So many pretties... so hard to choose... (Warning LONG)

Note: Those of you who know me well, know I am a researcher by inclination. Few purchases, and none of any significant value are made without significant research and analysis.

Okay, so me, my Lady of Awesome and her little Chickadee of Cute went dress shopping. (One of those titles may be honarary..)

We had the best time.  So, a round up of the dresses I tried on. None with me in them, obviously, since they never let you take photos and watch you like a hawk, which I can understand, but it does make choosing harder.

Overall comments... I am still torn betweem three different dress styles. I was hoping that one would be an obvious best fit on me, but no such like with nice examples of all three styles.

I have a budget, but it is somewhat arbitrary (its the amount I think I am willing to pay, rather than one of necessity... thus I *could* spend a lot more if I really, really wanted to... but... I just can't see the worth in spending several thousand on a dress..)
*warning* I'm having to go by recognition, so it might be a bit off.. if only they'd label things correctly so you could look at the right stuff on the website!! Nicole can correct me if I'm off.. my brain is going into white-out ;)
Part one: Bride's Selection
First place we went to was Brides Selection. Here, I liked this dress..

Portia, Brides Selection

This was nice and floaty, had a little bit of bling but not too much. Was on the upper end of my price range though, and I liked it a lot, but didn't love it.

Then there was this one...Um. Can't find it. It was strappless, with a very wide underbust band of beading (like about 4 inches) and a flowy skirt. It fitted, looked nice (but not amazing) and was half price (and therefore reasonable, but not a steal).

Finally there was another one that was perfect  for the top half, but totally wrong, very poofy and lots of overlays that just didn't suit. Top half was simple strapless with a detail below bust on one side of beautiful organza flowers & trailing leaf embroidery. Pretty but not over the top. That plus a floaty skirt and I would have considered handing over the cash...

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Part two : Dion for Brides (their sister store. We went mostly because they carry Maggie Sottero, and I heard they had a short wedding dress... and I was hunting that Isadora Ann again.. (gratuitous link)...

Okay, so they didn't have that in... but! They are getting in soon, and will call me.. yay! Except... it's going to be around $3k (double my nominted budget) .. awwwwwww.... everybody join me now.... awwwww....

Just for comparison purposes, I did try on this dress, Conchita Rose, which is tea length and poofy with nice flower detailing. (and $2k).

This I liked, It was too long by a couple of inches.. (that stumpification thing, Amanda? *Totally* makes sense now - it hit me at the fattest point of my calves, instead of below the knee and made my legs looks fat as a result, when they really aren't.) But that's what i get for being 5'4". Easily could be shortened, and I would totally rock with blue silk ballet flats *grin*
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So that was that. Then it was getting near lunchtime, and I needed to pick up my own Flower Girl of Awesomest/Flower Girl of Cute (she'd can't decide on her title yet)... so we did that.. then... I was in such a good mood... and was around the corner from Tuscany Bridal and Bridal Affair with 2 hours to kill while she was at gymnastics... so I went and looked some more.

Tuscany Bridal was all looking down their nose at me and giving me the "oh you need an appointment, we don't have any room at all today".. which would have been fine... except I'd just watched her ask the girl and her two friends behind me if they wanted to try anything on, and they were clearly walk ins too.. *grumps*

So I went across the street to Bridal Affair, which is clearly a totally different market. Dresses from $400 to maybe $2500 max.

Here there was three gowns of interest. One, a basic chiffon thing that was so generic, it's almost not worth showing a photo.. but in case I need to remember it later... here. It's a bridesmaid dress, but they do it in white. Best feature (unsurprising) is it is cheap. And I can make some flowers etc. to detail it.

The next one I liked a lot, and if I was having a more formal/not outdoor wedding, would be rated very highly. Big train, not easily removed or bustled. Looked good though! Very elegant.

Then we had a suprise factor. A third dress style I hadnt been considering. The curvy corseted tight number in heavy fabric. They don't have a picture of that dress, but its much like this, but without beading and no train.

Best feature on this is that it makes me look very skinny, and the most hourglass figure I've seen in my life! Corset back for the win! Downside is... its very stiff, I'm not a fan of the heavy fabric. I'm also not sure if its the best fit for our casual wedding.
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So... where does this leave me? I liked a number of the dresses, but I have to wonder if maybe my Lady of Awesome is right, and I need to consider getting something made by one of the excellent dressmakers we know. All the dresses are very mainstream, and I wonder if the lack of really getting into any of them is partly because they aren't really me.

I'm not suggesting I want to get married in a dark gothic fantasy with wings or anything, but maybe something a bit more arty/crafty/alternative-lite might better suit my personality.

I could wear several of these dresses, but I dont know that I really feel myself in any of them. Closest one was the tea length dress, but even that makes me wonder whether I'm just having a 'not-that' reaction to mainstream, and picking the "standard" alternative as a result. I think I need to go look at a bunch of different dresses, and work with one the the shapes we now know suits me...

Of course, I could be over thinking it. This may also be in character. *rolls eyes*

Opinions?