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I wrote this post in March of 2010, about one year ago and roughly TWENTY MONTHS before the wedding. Yes, I am that girl, the one who looks for her dress before doing anything else. What can I say? I have my priorities straight.
The first time I went dress shopping, I went with my much younger sis. (She’s 18, and I’m practically 30. *gulp*) I had been stalking Jim Hjelm and his designs for years—wayyyyyyyy before my FH was hearing wedding bells. I went and tried on a bunch of gowns, including some of his designs. Nothing was really giving me The Feeling. I had just asked my consultant, “Aren’t I supposed to have, like, a reaction or something?” and she told me “Some brides don’t…it’s OK.” “Hmph” I thought, and tried on this dress.
Even though it is NOT what I thought I wanted (scoop neck?!?), I cried, my sister cried, and later when I brought two of my BMs, they cried too. But…my mom, my step mom, and my FMIL were NOT impressed. I tried the gown on for them, and it was like a really awkward episode of Say Yes to The Dress. Crickets chirping. No eye contact. Lots of stammering.
Le sad.
So, in an effort to assure myself that this is THE dress, I went to another store…and that’s when the floozing around began!
Both gorgeous, classy dresses that were equally flattering, although maybe not as “fun” as my Jim Hjelm dress. Now I am SO confused, plus my wedding is not until October 2011, so I feel equal parts pressure to wait “in case something better comes along” and to order it NOW so they don’t discontinue it. Also, did I mention I want the BEST deal POSSIBLE? And, I want to make sure I am wearing something age appropriate, too.
There are a lot of factors to consider when searching for The Dress. What did you consider when dress shopping that you might not have considered considering before the shopping experience?
Time was something that I really considered when dress shopping. Since we had such a long engagement, I tried to hold off on shopping for as long as possible. I ended up purchasing the dress 11 months before the wedding.
I’m a little ashamed to say I am a two-dress bride. I purchased a dress 3 weeks into my engagement It was a pretty nice dress that was on a killer sale. Unfortunately, after several months, I started questioning it. A few days ago I saw THE DRESS on another bride online so I just had to try it on. The way it made me feel was totally different from the first. I didn’t cry, but I did feel emotional and excited. I first went into shopping with only one rule–no strapless. So of course, THE DRESS is strapless! My advice is don’t shop too early, don’t put too much emphasis on price (unless you have to), and try on things you didn’t think you’d like. You might be surprised!
I LOVE the first dress. The others are shapeless. If you had that kind of reaction I say go for it and don’t worry about Mom, MIL and stepmom. Didn’t they already have their wedding?
Bummer that the mom club didn’t like the dress. I love the Jim Hjelm!
I have the Nora, and it is not at all shapeless!!! It’s a fit to flare, and if you’re curvy, and like your curves, it makes your body look WONDERFUL. I can’t wait to wear it in a week!!! This was the first dress I tried on, and I looked for three days at other salons and always came back to this one.
I say, if you love the dress, get the dress! You’re the one wearing it, and if you get something else, you’ll always have in the back of your mind that other dress.
I know, the Moms were totally bumming my out. My sister was like “UH, can’t they just fake it” and we got double teamed by consultants (like how they bring Randy in on SYTTD in those touchy situations!).
Those second two look MUCH better on real brides than those skinny models. The Nora on me was much more off the shoulder on me, and the keyhole back on that is to die for. @annapeeps: Yay! It is not the dress I got but I loved it. I can’t wait to see pics from your wedding!
All three of these dresses are beautiful, but I love the sweetness of the Jim Hjelm!
@annapeeps: Yes!! The Nora!! That model doesn’t do it justice–it hugs the curves &is really pretty. I’m making my dress but the Nora was the one I fell in love with for inspiration 
Maybe the first dress didn’t bridge the generation gap? I got crickets too when I revealed my dress to my mom and sister/MOH. What’s the one dress you can’t get out of your mind and would be upset not to wear on your wedding day? Trust your gut.
i *almost* became a two dress bride with the Vera Wang line came out a few weeks ago. whew! luckily i didn’t because i still heart my first dress
Ooooh your dress is so beautiful! I also bought my dress early in, only 21 days after we got engaged …. and we haven’t set a date yet, either! (at the earliest spring of next year, so I’ll have my dress for close to a year before the wedding). How long did you have your dress before your upcoming big day?
I am a three dress bride, so I guess I have been doing a whole lot of floozing. I ended up with my dream dress, even though I never thought I would end up in a ballgown. I learned the last shopping trip to try on everything in the store..yes I did. I went shopping in the middle of the day during the week when all the sales ladies at DB were really bored and they almost literally put me in every dress in the store. I had a blast, and I really know that my dress is “the” dress.
When I went wedding dress shopping and tried on THE dress, my FMIL kept trying to reassure me that I should look around more because she wanted me to spend less money. It really made me mad because she knew it was the dress. It was less than 1k
Anyway, if you had that kind of reaction to the dress I think thats your dress. If you want to be certain try on other dresses for a month or two. But it sounds like you and your girls know thats the dress. Sometimes moms don’t have the right reaction to THE dress because then its all too real for them that their kids are growing up and getting married— They may know that is THE dress but it may scare them.
Age appropriate? You’re 29! I don’t really think you need to worry about age appropriate for your wedding dress at that age. Go for what you like best and what you feel best in, what feels like “you.”
(I say this from the ripe old age of 35, but honestly, I didn’t pay any attention to age appropriateness when I was dress shopping. I only paid attention to what worked best for my body shape and then within that what I liked best and felt was “me.”)
All that said… I did the same thing. Got engaged and promptly went looking for dresses. :> (I’ve always liked trying on fancy dresses.) My dress arrived a year ago and we still don’t even have a date set for the wedding. But it was one of those situations where I was afraid it’d get discontinued and it wasn’t available anywhere else. I’m still delighted with it.
I love the first dress! I also worried about being about being age appropriate (im 29) but realized unless im walking out in a dress that could double for a sweet 16 dress I’ll be fine.
I love the first dress - if it’s any consolation, my mom was not stoked on my dress until the last several weeks before my wedding!
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Mrs. Magic, Chapel Hill, NC Age and Occupation: 30, Licensed Clinical Social Worker Fiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Researcher Engagement Date: December 1, 2009 Wedding Date: October 2011 Venue: Barn at Valhalla About Me: I’m a tall drink of water (5’10”!) and a Southern bride with an enormous appetite for Mexican food, good deals, anything French, and all things wedding! By day I am lucky enough to work with individuals with autism and their families. By night, I’m even luckier to be able to spend time hanging out with awesome friends, crafting, shopping, thinking about exercising, and kicking it with Mr. Magic and our two cats. I tend to have sudden, intense cravings that will not be denied (seafood enchiladas! new jeans!) and I’m prone to being a disorganized mess of anxiety and stress. After waiting (and waiting!) to get engaged, I am finally planning the colorful, fun, fabulously awesome Fall wedding of our dreams. In an effort to share the fun and craziness that is wedding planning, I’m gonna blog about it for y’all---the good, the bad, and the pretty!
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