Photos 1-3: Katherine Tash, Luna
I bought this dress yesterday, felt good about it in the moment, but started second guessing it about 10 hours later. I do love the fabric, it’s sooo shimmery and very light and airy. It’ll be easy to move around in and great with the Spanish heat. This dress beat out what was in theory, the perfect lace dress (7-9), which is surprising because I had been leaning towards lace for much of my search. The structure of this dress is so unique. When I tried it on with the veil I felt like I was glowing, and I can envision that same shimmery-ness in the Spanish sun (evening ceremony)
Things that are making me second guess this choice is that two the design elements that were top considerations for me, a train MOMENT and a low back, are not really happening here. This dress was discontinued and they were able to discount the sample from ~$6k to $3.5k.
I did cry and I was speechless when I opened my eyes after my consultant did the whole “close your eyes, envision your venue, envision your fiancé” thing while putting on the veil. Reflecting on it, it’s hard to tell how much of that was a genuine reaction to the dress. This was also the only appointment I went to with all my friends, near my hometown. I think having them there added an additional emotional layer to it.
I would need to have it taken in, hemmed and add the bustle. And it’s just the zipper, not a corset, which will impact the “snatched-ness” of the final result.
Photos 4-6: Mira Zwillinger, Jordi
This dress was the top contender before yesterday, the problem was that she was 2k over budget at $7k (this dress was a sample, actual MSRP is more like 15k). This dress is SO LIGHT and is closer to the silhouette that I was initially envisioning. I love the large appliqué, it feels so artsy and unique, while still being soft and feminine. I didn’t have the same emotional crying reaction, but I did have a moment of “oh this is real” happy butterflies while putting on the test heels of all things.
This dress fit me like a glove and only needed to be hemmed and to add the bustle.
It was a sample, so if I’m going to change my mind and just do it anyway, I need to make that decision fast.
Photos 7-9: Bonus, a sample La Premiere from their trunk show. This dress combined all my favorite elements from early favorites (Maggie Sottero Esmeralda, La Premiere Brooke) while fixing all the things I had issues with. Ultimately it was a little scratchy and I thought the white was too white.
Photos 10-11: my venue