Pamela Anderson, I am not...

So, I went in to CC's Boutique last week for my first fitting. I won't go into too many details about the experience because I think that all around, many girls have slight mental meltdowns during this appointment. I did. Let's just suffice it to say that when your dress doesn't fit you yet, it is easy to start having doubts, to be nitpicky about every detail, and just to freak out in general.

But, what I DO want to talk about is boobs. Yep, boobs. And...the fact that I don't really have much of them. But...my dress has enough space in the chest for some enormous melons. When I went in for the fitting, the first question the seamstress asked me was if I had a corset bra/other bra to wear. I told her I just wanted cups sewn in (I mean...I have no boobs...I don't need the support!). So, we proceeded to put on the dress, and she stuffed in some 2 inch thick pads into the chest.

After pinning the dress in certain areas (it looks like it will have to be taken in on the sides about 2 inches, and we have to add some nips and tucks to the back so I don't have a saggy looking butt), I walked around the room in the dress, trying to take note of how it felt and if there were any problem areas. I was feeling pretty good, but when I went to do one of those "boob adjustments" where you push your strapless dress up so it isn't falling down, she told me that she thought I would need a corset bra. My heart sunk a bit, but I humored her and said I'd try one just to compare. She whipped one out of the closet in my size and we put it on.

So...let me paint you a picture of the new get-up. I am corseted into this bra device...which is already padded. The seamstress then proceeds to hand me the 2" pads again to stuff inside the bra. Um, what? Seriously, this increased my chest size by about 3 inches. When we zipped the dress back up, it certainly was more secure...but I looked as though I had had some work done...

So, I'll be honest here. I'm not one of those girls who wishes for bigger boobs. Really, I'm not. I think I look perfectly proportional, and I just don't feel the need to make myself look more...enhanced...when everyone I know is aware of what I look like on a day-to-day basis. So, after looking long and hard at myself in the mirror with my increased chest, I told the seamstress that I didn't want the corset bra on top of the sewn in cups (I have to have SOMETHING in there, apparently). We took it off and I was able to look at myself again in the mirror. I was happy with what I saw...whew! Now...I just have to wait a few weeks to see the changes at my second fitting. Oh...and I'm sure you'd like some photos about now...your wish is my command!

My fabulous hair flower also managed to make an appearance...

Someone is going to have a heck of a time bustling my dress...although it looks simple, it is going to be a complicated process!

After everything was all said and done, I did start thinking about what transpired at the shop. Do all seamstresses attempt to force added boobage on you, or is this an isolated incident? Why would they automatically assume that I want a bigger chest? Did you run into this problem at your fittings? Did you feel pressured to add more padding/enhancement aside from what nature provided you?

Meeting MY Dress

In November, I received a card in the mail from CC’s (where I bought my dress) letting me know that my gown had arrived in the shop! I was floored; when I purchased it back in June they informed me that it could take up to early 2010 for the gown to come in. I guess not!!! As you can imagine, the anticipation for my Florida trip for Thanksgiving was incredible. I wanted to meet my gown in person!

So, on the rainy Tuesday before Thanksgiving, mom and I made the drive out to St. Petersburg. If you remember, when I shopped for my dress originally, I didn’t get those mushy-gushy “OH MY GOSH THIS IS MY DRESS” feelings. I was secretly hoping that they would appear that day. I should have known better than to have that expectation, because alas, once again it didn’t happen. Sadly, it kind of threw me into a bit of a bad mood during our visit, which I shouldn’t have let happen. But hey, I’m not perfect.

However, I WAS excited about the fact that MY dress was in a much smaller size than the sample I tried on was in! When I was fitted for my gown, we found out that the smallest size James Clifford makes is a 2, so we had to go ahead and order it, despite the fact that the measurements were still going to be off. Darn you, awkward wedding dress sizing! From what I have heard around the wedding blog land, typically you wear a size or two up from your street clothes size. Hm. Apparently James Clifford runs more true to size than I would have thought! As it stands, they don’t make less than a size 2, so I was out of luck; we are going to have to alter it!

Ok, ok…I know what you really want is to see pictures of me in the dress. Your wish is my command. Mr. Buttons, if you are reading this, STOP! Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Walk away from your computer, do not scroll down! Please? Ok thank you…

Don't judge me on the poor lighting...oh so very unflattering!

Super attractive face, no?

If you can’t tell, the bust is huge, but probably because I have so little to work with to start! That is definitely going to be taken in, and some “support” is going to be sewn in.

The waist and hips are also too large, and will have to be taken in a few inches. Check out the handful of fabric the seamstress has in her hands! Also note the uncomfortable look on my face...because her hand was going somewhere unexpected....

Thankfully, they informed me that all of the alterations were rather simple in nature to complete, so I could hold off on being measured and pinned until a return visit at a later date. Whew! 6 months of not being able to fluctuate my dress size would have been absolute torture! Can you imagine?

I had a bit of a subdued temper tantrum (in my head mostly) when I first saw the train. It looked completely different to me than the original sample…the lace was bunching around the train and it looked sloppy to me. Thankfully, the seamstress brought me out the sample so I could compare them, and we realized that the lace on the train was connected to the lining on the dress, and that in the sample it had been detached. Easy fix! The seamstress went ahead and cut the strings connecting the two pieces, and I was instantly relieved. See the difference?

Sample dress (with major clippage going on in front to make it appear like it fits!):

Before the fix:

After the fix:

Ok, enough about all the dress details…I’ll leave you with a few more pictures…

No, I wasn't posing this way...I was checking out my butt. Yeah...I said it...

Thin lipped smile? You betcha...

Drat! Caught in the act of checking out my butt, yet again!

Oh...hey...you come here often???

Don't be alarmed...I have freaky freaky shoulder blades. I feel like I'm about to sprout wings...

How long did it take for your dress to come in? Were you pumped to meet it in person?

Custom Dress Image – which style do I choose?

Remember when I was oohing and ahhing over the thought of a custom dress illustration? Well, if there is one thing I have learned since entering into the world of wedding planning, it is that people can really come out of the woodwork, in a good way!

Shortly after posting about my desire for a beautiful illustration of my dress, an old friend from high school (we’ll call her A) got in contact with me. She went to college at Parson’s for fashion design (yes…location of Project Runway, Tim Gunn…sigh…ok I'm going off topic now...). Anyway, she offered her services…and I couldn’t be more excited about it!

Since she is so skilled, A is able to create the illustration in a number of different styles…it is up to me to decide which I like the most! These are the styles I have to pick from (but obviously, they'd be of my dress instead!)…

Vintage Poster Print

Text could even be added to the side to make it resemble the vintage posters!

Modern and Color Blocked

Simple Pencil Sketch on white paper

I’m a sucker for Audrey Hepburn…but that is beside the point…

Glamour

1940’s style

A fun pose

At the moment, I am gravitating towards the vintage poster print or the “fun pose” that would be a bit more unusual. Which of these illustrations strikes your fancy? Where do you think you would put an illustration like this?

My feelings on “THE dress:” That loving feeling...

If you haven't been following along on my dress buying experience and you need to catch up…

Part 1: My inspiration, Part 2: I went shopping, and Part 3: I made up my mind

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So, you are aware at this point that I selected my wedding gown. What you may or may not have noticed was how I failed to describe my overwhelming feelings of joy and excitement at finding “THE dress.”

Oh…wait…that’s because I DIDN’T have those feelings.

I find it very interesting when I read over and over how girls find their dress and immediately know that they were meant to be together. And, it isn’t that I’m unhappy with my dress. Quite the contrary! I know that it is absolutely perfect for me; it will make me look spectacular on my wedding day, no doubt in my mind. But, where were the butterflies? The excited squeals? The tears? There was nothing…not even a titter. Overall, during my shopping experience, I never became excitable. My mother and I discussed the options at length, we tore apart the different features of the dresses that we had looked at, and I came to a decision in the end.

So, I wonder…what would it take for me to achieve that giddy, I’m going to jump up and down in glee feeling? Well, if I had to guess, it would probably appear if I were to don a gown WAY out of my price range. I pay attention to fashion, I love designers…it would be unreal to wear a Monique Lhuillier or a Vera Wang…a girl can dream! But hey, that is all it is…a dream. And I have reality to focus on.

And, you know what? Just because I didn’t have the feeling during the dress shopping experience, DOESN’T mean that I won’t get it later on. Just you wait, I’m going to turn into a blubbery wreck when I am completely put together…the hair, the makeup, the shoes…that’ll push me over the edge in the end. I’m just…on hold for the moment being.

I know I am not the first bride who has experienced this, and I certainly won’t be the last one. If you are worried about this happening to you as well, here is my piece of advice: don’t let it frustrate you. Everyone’s shopping experience is different, and just because you aren’t jumping around the dressing room, screaming at the top of your lungs, or turning into a puddle of happy tears over your dress does NOT mean that you will look any less spectacular on your wedding day. Of this I am certain.

Did YOU get that feeling when you found your dress???

My feelings on “THE dress:” I make up my mind…

I suppose I should have started my dress-buying series with the caveat that the shopping experience happened months ago (in the summer, actually)…thank you to everyone who has offered advice/tips over the past few days though!

So…where did I leave off? If you are behind:

Part 1: My inspiration, Part 2: I went shopping

And in Part 3, it’s the moment you’ve been waiting for. I make up my darned mind!

After shopping around at a few other stores, my mom, grandma, and I headed in to CC’s Boutique in St. Petersburg for my appointment. I filled out my info card, and then my consultant, Monica, met with me to start the dress process (by the way, she was amazing!). She had me describe the details that I was looking for in my dress…I provided her with 5 key words: lace, strapless, sweetheart neckline, fitted. Then we began.

Monica explained that the first dress she brings out is the one she feels is the closest match to your ideal dress. Depending on how you react to the different aspects (too tight? Too sparkly? Too poofy?), she adjusts her dress selections from that point.

And…wouldn’t you know it…the dress I purchased was indeed the first one she brought me. But first, let me show you another dress that almost stole my heart, before the big reveal...

Obviously, we couldn’t stop at the first dress even though we loved it, so I spent an hour or so trying on various gowns, comparing each one to the first dress. I tried a beautiful organza gown in champagne by Pronovias, the Oleaje, that was a top contender for a while (actually, you may have seen it before, on a featured wedding on TheKnot! And, coincidentally, she got married at my venue…). Monica informed me that we could easily have the straps taken off as well...yay! The price was also great - at around $900, I would still be under my original $1000 budget.

Sadly, I wasn't allowed to take pictures of myself in the Pronovias gown, but trust me (and the pictures below)...it was gorgeous!

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But...in the end I kept going back to the James Clifford. It met all of my criteria; strapless, form fitting, the neckline, and the lace…perfection. No sparkle, no beading. Glorious. My grandma started to cry when I first put it on. My mom was sold on it, my grandma was sold on it...and then I flipped the price tag when Monica was out of the room, and felt a little sick. My beautiful lace dress was $500 over my budget. Crap.

Well, I'll make a long story short, but after a little hemming and hawing over the price...and some serious reasoning/justification in my head...I decided that I was willing to take the plunge. Throughout my session, none of the dresses were close to being as perfect on me as the J1820 (sheesh, sexy name huh?). Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!

So, do you want to see it?

Well, the stock photos at least…for now…but I will say that the photos pale in comparison to this dress in real life…they just don’t do it a bit of justice whatsoever.

If you are Mr. Buttons, AVERT your eyes! Go away! And, if you don't want to see it, just don't scroll down!!!

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So…did you feel a sense of relief after you found your dress? Did you stick to your budget, or did you go over/under it?

Custom Dress Illustration = Divine!

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So...rewind a few months to this summer, when I was in the midst of wedding dress shopping...I was buried up to my nose in wedding magazines, and my eyes were crossing from staring at a computer screen for hours at a time, searching endlessly through wedding dress inspiration!

Anyway, as I was contemplating my dress budget and the like, I started to ponder the thought of what exactly I am going to DO with my dress after the day is over. What is a girl to do? I could preserve it, and hopefully have a daughter someday who might be interested in wearing it...or I could sell it, and let some other bride enjoy it in the more immediate future. Either way, the dress is either going to be in a closet or out of my hands after the wedding. But, there might be an option to keep it in view on a daily basis (with the exception of our pro photog's pictures)!

I recently stumbled upon Aboutthedress.com, a company that creates custom bridal gown illustrations! You send them a few pictures of yourself wearing the dress, and their artists create a custom fashion illustration of you! for $425 (plus shipping), you get an 11"x14" illustration that is double matted and framed.

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What a unique way to remember your gorgeous dress after the day is over! However, kind of pricey, and I am hoping to find something a bit more...fashionable! So, I thought I'd check out one of my favorite places, Etsy, to see if there was anything available at a more reasonable price!

How about these beautiful sketches from MeganHamilton?

And, if you want to include your man's suit/tux...you can do that too!

MeganHamilton

I love love love the idea of having a custom sketch of my dress! This could also be a wonderful first anniversary present (cough cough...any husbands/fiances out there cough cough)...

If you don't want to purchase the illustration, but like to see the juxtaposition of a designer sketch to its actual conception, Brides.com has a featured section called "Sketch to dress Spring 2010" on their site right now...you can see your favorite designers' sketches next to photos of the real thing! So cool!

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James Clifford

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Monique Lhuillier

So...are you doing anything special with your dress/to remember your dress after the wedding?

My feelings on “THE dress,” part 2…we go shopping…

So…I had my dress inspiration. Next up, the shopping began!

The first shop we visited was Olga’s in Tampa. My mom and I were on our way to the mall, and we stopped in just to take a look. I tried on 3-4 dresses in that shop; and my favorite, hands down, was:

Harlow by Maggie Sottero

It had a sweetheart neckline, lace, and it was form fitting. My mom loved it. And, with a price tag in the $800’s, it was in my budget. But, it was the first place we’d stepped foot into; we felt like we needed to see more dresses before any decision was made! I wish I had a photo of myself in it; alas, one does not exist!

A few weeks later, my grandparents were in town, and my mother, grandma, and I went on an all-day shopping trip!

First stop…David’s Bridal.

I’ll be honest. I didn’t really like a single thing I tried on there. The consultant listened to me and brought out dresses that relatively fit my description, but there was just something about them that wasn’t hitting me. I didn’t take any pictures, because nothing was really striking me. Here are a few that I tried on:

All images from David’s Bridal

I would only consider this with the straps removed…I’m not a huge fan of spaghetti straps in general.

This was the one dress that I disliked the least in the bunch, but the price tag was over $1,000, and I knew I could find a more “designer” dress for the same amount of money. Yes, I’m a snob…I’ll admit it. *Hangs head in shame.* So, we moseyed on down the road...

Another stop on our shopping trip was The Dressing Room in St. Petersburg. The owner of the shop was hilarious. It is a small shop, and she locked the door as we walked in so we wouldn’t be disturbed. Pretty cool. Our trip to The Dressing Room was for one purpose; they had the Agadir dress from Cymbeline. If you need a refresher…

Cymbeline

I HAD to try it…(ignore the lack of boobs I have, and that the halter top neckline is spaced too far apart because the dress is too big!)...

And, what was the outcome? *Sigh* Ok…so I wanted to be in love with it. And it WAS gorgeous. The champagne lace was a great color against my skin. BUT, alas, my mom and I decided that it looked more like something you’d wear on the red carpet rather than your wedding day. Single tear.

I felt a little dejected, but then the owner suggested that I try on another dress from Cymbeline that I had overlooked at first. It didn’t completely meet my dress requirements, but I was willing to try it out! Here is the Colibrie:

They informed me that they could turn the neckline into a sweetheart for me if I desired. The skirt was just so…swishy and dreamy. I realllly liked it. What I didn’t like? The price tag was over $2,000. Gulp. I'd have to do some major reasoning with myself to justify that purchase.

So, without further ado we left the dress shop…I was starting to wonder if I’d ever get that magical “I FOUND THE DRESS” feeling that I was hoping for…

Did you shop at a lot of stores before you came across your dress? Did you find something that you loved, but was out of your price range?