When I tell people how many dresses I tried on before I decided on mine, I think they are kind of surprised. (I went to seven stores and I think I probably tried on about 35 or 40 dresses.) Well, I'm not surprised at all that it took me that many to know that the dress I chose was the right one. I'm totally indecisive about everything, so why would making this purchase be any different? I won't lie, even after we plunked down the deposit for my dress, I got the "Oh my God, did I chose the right one?" willies. Of course I am confident now, but at the time, it's a lot of money and it's a pretty final decision. No returning this baby for a full refund if you change your mind.
So, as you can see, it was very important for me to try on just about every dress in the styles I was going for--as a few others--that I could get my hands on before making the big choice.
I was going back and forth about posting photos of me in the dresses that I did not choose, and I decided not to. I will however show you what they look like on a model, which is of course ten times better than they look on any mere mortal in a wedding shop, sunburned and standing under fluorescent lights while reassuring themselves that their arms will not look like this on the wedding day and that by God, they will stop eating cheeseburgers twice a week in order to get rid of that kangaroo pouch.
Well, I still eat a lot of cheeseburgers, but I'm working on it!
Anyway, I digress. Please enjoy an assortment of rejected wedding gowns on very nice looking airbrushed ladies.
The first place we went looking was Macy's on State Street. I'm so glad that my Mom and I went to Macy's, even though we kind of knew we wouldn't be buying from there. ( I live in the suburbs and it's inconvenient to go to the heart of the city for fittings, etc.) I tried on quite a few dresses, but I only wrote down the two that I liked the most. I had a good experience at Macy's. The consultant I worked with was Marina, and she was really knowledgeable and I think it was a good place to start.
(Romona Keveza L805 without the bolero)
"The Romona," as I refer to it, was the runner up. I tried it on first at Macy's and later at another salon in Geneva called
Veiled in Elegance. I know, it's pretty much exactly what I was looking for, and it made my behind look pretty nice, seriously...look, I'll even show you a real photo:
(photo of my behind at the shop in Geneva)
But, in the end, the Ivory coloring just wasn't as flattering as I wished it would have been and the white was "too white." (I'm assuming if you are reading this, that you care about the difference between Ivory and White...if not, this is probably your queue to move on to something less "bridey.")
(
Lazaro LZ3659)
When I just looked this one up, I was surprised that I had written it down on the "short list." Maybe it wasn't as poofey when I tried it on? I don't remember what it looked like on me and Macy's doesn't allow you to take photos of the dresses.
Looking at the detail though, it has the lace work that I liked and the back is really pretty. So, I'm assuming that is what drew me to it.
After Macy's, we went to a few sample shops in the city,
Weddings 826 and
White Chicago. I didn't really find anything at Weddings 826, but Suzi, who was my consultant, was really great and the shop is really cute.
White Chicago was a completely unique experience. The place is really cool and they have a lot of great sample and once wed gowns.
Ursula, one of the co-owners, was my consultant and she was so cool. I would HIGHLY recommend checking this place out, they have some great designer gowns at a fraction of the retail price.
(
Judd Waddell)
I tried on quite a few gowns here (I honestly may have tried on the Romona again too) but the one I liked the best was by Judd Waddell. The picture isn't very clear above, but I have a photo of myself wearing this one and looking back, it just wasn't a flattering shape on me. Not the dress for me.
So, that was day one of the search for the dress. I have t0 say the one thing I wasn't prepared to do was strip down to my underwear in front of someone I had just met. Needless to say, we got real close, real quick. I don't know why I didn't even think about how I was going to get in and out of the dresses! Good thing I wore decent undergarments!
I'll save a few more for another post. I won't be posting my final decision, but you'll see it soon enough!
