Dresses--HELP!!

[usahgrad]

Ok, I've got some dress questions, none of which have to do with my dress.

I have to yammer for a second about my dress as it is killing me that I can't tell my fiance (to whom I tell everything). I went last Saturday with my mother to do some preliminary dress shopping while I was in the area (my wedding isn't for another fourteen months, but she's excited and doesn't get to see me much because, for the next two months anyways, I'm living in Texas). Anyways, one of the dresses I pulled off the rack was just for fun. It really was much more dressy than I thought I could do and it is a very interesting style. I believe at one point I even said no to it in a magazine. Well maybe the exact wording was NO WAY. Anyways, put it on and it was perfect! THE dress! Not kidding. We put the deposit on it that day. It's very exciting for me.

http://www.maggiesottero.com/catalog/window.php?27

That's it, only mine will be in Ivory, not white. We're going to do measurements in October.

Anyways, onto the dress problems. I decided to do three bridesmaids and three junior bridesmaids so I could incorporate my sister, best friend (my MoH), my niece and my fiance's nieces in the wedding. The problem I've run into is that, although I want something VERY simple for the bridesmaids (and am blessed to have a majority of same sized women which makes it easier to pick a style that will look complementary to all of them), I can't find something that isn't outrageously expensive. I don't want the dresses to be very expensive because my fiance's sister is going to have to pay for three of them. Does anyone have any ideas? I thought of hitting the department stores since my wedding is around prom time, but if I don't find the colors I want then I'm stuck with NO bm dresses.

The other dress problem I'm having is that I will have a flower girl who will be about a year and a half come wedding time. Where can I find a flower girl dress for her? Everywhere I've looked starts at 2T. I did see one dress at my boutique that had layered ruffles, so it could be easily altered to fit her...but it's not really what I'm looking for. Also, what do I do for measurements...they grow so quickly when they're little.

HELP!

[WhiskeyGirl]

Well first off, Congratulations and welcome to the site. You have picked out a very beautiful dress! My first question is what is the color for the dresses of your bride's maids? Depending on the color, say if its red, shopping around Christmas will help you to find all kinds of red dresses. I am noticing that a lot of prom/grad dresses are tending to lean towards the funkier colors now a days, like the orange and lime greens and such. So, if it were me, I would try not to wait so long on those. But then if you are having them wear said colors, then you might not have a problem. (I guess how I am figuring it, it all depends on what color you want the dresses to be.)

As far as flower girl dress. Even at the age of six, they still grow so fast, I am also having a hard time deciding how to manage the outfitting of the little ones. If you order the dress it takes four months to get here and who knows if the dress will fit properly anyhow, right. (I understand your frustrations here.) Have you tried looking at a place where they would sell a Baptism/Christening gown type thing? I know here in Canada there is a store called hansel & gretel and they have a selection of very cute dresses that range from formal to less formal. Try your local department stores that are a little higher in price, I'm sure they should have something! I guess if worse comes to worse talk to someone who could make you her dress, then they can alter it as needed and make it closer to the wedding so that you know that it will fit!

~CanadianBride~

[usahgrad]

My wedding colors are yellow and pink. And I've seen the tendency towards flashier colors (which I think is VERY weird).

Whereabouts in Canada are you? If you're in Windsor, or even Toronto, maybe I could check out the store. My mother is from Detroit area, so they're not terribly far. Of course, I know that Canada is much larger than Ontario...but here's hoping. :D

The Christmas dress idea is a good idea. Although the wedding will be in May, so I'm not sure the winter style will be very applicable. However, I'll definitely keep my eyes open.

I'm thinking the flower girl dress may be solved by a look around stores next year around Easter. They always have adorable little girl's dresses around that time and it would definitely fit my color scheme.

Thanks for the advice!

[LaceyinPgh]

You might want to check out Alfred Angelo's website. His dresses are very well priced and come in a rainbow of colors. He designed my bridesmaids' gowns. As for the flower girl dress try US Angels. I know they make smaller sizes. But they are a little on the expensive side for some of the styles.

You are so lucky to have similiarly sized brides maids. I have a cousin in the wedding who is all of 5 feet tall and 100 lbs. soaking wet to a friend who is almost 6 feet tall and near 300lbs. I have my job cut out for me. Luckly I found a reasonably priced dress that comes in the colors I want, in the sizes I need, and EVERYONE likes it.

[usahgrad]

Thanks...I've check Angelo's website and I've found some dresses I really liked.

Question for y'all...I've noticed some REALLY cute shorter gowns. Would that be appropriate for a late afternoon wedding outside? (My family is all about appropriateness.)

[LaceyinPgh]

It depends on how formal your wedding is going to be. If you are having a casual or semi formal wedding I wouldn't see a problem as long as you stayed in the mid calf to ankle length range. You could even do that for a more formal cocktail reception. But if you are having a more formal affairyou want to keep their dresses the same length as yours.

[WhiskeyGirl]

It is possible that the store (Hansel & Gretel) is in the Ontario area. I live in Alberta so I am not totally one hundred percent sure (I know that the largest shopping mall in the world, West Edmonton Mall, has this store) . I don't see why it shouldn't be, but I could be wrong. The best I can suggest is checking google or something to see! As far as shorter dresses go, I guess it really does depend on your wedding. I could see short mid calf dresses in a out door wedding, but it might seem out of place in a church.

~CanadianBride~

[dreamer]

Hey,
Wow that dress is beautiful. I also saw my dress in a magazine and said NO WAY and then I tried it on, by chance in a store and I bought it shortly after. I do recommend that if you love the dress, but want it to be less expensive to check on their website. I got my wedding dress for half what the store wanted it for by buying online. Some suggestions, you could look for a dress maker for the dresses you want, especially for the little one. I have a young child in my wedding party, and a dress maker is making her dress shortly before the wedding. The trick is, of course, finding one you can trust. You can ask around dry cleaners, they can usually recommend someone. Same thing for your bridesmaids. My mom is a seamstress and she charges about $100 per dress plus material. Usually total for the dresses is about $150, so something to think about and ask around about.
CanadianBride, I too am Canadian. I live in Ontario though. so hello to you!
Cheers,
Dreamer :D