How on earth did you decide on a dress?!?!?!

[*Nadine*]

I agree with Savannah and I feel your pain! I got engaged in april of 2008 and just finally found my dress. I went to 12 dress shops in calgary, edmonton, chicago, philadelphia and nyc-so I definitely looked all over. I never once had that feeling of 'THE ONE'. All the dresses were nice and i loved alot of them but there was never a THIS IS IT moment for me.

I finally decided to get a dress custom made cause I knew what I wanted, and apparently it didnt exist. As luck would have it, I went to a sale the day before I was putting down my deposit on my custom made dress, and found a dress I loved that was on for a ridiculas deal (seriously, I got it for $100). I still never had the feeling so many brides talk about, but it was a beautiful dress, that i loved on me, and it was $100 so to me, that was how I decided it was my wedding dress. If that dress had been full price, I can almost guarantee I would still be hmmm'ing and haa'ing over it.. Oh, and also, I went alone and bought it on my own. I found that when I went dress shopping with family and friends, I was relying on more waht they thought than what I thought.. and in the end YOU need to be the happiest with your choice.

 

Good luck, you will find something and dont fret if you dont have THE feeling, not all of us do!

[BachataBride]

I completely agree Savannah! I did not get that "oh my god...this is the one" butterflies like most people. Don't get me wrong...I love my dress, but I never teared up, or felt that omg feeling. Here is a thread with lots of brides in this same situation. http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t33446

 

Also...I would try on a few different styles. Even if you think a halter style won't look good (or whatever style) just try at least one on! You might be surprised! But then as you try on dresses narrow it down by neckline, silouette (sp!?), fabric, price. Eventually you will find one that meets all your criteria & looks amazing - whether you get butterflies or not!

 

Good luck and enjoy!

[JCrosby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillysBride I'm going to go against the grain and tell you....not everyone gets that lightening bolt feeling. There are a lot of gals here on the forum who didn't ever feel like they had a moment of just absolutely knowing they found the right dress. I think it happens like that for some, but not all. That doesn't mean you can't find a dress that you absolutely adore wearing on your big day.....I think that sometimes, we as brides put way too much pressure on ourselves to FEEL that magic moment when we try on a gown. It's just too much pressure and expectation, so you go through the entire shopping experience waiting to feel more than "wow, I really like this' when the "Wow, I really like this" is exactly the feeling you should be looking for! Keep a list of the style numbers/names that you really like, feel look best on you and then whittle it down from there. In the meantime, keep searching online and calling around to find out which shops have which dress samples to try on. In the midst of all this, you just may have that magic moment. If not, you still have a list of potentials and when you go back and RE-try those on, some will start to stand out from the others. Believe me. I think the first go round of intense try on's is simply overwhelming. No wonder you can't make up your mind..you're trying to take it all in! Give yourself some time, make your list and scour the internet before going back. Some dresses will start standing apart from the crowd, I guarantee you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I SO needed to hear that. I'm still in the process of searching for my dress and I'm worried about missing 'the feeling and just knowing'. I think I'm too analytical to get emotional about my dress (sad, but true). I'm the type of person that needs to go through a check list of all the parts of something and I think I'm the same way about a wedding dress. I can't just let go and love it right away. I think everything you said is true and that alot of us probably need to hear it.

[KJT1985]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillysBride I'm going to go against the grain and tell you....not everyone gets that lightening bolt feeling. There are a lot of gals here on the forum who didn't ever feel like they had a moment of just absolutely knowing they found the right dress. I think it happens like that for some, but not all. That doesn't mean you can't find a dress that you absolutely adore wearing on your big day.....I think that sometimes, we as brides put way too much pressure on ourselves to FEEL that magic moment when we try on a gown. It's just too much pressure and expectation, so you go through the entire shopping experience waiting to feel more than "wow, I really like this' when the "Wow, I really like this" is exactly the feeling you should be looking for! Keep a list of the style numbers/names that you really like, feel look best on you and then whittle it down from there. In the meantime, keep searching online and calling around to find out which shops have which dress samples to try on. In the midst of all this, you just may have that magic moment. If not, you still have a list of potentials and when you go back and RE-try those on, some will start to stand out from the others. Believe me. I think the first go round of intense try on's is simply overwhelming. No wonder you can't make up your mind..you're trying to take it all in! Give yourself some time, make your list and scour the internet before going back. Some dresses will start standing apart from the crowd, I guarantee you.

Seriously, thanks from me too! My first time dress shopping was just one friend and I. There was one dress that made me giggle and my face turn red. That didn't happen this trip even though I tried on gorgeous dresses and I really attribute it to trying to please those around me and not myself. I definitely intend on waiting a bit, to forget some of these dresses, and getting back out there on my own. Hopefully I'll find some kind of deal that makes it hard to pass up too! I'm sure once I actually decide on a dress that i'll love it and think its the best...it's just getting to that part that's hard for me right now!

[BillysBride]

A great deal CAN truly be a wonderful motivator. hahaha! I just found a dress I had joked around on the forum earlier today about getting (no shining light from heaven or angels singing, but I really liked it) on Ebay for $200 BRAND NEW. IN MY SIZE. From a bridal shop trying to liquidate it's 2007 gowns. Go freakin' figure. I'll take that as a good enough sign. It is now The One as far as I'm concerned.

[IslamoradaBride]

Savannah, I had a similar experience. I tried on tons of dresses at 6 or 7 boutiques but nothing really jumped out at me. I was able to narrow down what I liked and it turned out that there was a sample gown at the last boutique I visited that had everything I wanted. It was perfect & under budget-- what more could I ask for? I didn't get tears in my eyes or anything.