Dress Hunting! Any Ideas??

Have you thought about trying on bridesmaid or prom/special occasion dresses in white/ivory? I know at least one bride that will be doing this. You can then have it altered the way you want as well. I seriously thought about doing that until I found my dress.

Re: Dress Hunting! Any Ideas??

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Posted by okellies

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Posted by kellynicole91

Did you notice if they had Mori Lee dresses at this place? And how were the prices?

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I know RK Bridal has Mori Lee. My dress is a Mori Lee. They seemed to be the most budget friendly dress line I could find.

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Thank you! I'm not sure if I can make it into the city but I've heard they are great! I saw Mori Lee was just about the only designer that will fit into my budget so I hope I find something! LOL

Re: Dress Hunting! Any Ideas??

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Posted by okellies

Have you thought about trying on bridesmaid or prom/special occasion dresses in white/ivory? I know at least one bride that will be doing this. You can then have it altered the way you want as well. I seriously thought about doing that until I found my dress.

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That's a good idea! I'll look into that. Another idea I've been giving more thought about was to search online for trusted ebay sellers and other websites. I've done a lot of research on China-based ebay sellers and I totally understand it's a gamble, but for a dress that is around $100, I think it could be worth the risk with my budget. If anyone knows of any good websites to look into I would appreciate any advice. The problem that I've recently run into with looking for dresses in stores is that, on top of the $400/500 dress I buy, there will more than likely be a fee smacked on top of that for alterations which can equal the amount of another dress. I don't think I can deal with that. If it was only the dress cost then I could but, man, our budget cannot handle those alteration costs when the dresses cost that much. So if anyone has any suggestions. I'm all ears! You've all been very helpful! Thank you!!

Re: Dress Hunting! Any Ideas??

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Posted by missmarryme46

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Posted by okellies

Have you thought about trying on bridesmaid or prom/special occasion dresses in white/ivory? I know at least one bride that will be doing this. You can then have it altered the way you want as well. I seriously thought about doing that until I found my dress.

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That's a good idea! I'll look into that. Another idea I've been giving more thought about was to search online for trusted ebay sellers and other websites. I've done a lot of research on China-based ebay sellers and I totally understand it's a gamble, but for a dress that is around $100, I think it could be worth the risk with my budget. If anyone knows of any good websites to look into I would appreciate any advice. The problem that I've recently run into with looking for dresses in stores is that, on top of the $400/500 dress I buy, there will more than likely be a fee smacked on top of that for alterations which can equal the amount of another dress. I don't think I can deal with that. If it was only the dress cost then I could but, man, our budget cannot handle those alteration costs when the dresses cost that much. So if anyone has any suggestions. I'm all ears! You've all been very helpful! Thank you!!

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Those are definitely a gamble. I believe there are a couple of Facebook pages with horror stories about them. If you do spend $100, and then they mess up, then you have to over correct and get another dress.

Have you looked into ModCloth? I loved their wedding dresses and shopping on there was going to be my second option, if I didn't get my dress. They are very simple dresses, nothing frilly. They have free returns too:
http://www.modcloth.com/shop/bridal-dresses?featuring=107539,53739,46924,65467?

Dress Hunting! Any Ideas??

Thank you for your suggestions! The dresses on that website are very cute and I could see me wearing those for an engagement shoot or pre-wedding shoot. But since I'm eager to find a mermaid gown, I don't think I'd be able to use that site. So far I've seen lots of reviews for dressmakers on Etsy and have looked through pages and pagesss of reviews for many of the good ones (4.5+ rating). Most of the complaints for these sellers have not been that the dresses look/fit horribly but the time they got it was much later than expected. From the reviews I saw that many dresses took up to 3 months to arrive when they needed the dress days to up to two months after. Being that our wedding is July of next yr, I think if I got a dress from there within the next month or two, I'd still have ample time to deal with any possible setbacks. But that will only be a last resort if I don't find a dress in the next week or so. Going to Bridal World today so we'll see how this goes!

Dress Hunting! Any Ideas??

This might not help much since you cannot try the dress on but I thought there were some pretty dresses for such great prices on Loehmann's website take a look.

http://www.loehmanns.com/category/13141/1/bridal-gowns.html

Also, be sure to check online DB Outlet. Some dresses are final sale however you can find extreme discounted gowns. Here's a few that I saw.

http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Satin-Mermaid-Gown-with-Sweetheart-Neckline-7V9322_Outlet-Outlet-Bridal-Gowns

http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Strapless-Organza-Fitted-Gown-with-Draped-Bodice-T3418_Sale-Sale-Bridal-Gowns

http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Satin-Mermaid-Gown-with-Bow-Detail-AI10030281_Sale-Sale-Bridal-Gowns

Dress Hunting! Any Ideas??

Yep. Just came back from Bridal World... Bummmmmmerrrrr! I had a mediocre experience. Anyway, didn't find any dress in my price range really. Which I understand but I didn't want to go there to try on dresses outside of the price range. I called and asked to make sure they had gowns below $400 and they said they have a smaller selection in that price range but that they definitely had some. No. They lied or were hugely mistaken. She said she probably told me that because she thought I would be able to go to $500. Huh??? If I said my budget is $400... why on earth would you tell me there is if clearly there is not. Whatevs. Clear tactic to just get me into the store to go over budget just to get a sale. Aaand she consistently left the curtains for my fitting room opened while I was in there in my undies. I never understood that but I just didn't say anything since I knew I'd be out soon anyway.

I think that's enough shopping at bridal outlets for me. I called RK Bridal and they said that the lowest cost they might have there for a dress is $700. So I'll save myself a trip to the city and continue my search for dresses online. Nonetheless, a BIG thank you to you all for you suggestions! I know you all will look gorgeous in your gowns!

Re: Dress Hunting! Any Ideas??

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Posted by mrzsoontobejames

This might not help much since you cannot try the dress on but I thought there were some pretty dresses for such great prices on Loehmann's website take a look.

http://www.loehmanns.com/category/13141/1/bridal-gowns.html

Also, be sure to check online DB Outlet. Some dresses are final sale however you can find extreme discounted gowns. Here's a few that I saw.

http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Satin-Mermaid-Gown-with-Sweetheart-Neckline-7V9322_Outlet-Outlet-Bridal-Gowns

http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Strapless-Organza-Fitted-Gown-with-Draped-Bodice-T3418_Sale-Sale-Bridal-Gowns

http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Satin-Mermaid-Gown-with-Bow-Detail-AI10030281_Sale-Sale-Bridal-Gowns

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Thanks for telling me about that website! I checked it out but since there aren't many reviews from anyone about those dresses from that site, I'm a bit hesitant to inquire further into it. The dresses on there are gorgeous though and prices are right where I would like them to be!

And I've definitely looked at the DB website and I am very familiar with those three dresses lol They had a fourth one in that price range that I tried on when it was available in stores but it was sold out the next time I went there. I don't think DB allows returns from their website if I remember correctly from an associate there telling me. I was pretty much banking on the semi-annual $99 dress sale they have (since I foolishly missed the one this past June *facepalm*) but one of the ladies that work there told me last week that they are no longer doing that. I don't know if that is true or just a sales tactic to rush me to buy. Either way, I guess I'll keep checking their site to see. Thanks again for posting those links!

If you or any of you lovely brides come across more websites, you can definitely feel free to send me links here or send me a PM. :)

Re: Dress Hunting! Any Ideas??

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Posted by missmarryme46

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Posted by mrzsoontobejames

This might not help much since you cannot try the dress on but I thought there were some pretty dresses for such great prices on Loehmann's website take a look.

http://www.loehmanns.com/category/13141/1/bridal-gowns.html

Also, be sure to check online DB Outlet. Some dresses are final sale however you can find extreme discounted gowns. Here's a few that I saw.

http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Satin-Mermaid-Gown-with-Sweetheart-Neckline-7V9322_Outlet-Outlet-Bridal-Gowns

http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Strapless-Organza-Fitted-Gown-with-Draped-Bodice-T3418_Sale-Sale-Bridal-Gowns

http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Satin-Mermaid-Gown-with-Bow-Detail-AI10030281_Sale-Sale-Bridal-Gowns

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Thanks for telling me about that website! I checked it out but since there aren't many reviews from anyone about those dresses from that site, I'm a bit hesitant to inquire further into it. The dresses on there are gorgeous though and prices are right where I would like them to be!

And I've definitely looked at the DB website and I am very familiar with those three dresses lol They had a fourth one in that price range that I tried on when it was available in stores but it was sold out the next time I went there. I don't think DB allows returns from their website if I remember correctly from an associate there telling me. I was pretty much banking on the semi-annual $99 dress sale they have (since I foolishly missed the one this past June *facepalm*) but one of the ladies that work there told me last week that they are no longer doing that. I don't know if that is true or just a sales tactic to rush me to buy. Either way, I guess I'll keep checking their site to see. Thanks again for posting those links!

If you or any of you lovely brides come across more websites, you can definitely feel free to send me links here or send me a PM. :)

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Actually Loehmann's is a reputable store that just recently went out of business. They closed down all their locations and now operate an online only store. This was the store that used to hold Bridal Gown events http://www.wetv.com/my-fair-wedding/articles/we-tv-and-loehmanns-for-the-grab-the-gown-bridal-event.

Another good tip. If you fell in love with a dress at Davids Bridal and they didn't have it if you and you knew the style number they would be able to look it up for you at any store in the US. They will also give you that number to the store. BTW: I googled the $99 Sales and last year they had one the end of Sept. I think them telling you they won't be having another one is definitely a sales tactic. Wait two weeks and see.

Re: Dress Hunting! Any Ideas??

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Posted by missmarryme46

I think that's enough shopping at bridal outlets for me. I called RK Bridal and they said that the lowest cost they might have there for a dress is $700. So I'll save myself a trip to the city and continue my search for dresses online. Nonetheless, a BIG thank you to you all for you suggestions! I know you all will look gorgeous in your gowns!

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My dress was $650 after tax at RK Bridal. I saw dresses for less than that. That person you talked to was definitely lying to you. They also have off the rack dresses at places like RK Bridal and David's Bridal. My sister had a similar budget to you and she found a dress off the rack for less than $500.

Don't give up, you will find a dress. Have you checked out pre-owned wedding dresses?
http://www.preownedweddingdresses.com/

Re: Dress Hunting! Any Ideas??

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Posted by mrzsoontobejames


Actually Loehmann's is a reputable store that just recently went out of business. They closed down all their locations and now operate an online only store. This was the store that used to hold Bridal Gown events http://www.wetv.com/my-fair-wedding/articles/we-tv-and-loehmanns-for-the-grab-the-gown-bridal-event.

Another good tip. If you fell in love with a dress at Davids Bridal and they didn't have it if you and you knew the style number they would be able to look it up for you at any store in the US. They will also give you that number to the store. BTW: I googled the $99 Sales and last year they had one the end of Sept. I think them telling you they won't be having another one is definitely a sales tactic. Wait two weeks and see.

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Oh I didn't know that the store was reputable and pretty popular when it was open. I remember stumbling onto a link for the grab the gown event but the link was broken. Makes sense now since the store went out of business. It seems that even though the physical stores were great, the online store seems to be not-so-great just from the reviews I found on the website. I couldn't find any positive reviews posted anywhere when I searched. Here are the links to the reviews:

Loehmanns Reviews Link 1

Loehmanns Reviews Link 2

If you see/saw that they have good reviews and have a link, please feel free to post it. It sucks that that store went bankrupt though. I sooo would've gone there to shop for gowns already lol And yeah, I think it was a sales tactic also. I'm going to watch and see if/when they have their next one. But since they had one that started on June 6th a few months ago, I doubt they would have one so close in September. But I'll definitely be checking my email to see when the sale is so I won't miss it again!

Re: Dress Hunting! Any Ideas??

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Posted by okellies

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Posted by missmarryme46

I think that's enough shopping at bridal outlets for me. I called RK Bridal and they said that the lowest cost they might have there for a dress is $700. So I'll save myself a trip to the city and continue my search for dresses online. Nonetheless, a BIG thank you to you all for you suggestions! I know you all will look gorgeous in your gowns!

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My dress was $650 after tax at RK Bridal. I saw dresses for less than that. That person you talked to was definitely lying to you. They also have off the rack dresses at places like RK Bridal and David's Bridal. My sister had a similar budget to you and she found a dress off the rack for less than $500.

Don't give up, you will find a dress. Have you checked out pre-owned wedding dresses?
http://www.preownedweddingdresses.com/

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I went to DB last week to look for gowns and we went through all the off-the-rack gowns. Most were either not what I was looking for or were over-budget -___-' I was going to try RK Bridal but my sisters reassured me that it makes no sense to go there just to find that I'd have to look through more over-budget gowns. Which is true, because in reality, the budget for the gown is actually $300 tops because I need to make room for alterations which I'm expecting could cost up to $150 (or more). If I happen to be in the city with my family though, I'll make a stop over there. Otherwise, I don't want to go out of my way yet again just to be disappointed all over again.

And I did check out that site already but it doesn't hurt to look again and keep checking since ppl may put more dresses up over time. Thanks!! :)