laura b

Sara, pm me your email address because I have all that info in attachments and I'll send it to you.

I'm not about to say anything that everyone else is not saying, but holy cow are you guys a group of goodlooking people! The photographer totally scored when he/she got you two as a couple! You're gorgeous and your husband is very Ryan Phillipe. Awesome! Are you soooo thrilled to be able to just relax and enjoy the honeymoon now? How was the actual ceremony and reception?

Thanks for the kind words. I do like this dress better...I had previously been afraid to try on a mermaid because I thought it would look crappy on me. But it worked out okay. Courtney, thanks for being so sweet about the dress...and I don't have to alter it at all! I am just lucky to be general sample size (although I would be luckier to be too skinny for samples, but then I'd be without a dress!). It's a little fancy and nighttime-ish for a daytime beach wedding, but it is nonrefundable so there you go.

Ha! That's exactly what one of my employees said..."Did you go all Pretty Woman on her?"

I just wasn't that happy with the eBay dress, although I am going to use it for a trash the dress thing. I've already worked it out with my photographer. Here are the pics of me in it: And here's a funny story. I went to the only bridal salon here that carries Pronovias, telling them when I made the appointment that my wedding was two months out and I would have to buy off the rack if I bought anything from them. So anyway, I was trying on some sample sale dresses, and saw a picture of a dress I thought was pretty. So I asked the salesperson only "Do you have that dress?" I had expressed to her that I didn't want to spend $5K on a second dress, so I probably didn't want to fall in love with something expensive. Well, so the saleslady leaves to check if they have that dress, and she comes back to the room (with a few other brides and families all standing around) and is talking to a lady who says, "Well, I'm not going to let her try that dress on! Beggars can't be choosers!" Holy cow. And this girl sitting on the couch looks at me and says, "Was she talking about YOU?" and I was P-I-double S-E-D. My mom asked what was said and when I told her, she almost lost it. So anyway, this second lady (the "beggars" lady) comes up to me and says only, "I need to know your budget." I say, "Money is not a concern. I just want to find a dress." She says, "Well, tell me what you want to spend." I repeated that it didn't matter. I then said, "I've worked in customer service for 15 years, and let me say, you probably shouldn't have said "beggars can't be choosers" in front of me." She said, "Well, you don't know me and you don't know how I meant it." That was her apology. When she left, the saleslady apologized PROFUSELY, and even patted me on my back, and told me "but she's the OWNER." I knew then I would not be buying a dress from them. When I was leaving, I asked a third saleslady, "Oh, do you have THAT dress?" and pointed to another poster. It was a Demetrios I had been hearing about. She said, "No, I sold the last one last week." I said, "Oh, too bad, I just wanted to look at it." She then said, "Oh, well. I do have one back here in the back. But you can't touch it." ! Ha. Needless to say, I was like, "Peace out, homies." Anyway, that was my funny dress shopping story. Hope you girls are having a good day.

So, my mom and I went dress shopping yesterday, and mostly it was a great experience, much better than when I originally went in January. I made appointments for yesterday telling the stores that since my wedding was in July that I already knew I would have to buy off the rack (luckily I am pretty perfect sample size). I tried on some great dresses, but finally found THE ONE. My mom took pics on her camera and I'll post those when she emails them to me, but here's the model pic. Although my dress is not white like hers, but a mocha/ivory/gold. I also got a cathedral veil with it. It's quite lovely. Although my stomach is literally in knots that my mom spent so much money on a dress I'm wearing for about 30 minutes. So no one had better say they like the $70 ebay dress better!

congratulations, girl! I hope to look half as lovely on my wedding day.

P.M. me your email address and I can send you the flower catalog and also the wedding and reception site pictures and dinner menu choices.

Thanks, ladies. I've been looking online at all the discount places, I also found a couple of Pronovias dresses I liked that someone's selling new on eBay, I posted on another thread, but here they are: and My mom and I are going dress shopping (ugh) again this Saturday, so I can try things on that might be similar and see how I like them. If I can't make myself like any dress, though, I'm taking the too-big dress to my tailor. I have to tell you guys, I am really struggling in my head about spending any more money on this. I mean, really. A dress you only wear once? But my mother is being pretty insistent that I fall in love with whatever I wear, so here we go.

Price list? You got a price list? Can you send it to me?

Lisa- I don't mean to hijack this thread, but where are you guys doing your dances and all that? Do you already have it set up with Sandra? Do you know if bringing your own iPod but using their equipment costs extra? I'm wondering about all that. I wanted to just do karaoke afterward, but if we go with the silver package, we won't have the trio and I want music at the reception and wedding. Thanks!

Okay, so here is the update: Since getting the dress, I have started to think that I needed to go a whole different direction (less poofy, more body conscious) and have gone into Defcon Four thinking about what the hell I am going to do within the next two months about a g.d. wedding dress. What is wrong with me? Should I just get that one altered? I'm sure I'll get over this and be fine with it. My mom said she would totally foot whatever REAL wedding dress I want, but I just think it's ridiculous to spend a lot of $$ on something you will seriously only wear once. I am just way too practical/cheap to be a beautiful bride, I guess. What a crap week. Okay, enough of the gloom. Just an update!

Have you tried this place? It's in Glencoe, IL. http://www.elitedesignsgowns.com/

I know what you mean. I'm kinda starting to get obsessed with it, too, and I already HAVE a dress!

Hey I found a dress similar to that one for only $620. It's at http://www.dressofalifetime.com/wedd...013&VIEW=FRONT

Thanks for all the kind words and honest opinions. My mom has a great seamstress who can probably work wonders with the problem areas (which I agree with all of you on...top and tulle). We'll see. If I can make it work, it'll have been a great deal, and something I won't mind jumping in the ocean in on July 8th! Thanks again for everyone's opinion. It's weird how I've never met any of you but it does mean a lot.

We're also not geting each other presents. When I told Michael about that tradition, he was like, "I have to get you ANOTHER present? Wasn't the ring enough" So I was like, "cool, off the hook." But I do think I'm getting his ring engraved.

You guys are cracking me up. Something's wonky with my camera, so the pics are a little glurry as my son would say. But here they are!

I guess I don't sound that excited because I have yet to get excited about wedding dresses altogether. Even when I went to the different stores around Austin, the prices (I am a serious Frugal Bride) and the fanciness of it all just kinda put me off. If I had a better figure, I'd buy a super simple something like Lisa (LRYates) got, but I tried that dress on and it did nothing for me. I AM excited about it being way cheap. I AM excited about the cut...very flattering. And I know if anyone can get me excited about this dress, it's you guys on this forum. Maybe that's why I'm talking about it. Will post pics tonight. And LadyP, no, the dogs are not being romantic, just lazybones.

The WC there is Sandra Casillas. It takes her a while to return emails (I think she stays pretty busy) but you can call her at 001(52) 984 - 8.71.33.33 or email her directly at [email protected].

So, I finally got my eBay dress. It is...interesting. I really like the cut. It is very flattering and the neckline is more plunging than it is on the model, which I really like. It fits pretty well, I'll probably only need to take it in at the sides and shorten it a little (unless I decide to wear heels). I ordered it in ivory, and the ivory is a little darker than I thought it would be and thus doesn't really match the blush pink tulle underneath, so I might have the tulle taken out and replaced with a different color. It is not taffeta like they said, but a heavier satin. All in all, it ended up being a pretty good deal. With those alterations, it'll be a fine dress. I'll take pictures with me in it when my son gets home from school (he's in third grade, but very handy with a camera).

Who else is jealous that their FH isn't on this forum? Of course, if mine was he'd probably never quit making fun of me. And also he'd see my dress. (although I made him download a picture of the original once for me so he's got a general idea) Anyway, Karen, welcome! As I said in a different thread, Jason and I have some big margarita plans for all of us sometime during July 4th-7th.

Jamie- I'm also getting married at Dreams Tulum on July 7. I've stayed there a few times and just love it. I've got a lot of pics from the last time I went, and I just got an email from them about their new additions. Let me know if I can be of any help... P.S. Karen--wasn't sure if Jason was making you up or not! I hope you know that we have big plans for doing some shots during our overlapping time in Tulum! And you guys will definitetly have to poke your heads in during the ceremony and join us for karaoke that night!

Annie- I thought so, too. But that's what a jeweler told one of my girlfriends who has a platinum ring. :::shrug:::

Right. I'm not thinking I'll absolutely hate it. I just had a not-perfect experience. And it might be great. Although, truth be told, I don't know how much I can rely on you sweet girls to be honest. I remember when whoever it was posted a picture of her "wedding dress" (the model with the bird on her head and long poofy sleeves) and you were all like "It's...charming."