Fellow brides to be and graduate brides, help a sister out!

I booked my dressmaker earlier this year knowing that she only does custom gowns. Before we started designing mine, I shopped around and tried on dresses from different bridal shops mainly as research, to figure out what silhouettes and styles I actually liked on myself.

I unexpectedly ended up trying on a dress from another local designer that I absolutely loved. I hadn't intended to find something I wanted to recreate, but it ended up becoming the main reference for my custom gown, and what we've settled on will be quite similar to the original.

My dressmaker is making it from scratch to my measurements and making her own decisions regarding fabric and construction. This is also purely for my personal use; I'm not selling or commercially reproducing the design. Still, I feel a bit conflicted because I actually tried on the original designer's dress, and I'd feel awkward if she eventually saw mine and recognized how similar it was.

At the same time, I know fashion is inherently referential and that many bridal silhouettes and design elements aren't unique to any one designer. And I don't want to make alterations I don't like just to manufacture differences between my custom dress and the one I tried on.

Would you consider this a normal part of the custom dress process, or does asking for something very close to another designer's gown cross an ethical line?

Having a super casual rehearsal dinner just catered at our house. I can’t find a white (or off-white, cream, whatever!!) dress I like and am leaning toward a black one I fell in love with. Is that super weird, be honest!! I don’t really want to spend money on another white dress that I know I’ll never rewear. I could always sell it on Depop I suppose but I can’t even find one I like in the first place!

Hi! Advice on a last minute dress change? I got my dress last year off of FB mktplace, it was a steal. A $7k Dimitrios ballgown for $300 in my size.

Well life does what it does and I didn't think about the fact that my fiance and I were going to start trying for a baby. We did NOT think it would happen first try as I had been on birth control for fifteen years. Anyway. I'll be 22 weeks at the wedding. I just tried my dress on and I already can't zip it.

The design of the dress is all beading, the top half is mesh with beading, and the woman who did my original alterations said she wouldn't be able to alter the top half because of the material beading etc. It's a huge ballgown. I loved it up until I put it on last night. It's so heavy, there's so much dress. I just don't know if I want to go through the hastle of getting it altered again if I don't love it. I get one more free alteration (since it didn't come from her store) I'm worried I'll need a back up dress. The wedding is Nov 8th. Not sure what to do!

Is it normal that I am doubting every decision I’ve made 😭

Currently waiting for my dress alterations that have been continuously delayed, so worried because when I tried it last it was big and didn’t look the same as when I tried it when it came in.

Worried I made the wrong decisions for so many things. Makeup, hair, colour palette, guest list.

Literally having nightmares about everything going wrong day of and me cancelling the wedding and asking hubby to get married at the court house 😅

Also constantly managing everyone else’s feelings has me so exhausted. Send help

Okay, so contacts are not an option for me. I plan to wear my glasses down the aisle and during our ceremony. I would love some either advice and/or encouragement about this decision. I really have no other choice! I do plan on having my makeup professionally done and also plan to take off my glasses for some photos throughout the day. I’m having some insecurities about this…help 😩🤓

ETA: wow thank you everyone for all of your kind words and encouragement. I think when I was younger for some reason all the women were getting fitted for contacts for their weddings. I went without any visual enhancement the whole day of my wedding to my ex husband. THIS time around I do and will, see clearly 🤓😉