Wedding dress ideas... what is your dream dress like or what did you wear? Ideas for petite brides. - YouLookFab Forum

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Wedding dress ideas... what is your dream dress like or what did you wear? Ideas for petite brides.

Laura J

So my potential move to Dubai is still up in the air. But my boyfriend of 10 years decided to propose and we are getting married by the end of the summer! It will just be a justice of the peace thing or a very small simple ceremony. I like the idea of a short, non-white dress. I'm just curious what your dress dress is or what you wore if you're already married. If you have any brand suggestions for petite, large bust brides that would be a huge bonus!

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14 replies

Latest reply was from Thistle

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Many happy congratulations!!!!

My dream dress would reflect my own signature style (yes, it will be a fit and flare) - and I wanted a simple ceremony too.

And ooh, it's on sale! http://www.bhldn.com/shop-the-.....588c0c-04f

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Congrats! I got married 11 years ago, and the prevalent style (maybe it still is) was the strapless straight across bodice with full long skirt, which I don't think flatters a lot of ladies. I really wanted something with sleeves, and in the end my mom and a friend helped me make a dress. We were able to reuse the skirt of my mom's wedding dress as an under layer with some lace - skirt was floor length and gored. The bodice, which was actually a separate piece because it was easier to construct that way, was ivory satin with a sweetheart neckline and elbow length sleeves. My wedding was outdoors but otherwise rather traditional, at least as far as the ceremony went.

Sounds like you might want something less formal, at least something not full length. David's bridal actually had a lot of variety when I looked, and tons of sizes - another possibility is looking for a dress that's not specifically a wedding dress. You could definitely save some cash that way.

MrsK

Oh my GOSH that is one gorgeous dress, Lyn. Wow. I am swooning over here!

Congratulations Laura! Having had a small simple wedding myself I am a big fan! I don't have any specific dress suggestions for you, but I always love the dresses I see at BHLDN and J Crew online where they have a fairly big selection of formal dresses. Sounds like you'll have more luck looking at bridesmaid dresses or other non-wedding cocktail dresses for the style you are after.

Day Vies

Veteran

First of all ... Congratulations!!!

I'm not petite but I wear petite jackets and tops (short torso, large bust, short arms long and legs go figure!) I wanted a small non-wedding like the one you're planning but ended up with a small destination wedding (DH wanted pictures). I loved Venus brand wedding dresses -- not too expensive, with simple classic cuts.

I originally wanted a strapless high-low gown but those hopes were quickly dashed when I was convinced by my dressmaker that my bust line would pull the front of the dress down (she was right ... just avoid strapless if you're larger than a G cup).

I ultimately chose a very simple an A-line gown in diamond white with a sweep train and deep v neck very similar to this one. (I also considered square necklines, which are very flattering on a large bust but they are rare in bridal gowns).

I attached a picture of me in my gown but the link provides a better idea of the original neckline (in front and back) and original length of my dress. Happy hunting!

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annanza

I married last year in a simple ceremony at the botanical gardens. I wore this http://www.freepeople.com/clot.....4-4601-498 dress from Free People in "Tea" with a thrifted vintage gold slip underneath. At $98 I thought it a bargain (especially for Free People).

columbine(erin)

Veteran

Congratulations! I second checking at David's Bridal. My dress was a floor model and I got it for under a $100 for that reason and it was missing the train, so I was given one from another dress for free. I was going to make mine, but couldn't have bought the fabric for what I paid for the dress, alterations, etc.

Alassë

Veteran

Congratulations as well! I trolled eBay for vintage wedding dresses and got mine for $75. Small ceremony, too.

ironkurtin

Veteran

I eloped. For the actual ceremony I wore an extremely slutty black floral Betsey Johnson dress, because we were in Reno and it seemed to fit the mood. I believe I still have it somewhere - I hope so, anyway!

For the official party, I wore a very simple cream knee-length shift dress I bought for $29 at Banana Republic. (This was 15 years ago). Then I bought an amazing La Perla bodysuit to wear under, fun gold shoes, and a beautiful white silk wrap. I looked amazing, if I do say so myself, except I forgot to take the price off the bottom of the shoes. Whoops. I kept the bodysuit and the scarf, but the shift is long gone. Luckily it should be easy to duplicate should the kiddo want to wear what Mama did one day.

rachylou

Veteran

Congratulations!!!!

My dream dress is a blue wedding dress. I'm a traditionalist. None of this new-fangled, Victorian white

April

Veteran

I'm so glad to hear that others did not make the purchase of a wedding dress their life's work at gigantic expense! I always feel odd saying that neither of my wedding dresses were expensive, fancy, or hard to find.

At my first wedding (1989), 20 people stood up with us in a living room. I wore an ivory suit (bought at the old Wanamaker's department store in Philadelphia during a break from studying for my college finals) and a borrowed hat.

At my second wedding (2012), 3 people stood up with us in my own living room. I believe my kitty may have wandered in at some point as well. I wore a silvery skirt and top purchased hours earlier at White House Black Market, which you can see here: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....arried-him

I love the idea of easy and simple, LJ! Best wishes to you and your fiance.

Diana

Veteran

This was my dress when I got married last year, reasonably priced, still available and in many colors, not just white. Also available in a knee length version.

ETA: I did buy it in petite which is harder to find but fit perfectly off the rack. I am 5'3.5" and I wore 2.5" heels.

Adrianna Papell Long Irri Tiered Petal Dress

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Anonymous

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! This dress comes in petite, has a v neckline and comes in lots of colors:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ta.....s-_-1_10_D

Kristin L

Veteran

Congrats LauraJ! I don't have a big bust, but here's the dress I'm wearing to my wedding in September. I would suggest that when you find one that feels right, go for it. It can be a little more tricky tricking trying to find shorter wedding dresses.

http://www.davidsbridal.com/Pr.....?cm_mmc=Pi

Thistle

Veteran

Congrats!

For me, I fell in love with a Vera Wang dress, but I needed it to fit me and be able to travel on a plane (we got married in Hawaii), oh, and I had 6 months from when he proposed to when we got married as I was starting my MBA. I wanted to be married before I was working full time and in grad school.

I went to a seamstress who specialized in wedding dresses with a picture of the Vera Wang dress. She made a few modifications to better fit me, and used a travel friendly fabrication. And got rid of the train as we were getting married on the beach she was amazing.