badgergirl8

Jill, this was my issue too! It took forever to figure it out! Ok, what you need to do is delete the text box (I use the "cut" feature so that I can paste it back over later), put the image on the page, then paste the text box back in. You will see an option to lay the text over the image in the tools area I think it is. If you can't figure it out you are welcome to email me your word document at [email protected] and I will do it and email it back to you if you'd like. If you want you can email me a word doc with the image on it and then the template with the text box done the way you want and I will do my best to get the image behind it. Trust me, I feel your pain, it took me weeks to figure it out!! lol

People have a lot of positive experiences and gorgeous dresses on this knock off thread. I think what we all have to remember is we are paying typically under $200 for dresses (and sometimes a lot less, mine was $118!) that are $1000 + in the bridal shops. As much as we want exact replicas that isn't really a good mindset to have nor is it fair to expect these seamstresses to create these elaborate and expensive dresses for pennies... keep perspective ladies!

Shootystar: So sorry about your dress, I'm sure it is stressful. The unfortunate part is generally speaking when I look at the replica and inspiration dress, I do think Monica Bridal did a decent job replicating the idea of the dress. Yes, agreed the bodice is much too long but the other things are small details to them I'm sure. They had originally agreed to make you another dress, would you be willing to forgo the details like the extra tulle, the change in the petals on the flowers, the change in the beading on the flowers etc if they made the dress with the correct length in the torso so the fit was in line with that of the inspiration dress? I think the problem you are running into is you are asking to change all of the details AND the fit of the dress...so essentially the entire dress. I would image they would beable to change the top of the dress so the torso isn't as long and get that done in the timeframe you need... good luck!

I only used MS Word as well. I used the boarding pass template people have posted on these forums (it is a blank template with 3 on a page) then added the background images and typed in text boxes over the images. That is it! Just mess around with the colors to get a look you like. I printed mine on sand colored cardstock at Kinkos for $0.53 cents per page, so I got 3 invites for 53 cents! Then used their paper cutter to cut the straight lines and a rounded edge punch I borrowed from a friend who does scrapbooking and stamping to do the edges/corners. Voila! Got about 90 invites/announcements all done for about $25-30 including the cost of the cardstock! Now on a mission to get envelopes.

yep, I got that dress!

Shootystar: Monica Bridal made my dress too and although I love it, my only complaint is I had the same problem with the back of the dress as you do, they made it hug all the way down my butt. I kept it and it is fine, but the "inspiration dress" was more like yours in the back, fitted just over the top of the hip, just just at the top of the butt, not all the way down. Oh well...I am still happy with my dress overall...just gotta do some more working out to make the now fitted shapely back look good lol

Jillbu: I found the starfish and palm tree super easy. I just went to google and clicked on images and typed in "starfish" and then "palm tree". These simple images came up and worked great for my invites.

The first one is by far my favorite, love it!

thanks guys, I got it figured out! Like Janette34 suggested, I removed the text box, adding the the image, then re-inserting the text box with the "bring forward" option so the text shows over the image. Thanks so much! Moderators, you can remove this thread if you'd like. thanks!

Hi All, I have the word document template for the boarding pass invitations and I like the way mine turned out, BUT the issue is with the template you have 3 boarding passes on each sheet. However, I can't figure out how to get an image inserted on each boarding pass. Because the template is set up with text boxes I can't insert an image "behind" the text so I've had to use the "watermark" option in the word document. The issue is I am only able to insert 1 watermark, so I end up with my image (I am using a palm tree on some and starfish on some) on the middle boarding pass. So the other two on the page are plain without the background image. If I can't figure it out I guess I will just print them and only use the middle one...seems like a waste, I could get 3 invitations out of 1 page but instead I will throw away 2 and only use 1 :( Anybody have a different template or know how you can get an image on all 3 of the boarding passes on the page in the template? thanks SO much!! here is a pic of mine that have the image on them...

Beautiful! I am in the process of making some but I am having a hard time, you know how the template has 3 boarding passes per page? I can only manage to get a picture in the middle one by using the "watermark" function. I can't get an image in the background of the other 2 boarding passes on the page (the top and bottom). How did you get your image on the whole page? Is your template a word document? HELP! Here are mine, but I am ending up having to cut out the middle one and use that one and I don't use the other 2 on the page because they are too plain, no image Seems like such a waste!!!

shootystar, I ordered a corset back dress from Monica bridal that I just got about a week ago and it fits perfect. I sent her my measurements and she did a great job. I did add about an inch to my height though just to be safe because I was afraid of the dress coming too short, turns out it is an inch too long lol but that is my fault.

I think that is enough time, especially for a symbolic ceremony where you are not tied to the judge's schedule. My understanding for our wedding is that we will meet with the WC upon our arrival at the resort and choose the options (ie cake, flowers etc). They don't have unlimited selection so it won't take that long. You will likely do some coordination via email prior to arrival as well.

who did you use? They did a great job!

the embroidery pattern is similar and the cut of the dress is similar. Perhaps if you have time you could send it back and ask them to add some appliques over the embroidery at least in some areas to make it more of a raised look like the original. OR if you don't want to send it back, you could check with a local seamstress...or if you have any sewing ability...it would be tedious but do-able.

I'm in the minority I guess, I don't actually think the sillouette of the dress is that different. I think the lace and appliques are very different though. I think the original dress actually has a seam at the skirt as well, it is just covered up by the raised applique. The knockoff doesn't seem to have as prominent appliques (nor as dark).

Horray, my dress is here and Monica Bridal did a nice job. I have no complaints about the dress at all. There is much work I'd like to do weight loss and body shaping on my part (and my friend needed to lace it up tighter) but the dress itself was made well...the weight of the dress, feel and structure is SO similar to the dress I tried on at the store...I'm very impressed with the quality of the dress. Would definitely recommend Monica Bridal.

ahhhhh so sad, my dress arrived today but the post office didn't leave it because I wasn't home! Sad. I can pick it up tomorrow at the post office, lets hope I can get out of work before they close! Boooo! lol

Isn't it nice to have friendships like that? So few people you can have that true relationship with, i love it! :) I'm so glad for her that with your help she won't look like a burrito hahaha! Her dress looks lovely on her, and WHAT A NICE wedding gift from you! I ordered my dress from Monica Bridal, think it will be here tomorrow or tuesday, can't wait!!!! It is a really really simple dress though, I wonder if maybe I should have looked into babyonline considering I didn't do any beading, lace, or tulle at all. Just organza over satin with flower at the hip. Oh well Couldn't beat the price anyway! I'm just going crazy waiting for it to come so I can finally try it on!

I'm surprised Monica Bridal wanted to charge more, I am proportionate but a size 14/16 in street clothes and Monica Bridal didn't charge anything additional at all based on my measurements. I can't help but feel bad for your friend when you talk about her like you do lol, I'm sure you must have a very honest friendship but man oh man, talk about harsh!

Terilina, I agree with the other poster, that original dress you posted does actually have an overlay over the skirt, so I think your dress maker did actually make it correctly according to the picture. If you look closely at all of the pictures of the inspiration dress, the top is more shiny satin and the skirt starting at the hip where there is the ribbon type detail, below that it is a different look because of the organza overlay. I think it looks a little different on your dress on the mannequin because it isn't as tight in the pic as it is on the actual bride wearing the inspiration dress. I agree with asking them to add the ribbon detail at the bust and waist, as far as the flower (ruffle) just below the waist, I think it looks fairly similar to the inspiration dress...for my taste it is a little odd on both versions of the dress so if it were mine I'd remove it. Either way, I think it is a beautiful dress. From an outsiders perspective I think they did a decent job replicating it considering they only have a few photos to look at, not the actual dress. I'd be worried about a re-make, not only with time being a factor but simply because I think they may have replicated the best they can based on the pictures. good luck! Would love to see a pic on you once you have it!

here is the link for Monica Bridal, like someone else said, you will want to create a DH Gate account so you can send messages and chat with her. The communication has been top notch! My dress was made in 10 days and shipped out on 11/29, I anticipate it next week. http://www.dhgate.com/wholesale/store/ff80808124d88a430124e15498a72475_profile.html

I agree with Prettypig, If you are willing to spend a couple hundred dollars and be ok with losing it IF you don't like the way the dress comes out then by all means I say go for it. You might end up liking it just fine and then you got a fabulous deal! As she said, the dress won't have quite the same drape or "feel" on your skin. And odds are the color won't be the same either. But if you think you would like a dress that has a lot of fabric with the drapey folds and something that looks "inspired by" rather than "just like" then you could end up a very happy bride. Just don't have unrealistic expectations...honestly, I think the brides that are really unhappy with there chinese knockoffs are the ones that were expecting a replica for pennies on the dollar, that is too good to be true. You can however get something with a similar vibe for an amazing deal if you are open minded about it! I ordered from MonicaBridal, dress should be here next week! Let us know what you decide!!!

thanks! From the pic it looks like they did a really nice job! I really like the fullness in the bottom of the dress, the one on the model doesn't seem as full and when I tried it on at the bridal shop it did seem more full like the one MonicaBridal made. I am a full figured but short girl so I'm hoping the dress still looks nice on my body type. Can't wait to get it!

Monica Bridal sent me a picture of my dress today, I can't wait to get it! I hope it looks nice on, it looks nice in the picture I think. Very similar to the inspiration dress, flowers are a little different but that is to be expected, can't expect things like that to be exact!