How to search for the perfect dress??!!

HBhannahbrown

Maybe I'm crazy here, but I've never even LOOKED at wedding dresses until being proposed to. Now, I'm lost. I know what I want but have no idea how to find it! Where do I look, but more importantly, how do I search? I need something budget (under 1000, and preferably on the lower end of that, the fiance and I are still students). I've looked at some Maggie Sottero gowns that I looove, but they're outside my range by quite a bit. I am mainly looking for a few things: a two piece dress. That is to say, a satin or silken under slip dress in champagne (or best option oyster!) with a tulle or chiffon overlay piece. I don't want strapless, but 2inch+ straps/sleeveless are best, with illusion necklines. Beading would be fantastic, little details are my favourite. NO BELTS! I want it to flow nicely from shoulder and start flaring out after my lovely rump or on my waist. Fit and flare looks fantastic on me. But not something poufy, I'm pretty low-key. I'm thinking a glammed up sexy lounge singer style. 1920s. Slinky, but with enough coverage. Sneaky sexy, ya know? But how do I search for all these things without being able to narrow by those terms on a website such as etsy???

aggiespartan

I would go into a boutique and just start trying things on.  Just because you think you like something doesn't mean you are actually going to like it on.  You never know until you try the things on.  My city has a lot of different types of boutiques.  Start with a google search and read reviews of the salons, then just make some appointments. 

manateehugger

BREATHE!!!!! I got overwhelmed just reading that. 

For under $1000, your best bets will probably be David's Bridal, Mori Lee, Alfred Angelo, and some Allure dresses. 

Start off by googling up reviews on bridal salons in your area and make appointments at a couple (make sure the designers they carry have some dresses in your budget - The Knot has price ranges for most wedding designers). Then go in with an open mind and try on anything and everything you remotely like. Try different fabrics, silhouettes, styles, etc. You don't get to play with elaborate gowns every day, so try them all and have fun.

I thought I wanted a slinky lace gown and looked like I was wearing a grandma nightie in every single one. Keep an open mind. 

HBhannahbrown

The thing is, I tried on everything in my city and the surrounding towns. I thought I wanted something with sleeves and a fuller skirt. I couldn't find anything at David's, and the service was horrendous. We had some fun and everyone agreed that the slinky beaded tulle was the best on me (mom and three bridesmaids).

We spent seven hours in one weekend figuring out what looked good on me, and had a tonne of fun. I'm not too stressed because the wedding isn't until next august... but I'm getting super confused trying to find out how to search for slip and overlay dresses online.

misshart00

Slinky and tulle don't fit together in the same sentence.

However, you said that you like a lot of Maggie gowns. Have you considered getting a used one that would be in your price range? You could have a lot more options then.

manateehugger

misshart00 said:

Slinky and tulle don't fit together in the same sentence. However, you said that you like a lot of Maggie gowns. Have you considered getting a used one that would be in your price range? You could have a lot more options then.

STUCK
Misshart is a wise one - try tradesy.com and preownedweddingdress.com. Also, post a picture of the Maggie ones you like. I am also confused on what you want here. We (with the help of resident google image expert @doeydo) might be able to help you find similar ones. 

HBhannahbrown

http://www.maggiesottero.com/dress.aspx?style=4MS011&page=0&pageSize=36&keywordText=&keywordType=All This is my favourite (though when I tried it on, we removed the belt and put it in my hair). I guess what I mean by slinky is no more than 2 layers, and the slip underneath is like a slinky lingerie nightgown. The overlay is beaded and fairly form-fitting until it flares out, but the slip is still visible underneath. The overall look is sort of like a lightly veiled slinky. When I tried it on, it was all my body doing the work, not the structure of the dress. Which I am positive is what my fiance would like (and what I would like). I'm very comfortable in my skin, I don't want a pile of layers and structure so I can't breathe or move or eat or frolic in the grass.

manateehugger

Ok, so you want a sheath silhouette with lace and beaded overlay. Again, I'd check and see if you can find this dress used somewhere if you think it's the dress. But here are more options (I can't vouch for prices on any of these but here are some similar styles from designers who have dresses in your range).

http://www.morilee.com/bridals/bridal/1908

http://watters.com/Product/WtooBrides/13614/ (this one has the same filmy looking bottom)

http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_V-Neck-Soft-A-Line-Gown-with-Hand-Appliqued-Lace-VW351021_Bridal-Gowns-Shop-By-Silhouette-Sheath

http://www.allurebridals.com/products/9116

http://www.allurebridals.com/products/2758

http://watters.com/Product/WtooBrides/13118/

doeydo

Below are a few suggestions: 

http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Chiffon-Sheath-Gown-with-Sequin-Tulle-Bodice-SWG625_Bridal-Gowns-Shop-By-Silhouette-Sheath

http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Cap-Sleeve-Chiffon-Sheath-Gown-with-Lace-Detail-WG3686_Bridal-Gowns-Shop-By-Silhouette-Sheath

http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_One-Shoulder-Gown-with-Handkerchief-Hemline-SWG579_Bridal-Gowns-Shop-By-Trend-New-Necklines

http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Sheath-Lace-Gown-with-V-Neck-and-Illusion-Back-KP3623_Bridal-Gowns-Shop-By-Trend-New-Necklines

http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Tulle-Tank-Gown-with-Deep-V-Neckline-SPK583_Bridal-Gowns-Shop-By-Trend-New-Necklines

http://www.bhldn.com/shop-the-bride-wedding-dresses/flora-gown/productoptionids/fbcaeb8b-b90b-4e9a-9313-32da085940dd

http://www.bhldn.com/shop-the-bride-wedding-dresses/leila-gown/productoptionids/fbcaeb8b-b90b-4e9a-9313-32da085940dd

http://www.bhldn.com/shop-the-bride-wedding-dresses/ines-gown/productoptionids/fbcaeb8b-b90b-4e9a-9313-32da085940dd

http://www.bhldn.com/shop-the-bride-wedding-dresses/margeaux-gown/productoptionids/fbcaeb8b-b90b-4e9a-9313-32da085940dd

 11655  http://www.impressionbridal.com/collections.php?cat=31&p=7

http://www.ellarosabridal.com/collections/ella-rosa-gallery/GA2226

11661  http://www.impressionbridal.com/collections.php?cat=31&p=3

http://www.edenbridals.com/SL036_p_1375.html

http://www.venusbridal.com/search?sno=PA9168

http://www.alyceparis.com/vegas-bridal-dress-style-7019.html

http://www.edenbridals.com/SL039_p_1377.html

hyechica81

check out bonny.com jasmine bridal and venus they are also affordable dresses. can you go outside of where you live to the nearest big city? make a overnight trip of it?

i thought i wanted this  one look and when i tried on a gown i loved online it looked nothing like i thought it would and i went in a totally different direction 

but if you know what you want then call up bridal salons outside your area explain to them the dress style you love and do you have anything like that 

buttercup1958

I like your taste. I think you should try online or maybe a seamtress? That way you could get exactly what you want?

weddingcactus

Don't panic. You're on the right track. You've set a budget (which is a critical first step) and you've found some ideas of what you want.  Now comes the fun part: you need to get out there and try things on in your budget. Call bridal shops locally and find out the price ranges of your dresses. Then go try some things on! Even if you don't find the perfect dress at a local boutique, you'll find out what flatters your figure. I would definitely recommend checking out BHLDN, which has some really lovely dresses for under $1000 that have tulle overlays and delicious details. You can certainly go for a used wedding dress, in which case you'll probably want to find a local store with a sample for you to try on to make sure you like it before you purchase. Just be prepared for disappointment if you fall in love with an expensive dress and can't find a used one to purchase. Good luck and have fun!

MandyMost

Short of going to a seamstress, there's no way to get a dress that fits a bunch or exact criteria. It really sucks that you tried on a too-expensive dress and are now in love with it. Instead of focusing on finding a cheaper version of a certain dress, you should focus on finding the best dress you can in your price range. 

I was interested in some dresses with similar styling to you. One option that was suggested was to get a strapless dress and a separate beaded or lace overlay piece for the top. I liked some pictures, and didn't even realize that was the situation! You could probably find a cheap strapless dress that you love, and then even find a seamstress and buy some fabric to create a simple overlay. 

I know this isn't like what you're going for, but I think you get the idea...