For better or worse.: Dresses Dresses Dresses!

Finally it's the weekend! My schedule has been all out of whack lately, so it's nice to finally have a "normal" weekend. Being that my schedule has been off, I've been feeling off... tired, grumpy, unmotivated, you know the drill. Sometimes I just go through those phases though... but this particular funk has lasted awhile. I need to get my butt to either the gym or yoga or both, get outside for some sunshine, and accomplish some things that I've been avoiding (<cough>taxes<cough cough>) so I feel back on top.

Next weekend I am going back to Madeleine's for wedding dress shopping trip #2. I decided at the last minute to see if I could get an appointment for the Bliss by Monique Lhuillier trunk show they are having. They actually had a lot of appointments available, but I decided to go with one on Sunday, hoping it won't be quite as busy as Saturday, and maybe I'll be able to get a little more time and attention than my first go round. I did book it with the same consultant, because I liked her and even though I didn't find dresses I liked, I know she was really trying and it was probably my fault for steering her in the wrong direction initially. Besides, she knows what I have already tried on, so I'd rather not start from scratch all over again.

Monquie Lhuillier as a rule isn't a) within my budget or b) particularly what I (thought) I was looking for. However, there are a few dresses of hers I like, and after wedding dress shopping disaster #1, I am changing my opinions and open to trying anything. I have also had about 3 or 4 other brides who have tried on dresses or bought their dresses already tell me I would love and look great in Monique. So I guess I should at least give it a shot. The Bliss line IS within my budget ($2300-3500), so when they changed the trunk show to that from Claire Pettibone, I thought, hey maybe I should check it out.

I will be going by myself, as my parents are going to be out of town, and as I have mentioned none of my bridesmaids are local and able to join me. Could be a good opportunity to work with the consultant though and get closer to figuring exactly what my bridal style should be! As a salesperson myself, I feel a little guilty going in for a second time with no intention of giving her a sale. I don't want to decide by myself, and I certainly don't have the money right now to put down a deposit on a dress on my own. But there's really no other way to find a gown without trying, and I don't want to miss an opportunity to see a whole line at a trunk show. I have already been disappointed that 2 out of my 3 top dresses were not available at Madeleine's, even though they carry both designers. Speaking of which, I really should call back and see about them getting those dresses in for me to see. I know they can sometimes do that... I'm a "Say Yes to the Dress" junkie, thus I base all of my opinions about bridal salons on Kleinfeld and that show.

Here are two of the Bliss dresses I like... although I've picked about 9 from her site that I would be interested in trying on. In case you haven't guessed, I am an exhaustive shopper. I don't typically just go and find a dress or an outfit. It is a process. With this being THE DRESS of my life, I do not intend to settle - I will leave no stone unturned. I mean, unless of course by some miracle I go to Kleinfeld's, try on the dream dress, love it as much as I do in the picture, magically it doesn't cost $$$$$ (yes, there are FIVE dollar signs for the price on the website :( - it's a Pnina Tornai, what did I expect?) and I can get it! Okay, fantasies aside... I don't make big decisions like this easily, and I think it's important given that I have the time, to make sure I get the full experience, try on lots of different styles, and actually fall in love with the dress when I find it.

Bliss Dress #1 - I like the lace. I wish it has a more exaggerated sweetheart neckline. The skirt is a little plain and as a general rule I am not super into sashes, ribbons, or bows. But for some reason this one grabs me. I guess I just like the overall shape, and that it looks romantic, pretty, and appropriate for an outdoor summer reception.

Bliss Dress #2 - I love the shape, fabric, and ruching on this dress, but it's too plain. I really want something with embellishment - lace, beading, flowers, something! I could envision adding a jeweled belt, a flower corsage on the skirt, or something else to make this dress more "me". I'm not sure about the sash/streamer things on the back. But like I said I love the shape (the neckline is exactly what I want!) so it's worth a try. Things can always be altered! And embellished ... right? :)

Okay and two more actually...

Bliss Dress #3 - On this one I like the ballgown shape with the fuller skirt. I also love the bodice with the beading! It's not exactly the neckline I like, but it's pretty. I'm not sure how I feel about the pick ups in the skirt. In general, I'm not wild about them. I really didn't like them on one of the dresses I tried on before, so it may be a no.

Bliss Dress #4 - The main reason for this dress is the flowers! I love flowers - that has been the one detail I have been obsessed with since the beginning. Of course floral details are suddenly all the rage in bridal designs, which makes them easy to find but actually makes me like it a little less. This dress is again a bit plain for my taste overall, but I like the way this skirt is gathered as opposed to the more tufted skirt on the last one. I also like how it's more fitted through the waist and hips, but still has fullness.

As you can see I am kind of all over the place. For the sake of showing what I was initially going for, I will now show you my top three dresses, which I chose at the beginning of this process (two of them actually before we were technically engaged...haha). Yes, blog readers, I am letting you in on my secret, the secret of THE dress that I have been lusting after for over a year, as well as my other two favorites. Why? Well I imagine I'm probably not going to end up with any of these dresses, because it rarely turns out that way, right? Even so, even if I do, I won't be revealing that secret, and the gown itself I am sure will be so much more amazing in person and on me... showing a few pictures on the blog will not at all ruin the experience or expectation of the dress if, in fact, any of them live up to my own personal hype, and become the dress. I have not found anything I deeply love as much as any of these (or I should say as much as the Pnina dress...), or that changes my mind enough to shop for something completely different. I have not however, had the opportunity to try any of them on yet... which leaves me a bit stuck. The way that I am, I don't know that I will be able to make a decision until I at least see/put these dresses on and get them off my mind. But I guess only time will tell! Without further ado, here they are!

Maggie Sottero - SaBelle