Wedding dress help!

LadyBelle11

I am someone who is very plain, very simple, and very indecisive. The dress I thought I was going to get the first time was the Maggie Sottero Ascher, which is incredibly beautiful and strapless; however, it was the first time that I had even looked at dresses or thought about styles, so we didn't get it. Then, when we went back, I tried on a dress with straps (the Maggie Sottero Sawyer) and a low back that I absolutely loved---it was different, particularly because most of my friends have done the strapless thing; however, my mom was still in love with the other dress (that was her favorite) and my fiance's mother liked that one better as well. I decided on teh second dress, but now I don't know if I should have gone out on a limb with my style and done the strapless. I am actually having sleepless nights. Does anyone have advice on going strapless vs straps?

JMalettas

 I had a strapless dress, and had no issues with it at all. I was strapped in there good, and wasn't pulling it up or anything like that. I don't think there's anything wrong with a dress that has straps. I think it's a personal preference. A dress can be beautiful with or without. You should go with the dress that you'll be most comfortable, and that you'll feel the most beautiful wearing. By the sounds of it, you're worrying a little too much about what other people think. Go with what *you* love! It's your wedding, and as much as it's hard not to stress over these kinda things, just trust yourself & you'll be fine!

 PS: I quickly googled this dress, and the back is absolutely gorgeous!

 

 *J

LadyBelle11

These are the two choices (the third pic is the two side by side)

CMGragain

When my daughter shopped for her dress in 2010, there was almost no choice.  We actually went into one salon that ONLY had strapless dresses!  Thank goodness that is changing, and brides have more choices now!
Strapless dresses can be a pain to wear.  I have heard photographers complaining that it is sometimes difficult to photograph ladies in strapless dresses, especially when they are dancing.  There have been some wardrobe malfunctions.
Some girls love them, and don't mind the discomfort of being laced into a dress that must fit tightly, or it won't stay up.  My daughter went with a one shoulder style that looked great.  Her photographer actually said, "Oh, good!  Not another strapless ballgown!"
It is really up to you.  What do YOU want?  Other people's opinions don't matter.  Just be aware of the possible problems with strapless.

Sugargirl1019

LadyBelle11 said:

These are the two choices (the third pic is the two side by side)

Ohhh I have to state my opinion - I really love the dress with straps! It's beautiful! 

LadyBelle11

I felt like myself in the one with straps---but the faces of my mom and the reaction of my fiance's mom to the one I like was sort of a damper...

LadyBelle11

Thanks, @Sugargirl1019! That makes me feel a lot better. Everyone had the "omg, wow" factor with the strapless one, and then on the other one people were like, "well, it's your dress, whatever you like." I guess I just wanted more of a "WOW" with the one that I loved.

Sugargirl1019

Go with your gut and your heart! Your family will love it just as much as you do when they see how happy you are with the dress that you've picked! They are both beautiful! (Im personally not a fan of the belts on dresses so thats partly why I chose the other dress; but don't take my opinion and now not like the strapless!)

ETA: i got the WOW factor from the one with straps though!

LadyBelle11

Haha...I am not a fan of accessories and glitz in general. You should have seen the disappointment when I was told everyone I was going for lace and no sparkles. I just want my fiance's eyes to pop out of his head, and when I wasn't getting that reaction from my family, I started to have doubts about my choice.

LadyBelle11

Haha...I am not a fan of accessories and glitz in general. You should have seen the disappointment when I was told everyone I was going for lace and no sparkles. I just want my fiance's eyes to pop out of his head, and when I wasn't getting that reaction from my family, I started to have doubts about my choice.

Sugargirl1019

Well, not that I want to force you one way or the other, but I'm your cheerleader behind you for the dress with straps! I ALMOST bought a dress similar like that, Florencia, but it got discontinued.

LadyBelle11

Thanks, @cmgragain and @jmalettas. When I was growing up playing soccer, my mother used to sigh endlessly about the fact that I was always shifting and pulling at things. She told me that she doesn't want me tugging on my dress all night, but she really loved the strapless. It made it hard.

doeydo

TBH, I like the strapless dress more than the other one.  However, it is not what I like, what your mom likes, your MIL, or anyone else's opinion that matters.  You have to wear what you want on your wedding day.  What made you feel the more beautiful?  Which didn't you want to take off?  What can you imagine walking down the aisle in to your FI?

lookame3639

Nothing is beautiful about a bride who is uncomfortable. It shows on your face, in pictures, in your body language ect. If the strapless isn't your style and if your uncomfortable then it's not the dress for you.

JennyColada

I have similar tastes to you. It's hard to not find something to blingy or too glam. I LOVE your second dress!

Dignity100

They are both stunning - I personally like the strapless better. 

The dress that I will be ordering is not one that I have my mother's approval on - but the dress makes me feel beautiful and I'm the one paying for it.  I love my dress so much that I really don't care what others think.  I hope you feel this way about your dress too!

SBmini

All that matters is what you think. If you had a connection with the second dress, then that is your dress. It is easy to overthink the dress decision, just know that when your wedding day comes, if you are happy then you will look and feel beautiful. 

AddieCake

I like both of them a lot. You say you absolutely loved the one with straps, so I say that's your dress.

afterimage

Both look lovely on you.  The one with straps has more of the wow factor, in my opinion!

jenna8984

OMG Sawyer is my dress!! So clearly you have fabulous taste wink wink. I knew from day one I didn't want strapless because I personally feel that it's tasteless to have your boobs hanging out on your wedding day. Sorry to those who got strapless, sure you looked great, it's just not my ideal. I think you should definitely stick with the Sawyer because it is so different and not just another cookie cutter strapless like everyone else nowadays. Every satin strapless looks identical to me but the Sawyer is like whoa something different! 

jenna8984

p.s. that picture doesn't look like Sawyer at all now I go back and look at you in the dress. I have Sawyer and it doesn't look like that, it's got bling on the shoulders and the shoulder are very thin like spaghetti straps and the back v is all lacey. I'm just not seeing any of that in the pic so maybe you took the wrong name. But either way, I like the strap one better lol 

LadyBelle11

Thanks, girls! I am feeling a lot better about my choice now. @jenna8984---Sawyer is the one I'm getting---I had tried it on in California and fell in love, but the dress store I went to in NY didn't have it to try on for my fam---so to give my mother the effect, she took another dress and "made" it into the sawyer shape so my mother could see what that would look like vs the one she loved. :-)

jenna8984

aaah gotcha!! Yea, the lace detail in the back just makes it! I'm not wearing a veil because I think it's too pretty to cover so I'm just doing a lace headpiece and possibly a blusher.

freehugs015

So...looking at this thread and the pictures you posted, I fell in love with the first dress, the strapless. Then I read your post about how it wasnt the real thing, and looked the real one up and wow! That one is fantastic! You look absolutely stunning in both though, you really make the dresses. So, that being said, I personally love the strap one, and if it makes you comfortable that is all that matters. It's your day and you only do it once, so do what makes you feel like yourself. Either way, it'll be an amazing day for you and I am so happy for you! You have a beautiful dress!

Roonie3

I'd say go with your gut! If you absolutely loved the dress you bought, go with it! You might just be having anxiety due to your wedding coming up, which is completely normal! Over time, I think you'll be satisfied that you stuck with your choice on the plus side, you won't have to worry about purchasing another dress...

ele82

The one with the straps is my favorite!

[Deleted User]

I love the one with straps! My dress has a similar silhouette and I am ecstatic not to have to pull it up all day long I'm with you I tried on a lot of strapless dresses that just did not do it for me. I think it stinks that they even said anything if YOU love it. and truly you look stunning in the second dress

meds86

They are both GORGEOUS! I don't think you can go wrong! I personally think that strapless is on its way out...strapless has been done to no end for over 10 years now. If it were me I would do the one with straps. You honestly look beautiful in both though, so go with your heart. Good luck!

fireworks143

Ok so I really like them both. I can't help but love the strapless, but you are so right and the back of the one with straps is very dramatic. 

My dress is strapless with a sweetheart neckline but to help with the pulling and not laying right issues that normally arise with strapless gowns my bra (which is a strapless longline bra) was sown into the gown that way there is more support and there isn't that "gap" at the front when you bend over, plus a little pleat was added on the side almost right under the arm area so it made the very front lay flat against my chest as well. All in all I can dance all night and move about and there will be no pulling and tugging or half way flashing people. Just a thought if you choose the strapless.  

However you look amazing in them both. So I say go with your heart and what makes your feel out of this world gorgeous and if it's the Sawyer Your fiancé with love it just as much as you. 

MJPickett

I fell in love with a Maggie as well!  I'm a lot like you in that I am pretty simple and didn't want the whole crystal/sparkle feel (did not fit my venue) and I knew without a doubt that I wanted something with a strap.  The main reason for this was because I absolutely had to have a dramatic/open/intricate back and you cannot have an open back with a strapless dress.  I absolutely love the second one and it looks great on you!

LadyBelle11

Ladies, 

Thank you ALL for your words of wisdom. I think Roonie3 is right---lots of nerves right now. Thanks for making me feel a gazillion times better about everything. I DO love my dress, and it's me! Now, if I can just get my mother not to faint when I tell her I'm pairing my formal wedding dress with Toms...