Finding My Dress

Finding My Dress

September 13th, 2010 @ 5:14 pm by Mrs. Pashmina
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Finding My Dress : wedding catalina island wedding dress 16 1

Image from MichelleBrusegaard on Etsy

When everyone kept asking me what type of dress I had in mind for my wedding, I kept on thinking about my favorite Barbie doll when I was a child. I didn’t tell anyone at the time but, that is my little truth! It was the 1985 Peaches & Cream edition—yes, I’ve done my research for this post—you know, the one with the ruffly peach ball gown and the strapless opal bodice (well, it was only strapless because my straps wore off after too much play). She was the epitome of beauty. She was Hollywood glamour before I even realized it!

I loved the way the colors in her skirt changed colors with the layers of peaches and pink chiffons (or whatever light fabric it was). I even thought about having a wedding dress made so it could be similar. But quickly in that next moment I knew I wasn’t that much of a fanatic! With my luck, it would probably look more beauty queen than Veronica Lake.

Finding My Dress : wedding catalina island wedding dress 23 2

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So, while I wait for our professional photographs to come in I wanted to tell you about the journey (okay, long journey) finding my dress. I know I was always searching to see real women (not models in ads) in the gowns I coveted. So hopefully this will help some of you as you find yours.

I had two requirements for my dress: I had to feel beautiful in it and it couldn’t cost more than $1500. So in the coming posts I am going to show you pictures from my outings to Saja and Jenny Yoo (both boutique-y alternatives to fluffy gowns), The Wedding Garden (an upscale thrift store with big designer names), J.Crew, Maggie Sottero, and then ultimately Allure at RK Bridal (a no-frills shop with thousands of dresses that you choose yourself). I’ve already posted about Oleg Cassini at Dillard’s and David’s Bridal, as well. So get ready for bad pictures!!

Did you have hidden inspiration behind your gown selection? Did you visit a number of stores before you found the one?

Tags: catalina-island, wedding-dress |

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19 Responses to “Finding My Dress”

Guest

The immigrant bride

I had the exact same Barbie as a kid! Can’t wait to see the pictures of your wedding!

9/13/10 @ 5:25 pm (reply)

Member

teaadntoast (message) 2,595 posts, Sugar bee

Do you mean the Bridal Garden in NYC? I got my dress there - can’t wait to see if it’s where you found yours.

9/13/10 @ 5:26 pm (reply)

Guest

Vegas Pug

I still have mine!!

9/13/10 @ 5:26 pm (reply)

Member

mak418 (message) 693 posts, Busy bee

Oh!! I had Peaches and Cream Barbie! That was the prettiest dress ever - I got her for Christmas when I was 6. So cool that you mentioned that - I always wanted a dress like that too. (My wedding dress was not peach and ruffled-y, sadly. But was gorgeous nonetheless.)

9/13/10 @ 5:27 pm (reply)

Member

TheFutureMcBride (message) 4,479 posts, Honey bee

I knew exactly which dress that was when I saw the picture. She was my first collectors Barbie and she is totally awesome. Do you remember, she had teal shoes?

9/13/10 @ 5:29 pm (reply)

Bee

Mrs. Hot Wings (message) 2,213 posts, Buzzing bee

I didn’t have that Barbie growing up, but I really want that dress! Someone needs to make it in real life. Maybe we could be Peaches and Cream Barbie for Halloween?

9/13/10 @ 5:31 pm (reply)

Bee

Mrs. Lemonade (message) 274 posts, Helper bee

OMGZ - Peaches and Cream Barbie was my FAVE!! You have excellent taste. I actually found my dress at the first store I went into - first dress I tried on. Weird.

9/13/10 @ 5:42 pm (reply)

Member

SandraMarie_1986 (message) 1,363 posts, Bumble bee

Oh my gosh…how cute! I would love to be that barbie for halloween.
And I can’t wait to see the pictures because I know they are going to look fabulous!

9/13/10 @ 6:02 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Sand Dollar (message) 1,305 posts, Bumble bee

Aw, that’s such a cute inspiration dress! Good luck with your search!

9/13/10 @ 6:13 pm (reply)

10.

Member

StbHisMrs (message) 339 posts, Helper bee

I just pulled that exact barbie still in her peachy dress out for my FIL’s 5 year old daughter. I did love that barbie

9/13/10 @ 6:20 pm (reply)

11.

Guest

peaches & cream was my favorite barbie too… i was very excited when i saw it back on sale at target, though i didn’t buy it because mine is still in a box in the garage.

can’t wait to see the dresses you checked out!

9/13/10 @ 7:33 pm (reply)

12.

Member

nyc521 (message) 14 posts, Newbee

Oh my - I was OBSESSED with that peaches & cream dress. It seriously was barbies best red carpet moment ever.

9/13/10 @ 7:48 pm (reply)

13.

Member

jordynrose (message) 6,351 posts, Bee Keeper

Can’t wait to read about the dress journey.

9/13/10 @ 9:04 pm (reply)

14.

Bee

Miss Glasses (message) 2,741 posts, Sugar bee

Ohhh can’t wait to see all your tries along the way!

9/13/10 @ 11:14 pm (reply)

15.

Guest

hunter valley weddings

We remember that Barbie. Didn’t own it personally, but remember some friends who did!

9/14/10 @ 1:31 am (reply)

16.

Member

lolo7835 (message) 558 posts, Busy bee

OMG I totally had that dress as well. Can’t wait to see more!

9/14/10 @ 10:10 am (reply)

17.

Guest

Sarah

I’m not at all a shopper, but I could at least acknowledge that this was some important shopping, so…I did a TON of online searches before I ever went in a store.

Actually, come to think of it, I did go to a bridal salon first, got treated like garbage, and then gave up on in-store shopping and went back to the comfort of the computer.

Anyway, thanks to online preparation, I had narrowed it down to one designer (Alfred Angelo), and discovered they had an outlet store about two hours away.

I tried on a bunch of things there, found The One, and…bought it online for a third of the price.

9/14/10 @ 11:03 am (reply)

18.