So, I always have brides on the brain. Am fully addicted to weddings and all their magnificent details (still looking for one to style…) If I could buy bridal magazines without seeming crazy I would. Alas, I simply stalk online in the privacy of my own home. I’ve posted about my own wedding gown nightmare before, and beg of all you brides to not make the mistake I made which was buy a dress based on the label and not how it made me feel and how it fit. It is so disappointing that I did that and I paid for it dearly (so did my father). So in this tight economy I know most brides aren’t exactly looking at Vera Wang’s $7,000 confections, but rather searching for something with high style and a lower price tag. The best label I tried on that was fairly priced and gorgeously made and styled was Watters & Watters Brides. I just was on their site and the dresses they offer are magnificent and very reminiscent of the couture level designs out there today.
This is my favorite Watters gown- it’s details are simple but stunning. Reminds me a bit of Vera Wang’s slinkier numbers. Perfect for a warm climate ceremony…
If you love the drapey look of Monique Lhuillier (left) try this lovely number:
If you love the folded construction of Romona Keveza (left), try this dress (right):
If you love the feminine frill details of Lela Rose (left), how about this gown (right):
If you like the slighty sexy fit and flare look of Melissa Sweet,(left) try this:
This gown reminds me of both Carolina Herrera and Vera Wang- simple and classic but modern:
If you liek the slinky look of Amy Michelson(left) here’s something to try:
Rosette details are big on the bridal runway this year, in collections from Vera to J.Crew- you can get a similar look with Watters’ version from it’s even more affordable Wtoo line:
Hittin’ up City Hall or just want a reception dress you can move in? I LOVE this little lace cocktail number:
HAPPY FRIDAY!
i would so wear the lela rose dress. so pretty. maybe if hubby decides to marry me again?
I did a wedding for a young bride this past summer, she had a dress similar to your last pick. It was strapless and long though. She had collected many varieties of pearl necklaces and layered them, some knotted. It had sort of a 20’s appeal. It was stunning. Good choices!!
I am obsessed with ALL of Lela’s dresses- she had not made her bridal collection when I was looking….I need to get married again to Andrew so I can do it right this time around with the dress!
Tempted to post all my favorite couture gowns as well–just for fun. :)
I SO share your wedding obsession (I’ve been married for 4 years) and I share a similar wedding dress situation (bought a ML and ended up changing my mind at the last minute…I was in koo-koo-bride-mode).
Thank goodness a few of my friends are getting married this year, so I can live vicariously. : )
Thanks for this post – Lela Rose is amazing! Do you have any good wedding blogs you can reccomend – Im specifically looking for flower ideas! Any help would be great!
Thanks
I love that Vera Wang inspired gown. Lovely.
When I get married I would kill to wear Monique Lhuillier. Have you seen the sketch for her design for Michelle Obama’s inauguration gown? It is to DIE FOR! I just posted about it yesterday after finding a bunch of designers sketches on the Womens Wear Daily website. (www.casamoi.blogspot.com Just the artwork alone is amazing. Can’t imagine what the finished dress would look like!
Those are beautiful! I dont think its that nuts that you love bridal magazines, whats worse is that I’m not even engaged and I have a stack of them at home- I have them hidden from the boyfriend so he doesnt freak out. What he doesnt know yet is that as soon as he pops the question I will have the wedding planned in about one hour :)
So lovely! Who doesn’t love a wedding dress or two? :)
I wish I had known about Lela Rose when I was in the market for a wedding dress! My husband and I paid for our own wedding and reception, so my dress budget was fairly limited. I found a beautiful Amsale dress off-the-rack for about one-fifth the price it would have been at retail, so I bought it at the first bridal shop I visited. While talking budgets, I’ll tell you that my best friend bought her Melissa Sweet wedding dress on Ebay for $500–originally it was over $3000! It was unworn and in perfect condition, a total steal. There are definitely some good ways out there to save a ton of money if you’re willing to be creative.
Sometimes I wish I could do it again–with a larger budget and more time to look around–but it all worked out in the end. But I continue to live vicariously through magazines and blogs, so keep the posts coming!
The designer of Michelle Obama’s dress (Wu) went to Loomis!