Monday, June 16, 2008

The Dress


Alright, I need your help. As you all know I got engaged. But what you don't know is how we are doing things a bit differently.

We aren't throwing a wedding in a year or anything traditional. We are getting married in less then a month. TJ and I, along with my mom and some friends with cameras are headed to the court house to make it official. Then, come September we are throwing a reception/party. Some of the traditional things will be involved, first dances, an awesome cake, and of course a cute dress.

The dress is the current big issue. I need to find my dress by July 14, so I can wear it to the court house. I am not buying a traditional, long, white "wedding dress". Instead I am buying a super cute dress that I can wear again. Problem being, I hate white dresses. It's a guarantee you will ruin it as soon as you sit down, and white makes you look fat.

So I am trying to find a compromise, perhaps off-white, cream, or a cute white dress with details. Below are some of my favorites. I need your feedback, input, and suggestions. Let me know which of the following you like best, or if you know of a better dress, tell me where to find it.


1. Zac Posen



2. Tibi



3. Theory



4. Rory Beca


___________________________________________________


Okay I am adding the J.Crew Dress. I loved this dress and thought it would be perfect, but they had a extra sale and you couldn't return it. Anyways, they aren't doing the extra sale anymore, so now you CAN return it (if it doesn't fit). What do you think? Is the flower weird?


40 comments:

heidi said...

having gone the traditional route, I applaud your decision! It will save you a ton of money, and you'll be able to invite everyone. As for the dress, I like the Tibi.

Anonymous said...

Congrats! I planned whole wedding in a month!
I love dress number 1. and number 4.

Kitt said...

I like No. 2 the best, if you have the legs and shoulders for it. No.1 looks too casual, No. 3 too prim, and No. 4 looks too much like a slip.

Unknown said...

1 or 3, just because I like them the best. Congratulations, and the non-traditional route also gets a thumbs up. I hope everything goes well!

Anonymous said...

OK, this is so fun. I like the Theory one you chose. I also like these from JCrew:

1) http://www.jcrew.com/catalog/product.jhtml?id=prod95086173&catId=cat90226

2) (in white)
http://www.jcrew.com/catalog/product.jhtml?id=prod81972161&catId=cat303192

3) (I love the lines and back of this dress. Unfortunately, the palest color it comes in is pink.)
http://www.jcrew.com/catalog/product.jhtml?id=prod90702161&catId=cat303194

Lobster and swan said...

congratulations! wow Zac Posen all the way lady ; )

Joslyn said...

i too vote for the zac posen as it feels different and you'd definitely wear it again + it somehow feels right for the courthouse.

are you planning to wear the same dress for the party?

Eva said...

I'm a Tibi fan, and I think the dress would look darling on you. I do also like the dresses at J. Crew. I got married last year and when I got the catalog last monty I said, "DANG! Why weren't they this cute last year?"

(We do say dang in Texas)

Mrs.French said...

Oh my! That top one is sweet perfection! I would wear that! Go Zac!

Stacy said...

I love that J.Crew dress but you cannot try it on or return it which is such a bummer.

Anonymous said...

i like the third one, it would be lovely, even with the flower (remember, everything is how you carry yourself and what attitude and energy you bring...;)

oh but if i could be so bold...i totally see you in a flapper-style drop-waist dress...in an off white ("the great gatsby"--f. scott fitzgerald)...

it is all very exciting....
nancy

ting-wai said...

I adore the zac posen dress! I want it just to have it! and the cut and style is very unique. it will make for a vintage contemporary vibe which is so grand.

and my second favorite is the J Crew dress. the flower is possibly the best part. very feminine and the cut will be flattering.

oh so fun. many congrats!

littlebyrd said...

I love the Jcrew one best!

Heather said...

my 1st time here...I think the J. Crew looks the most wedding-ish and if not that one I'd go with the tibi b/c with the right hair-do and shoes that one will ROCK!

One Shot Beyond Photography & A little More>

Emily said...

Congratulations. I really like the first dress but my second favourite is the JCrew one. Good luck on deciding on a dress and have fun!

Unknown said...

Congrats!!!
Zac posen and J. Crew

v said...

thurley has some really nice ones... im not sure if there is a website though

Anonymous said...

okay did not see the j-crew dress -
number 1 still
and the j crew for my second choice! Get both!!! one for now and the other for later!!!

Sals said...

Oooh, I like both the Zac Posen and J.Crew dresses best.

Lucy said...

Congrats and double congrats for skipping the traditional "white wedding" look. I did the same thing and not only did I/we save money, I've worn my dress again (last month) and love it even more today than the day I gt married in it. The J Crew dress gets my top vote followed by the Rory one. Whatever you wear you're going to glow!!! Happy Wishes.

Hila said...

I love number two and number three - classic, clean and chic. Congratulations!!! I'm so with you on the no-fuss type of wedding.

Joanna Goddard said...

oooh, how fun! i love dress #1 and #4. i also love the jcrew dress. you will look beautiful in any of them.

your wedding plans sound really really fun!

Unknown said...

How exciting! I love your choices, I think my favorite is #3. What about this one by rebe (my current obsession) http://www.myrebe.com/shopexd.asp?id=423
Comes in white and off-white and I like the ribbon detail in the back.

Wishing you many happy days ahead - you and TJ are a beautiful couple!!

Krissy | Paper Schmaper said...

I vote for the JCrew dress! Hooray for going non-traditional for the ceremony.

cassandra said...

oh, honey, i am going on a dress hunt for you asap! these are cute... but i think you could do one better and still keep it casual and easy. i think i'd love the zac posen dress without the belt - the belt makes it seem a bit work-dress-ish to me?

PS - this is exactly what i want to do when i get married - courthouse or backyard, THEN a big party to celebrate later!!

Apt. #34 said...

Belated congrats. When I read your post I remembered a wedding I recently read about here http://ourblogoflove.com/index.cfm?postID=124. I'm a wedding photographer stalker. I think her dress is BCBG or something along those lines. Another great resource is Thread - they make bridesmaid dresses that any bride could wear just as easily! Can't wait to see what you find!

C D said...

Just heard the exciting news... himself & I had a civil ceremony and then the 'church' ceremony that you went to... and then 6 months after the Scotland wedding we had a big party thrown by his family.

So congrats!

And they wear red for weddings in China (I'm pretty sure...)

xoo
cuzin Carrie

julie king said...

it's hard to pick since i don't really now you BUT i really like the j. crew one. i love the flowing neckline and i think the flower adds a special touch. it is very feminine. good luck. can't wait to see what you pick.

High Desert Diva said...

Surprisingly, I like the J. Crew the best.

I'd use the flower for the wedding, then remove it for when you wear it again.

Save the flower and use it a la Carrie (Sex in the City)

Kathleen said...

I agree exactly with High Desert Diva.

Anonymous said...

Why does it have to be white?

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2995085/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6014146?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6014146&P=1

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2973736/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6014146?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6014146&P=1

cassandra said...

ok, you inspired a little post on my blog. you may hate my dress choices thought, but i took a stab at it! oh, and i agree with erin (apt#34) - BCBG is another great place to look, but go into the stores because they're always having sales. also, would you consider vintage? cuz there are so many great vintage spots in seattle!

megan auld-wright said...

I vote #3...with a bright patent leather belt!

Joanna Goddard said...

ps. here's another one to add into the mix...

xoxo

http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&_dynSessConf=-5394812159220413822&id=830072&parentid=APP_DRESS_SOLID&pushId=APP_DRESS_SOLID&popId=APP_DRESSES&sortProperties=&navCount=24&navAction=poppush&fromCategoryPage=true&selectedProductSize=&selectedProductSize1=&color=whi

perfect bound said...

NO, I love the flower. Love the dress and the flower. love it all.

Joanna Goddard said...

hi again! these are really pretty:
http://www.cabbagesandroses.com/products.asp?float=16&OrderBy=&catId=1_18&viewall=

xoxo joanna

Mélanie said...

Congrats !!! I would not know which one to choose

Anonymous said...

either the Zac Posen or the J. Crew. they are both perfect for the courthouse!
congrats!!

Unknown said...

Perhaps yo'uve already decided on a dress, but in case you're still looking, check out www.trashydiva.com. Go to the sale section, then to the bottom to see their bridal collection sale: gorgeous, vintage-inspired dresses for extremely reasonable prices-no more than $300. I just bought one myself, and I'm not even getting married. (It'll do for a night on the town!) Good luck and congratulations!

Kathleen W. said...

Congratulations on your engagement/wedding! When I saw the Zac Posen dress, it was my favorite but then I continued scrolling to the J.Crew one and I like that the best. Very simple but also elegant, and no, the flower is not too much. I suppose if you want to wear it again you may be able to carefully remove the flower for a new look. I had a local seamstress make my wedding dress based on a design I drew which in turn was based on a John Waterhouse painting of Ophelia. Definitely not as fancy, but I liked the neckline, sleeves and the way the dress came together in the front.
http://www.jwwaterhouse.com/paintings/images/waterhouse_ophelia_03.jpg