Help finding a dress

tonyambeaver

Hi all!

I just got engaged a 2 weeks ago, and I'm planning a wedding for Sept 4th.  I know, I'm crazy...but I'm a wedding photog here and my weekends are slammed for the rest of this year and about half of next year. So it's either that weekend or I have to wait until that time NEXT year which I don't want to do.  So I've got the main things booked, except I can't find a dress that I LOVE.  So that's my first question.  People always say that you just 'know' when you put on your dress that it's yours. Was that the case for you all?  Secondly, any suggestions on bridal shops?  I've gone to a few, but since I'm in a time crunch, I really want to make sure I'm going with an awesome shop that is going to do what it takes to have the dress back by the date they tell me.
OR...has anyone bought a used dress online?  I'm thinking that might be quicker since the dress is already made.

THanks for any help

jennsper

This might sound crazy but I didn't even try my dress on but when I seen the picture I knew it was the one. I tried so many dresses on and they weren't working so I took bits and pieces of what I liked and I found the perfect dress. I'm getting my dress from The Bridal Shop at the Avenues. There is also  Alfred Angelo on the Southside and David's Bridal. Hope this helps

SaraMac72

I found my dress at Love Bridal Boutique in Jacksonville Beach.  They are awesome. 

gingerdunnrd

I got my dress from The Bridal Shop at the Avenues.  I saw this dress on the clearance rack and didn't think I'd like it on, but grabbed it because it was only $375.  I put it on, and I knew that was the dress!  It fit me like a glove and since I was such a tight budget for a wedding, it was perfect!  The staff there was really great too (so much better than in Augusta where I'm currently living).  The only bad thing is they don't let you take pictures in their shop, which is kind of stupid if you ask me - it's your wedding dress!  You want to take pictures to show everyone   Overall, they were great.

jagore08

I got my dress through Jay's Bridal in Gainesville and ordered it online through them (it was a couple hundred cheaper online).  It's not quicker to order online vs in the store.  The dress still has to be made, it's just less expensive.

spears327

I got mine from Davids Bridal at Regency.  It was my first time out trying them on because my mom and grandma were in town.  I found the dress I always pictured and tried it on and loved it.  Then I tried on a few others and nothing quite caught my eye until I picked this one dress out of their magazine.  I really didn't think anything of it I was more just humoring everyone else.  When I walked out of the dressing room my grandma said thats the one.  People just walking by where I was standing started commenting on it too.  I slept on it since it took me by surprise but ended up getting it the next day.  They were very nice there and the dress came pretty quickly.  My bridesmaid dresses were from the Bridal Shop at the Avenues and the ladies there are really nice.  Two of my girls waited longer than the others to order because one was pregnant but gave birth already and one was trying to get pregnant.  Their dresses seemed to take longer (like 4months or so) to come in but my other girls got their dresses really quick.  It seemed like 2 months.  For alterations I went to Martha Shump.  She is very nice and does excellent work. 

lissypooh628

Congratulations on getting engaged!!

I got my dress at David's Bridal on Southside Blvd.  It was probably the 10th dress I tried on and I really did just Know.  Christine was my consultant and she was amazing.  You take the dress home with you the day you buy it and they tell you when to come back for the fitting/alterations.

CHender100

If you're seriously considering buying a used dress, let me know.  It's a size 6 strapless.  Eamil me at CHender100@hotmail.com if you'd like pics.

tonyambeaver

I FOUND IT!!!!  I see so many dresses and live and breath weddings so I really wondered if I would have that 'feeling' about a dress, but I so did.  I'm stoked.
So many of you (and lots of my brides) suggested the avenues bridal shop, and they were super sweet.  I went alone so it was nice to have a fun lady to be helping me.  We joked and laughed the whole time.  But when I got in THE dress, she was like, 'Wow, you are being REALLY quiet!"  And I just knew!
It's the Maggie Sottero Summer Royale.

Thank you girls so much for your help and feedback!!!!!

LouWho19

Was is Susan there that helped you? She helped me on my first dress shopping trip and was also awesome

tonyambeaver

Yep that was her!