Love at The Ranch: Buy My Dress

After much thought and consideration, I've decided to consider offers on my dress. I so wanted to indulge all the comments that told me to keep my dress, cherish it, and watch my future (possible) daughter twirl in it down the road. But, there were very convincing arguments for selling it as well. Not only will I be making another bride happy and making a conscious decision to recycle, but you gals (and guys) gave me some great ideas for what to spend the money on: a high-end photo album, a weekend escape for our one-year anniversary, a less-expensive replica of the dress for memory's sake.

To be honest, we've been trying to get our finances in order (Mr. CB's had three ACL reconstructions) and could use this towards a down payment on a house. It would just be a start, but a fairly good one.

So, without further adieu, make me an offer!

Julianna, by Christos, sells for $3650 in bridal salons. She's had $450 worth of alterations but she does need a new button for the bustle. She has no tears, holes, or stains.

She's a size 2 and will fit someone with the measurements: 34-24-34. She's cut to a length of 5'5" (including heels). I'm 5' 2 1/2" and wore 2 1/2" heels.

If you're interested, comment below or send me a private message (PM) and we can discuss the details. :)

Love at The Ranch: Too Soon?

It's only been three months since our rustic, ranch affair, but I think I might be ready to say goodbye. No, not to you, Hive, and certainly not to Mr. Cowboy Boot, but to Julianna, my beloved, floating pool of ivory tulle. She originally came into my life in the Beverly Hills Saks Fifth Avenue and made me tingle, flit, and giggle like a school girl.

I love her and adore her, but alas, she hangs there so lonesome and without any future plans in sight. In fact, I don't really want to wear her again for fear of shaking off the significance of her debut.

It's hard to write this and face letting go of The Most Beautiful Dress I've Ever Owned. I feel like a little girl releasing her mother's hand on the first day of Kindergarten--the separation anxiety is tangible.

The reality is that my dress, by Christos, has been documented in the most meaningful way on my wedding day and nothing can change that. Not only has it been photographed with me in it as a blushing bride, but Mr. Cowboy Boot has painted me in it on a three-times life-size canvas which I promise to share with you upon its completion.

It would make me happy to see another bride have her own blissful day in this ballerina-like dress and I would also find some peace of mind to know that I'd be lessening the impact on the planet (even if it's just one dress). Not to mention my credit card will smile.

To be honest, I'm scared. I'm nervous to watch her float out of my grasp, like a balloon slipped from its string. But, I'm also scared of the financial debt she's incurred (even if it's minimal over a lifetime). I tripled my dress budget when I found her, agreeing to pay the extra myself, but I never did. I never had that extra cash flow.

So, hive, tell me: would you sell your dress to make up for a few grand or would you keep it for a sentimental twirl down the road?

Screwing Couture

This morning, before heading into Saks Fifth Avenue for my second fitting, I was nervous. I'd played out how it would go down in the dressing room over and over after my first fitting. If I wasn't methodical about it--taking my time, trying my cap sleeves again, holding tulle over my straps--I'd rush into a decision and second guess myself. But when we arrived, everything changed. 

Jean slicing away at the tulle.

We worked slowly, starting at the at the bottom--avoiding the inevitable question. What would I do with the top? After the last fitting, Jean had sewn the underlayers of satin and crinoline of the skirt. This time, we got the length of the outer layer, the tulle, right. 

I didn't get any pictures of the bustle, but basically it involves bringing the end of the train up to my waist, tucking and buttoning it under the waist band and that's it. One fold and the skirt becomes completely even all the way around. The way the tulle falls, it doesn't look folded, it looks like the skirt has always been one length. 

This whole time, I was holding onto the cap sleeves in my hand, playing with them in various ways on the dress. Just before arriving, one of my MOHs (who had to work and couldn't join in) texted me an idea: What about using some of the the cap sleeves around the waist to add a little sparkle and detail? 

I held the beading up and loved it. Jean looked up from where she was cutting. "That's beautiful," she said in her French accent. The saleswoman walked by and said the same thing. 

This was my only rushed decision. Yes, I love this idea. Let's do it! At first we tried it thick--almost the whole width of the waistband.

My mom, MOH J, and I all thought it was too thick. How about something thinner?

This was alright, but almost too thin. We all agreed the piece of sparkly goodness should take up about a third of the band. The above was just under. Here's what we ended up going with:

We did everything above with no mention of the straps. I think I'd made it pretty obvious by tucking the straps in from the first moment I arrived but it needed to be said. "I really want it strapless," I told Jean, "I don't care if there's a tiny dip under my arm--let's do it strapless." Jean didn't say much. She simply said it wouldn't be done by Sunday (when I head back to New Mexico) but that she'd finish it and send it to Denver for me to pick up before the wedding. I'll be getting it a couple of days before the wedding so if all else fails, I'll have a few days to do some emergency alterations if necessary.

Here's what the back looks like pinned down. It will be cleaner once it's sewn.

Walking out of there, I was relieved. I hadn't even tried all of the different strap ideas I'd brought with me (print outs of pictures and everything). I stuck with what I wanted from the beginning and went with it. 

All of your advice was so helpful. It made me realize how beautiful the cap sleeves were and made me want to incorporate them. I also stuck to my guns when it came to the neckline. Strapless, it is.

Did you have indecision with how your dress should be altered? How did you deal with it?

I've Been Duped

It's been a total of eight months since I've seen Julianna. That's the name of my Christos gown. Today, she arrived with an unexpected (and not entirely welcome) surprise. 

Me Getting Ready to Be Reunited with Julianna (who also happened to be on this mannequin)

I made the trip to Saks this morning with my mom for my first fitting. While my wedding isn't for another four months, I had to take advantage of my time home in Los Angeles to have my alterations done at Saks as I might not make it back to California before October. New Mexico doesn't have a Saks and, when I bought my dress, I got a $450 gift card for free alterations so I opted to have them done there. That means all of my alterations have to be completed in one week. Once they are finished, the dress will be sent to the Saks in Denver where I'll pick it up a few days before the wedding. I'll never have to stress about stuffing it into an airplane cabin, nor will I have to drive more than two hours with it. The trade off? I have to make some major decisions in very little time. 

MR. COWBOY BOOT. This is your cue...exit. Muchas gracias. 

Julianna as she fit out of the box--a little loose on top and long on bottom

Trying to show off my shoes

The cap sleeves that came with the dress arrived detached which was fine with me as I don't prefer them, and I immediately tucked in the spaghetti straps that come attached to make it strapless.

Strapless Version

As my fitter, Jean, entered the room she said this to me: "This dress cannot be done strapless." 

"What?!" I replied, "That was the whole reason I bought it. The saleswoman said it would be no problem."

But Jean pointed out how the straps come down to points on the back--without the strap, it looks like something is missing. I took a peep and, as much as I didn't want to admit it, I agreed. I asked her if she could just tuck the pointed areas in and re-sew it to be straight across the back. Apparently, because it has a sleeve-cut under the arm and not a straight cut (as strapless dresses are meant to), "people who know couture will notice," Jean said. Plus, the straps will make it more comfortable for dancing.

The right picture shows the points on the back (where the cap sleeves are attached)

At first I was upset, pouty, and felt like I wanted to throw a tantrum right there. I'm spending how much on this dress and I can't even have it the way I want it? She was right, though, the dress looked weird in spots if it wasn't worn the way it was designed to be worn. As she got to work, the straps started to grow on me. 

Jean pinning a layer of satin over crinoline while I hold up the tulle

Here was the end result of fitting one in which she pinned the back about a quarter of an inch, inserted some padding in the top so I don't have to wear a bra, and pinned the lining underneath. 

After the fitting, I went back and looked at the pictures on my camera. I'd tried to convince myself that the little satin straps (meant to go under the cap sleeves) were simple and elegant. But the more I looked at the pictures, the more I thought they looked casual and more functional than anything. So, now, I have to figure out what I want to add to them to make me happy. 

Here's what they look like with the cap sleeve. I think it's pretty but I prefer the dress more plain--the sleeves have rhinestones and sequins and feel more trendy than what I'm going for.

My thought, right now is to take some tulle from the bottom of the dress and lay it flat over the straps, letting the raw edges of the tulle come out a little wider than the strap. This would give it a ruffly, softer effect. While it wouldn't be as wide or as ruffly as this dress (below), this picture is my inspiration behind the thought.

(source)

What do you think, hive? 

1) Stick with the simple, satin strap

2) Screw "couture" and make it strapless

3) Add a layer of tulle a little wider than the straps to soften and ruffle

4) Reconsider the cap sleeves

5) Do something else (please explain below)

The Dress that Almost Foiled My Plan

Occasionally, I break out the stack of wedding magazines I've obtained over the last year (can't believe we've been engaged that long!) and sift through them to see if any articles are relevant to where I am now in the planning process. It's amazing how certain articles become of interest at certain points throughout the planning process (i.e. dress pictures vs. invitation wording). Note to self: don't throw any magazines away--even if you think you've ripped out all the "relevant" articles and pictures.

(source)

Last night, I was flipping through a Brides from a few months ago when I came across an ad for a dress. It made me stumble in my tracks. Had I selected the right dress? Oh my, I need to try this on now. Could I forfeit the $500 deposit I'd already paid on my dress and bolt for another? And when was I going to get to a dress shop that carried this dress? The closest store was six hours away. Yes, hive, I got a wee bit frantic. 

Here is Ms. Priscilla of Boston B4306:

(source)

(source)

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I'm not one for jackets over the dress, but without the jacket, this dress is stunning. (Okay, I even like this jacket a teaspoon amount). Watch the moment in the video when the model takes off the jacket. It's actually really similar to my dress, but I can't help but trip and fall over the beading and embellishments on the chest that my dress lacks. 

So, I did what any sane, logical bride-to-be would do: I contemplated giving up my $500 deposit even if this dress was the same price as mine. I swooned. I swooned again. I picked up the phone to call Priscilla of Boston in Denver. I just had to know. How much was this beauty?

Then, quiet rained down. All was calm. This dress was $750 more than the one I've got waiting for me at Saks. I already let my budget get out of control on the dress front. There was no way I was going to dish out $4350 for a dress. Even if Priscilla of Boston can make the gown from scratch to fit. Your. Exact. Measurements. No alterations needed.

Okay, I'm going to go cry myself to sleep now. 

Did a dress interrupt your smooth-sailing wedding plans?

The Dress Hunt (Final Edition)

Rule number one: Don't ever let your best friends tell you that trying on dresses at Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills is a good idea. Don't let them lure you with ideas of giggling, designer dresses, and bottles of champagne. I don't care that it's been four months since you've seen your best friends, that both of them are your maids-of-honor, and that this girls' trip to the bridal department of an upscale store sounds all-too-delightfully-fun and Pretty Woman-like. (No, I'm not a prostitute, but you get the idea). 

(Source)

Because, if you do bite, if you even nibble at their supportive, ultra-fun, best-friends-a-girl-could-have behavior, you'll end up like this...

Drum Roll Please.

MR. COWBOY BOOT. ABSOLUTELY NOT. STEP AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER.

Meet Julianna

Julianna is a part of Christos's Spring 2009 collection:

Below is the face the reader "fabulouslyengaged" described in her comment on my first dress post: "When you find 'the one' it will just speak to you...When I tried on my dress...I just burst out laughing when I saw myself in it because I LOVED how it looked on me."

Julianna was one day away from being in New York the day I tried her on. She was a part of a trunk show that had ended the day before my appointment with Saks. But, the dresses were still out on the floor about to be packed up. 

This particular sample also happened to be a size 2 which is why I could get a real feel for how she would fit me. When does that ever happen?

Now for the secret: Julianna actually has cap sleeves, but I'm removing them. They are covered in rhinestones and pearls. I'm going to remove the pearls and use them to make necklaces for my bridesmaids. 

While Julianna was way over my budget ($3600) what else was I to do? She felt perfect. I mean, I got that silly grin on my face swimming in all of that taffeta. I knew it was fate. The plus side? You get 10% off when you open a Saks card ($360 score!) and, if I have her shipped to me in New Mexico, I pay $50 for shipping but no California tax which is around 9% ($325ish) I think. Alterations at Saks are not cheap--$450 no matter how much or little you need--so I'm taking Julianna elsewhere. I don't need much (just a hem job on the bottom and maybe having her taken in a tiny bit on top) but Julie Jones from Encore Bridal recommended Coco Alterations in Redondo Beach. 

Now, I'm just waiting by the phone for the saleswoman to tell me she's arrived at Saks. Sigh.

The Dress Hunt (Part 2 of 4)

A few months after my dress appointment in New York, I had a trip to Los Angeles planned. I knew I had to take it seriously--plan out appointments, set up dress try-on dates with my bridesmaids and mom--so I started combing through TheKnot.com's dress pages. When I saw something I liked, I'd note which stores sold it in LA and try to find stores that sold multiple designers I liked. Schlepping across LA, circling blocks looking for addresses, and finding parking can get extremely tiring so I tried to spread out the appointments as best as I could. 

A little dress shopping in LA, anyone?

(source)

My mom loves to mention to everyone she meets that her daughter is getting married. She'll often end up talking about weddings with the person for an hour or so, noting any advice she gets and making sure to pass it along to me. I try my best to acknowledge it and oblige her. Someone she works with mentioned the store Lili Bridals in Tarzana, so I agreed to make an appointment. 

When we got there, at least five brides-to-be were popping out of changing rooms, dresses were being dragged across the room, racks were bulging from every wall, and it was nothing like my last appointment. The saleswomen were buzzing around, pulling dresses from every direction, and selling. selling. selling. The samples were dirty and some had holes in them. It was not the environment I'd want to make such an investment in. 

Nonetheless, I made the most of it. Amidst the chaos, I happened across two dresses I considered fairly seriously. And, amidst the chaos, I found out there is no picture-taking allowed. The good news is, I know which dresses I tried on so I can share their brands and styles with you.

Dress #1:

Watters 6043B

(Watters)

(Watters)

The website describes the dress as: "Re-embroidered lace, sweetheart strapless gown with full trumpet skirt and velveteen ribbon at waist." I describe the dress as: heavy. It felt like I was wearing a robe and dress from the Renaissance days. While I loved the way it hugged certain areas of the body and felt it would be great for a ranch wedding (albeit, a little costume-y), I would've been fed up with it by the end of the night. 

Dress #2:

Amy Michelson "Grace"

(Amy Michelson)

(Once Wed)

Oh, how I loved this dress. It was soft, feminine, blush-colored, swimming in pools of soft organza. It accentuated the chest, arms, and shoulders, sat taut around the waist and flowed out from there. It was unique. It was, gulp, $4,000. This was my introduction to swooning over a dress that was well outside of my budget. Or was it "well outside of my budget"? Did I dare dream of spending this amount on a dress for one day?

Did you fall in love with a dress well outside your means? How did you deal with it?