Dream Dress - Not Dream Price

MrsMarende · March 2014

This is my dream dress, but honestly way out of budget! Anyone out there see anything similar for under $3,000. Has anyone on these boards have a dress made for them, not from china, but by a local dress maker?

lkristenj · March 2014

I had a dream dress. It hurt, but ultimately, I had to come to grips that it was unrealistic of me to entertain the idea of even getting a preowned one that would 1) fit me and 2) not STILL be out of my budget. Dress shopping was hard for me. I ended up trying on close to 50 dresses. I think it wouldn't have been as many if I could have let this dress go from the beginning. I realized through dress shopping that the shape of the dress I loved wasn't actually what I wanted or what would look good for my body. But, once I pushed it from my mind, I was able to fall in love with a dress that I could afford. And, I'm just as happy, if not more happy, about it than I was my original dream dress.

I know it may be hard to hear and it may seem like I'm being insensitive. I'm not trying to be, so please don't take what I'm saying the wrong way. I'm trying to give practical and helpful advice, based on my experience and what worked for me.

Have you tried dresses on in this style? Do you know you like the way the shape will look on you? Bring the pictures with you to a dress salon and have your consultants help you with finding something similar. Yes, you'll feel bad about compromising and you'll be hesitant at first. But, if it's not in the budget, it's just not.

If, you go dress shopping and find that you love this shape on your body and that the detailing on every other similar gown is just not right, then I would consider taking it to a very talented seamstress who is comfortable with wedding gowns and seeing what it would cost to have it made for you. It will not be cheap. It may not be as expensive as the designer, but it won't be cheap either.

You may turn out like I did. I was dead set on this dress. I considered blowing more than half my budget on it. It was actually closer to our entire budget. I found one used for half of new but it was still half our budget. I couldn't do it. I cried. I was angry. Eventually, though, I let it go. It was only then I was able to find another dress that ended up being more perfect to me than the one I thought I wanted. I would advise you to keep shopping. Try on dresses that are similar. Don't give up. I think you'll find something even more dreamy than this dream dress that you don't have to break the bank to get.

lkristenj · March 2014

I see that it's a Steven Khalil Spring/Summer 2014 dress. It probably won't be available preowned, then.

MrsMarende · March 2014

shrekspeare said:

Have you tried preownedweddingdresses? They usually have a good selection!

I have tried them and many other preowned sites, but it seems like he is a hard designer to find. I haven't seen this style anywhere!

MrsMarende · March 2014

shrekspeare said:

lkristenj said:

I see that it's a Steven Khalil Spring/Summer 2014 dress. It probably won't be available preowned, then.

Boo. OP, I think you should take it to a dress maker and get a quote. Although I think a lot of the pricing will also come from how easily available the fabric is in your area. What is it specifically you like about it? Maybe we could help you find something similar?

I like the shape and the detailing. It is very romantic and glamorous. Thanks for your help ladies!

MrsMarende · March 2014

lkristenj

I haven't tried any dresses on yet. Thank you for the advice I guess I am just anxious and every dress I look at only is sooo much. I just cannot afford it, but I am happy to hear it worked out for you. Gives me hope

!

CMGragain · March 2014

You cannot possibly pick a dress from an internet photo-shopped picture. The real dresses look completely different on real people. Internet pictures are good for showing the sales staff what you like. Keep an open mind, and go to bridal shops and try on dresses. Many girls are surprised to find out that something completely different is really their perfect dress. Happy shopping!

STARMOON44 · March 2014

You haven't tried on any dresses?!? Stop looking on the internet, find a store that carries dresses in your budget and go try those on.

MrsMarende · March 2014

I am waiting to try on dresses until I loose a little more weight, I guess I was more curious about having a dress custom made. If it was cheaper or not. I have gone into some stores and looked at my budget range so far the material and style seems sub par.

STARMOON44 · March 2014

You get what you pay for. A dressmaker who can make that dress significantly cheaper is either using cheaper fabric or not as good a sewer. You might get some discount but majorly cheaper should be a red flag.

lkristenj · March 2014

I did the same with my dream dress. I obsessed over photos. I was convinced no other dress would do. It was a ballgown. When I actually tried on dresses, none of the ballgown shapes worked for me. I just didn't look as good in ballgowns as other shapes. I ended getting a modified a-line/fit-and-flare which makes me feel amazing. You never know until you try it.

I understand about the weight thing. Unfortunately, if you do get a designer dress, it will take 6 to 8 months to get it made and shipped to you. My wedding is in November. I chose my dress two weeks ago and the store was telling me I was right on the edge of offering in time. My dress is supposed to come in at the end of July and I'll still have alterations to get done, which need to be completed before my bridal portraits. Suddenly, I don't have that much time. It's better to look, buy, and order early and get it altered for lost weight than to wait and be limited to off-the-rack dresses (not that there's anything wrong with that, I just get the impression that you want something more) or have to pay expensive rush fees.

doeydo · March 2014

Impression Bridal's 10221 is sort of similar http://www.impressionbridal.com/collections.php?cat=22&p=0

CMGragain · March 2014

The problem with having a dress custom made is that if you don't like the results, too bad. You will be stuck with it. What you picture in your mind may not be what the dress looks like on you. Trying on real dresses within your budget is the safest route.

hyechica81 · March 2014

some designers who have dresses around 500 with most being in the 100-1500 range

morilee
jasmine
venus
bonny
allure

here are a few styles that are similar to the fit of the dress

http://www.allurebridals.com/products/9051
http://www.allurebridals.com/products/c205
http://www.morilee.com/bridals/bridal/2605
http://www.morilee.com/bridals/bridal/1956
http://www.morilee.com/bridals/bridal/1923
http://www.bonny.com/collections/essence-collection/8402#.Uy2DJ86f1kg
http://www.bonny.com/collections/essence-collection/8309#.Uy2DTc6f1kg
http://www.bonny.com/collections/essence-collection/8309#.Uy2DTc6f1kg

those are just some dresses if you go to each website you can see all the dresses each designer offers
i ended up getting a morilee 3098 from her julietta plus size line dress was only 1000 and that was what my budget was

MrsMarende · March 2014

lkristenj said:

I did the same with my dream dress. I obsessed over photos. I was convinced no other dress would do. It was a ballgown. When I actually tried on dresses, none of the ballgown shapes worked for me. I just didn't look as good in ballgowns as other shapes. I ended getting a modified a-line/fit-and-flare which makes me feel amazing. You never know until you try it.

I understand about the weight thing. Unfortunately, if you do get a designer dress, it will take 6 to 8 months to get it made and shipped to you. My wedding is in November. I chose my dress two weeks ago and the store was telling me I was right on the edge of offering in time. My dress is supposed to come in at the end of July and I'll still have alterations to get done, which need to be completed before my bridal portraits. Suddenly, I don't have that much time. It's better to look, buy, and order early and get it altered for lost weight than to wait and be limited to off-the-rack dresses (not that there's anything wrong with that, I just get the impression that you want something more) or have to pay expensive rush fees.

Yes my wedding is February 28th so I was planning to go shopping in August to give me more time to slim down.

MrsMarende · March 2014

http://lghttp.12323.nexcesscdn.net/805B78/magento/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/1beecab73c7e3b39ccfc6732b7022f78/b/3/b3118-1_1.jpg Thanks for the links! I also found this one.

lkristenj · March 2014

MrsMarende said:

lkristenj said:

I did the same with my dream dress. I obsessed over photos. I was convinced no other dress would do. It was a ballgown. When I actually tried on dresses, none of the ballgown shapes worked for me. I just didn't look as good in ballgowns as other shapes. I ended getting a modified a-line/fit-and-flare which makes me feel amazing. You never know until you try it.

I understand about the weight thing. Unfortunately, if you do get a designer dress, it will take 6 to 8 months to get it made and shipped to you. My wedding is in November. I chose my dress two weeks ago and the store was telling me I was right on the edge of offering in time. My dress is supposed to come in at the end of July and I'll still have alterations to get done, which need to be completed before my bridal portraits. Suddenly, I don't have that much time. It's better to look, buy, and order early and get it altered for lost weight than to wait and be limited to off-the-rack dresses (not that there's anything wrong with that, I just get the impression that you want something more) or have to pay expensive rush fees.

Yes my wedding is February 28th so I was planning to go shopping in August to give me more time to slim down.

August to February is six months. This is the shortest time many dress designers can get things in. Some take longer. The exception, of course, is David's Bridal and stores like it. That does not leave much time at all for alterations, which can sometime take weeks. I think it's cutting it very close and I would definitely shop sooner than later. You don't want to be limited by designers that can get dresses in fast enough. I've heard some estimates of ten months. There's no real benefit to waiting. The dress will almost 100% surely have to be altered anyway. They can make it smaller after it gets here if they need to, but you can't go back in time to order a dress you love after finding out they can't get it in time for your wedding.

CMGragain · March 2014

Daughter's dress from Demetrios took 7 months.

Dignity100 · March 2014

My wedding is in October - all the dress shops told me that by mid-march it needed to be ordered (7 months prior to my wedding). They said even by ordering mid-March I'd be starting to limit my choices as they'd need a designer that could get the dress in 5-6 months before the wedding so there would still be time to alter. Keep in mind that they can alter a dress 2-4 sizes down and it's always easier to take in a dress.

Stores will be able to accommodate you even if you have 1 month before your wedding, but your selections will be off the rack and samples. It's best to give yourself at least 8 months (1 month to find the dress and order at the 7 month mark). I started looking in January and ordered my dress early March.

hyechica81 · March 2014

you want to order the dress in the size you are now, say you wanted to drop down 3 dress sizes you have no way to know where the weight will drop off. sometimes they can let out the dress but only an inch if you are lucky.

so say you ordered the dress 3 sizes smaller slimmed down a good amount of weight. your dress is in you go to try it on and its just way to tight cant zip or lace up no room to move, seamstress is saying i can let out an inch but it still wont fit. its better to have a somewhat larger dress as they can alter it down.

i was measured 3 sizes up from the sample ( sample was a 22 measured at a 28) but there was only a 5 inch difference in the waist of the sample and the size 26. so i went with the 26th the only thing i need altered is the bust as its big and the length otherwise if i went with the higher of the 3 sizes i would have to have more alterations done

msuprincess04 · March 2014

I'd really suggest looking closer to the 11-10 month mark. That gives you some time to try things on and figure out what works for you, and order it without being pressed for time or stressing because they can't get it fast enough. Don't wait till you lose the weight, because a dress can always be altered if necessary. Remember, if a dress take 7 months to get in, you need to order 9 months in advance to allow time for alterations.

shaylagirl · March 2014

I would agree.

There's some bride who bitched about AA on my local board about how she ordered her gown and only allowed AA 4 months to make her gown (she did pay the rush), but she might not get it in time (she was planning on doing alterations during her week of pre-wedding stuff [WTF?!]).

You just cannot wait for the last moment to get a gown. I got engaged in March for an October wedding and hopped on getting my gown ASAP. After spending a week or two trying to decide what sort of gown I actually liked, I narrowed it down to, well one, and went in to a store and tried it on.

In these instances, more is more. The more time you give yourself, the less stress you'll have in the long-run. You just have to remember that once you've bought YOUR gown you need to commit to it and stop looking at other gowns. That road just leads to heartbreak.

Good luck finding something you'll love in your price range.

Also, to add to @hyechica81's list; Alfred Angelo also falls into the less than $2,000 price range (my own gown was $1,000 not on sale).

MrsMarende · March 2014

Thank you all for the advice. I was basing the 7-8 month time frame based on many articles I had read. I will likely push it up until June, but I do want to slim down a bit before looking. I think it would be hard to know what I will like once I have lost some weight. I plan to loose 40 lbs by September, so its not like we are talking 5-10 extra lbs.

lookame3639 · March 2014

If it helps i have a dream designer...Reem acra. The issue her dresses start at like $2000. So i searched outside of that and found a dress that i feel great in.

Also I understand wanting to wait since you'll be losing a lotof weight. I had issues in the department as well. I am 4 months pregnant right now and will be 2 months postpartum when we get married. I was left with either wait and buy a dress off the rack or look now and order a size or two larger. I found a corset back so it allows room for weight gain and loss it's loose in the hips in case my hips get wider and i have a seamstress lined up already for the alterations(which will probably be rush alterations anyway but I'm hoping to start them roughly 3 weeks postpartum)

Also my dress wound up being completely different than what I was envisioning so you never know...

lookame3639 · March 2014

Oh i also bought my dress off the rack and took it home that day. I got it around the 7 month mark but it's nice because i have time to really think about accessories and what I'll need to do after baby is born

QueerFemme · March 2014

debbiehart1 said:

I have ordered a dress from a shop called Amazing Bridals. They are on Etsy. Nearly all of the pictures are dresses that they have actually made. They have great reviews. I have been really impressed with what they are creating. I just spoke with Jasmine yesterday and my dress will be done around April 15th. She is going to send me a picture of it before she ships it. I had found a dress on etsy that was a vintage tea length. It was a ball gown silhouette. So i chose the bottom of it to be full length and then the top as a sweetheart sleeveless. The bottom will have tulle but with one layer of lace under the top layer of tulle. They are using chantilly lace which is my favorite. I will post a picture of it as soon as she sends me one. But Im really not worried about the quality or look at all. Im sure its going to be beautiful.

Really? all of your posts are about the same etsy designer? suspect. @knotporscha

lkristenj · March 2014

debbiehart1 said:

I have ordered a dress from a shop called Amazing Bridals. They are on Etsy. Nearly all of the pictures are dresses that they have actually made. They have great reviews. I have been really impressed with what they are creating. I just spoke with Jasmine yesterday and my dress will be done around April 15th. She is going to send me a picture of it before she ships it. I had found a dress on etsy that was a vintage tea length. It was a ball gown silhouette. So i chose the bottom of it to be full length and then the top as a sweetheart sleeveless. The bottom will have tulle but with one layer of lace under the top layer of tulle. They are using chantilly lace which is my favorite. I will post a picture of it as soon as she sends me one. But Im really not worried about the quality or look at all. Im sure its going to be beautiful.

Really? all of your posts are about the same etsy designer? suspect. @knotporscha

Agreed. I also did a quick google and etsy search and didn't find "Amazing Bridals" there. Maybe I'm searching wrong or my google is broken today, but it seems weird.

JoanE2012 · March 2014

debbiehart1 said:

I have ordered a dress from a shop called Amazing Bridals. They are on Etsy. Nearly all of the pictures are dresses that they have actually made. They have great reviews. I have been really impressed with what they are creating. I just spoke with Jasmine yesterday and my dress will be done around April 15th. She is going to send me a picture of it before she ships it. I had found a dress on etsy that was a vintage tea length. It was a ball gown silhouette. So i chose the bottom of it to be full length and then the top as a sweetheart sleeveless. The bottom will have tulle but with one layer of lace under the top layer of tulle. They are using chantilly lace which is my favorite. I will post a picture of it as soon as she sends me one. But Im really not worried about the quality or look at all. Im sure its going to be beautiful.

I'd be worried. They're based in China and they do knockoffs. You do know that reviews can be fake, right?

CMGragain · March 2014

There have been two other posts from a vendor about Amazing Bridals. We are being spammed with this stuff.

Dream Dress - Not Dream Price

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