While dealing with all of my dress anxiety was (and still is) an ongoing process, I did start looking at dresses online a few months before we got engaged. My lack of wedding experience meant that I didn’t really speak the dress language and didn’t really know what I wanted. I tried to put the negative thoughts in the back of my mind and just started looking at the styles of dresses that were out there to see what appealed to me, regardless of how unhealthy and thin the model wearing the dress looked.
I wasn’t looking to find THE DRESS!!!! at the moment, because God knows I’d fall head over heels for the one dress that only came in sizes 0-6. So, that being said, here are some of the images I began collecting on my dress hunt (NEPA GROOM: If you want to be totally surprised, don’t look. Just warning you 
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I realized I didn’t want anything too complicated. Beading = fail. Lace was ok, but I found the dresses that appealed the most to me were much plainer, often A-line cut, also often with an asymmetrical side swept front. Runching around the waist truly is a girl’s best friend! A lot of these dresses had some, but not all of my requirements, but I liked them as a starting point and something share with both moms and the bridesmaids.
This dress caught my eye early on, especially since Alfred Angelo used it so heavily in their magazine ads.
I think I saw this in a magazine the first time, and I went and bookmarked it. Thus began a small obsession with ruffles. The halter top is not me at all, but mmmmm ruffles.
Ok, ok, I know, this doesn’t fit at all. It’s covered in beads, sigh. But, it was another early dress that inspired me with all it’s layers, which are much easier to see with the champagne color. It also introduced me to the side swept waist, which has proven to be a good friend to me.
Galina for David’s Bridal 9N9781
I’m not such a huge fan of this dress as much as I am of the shrug! There’s something so pretty and feminine about a strapless dress with a ruffly bolero. *dreamy sigh*
What kind of dresses first inspired you? Did they help you narrow down your choices, or help you find the right bridal salon to visit?
I had dressed picked out as my favorites and then had to completely change that when I decided I wanted to pack it in a carry on bag to come to England with it. I didn’t trust checking it since the first time I visited Chris they misplaced a suitcase (even though it turned up the same day, the risk!). I always wanted a dress with a big poofy skirt, but I wanted the dress itself to be fairly plain, maybe a little bit of beading or something. When I finally decided to stick with something that was fairly simple and not a lot of poof, I picked the first one I tried on because I fell in love with it. I was fairly comfortable with it on the day, the only problem was my boobs kept getting misplaced in it, I don’t know how to describe how, lol. Fun memories. Don’t be stressed, enjoy dress shopping! I had sooo much fun when I made an appointment at David’s Bridal to try on all sorts of dresses with my friends, even though I ended up not going with them in the end.
I’m glad you had a good time dress shopping! Your dress looked beautiful so even though it wasn’t your big poof dress, I think it was fabulous.
I disliked dress shopping for a lot of reasons that will be chronicled shortly, lol. My biggest problems is fighting with certain family members over what I like over what they feel is “appropriate” to wear as a bride. I know this sounds confusing right now but I’ll explain it all, I swear!
As a photographer, I think each of these dresses would look fantastic and be quite unique and memorable! My personal favorite is the first. I have always dreamed of a beautiful, but simple dress like that! Great job photographing these and good luck on your hunt for the perfect dress!