Source
r/weddingplanning•
bcakes

can NOT decided between 2 dresses (nice problem to have)

EDIT: thanks so much ladies! I had all my friends asking B if I'd chosen yet and after some soul searching and a "walking down the aisle visualization" I realized I couldn't even picture walking in the Reagan. It just transformed into the Penelope dress! I think that settles it! I also left out the part that before shopping I asked fiancé to look at all the dresses on Bhldn and "for fun" pick out a dress he'd like to know I tried on. He picked Penelope. I think it will be a lovely surprise when he sees me walking in it. I'm in love with 2 dresses, have tried them both on at appointment. 1st one is Penelope from Bhldn. It's the first dress I saw online and wanted to try, it's perfect for budget, it's comfortable, it looks strapless but isn't! The next one is [Reagan]http://www.bhldn.com/shop-the-bride-wedding-dresses/reagan-gown/productOptionIDS/fbcaeb8b-b90b-4e9a-9313-32da085940dd Bhldn. It's a whopping $5 more. I love LOVE the way it looks, the design, the little buttons and the sheer back. The thing stopping me from loving it is that I found the fabric around the arm/armpit extremely irritating and after wearing for a few minutes I was all red from the fabric. The consultant assured me that a seamstress could "do something" about the irritating fabric... but what would a seamstress do? Comfort is a top priority, my dress goals were: no bra no spanx. Also, if anyone has an opinion on to bustle or not bustle- I'm imagining the tulle can be tricky but I also plan to dance my face (or tulle train) off! Edit to include the real life me in these dresses, really, give me your beautiful bride opinions weddit!

Posted Feb 27, 2016, 12:44 AM UTC · edited

1023
SuperiorHedgehogBride | Married! | Santa Barbara, CA•

Hrm, I'm also a little leery of the uncomfortable fabric thing. I'd want a much more concrete plan than 'a seamstress could do something.' I'm not really sure offhand what they could do.

I hear you on comfort being a top priority, so I think I'd go with Penelope. Somewhat biased because I love that name :P

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dnageiwiowa bride | indiana wedding | 10.7.16•

Just my two cents: I wore this dress as a bridesmaid in a wedding on New Year's, and our experiences varied quite a bit. Myself (giant boobs) and another bridesmaid (super skinny, but dress was really tight after alterations) were raw where the material rubbed on our shoulders and arms all night. The other girls, whose dresses weren't so tight, were fine. I'm not sure what would bother you, but it seems like maybe an issue of getting the fit just right, as well.

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bcakesOPSep 2016 Connecticut•

Yeah, that's definitely what I don't want. The arm holes weren't tight, it was very much the feel of the fabric. And my lack of boobs has never felt like such a blessing until I started trying on wedding dresses.

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FutureMrs59Wifed Up | May 2015•

Gosh that penelope is gorgeous. As someone who wore a sequined dress to my bachelorette, trust me, that rubbing raw feeling so SOO annoying after hour 2. I would vote Penelope!

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bcakesOPSep 2016 Connecticut•

that's my biggest beef with the dress, but being assured that it was something she had heard in the store before... idk, it's so pretty. It would be nice if they did in house alterations for sure

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wamme6Married//08.22.2015•

I tried on the most beautiful sequin cocktail dress last week. Originally $135, marked down to $35. Just trying it on the sequins were stabbing me in the armpits. As beautiful as it was and as great a deal as that is, I decided to pass, because comfort always wins.

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itsfuntotypebanana•

Surely speaking to a seamstress is the way to go, as s/he can tell you what changes they can realistically make.

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bcakesOPSep 2016 Connecticut•

absolutely, next step!

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Fatcat252nd Sep 2016 - UK•

Dress one is fab! I'm depends oh how it feels/looks on you though

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ami50006-10-16 | Philadelphia•

If comfort is a huge factor to you go Penelope. I tried on Penelope and Persiphone (similar to Reagan also made by Watters). Persiphone had the same kind of illusion bodice and man was it irritating. It may have been because of the size of the arm holes or how tight it was or whatever. I had none of those issues with Penelope. The illusion was so much softer on the skin and it was way more comfortable. If the structure of (or lack there of) Reagan is similar to Perisphone I'm not sure there's much the seamstress could do beyond trimming the fabric slightly underneath on the seams because it will need to be tighter to support you. They're both gorgeous dresses though.

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mALYficentBride 10/22/2016 | Calgary•

I love the Penelope on you, the Reagan just doesn't look as refined

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opalcuttlefishJune 2016 | Sonoma Valley•

I'm clearly dumb because the fabric on the arm area of both dresses look the same to me. Maybe it was more to do with the size of the arm hole than the fabric? I think you can't go wrong with either dress. They are GORGEOUS. But comfort is key, so I guess I'd say the Penelope.

As for bustle, on the Penelope I think you could do a single point bustle under the bow, and I think that'd look lovely. You could probably do a similar bustle on the Reagen, but since the bow is smaller I dunno how it'll look.

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bcakesOPSep 2016 Connecticut•

not dumb, they are both sheer but I guess because the penelope is more "raw" edged it's fine, the Reagan is sort of lined- or the sheer is doubled? There's something there that my arms said "no thx!"

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I_will_slap_youOctober 2017 • DFW•

Do you have any pictures of them on you?

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bcakesOPSep 2016 Connecticut•

realized this could really help (but needed to hide my face!) edited post. :)

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I_will_slap_youOctober 2017 • DFW•

Well for me that absolutely settles it. The Penelope looks so stunning, like it was designed for you. It's ethereal and classy at the same time. The other looks good, but it's not even close to a tie IMO.

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danceydancetime•

I think the first one (penelope) looks much more bridal. The second one comes off as more like something you could wear to prom.

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spring_surpriseApril 29th 2017 Australia•

I personally love the look of Penelope (both on you and in the web-photo). It's a really classic design, and the sheer top looks stunning.

As for the concerns about the irritation on the 2nd dress, if it's something you're going to be in all day (for photos, dancing, eating, walking etc) you definitely need to be comfortable from the start.

Good luck!

1
rach423897.15.16 OBX, NC•

The Penelope was my close second to my dress!! My friend teared up when I came out in it. You look amazing in it!! And you're right it was super comfy!! I would go with the Penelope over the other one 100%!!

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bcakesOPSep 2016 Connecticut•

Thanks! One of the problems has been that a friend LOVED Reagan and my cousin was tearing up when she saw a picture. I did some soul searching and am going with Penelope though!

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wamme6Married//08.22.2015•

Honestly, I love the Penelope. It's beautiful on you. And if the other one isn't comfortable, then it's totally not worth it.

And I'm 100% about the bustle, so you don't have to carry your dress around all night.

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miasimiaMaid of Honour•

I think the first one looks better than the uncomfortable one anyway so if it were me I wouldn't risk not being able to do something about the discomfort.

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onecrazywinecatawayJune 4, 2016 | St. Louis•

I absolutely LOVE the Penelope! Looks awesome on you!

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