HELP!! Wedding dress doubts-- Allure 8800

juliendanny

I ordered the Allure 8800 back in July for my June wedding next year. I'm starting to have doubts about the neckline/ straps in the front. Please help.. is there any way to alter this? Should I add a belt/ sash? Do I try to cancel the order? I haven't contacted the store yet to see if this is possible. I love the back. 

Maggie0829

I think it is a gorgeous dress and looks great on you.

What is it about the neckline and straps that you are having doubts about?  And I am not sure there is really a way to alter it without completely losing the overall look.  And The straps are necessary to hold the dress up.

And I say no to the belt/sash.  The dress really does not need it.

Also, it is most likely too late to cancel your order.  When do you place the order?  Bridal stores will typically send in an order to the designer relatively quickly.  I mean you can see if the dress has begun being made but if it has then you can't cancel.

missdelilah

Personally, I think the dress looks great on you, but I would have a talk with a seamstress about the parts you don't like, and see what can be done.  I think you'd have real difficulty doing anything to the front without ruining the look of the back, but someone may be able to come up with an idea for you.

You look so happy in the pics though.  It's usually obvious when a bride doesn't love her dress because she doesn't look totally pleased in it.  BTW, I love the less than ecstatic bride in the background.

IMO, I think you should consider a sash, but don't make a decision until you see how it looks with the dress - just obsessed with bridal sashes over here but waiting on a dress that won't work with one.

juliendanny

Thanks girls The straps just seemed too thick/wide? I'm not huge on v-necks. Don't ask me why I chose one! I don't have a big chest and don't like showing a lot of cleavage. The girl in the attached added a same color sash--- and I really like it. Does it work? 

missdelilah

It's hard to know what to do about the straps without seeing the dress in person.  It might be possible to remove that inner layer of lace, but that will make the v-neck more pronounced.  If you're worried about the neckline, you can see if you can get some matching lace, and see what a professional can do with it.  

I think a stand out sash would draw attention to your middle, and away from the areas you don't like so much. 

How long ago did you order the dress?  To reiterate what Maggie said, it might be possible to cancel the order if it's very recent (although I know my salon places orders the same or the follow day).  Otherwise, see if you can try on the sample again.  I'm sure salons know that dress jitters are really common, and if they're half decent, they should oblige.  

If it's within your budget, I'd advise considering cutting your losses on this one.  Simply thinking about it, not immediately suggesting that you actually go through with this.  You can sell it at hopefully 60-70% of purchase price if it's unworn and unaltered.  A more probably figure is 50-60% of purchase price, but you never know what you'll get unless you give it a go.  You might get a good deal on a new dress from a second hand website (they pop up all the time) to offset the loss of money.  To me, it seems a lot easier than spending months worrying about excessive alterations, and dealing with the anxiety of dress regret.  I do understand that isn't feasible for a lot of brides, particularly if they have to sell their dress in order to finance the new one, but there are a certain number of ladies here doing it.  

But first, I'd really see if you can try the dress on again, and speak with a seamstress.  Hopefully when you put it on again you'll remember why it made you so happy in the first place.

Maggie0829

When I enlarge the picture of you in the dress I can see your bra cups.  Maybe see if a seamstress can line the front a bit more so that you won't be showing as much cleavage since that is a concern for you.  Or maybe the straps just need to be taken up a bit which will lift the entire neckline up a smidge which will help to cover your chest area a bit more.

As for the sash if you like the one you pictured then try something similar on with your dress.  I personally don't think it really needs anything but it is really up to you.

southernbelle0915

I had a very similar Allure - similar cut, similar neckline, same back, buttons, etc. (the style # escapes me right now...) I got it with the cafe underlay and ivory lace overlay. So obviously I'm biased but I think that dress is beautiful on you! What are you worried about with the neckline?

FWIW, I loved my dress because it was beautiful but also because it was extremely comfortable. Here are a couple of pics of the back and the front neckline.

doeydo

If anything, I would trim the lace off somehow a bit at the front until the flowery bits (if that makes sense at all).  And as Maggie said, something to cover up your bra.

CMGragain

The dress is beautiful.  Stop worrying.  You can always have bra cups sewn into the dress by your seamstress.

When you order a dress at a bridal shop, it isn't the same as ordering from another department in a department store.  They do not have a warehouse full of dresses in your size that they grab off the rack and send to the shop.  The dress is actually made for you in your size at the designer's factory in China.  Once the order has been placed, you are obligated to buy that dress.
The exception to this is David's Bridal.  They have their dresses made up in advance, and do have warehouses of merchandise that they ship to their franchise stores.  They make ALL of their own dresses.  (You didn't really think that Vera Wang made that dress, did you?)  This is one way they can keep their costs low.  They also have frequent sales, more frequent style turnovers, and get rid of their extra merchandise through their on line site, which other designers do not do..

kimschaefle

I bought this dress and love love it!!! I need some bra suggestions though!  I'm a 36DD and concerned that sew-ins wont look right... but can't find a good bra that goes low enough.  Help!

weddingcactus

You look really lovely in that dress, including the neckline. I just went to a bridal shop this weekend to try on dresses and happened to try on this very same dress. It's gorgeous. I'm not sure if it's right for me, but the lace is amazing. 

Sammyantha13

We're dress twins!!  Love this dress.  I don't really have any suggestions as far as what to do about the straps, sorry.

I had cups sewn into my dress, but the placement of them isn't right and they aren't totally comfortable, so I think I'm going to take them out and just wear an adhesive bra.  

thelastdreamer

CMGragain said:

The dress is beautiful.  Stop worrying.  You can always have bra cups sewn into the dress by your seamstress.

When you order a dress at a bridal shop, it isn't the same as ordering from another department in a department store.  They do not have a warehouse full of dresses in your size that they grab off the rack and send to the shop.  The dress is actually made for you in your size at the designer's factory in China.  Once the order has been placed, you are obligated to buy that dress.
The exception to this is David's Bridal.  They have their dresses made up in advance, and do have warehouses of merchandise that they ship to their franchise stores.  They make ALL of their own dresses.  (You didn't really think that Vera Wang made that dress, did you?)  This is one way they can keep their costs low.  They also have frequent sales, more frequent style turnovers, and get rid of their extra merchandise through their on line site, which other designers do not do..

As someone who works for DB, the bolded isn't exactly true. While there is SOME supply just sitting in the warehouse, there are a lot of things that are made to order just like any other designer. For example, anything ordered in a petite or extra tall size is made to order. Lots of times if you want the dress in bright white and it's shown on the floor in ivory it is made to order. A designer gown (like a Vera) in any size over a 12 or so will be made to order. And lots of the bridesmaid dresses in less popular colors are made to order. I got so frustrated when I was ordering my bridesmaid dresses because I picked a unique color, and I hear customers complain all the time about how their dresses came in too early - my bridesmaid dresses took FOREVER, up to the very last day of the order time, because they were made to order. 

ChloeBoe

I like the idea of a sash.  In terms of the straps, I think it depends on exactly what you would want to have done.

snk1987

I bought this dress too and after looking at pics of me in it was uncertain about a bra as I am a D cup. Found the rita slip by dmondaine. Works great. Worth the price! Has the low back and smooths everything out!

kasasr1024

I think a sash would work if you find one that you like.  I wouldn't go bridesmaid's dress color, maybe not even a lot of bling, but a neutral color with minute details to break up the dress because I think it needs a bit of that.  

As far as the straps, see what it looks like on you with the applique (sp?) detail tucked in.  That might work if they can structurally do that.