much more comfortable than the Aurora. I immediately began thinking of ideas for a polka dot theme. This dress truly makes you feel like a princess and continues to be one of my top picks throughout the process. The thing that held me back was the heart-shaped neckline. To me, it was unflattering, regardless of how much pushing and squooshing was done. Hence, the search continued.

THE dress. I had seen pictures of the Amsale Bali, but never thought anything of it since I was focused on finding a strapless dress. The dress is a spaghetti strap A-line gown, with an Alencon lace bust, and a satin material around the waist that ties in the back. Most importantly, it’s organza! Looking at real brides on the Amsale website helped solidify my decision. There’s no way I could afford it new, so I was lucky enough to find it pre-owned in all ivory. I love love love it!

Were any of you fabric-focused more than anything else?