50 days to go and I finally have my wedding dress (separates) together! Dress odyssey in comments.
Posted Aug 25, 2017, 3:50 PM UTC
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It's beautiful!! Looks perfect on you; I'm so impressed.
If it means anything, I was also totally obsessed with the Inca, purchased it, and didn't love it at all when I received it. I'm wearing a $400 Reformation dress which feels just perfect for me. :)
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Ah, I remember your post about ordering the Inca! I'm sorry it didn't work out - what was it about it that was different in person? Hopefully you were able to return it?
The Reformation makes some lovely dresses! I ordered the Poppy and thought it was beautiful and of amazing quality, but just couldn't give up my desire for sleeves and lace.
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Probably a big problem was that I was way late to order it so ordered the ready-made size (not GLL's fault at all). They sized me into a medium because of my bust (I'm a 34E) even though a small would have fit me better. When I got it, it just hung loosely off of me and I don't think it could have been altered easily with the delicate lace (also I liked the idea that their dresses have some stretch and don't really need to be altered. I wasn't really excited about heavily altering a dress that already cost $3,000!) They offered to exchange it for a small, but at this point I didn't want to take a risk on a super expensive dress that fit me so poorly the first time around/made me feel dowdy and grandmotherly. I also realized that, gorgeous as it was, the neckline actually wasn't for me - I didn't like the boatneck on me, and actually preferred having exposed shoulders. Their dresses are incredibly well made and so beautiful, but I definitely learned my lesson about buying things before trying them first.
The Reformation gown, on the other hand, fit me like a dream with no alterations necessary (I probably should have hemmed it because I'm 5'5 and not into heels, but I'm lazy). I liked the breeziness and simplicity of it (we're doing a mountain elopement). I still go gaga over the Inca in Instagram pictures and I guess it's good that I tried it and now won't feel so envious every time I see a woman in it, but it's funny that I ended up falling in love with the polar opposite of what I'd been obsessing over. Note to self: remember that Instagram isn't real life.
I was able to exchange it for a less expensive item. When all was said and done, I lost a few hundred bucks from it, but not the thousands that I'd spent.
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made me feel dowdy and grandmotherly
This is what I worried about with the Inca - it seems like it would have to be perfectly tailored to achieve the sexiness it has on the models. It sounds like it was worth the ordeal just to get it out of your head, and that you ended up with the right dress!
I also definitely worried about committing to a top I didn't try on first, but I had tried on enough by then that I had a sense of what looked good on me and what didn't, and it was to my measurements, so I went for it.
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Which Reformation dress did you go with?
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Poppy :)
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Hey friend! I thought I'd remind you:
remember that Instagram isn't real life.
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It may be a simple dress but it looks GORGEOUS ON YOU! Those sleeves, ahhh.
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Thank you! The sleeves are my favorite part, too - I tried on a bunch of lovely dresses without them but ultimately figured out long sleeves were a non-negotiable element for me. I figured the simplicity complements our botanical gardens conservatory venue, and that it allows me to go a little crazy with a flower/greenery crown!
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Oh my goodness, this is amazing! Reminds me so much of my dress and I feel you so hard on the ultra-specific tastes thing. So glad you were able to find what you wanted in your budget! It's so beautiful and you look wonderful!
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Oh wow, that dress is gorgeous! And it even has light gold lining like my top! If I had seen it a few months ago I definitely would have tried to hunt down a salon that carried it to try it. It seemed like whenever I went to a bridal salon or store, just saying no strapless eliminated 75% of the dresses, and once you get to long sleeves, there were 2-3 options at best. Add in a boatneck, and nothing! I generally found the more boho-ish styles online, but it was a little scary not being able to try something with all the elements I wanted in person.
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I know!!! It's like, I know what looks good on my body, and anything that emphasizes how tiny my shoulders and chest are is NO GOOD. And will the non-sweetheart necklines please stand up? Hahaha
I actually ended up getting the ivory lining instead of the gold. I'm still a little unsure of which look I personally like more, but I know my fiance hates non-white dresses so I'm trying not to second-guess myself!
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I'm sure it'll look great in ivory! I originally wanted ivory lining, too, but the lace pattern just didn't show up as well as it did against the light gold, and Wear Your Love advised it for this particular lace and design. Your dress has more unlined parts that show off the lace, so it shouldn't be the same issue for you!
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I absolutely love this! I am actually having a bit of dress regret rn! :) congratulations!
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Thank you! But I looked at your post history, and your dress is beautiful, too!
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that's so kind! i am just a little bit envious of how simple and elegant your look is - it's really awesome! congrats again and hope you have an awesome wedding!
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This. Is. Stunning.
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I'm seriously loving this dress. I really want to do separates too! I've gotten mixed reviews from some of my BMs who've heard I've wanted to go that route, but this post makes me feel 100% better about it. You look absolutely stunning!
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I just finished putting together my dress out of separates and it just takes some diligence. The process was frustrating at times, but I don't think I would have been able to get everything I wanted from a single dress, so I'm really happy I went that route. Definitely say that's what you're interested in when you book appointments. I made several appointments at salons that I knew carried designers with collections of separates, but most stores still only had a handful of things to try on. BHLDN has a lot of options, Lace and Liberty is a website that will send you a box of stuff to try at home, and, if you live near Columbus, Ohio, Elegant Bride had a good number of separates AND was really excited to help me find pieces.
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Yay! I'm loving all the long sleeved brides lately! I also had very specific long sleeved tastes, mine is the Iona from Leanne Marshall. That dress is gorgeous on you!
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Another lovely dress! Who knew there were so many in this style - I had the hardest time finding any when I was looking!
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I love it I want a similar dress.
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That's very pretty.
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YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL. Seriously never considered looking into separates until now
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OMG.
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When we made our budget, attire was one of the things we prioritized lowest, and I set a $500 budget for my dress. But I still wanted to look pretty! And as I looked around and tried things on, I realized I had pretty particular desires, which most wedding dresses did not have - I wanted a simple sheath silhouette, long elegant sleeves (wedding is in October), and an open back. I was obsessed with the Grace Loves Lace Inca, but at $2500, that was never going to work (and it's since gone up to $3300), even used. I also loved the Dreamers & Lovers Lisa and the Wtoo Claude, which I tried on, both about $1500. So then, when I found this Lulu's dress for $70, I was thrilled and thought I was done! It had all the elements I wanted. But after a while, I decided I really couldn't deal with the plunge neckline, and that the front was unflattering on me and sort of swallowed my frame. I also couldn't get over wanting a really pretty, unique lace like on the Inca.
Then I found Wear Your Love, which had more affordable dresses (though still above my skimpy budget) that could be customized, and this lace, which was very similar to the Inca and seemed perfect for my botanical gardens greenhouse wedding. I asked them if they could make a bridal top out of it to my measurements with long unlined sleeves, a boatneck, and a low back. They could, and quoted me $350! After figuring out the lace was a good match for the Lulu's dress's chiffon, I then had a seamstress turn the Lulu's dress into a skirt (and she also took in the top’s sleeves a bit). I am so pleased with the final product, and it ended up at $495 with all alterations, right at my budget!
A few weeks after I get my top, I see a new dress called the Reverie on the Wear Your Love website - basically my separates as a dress, without the sleeves and with more chiffon, and they're selling it for $1400! I have to think my top inspired it, and now I feel like I got a great deal.
So it was a lot of back and forth for what is ultimately a really very simple dress, but I'm so happy with it, and feel like myself in it!
Love it! I have a question - I'm also considering separates, but what are you wearing for underwear?! It looks like you have some sort of bust cups?
Yep, I'm just wearing a backless sticky bra (it has "wings" that stick to your sides). I'm not sure if I'll wear that or get a low-back bustier/corset like this - the back is low but not low enough that something like that wouldn't work.
Thanks, that's helpful :)
I want to let you know that I just wore a sticky bra like that a few weeks ago and I was sweating and the bra FELL OFF! I had another sticky bra that sticks to my actual boobs (ouch) but it's never fallen off the way the side sticky bra did. Be careful if you are going to really dance your butt off at your wedding! If you sweat you may lose that bra!
I asked you about the Lulu's dress in the past and I'm so happy with your final decision. It is great to see someone post about bridal separates on here as well. Definitely the trend I want to do. You look stunning!