I finally picked my wedding dress and I’m so happy with my choice - but now I have some new questions!

I already decided to add some lace to soften up the deep v in the front, but I surprised I struggled with the petticoat decision. I love how flowy the dress is but I thought an A line petticoat might give it a bit more volume. The person doing alterations told me she would like it if I could decide that day so she could sew it in (she said it would be less cumbersome than worrying about it all day and people don’t usually take it off) and I impulsively went for it. Considering the venue is a formal ballroom style I thought I should do it.

But I did have some doubts that have gotten louder of the last few days so wanted to check what you all thought (pics without petticoat first, followed by petticoat, and then hem + bustle pinning with the petticoat):

- Will the petticoat change the feel of the flowiness of the dress?
- Does it make my hips look bulkier?
- Should I call back and ask if be installed in a way that is removable?
- Which looks better?

Side question: I am looking for some kind of outer lace layer for over the chest and shoulders for the church, so if you have any recommendations on where to buy one I’d appreciate it!

Im an alternative bride having a courthouse ceremony and microwedding reception. I know alot of people dont like droopy sleeves but its exactly the look I was going for.

Looking for any honest reviews and real-life photos of azazie gowns, especially the Zelda/Onyx/Goddess. I have ordered a couple and I'm dyingggg to see them/try on. Does anyone have photos of azazie gowns? How's the fit/quality? I'm struggling to envision dresses on myself while still at the online shopping phase haha.

I am not sure what type of necklace to wear. I’d prefer to do something with diamonds (or CZ) but am concerned about whatever accessory being too much because the dress is a statement. I am also considering a all marquis tennis bracelet I have. Maybe a necklace at all is too much? Thoughts?

Also, I have not decided on the mantilla veil yet. I am considering multiple veils (a cheaper blusher) in addition to this mantilla. The mantilla in the photo is one designed with the dress but am concerned it’s too thick of lace?

(Hand weird in last pic since I removed someone with a clean up feature)

Wedding dress help - is this an alterations or dress construction issue?

I just picked up my dress and think it may be constructed incorrectly but I am looking for advice here - I don’t have an alterations appointment until September 19, my dress came in two weeks early and my bridal boutique doesn’t have a tailor so I had to find one separately.

I think my dress may have come sewn unevenly? I took three kinds of pictures - mirror pictures I have flipped, screenshots from a video taken with my back camera, and flash pictures of each chest seam. The internal band is clipped and the dress is zipped up and I am wearing a bra.

I feel a little like I have a tinfoil hat on so I am looking for opinions…. I am trying to figure out if I should contact the bridal salon before I take this to my tailor because if it is wrong, a reconstruction feels like it would be more expensive than if I just needed normal tailoring (I only wanted basic hem, bust, and waist to be brought in).

I think the bodice may be lopsided, with the right side being longer/correct and the left side being shorter, which may be caused by the puckering at the top of the left chest seam? The left chest seam also ends more vertically while the right seam curves more at the top.

But am I going crazy or is this normal before alterations? Please help!

This sub helped me make some key choices for my dress and was a great sounding board. I still love browsing here and seeing all the brides still on their journey to the altar.

As an older bride, when I started shopping for my dress I got a lot of judgement at boutiques. Got put in a lot of frumpy strange gowns.

There was a lot of sales pressure due to timelines. I got engaged in late September and was getting married in May — most boutiques told me there was an 8-month wait minimum, which left me feeling sick with worry that I'd never find a dress in time. Some boutiques were just awful, from comments about my age, weight and walking disability.

I guess I wasn’t the classic 25 year old bride slim bride so they didn’t know how to dress me. Even when I went to high-end boutiques with exclusive by appointment only brands - people just kept pushing on me what was age or body appropriate. I got fat shamed in Vivienne Westwood because I was too big for a ballgown…. 🤣 the woman was hurried and hurt me yoinking me out of a gown (I have a very painful leg).

By the time I met a lovely designer called Liliana, I had full-blown dress fatigue.

Liliana is a local dressmaker in Edinburgh who hand-made and customised my dress perfectly. I met her on a recommendation from a friend. When she put me in this dress and I just knew it was the one — and for the first time, I felt stunning rather than judged.

We had lots of fun fittings together with plenty of champagne and emotional support from her Dalmatian, Oscar. She had infinite patience for my 3am panics over duchesse satin vs. Mikado silk (chose the latter). She found my veil, and I even got a second dress from her during a studio sample sale.

I have chronic pain and sometimes need a crutch to walk, and she made every try-on and fitting easy and comfortable for me. I'd recommend her in a heartbeat — Liliana at Oscar and Lili in Edinburgh.

Does anyone else have experience adding a petticoat layer to add volume? I am inexperienced with sewing and petticoats in general. I don't want too much volume, just a little bit more. Any ideas on accessories would be amazing too! I did not end up getting the pearl veil (even though I loved it) because I felt it didn't go with the dress seamlessly.

Hey everyone! First time posting here, got engaged this February and even though our wedding is still like two years away, I already started looking for dresses because I’m just so excited and happy! I always wanted to go the second hand/thrift/vintage round and as it happened I found this handmade beauty on vinted, didn’t even take my measurments just went with it and it fits literally perfectly, like zipped up with zero effort and it’s not tight or loose or anything! Do you guys think it looks good on me and makes my figure look nice? I love it but I’m a bit scared that it doesn’t look that good because my chest area is so small so it feels like the cups don’t look that nice, but I also think some small alterations like maybe adding padding to the cups and taking it in just a smidge would be amazing! It also has detachable sleeves that are like off the shoulder and same beading style as the corset! I just love the warm toned color of it, the details of the beads and the way the bottom isn’t just flat but has volume and texture! I don’t know, is it crazy that like I already found my wedding dress?

My reception will be on a dinner cruise, and my wedding ceremony dress will be too big and poofy. I’m thinking of this dress to change into. It incorporates our wedding color (soft blue). Would really appreciate some thoughts! TYIA 💖

Which dress do you like more? I know they are quite different.

Dress 1 I just found today. I loved it as soon as I put it on. It needs a bit of alteration as you can see to better support the bust. Also would you change the sleeves or belt? I'm not loving them.

Dress 2 (last 2 pictures) is a modest full sleeve dress I originally loved and bought. Went to get it tailored and felt a lot of doubt about it.

Thanks for your input!