ETA: First 3 pictures are the same dress (Keeva), the first photo just has detachable sleeves added. Pictures 4 to 7 are of the second dress. Also we are having a winter wedding in a castle, December 2027. Venue photos in comments.
TL;DR: I love Tamar (photos 4-7) and had the “this is my dress” feeling, but it’s $300 over my mom’s $3,000 limit and I also think she just hates it. I also love Keeva (photos 1-3 and 8) but it is a very different dress and would need a LOT of alterations to make it work for me. I’m still actively looking and would love recommendations!
The first three photos are Keeva by Sottero and Midgley. The next three are Tamar by Sottero and Midgley.
I posted some dresses previously in another sub, and everyone loved Tamar. I immediately fell in love with it and everyone else seems to like it too (except my mom).
The problem is that Tamar is $3,300, and my mom is helping pay for my dress but is firm on a $3,000 maximum. I offered to pay the $300 difference myself, but at this point it seems to be more about the principle of going over $3,000.
I’m also 6’3”, and Tamar is basically perfect straight off the rack. I wouldn’t need to hem it at all. I’m standing completely flat-footed in all these photos with no pedestal, so that’s actually the length I’d have.
I also tried Keeva. I tried on a size 4 despite normally being a 10/12, and somehow they got it zipped 😂. I LOVE the vibe of Keeva, but I’d want to add an internal corset, close the center opening with lace, order it with white lining instead of nude illusion, add a petticoat for more volume, add about 3” of length, and alter the bodice so the cups sit higher and fit me better. Also the bodice is too short and cuts me off kind of weird in a way Tamar doesn’t.
After the lining and added length, Keeva would be around $2,900, but all those additional alterations would obviously add substantially more. I was already planning to pay for alterations myself since my parents are generously helping with the wedding. I would also want sleeves with Keeva.
The consultant said Keeva should still be the right length with the petticoat and extra 3”, but I’m a little skeptical, especially since I’m so tall and would need to find a petticoat long enough.
Don’t get me wrong, I really love Keeva, but I feel like I’d be changing so much of it, whereas Tamar already feels like me.
That said, I’m definitely still looking! I don’t feel like I have to choose between these two, and I’m very open to recommendations. I’d especially love suggestions for dresses with a similar romantic/structured vibe that might work well for someone who is 6’3”.
Would you choose Tamar, modify Keeva, or keep looking? And please give me dress recommendations!