Dresses--Update

CrazyCatLady3

I am just starting out wedding planning so don't have much to show yet, but thought I would share some dresses at the top of my try-on list.  What are you other planning ladies excited to try on?

Jenny Packham Blaire:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://d1xejl9xcsndu9.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/05_Jenny-Packham_007-Blaire_431x636.jpg&imgrefurl=http://magazine.fourseasons.com/wedding-ideas/wedding-dress-trends-ball-gowns&h=636&w=431&sz=98&tbnid=xtG2T6U-kKpECM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=70&zoom=1&usg=__zwljif6vFJ-AjGZHlxNMD8fTt-s=&docid=zbIPpH2MMJuOAM&sa=X&ei=-6_mUfveGKnOyQH2xIHQDA&ved=0CDMQ9QEwAg&dur=1383#imgdii=xtG2T6U-kKpECM%3A%3BymiDQPW8V-nqfM%3BxtG2T6U-kKpECM%3A

Anne Barge Cosette:

http://www.onewed.com/photos/show/anne-barge-wedding-dress-fall-2013-bridal-cosette--4

Ulla Maija Felicite:

http://www.ceremonyblog.com/2012/10/18/dress-of-the-day-anna-maier-ulla-maija-felicite/

Jells2dot0

Gorgeous gowns! They are all somewhat different in style as well. My gown for my first wedding was an Anne Barge. It was a gorgeous dress and I was very happy with it.

CrazyCatLady3

I feel like you don't hear that much about Anne Barge compared to say, ML or VW, but her stuff is seriously drool-worthy!

SewInLoveWithDMB

My gown is already purchased - it is Rivini 'Marielle' (attached)

Other dresses I tried and loved were:

Rivini 'Dari':  http://www.weddingbee.com/wp-content/uploads/awpcp/199715.DARI-front.jpg.resize.jpeg

Peter Langer 'Waking Up': http://theweddingcommunityblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Waking-Up-Back-Peter-Langner-Reasons-2013-Collection.jpg

Rivini 'Lisette': http://www.rivini.com/products/lisette

I too had fallen in love with a Jenny Packham dress online, but when I tried it on, it didn't do much for my body. They are still gorgeous however! (ETA: The JP is my favorite of yours posted - so pretty!)

CrazyCatLady3

Georgous!  I love Rivini too.  I also want to try on the Florissa:

http://fabulousfrocksofcharleston.com/new-arrival-rivini-florissa/

My college roommate just wore the Dari at her wedding, which I attended last month.

I am hoping the JP looks good on and not too much like a nightgown--it looks like it could possibly have that potential.  We'll see.

southernbelle0915

@crazycatlady3 - of the ones you posted, I really like the Jenny Packham the best. Stunning back!

KellyVarellas26

Beautiful gowns! I especially love the back part of the first dress.

16maybeless

I tried on a couple of Jenny Packham dresses (Esme, Aspen), but for whatever reason, they just didn't look good on me! I was sure I wanted an art deco, sheath-type dress, perhaps with sleeves, but I looked so short and curveless. I ended up in A-line and tulle!

But I still love me some JP.

Ajuliana

I tried on the JP wedding dress version of a dress kate middleton wore and loved it, but my dad nixed it. I wanted lace and looked at a few VW but the lace wasn't to my liking (I'm very particular about my lace!) I fell in love with an Alvina Valenta and I can't say enough about it.

I too prefer the JP of the three options, although if you want something modern the Ulla looks very stunning and svelte.

SewInLoveWithDMB

16maybeless said:

I tried on a couple of Jenny Packham dresses (Esme, Aspen), but for whatever reason, they just didn't look good on me! I was sure I wanted an art deco, sheath-type dress, perhaps with sleeves, but I looked so short and curveless. I ended up in A-line and tulle!

But I still love me some JP.

We are basically exactly the same! I started off looking at sheath dresses and lots of JP styles, but ended up with lots of tulle and lace! 

BulgariHeart

I loved loved loved wedding dress shopping! I went to the atelier dead set on finding a simple style, possibly in Mikado silk or something similarly modern/architectural, and ended up with a flow-y 10-foot long train and an elaborate bodice The dress is by RS Couture, their dresses are so gorgeous and romantic, I'll definitely be going back for the vow renewal. 

Mstellah

My gown is also already purchase - I went for Kenneth pool. The hand beading is amazing. I also love JP!

CrazyCatLady3

@Mstellah -- which Kenneth Pool?  I'm checking out the Amsale flagship store next week!

Mstellah

Brielle

Lored

I LOVE the Anne Barge, but I guess I'm biased because mine is Anne Barge. All are gorgeous options!! I'm kinda the anti-bride, the dress has really been the ONLY thing I'm excited about.

racheogle

@Mstellah that is gorgeous!! I already have my dress- it's an Ian Stuart dress (Flowerbomb) that I absolutely fell in love with. What are you ladies doing for your bridesmaid dresses?

racheogle

Here's my dress :-)

16maybeless

Can I share my one-that-got-away while we're on the subject? I tried this Carol Hannah dress on in NYC and I was so in love with it. She was on Project Runway and I loved her even then!

I like the gown I bought just as much, but this is so pretty. I felt like a peachy ballerina.

i

CrazyCatLady3

@Mstellah that dress looks amazing on you!  You are dripping in crystals!

@racheogle you are going to make quite the impact walking down the aisle in that stunner.

@16maybeless which dress did you end up ordereing?  I have a carol hannah on my list to try as well.

16maybeless

CrazyCatLady3 said:

@16maybeless which dress did you end up ordereing?  I have a carol hannah on my list to try as well.

I'm actually getting a custom blush dress made by Elizabeth Dye, an independent designer based out of Portland, OR. It will look similar to the dress in the middle here, although we are adding a crinoline for fullness/to make it more of a true ballgown, and attaching this feather belt by Amanda Judge. The top is ivory satin and the skirt is alternating layers of blush and ivory tulle. I'm actually only spending like, half of my planned dress budget ... using the rest on Jimmy Choos.

I tried on Chambord, Belmont, Kensington, and Middleton by Carol Hannah. I wanted to try on Pemberley as well but I didn't get a chance. Her dresses are beautiful: all very soft and ethereal and unique. The construction is just insane.

Tigerlillith

The dress I'm looking to try on next week (my first trip dress shopping!) is this little eccentric St. Pucchi number. The look isn't for everyone, but I'm crazy excited about it, I'm in love with modern Queen Anne necklines.

racheogle

@16maybeless that Carol Hannah dress is stunning!!

@tigerlillith I love the over the top dress :-) why not make a statement

16maybeless

@racheogle Isn't it? The skirt was perfect, but I just didn't find the scoop neck to be very flattering on me, and the skinny ballerina straps made my shoulders look broader. I was surprised that in the end, I ended up with a simple sweetheart neckline. In general, I bought a dress that is much, much simpler than I originally thought, but it just felt so right to be in something comfortable ... and pink!

daniroth

Very pretty! I love how they're all so different...let us know/post pictures when you try them on!!

swyatt2014

CrazyCatLady3 said:

I am just starting out wedding planning so don't have much to show yet, but thought I would share some dresses at the top of my try-on list.  What are you other planning ladies excited to try on?

Jenny Packham Blaire:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://d1xejl9xcsndu9.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/05_Jenny-Packham_007-Blaire_431x636.jpg&imgrefurl=http://magazine.fourseasons.com/wedding-ideas/wedding-dress-trends-ball-gowns&h=636&w=431&sz=98&tbnid=xtG2T6U-kKpECM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=70&zoom=1&usg=__zwljif6vFJ-AjGZHlxNMD8fTt-s=&docid=zbIPpH2MMJuOAM&sa=X&ei=-6_mUfveGKnOyQH2xIHQDA&ved=0CDMQ9QEwAg&dur=1383#imgdii=xtG2T6U-kKpECM%3A%3BymiDQPW8V-nqfM%3BxtG2T6U-kKpECM%3A

Anne Barge Cosette:

http://www.onewed.com/photos/show/anne-barge-wedding-dress-fall-2013-bridal-cosette--4

Ulla Maija Felicite:

http://www.ceremonyblog.com/2012/10/18/dress-of-the-day-anna-maier-ulla-maija-felicite/

That Anna Maier is LOVELY!!!

CrazyCatLady3

OK, I went to all the major bridal salons in NYC and here are the results:

The Jenny Packham had no structure and did nothing for my figure.  Beautiful on the model, not on me.  The Anna Maier looked better, but we could not get the train to look right, the way it does in the model pic.  Without the train, the dress loses its impact.  None of the stores had the Anne Barge.  BUT I found 2 other dresses I absolutely love and am torn between.  One is this Austin Scarlett:

http://www.austinscarlett.com/collection/flora

I would order it in light ivory.

The other is actually a 2-piece ensemble by Monique Lhuillier.  It's the tuberose corset and the estelle skirt.

Corset: http://www.theringbearer.ca/wedding_fashion.php?gender=women&item_id=7291

(Note, I would NOT be getting the fluffy skirt with it)

Here is the skirt. It's a trumpet skirt with a fishtail hem in the back.

http://www.brides.com/wedding-dresses-style/bridal-runway-shows/2013/04/monique-lhuillier-wedding-dresses-spring-2014-13

Unfortunately I don't have pics of me in the dresses.  They are both the finalists because they make me look long and lean.  I love the unique petal skirt on the Austin Scarlett, but I also love the bling on the monique and the sophistication of the skirt.  The Monique is 50% more expensive than the Austin Scarlett.  I won't go into debt or anything to buy it, but it's definitely more than I intended on spending....

What do you ladies think?

southernbelle0915

Did you try on the Austin Scarlett? I love to dance and it doesn't look like it'd be conducive to much movement. Also, I'm not in love with how it kind of bunches at the hip. Maybe it looks different in person though.

I LOVE the two piece. The fishtail hem is gorgeous! This would be my pick. 

Jells2dot0

If it were me, I'd lean toward the Monique because I'm into a more simple look- clean lines, no frills- just a dress that looks good on and accentuates the right areas. However, if you really want to make a statement, I think the Austin does it. It's not typical and certaily not plain. So, I think it depends on the look you are going for.

CrazyCatLady3

Thanks for the opinions.  I do love how the Monique looks super clean and sophisticated.  However I feel like the Austin Scarlett will have more impact coming down the aisle.  It is true that it is more difficult to move around/dance in.  The draping over the hip is actually flattering because it hides flaws.  I think I am going to have to bring some friends back to the salon to help me decide.

DaraContinenza

-deleted- Oops, used wrong acct.

16maybeless

I love the ML but I'm pretty partial to her.

I wonder who can wear Jenny Packham?! That's like, four brides now who have tried and disliked JP dresses that I know. I was so sure I'd end up in one of hers, but they just looked so bad on me.