I bought my gown!!
The Casablanca 1843. The pictures don't do it justice--it doesn't look all that exciting on their website, but it looks amazing on. My mom saw it first on me, and when I showed her the website, she was shocked. It has these great pleats on the side that bell out the skirt, and the front is very flat, which is oddly flattering, trust me.
I'm very happy. It all went really well. I did go to the Commack Wedding Center--they gave me the best price by FAR of anyone else. I did hear a lot of bad feedback from people here on LIW, but, the price is the most important thing to me. I can always do the alterations somewhere else, right? One of the good things is--I might not need much in the way of alterations. Seriously. At first when I arrived they were a bit confused as to who I was, what dress I was ordering, since they don't stock it, why was I getting such a low price...but eventually they worked it out. I got measured (YIKES!! I am going on a diet! ) and then I tried on a couple of other Casablanca dresses to figure out my size and what color I wanted. I was impressed that they had examples of most sizes so you could try them. I had tried on my dress in ivory, but wanted to see white, Tried on two white gowns--I'm getting the ivory. The white was pretty, but the ivory was much more flattering to me. Makes it harder for shoes, though. We had a bit of a tangle about what size to order. I tried on an 18 (I'm six feet tall and normally a size 14) and it was too big, but they said 'it fits, you need it in the waist' and I was like, 'No it doesn't, the waist is sliding down, and the bust is way too big.' Tried on the 16, and although the top was a bit tight, it did zip, and once I was wiggled into it properly, it fit. I'll lose ten pounds, and it will fit perfectly. I said that, and the ladies kinda rolled their eyes. I said, 'I know you hear this all day long, but I WILL lose the ten pounds, I only put this on because of illness, it will come off...' And they were like, 'suuuure you will' and made me sign a waiver saying that I knew I was getting a dress smaller than they recommended. I guess this happens a lot, and, as I said, I totally understand, but I WILL lose the weight. I lost 125 pounds five years ago, and I've kept all but fifteen pounds or so off, and the fifteen pounds came back because I had to cut back my running because of illness and I didn't adjust my diet, which was dumb. Anyway, it did fit, was just a bit tight, but if I had proper undergarments on, it would have fit better. I didn't want to order the bigger size because the size 18 is considered plus-size and it's $100 more. Then I'd have to have alterations as it was too big. In the size 16, I might not need any alterations at all. Even the length--weirdly, it was the right length. I think I understand most women's frustration with these dresses, if this dress fits ME, who is so tall. I'm not planning on wearing heels--1' at the very most, just so I walk better than in ballet flats.
So, anyway, I may not need alterations, I avoided paying the $100 premium for the bigger size, I didn't pay for extra length (which I was prepared to fight about, because I know what the actual charge is), and my mom, who is a great seamstress--she made me an incredible prom gown--has promised to look into learning how to create a simple bustle for me. Yay! One more thing down! (And we might have an officiant, my fiance suggested someone and I'm OK with him...)
