ok, so as i mentioned in the first post, this blog is not going to be just about our humdrum day-to-day lives. having just experienced the whole lds wedding thing, we feel like we can be helpful (to someone, somewhere) in discussing things like wedding planning and life as newlyweds. so let’s try it out! i’ve had a strange obsession with wedding dresses since i was 15, so let’s start there, shall we?

let’s face it. if you’re looking for a modest wedding dress, and you live anywhere OTHER than utah (i.e. arizona, california, wherever), then you’ve got your work cut out for you. i mean, i live in arizona, probably the second most densely lds populated area after utah, and i know of one -one- store that actually carries modest wedding dresses for you to look at and try on. i would imagine that the situation is fairly similar across the board. of course, this doesn’t mean someone looking for a modest wedding dress should completely despair. in fact, i would say that the most important thing to remember when looking for a modest wedding dress is never to compromise. you really do deserve the dress of your dreams, and there are ways to find a perfect, modest gown! here are a few possibilities:

1) buy online
a lot of brides are afraid of this option, but this is what i did, and it worked great! granted, i’m sure i got lucky. my dress fit perfectly without needing any alterations at all! there are a few precautions you should take with this option:

-take your measurements carefully and accurately. find someone who has taken measurements before to take them for you, or just look up how to do it online.
-go to any bridal gown store and try on a dress similar (in style and measurements) to what you are ordering. this will help you make sure the style of your dress (ball gown, a-line, sheath, etc.) flatters you
-order your dress as soon as possible. that way, if it isn’t in stock, you can still get the exact one you want. some dresses can take up to three months to order and ship
-find a trustworthy place to do alterations for you. even if you get lucky and you don’t need any major measurement changes, you’ll still need to have your dress pressed and probably bustled! if you live in the phoenix area, try Sew What? at 2548 W Broadway Rd. in Mesa. they did a great job on mine and have been around for a while!

don’t be afraid to at least look online. i know-shopping online is scary. but the fact that i got a beautiful, already modest wedding dress made up for any negatives. and there really are some beautiful options out there! i really like latterdaybride.com. they have a huge selection, and their dresses are less cookie-cutter than other ones out there. plus, they were very helpful and made the ordering process easy.

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2) buy an immodest dress and add sleeves to it

this option is pretty popular, mostly because it’s cheaper! believe it or not, you can find gorgeous, cheap gowns out there (david’s bridal, group usa), and from there, it’s just a matter of finding a great alterations place, or a jacket or shrug to wear over your dress to make it modest. some things to keep in mind…

-make sure the dress you choose is fairly simple to add sleeves to. certain styles, particularly halter tops, can be difficult to make modest, even if you go with the jacket option.
-try as hard as you can to make sure your dress doesn’t look like a sleeveless dress with sleeves added on. i’m sure you know what i’m talking about. that look is ok for high school prom, but this is your wedding , for crying out loud! make sure the sleeves look like they belong there! this is a matter of finding the right fabric and pattern for adding sleeves to your dress.
-along with that, add a full sleeve to the dress, and not just a thick strap over the top that kind of covers your shoulders and doesn’t really cover your armpit. again, i’m sure you know what i mean. the thick strap option will not cover your garments! and you don’t want that.

remember that this really can work, and it might not be as big a pain as you think. my older sister bought her dress from david’s bridal, and had their alterations department add sleeves to it. they have several styles of sleeves to choose from, and her dress turned out beautifully- and modestly!

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3) start from scratch

this might seem completely daunting. it might even be completely daunting. but honestly- what better way to have the modest wedding dress of your dreams than to design it yourself? this could be especially good if you already know a fabulous seamstress, or if you just enjoy designing! tips:

-make sure you trust your seamstress. please- please make sure you trust your seamstress! ask for pictures of what they’ve done before, etc.

-have a clear cut idea of what you want. i had my bridesmaids’ dresses made for my wedding, and when we went to the store to look for patterns, i was amazed at how many wedding dress patterns there are! if you have an idea of what you want each part of your dress to look like (bodice, skirt, etc.) i’m sure you can find a pattern for it. from there, piece it together!

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really, the most important thing to think about when looking for your modest wedding dress is what YOU want. you’re wearing it, it’s your day, so go for it! have fun!

p.s. my dress ROCKED

on tuesday, june 10, dallin and i celebrated our one month anniversary! it is amazing that it has gone by so fast. it’s crazy to think about how much we’ve done and learned in the past month, and we are grateful for the experience. we celebrated by going out to dinner at black angus, and then since their huge portions made us ridiculously full, we came home and watched a movie. it was a nice, relaxing night, and we were glad to have the chance to celebrate!

so, one month and counting! if life continues to be this good, my suspicion that i am extremely blessed will be confirmed.

-katie

one of the many pictures of our happiest day! don’t worry, there are many more to come