Hey, laydeez. I finally have my mom's laptop and time to update, and I think I'm losing my tiny little mind. So, I'm now stuck in MS until at least Weds., because some lady rear ended my car the first day I was here and the body shop doesn't get the part in until Monday. That is the suck, because FI will be home by Saturday night or Sunday morning (woohoo, 14 weeks are almost over) and I wanted to have a little more time to get everything together. At this rate, I'm just hoping I get there before him.
I've been to about 5 dress shops here, and it hasn't been too bad, and I have contenders (I'm giving you guys links and not pics because they're on my mom's phone), but I broke the cardinal rule. I tried on a dress that was over budget (it's $2400 and the very tip-top of my budget is $1500) and, of course, it was frikken perfect. I'm making my peace with getting the second choice, because I refuse to spend that much on a dress. I also found bridesmaid dresses and have done a bit of registering, and am meeting with the photographer Monday, so I may actually get everything done.
So, this one is really simple (there would be no flower sash on mine), it's like. If I choose this one it would have some off the shoulder straps/cap sleeves that would be made of the same lace and have a few of the beads (there's a little bit of beading on the bodice) scattered on it:
http://www.morilee.com/bridals/blu/4528This one is the one I will probably end up with, again, that is contingent on them being able to tell me that they will be able to get the lace to make the off the shoulder straps. The applique is really stunning in person, and it's a little more ornate. You can't see it too well in pictures, but in between the applique is swiss dotted net:
http://www.theknot.com/wedding-dress/casablanca-bridal/2051This one my mom really likes, it's a little more A-line, but I'd want the straps less close to my neck and I don't know if that's an option:
http://www.allurebridals.com/Store_ProductDetail.aspx?pid=4e46hF265018c1572Ge3Aaaaand, this one is the entirely too expensive one that I love everything about:
http://www.pronovias.us/wedding-gown/bermeo2012.htmlI asked them if they offered any sort of discounts for military (and felt weird doing that), but I think it's just not going to happen, and I'm okay with that.
I'm also having a few issues with my grandmother and dad, basically I wish I'd known that they didn't really care about seeing my wedding before I started all of this. Or that they would have given me money to elope. I love them both, dearly, but I'm really not going to feel bad for wanting a wedding, and I wish they'd stop saying things about wishing that I'd just run off to a preacher or that they think it's a lot of money to spend. I get that it's a lot of money. FI and I have set a budget that we're comfortable with and are sticking to. I get that my grandmother, who told me she would pay for my dress, for which I am very grateful, thinks it's silly to get a dress for one day. It's really hurtful to think that these people who I most want there are pretty ambivalent about the whole thing. I realize that "no one will ever care as much as I do" and "it's still a ways away," but it still stings. Like, I just teared up in Barnes and Noble writing that.
In better news, my MOH is so totally awesome. She's seriously getting me through this week and is so incredibly helpful and encouraging. Even if she is encouraging me to pick the more expensive china pattern.
I know that got long, but it's been a long week. I've missed you guys! I've been trying to catch up on threads, and will be back for good by the end of next week. 6 months, I can't believe it!