After last week's flurry of happiness with two wedding dress recipients (they are over the moon you guys, and it's the best thing ever), we're back with the 11th wedding dress given away on APW. Anne is generously offering her lovely, simple, size 8-ish dress. It was a dress that ended up being more important to her than she expected, and now she wants to pass it along to one of you. The rules are the same as always: Leave a comment about why you'd like to receive the dress. Anne will select the recipient (with occasional lobbying from me… as hard as I try not to). The recipient pays for shipping, and promises to send Anne a picture of them wearing it, full of joy. Hopefully the recipient will come back as a wedding graduate too, but that’s encouraged, not required (but we've never had a dress recipient grad post yet. Snifff!). Beyond that, remember, if you receive a dress from a wedding grad, they automatically become a small part of your bridal brigade. Keep them in the loop, send them a love note or two. Because suddenly, they are now invested in your wedding. With all that, here we go:

I started my dress shopping experience by default.  My sister was bringing her dress to a consignment shop and she invited me to go with her to look at other dresses.  That day, she and I hit up 3 used dress stores in one afternoon.  I was shocked by the prices of used wedding gowns.  Don’t get me wrong, these dresses (specifically one Michaela one) were fantastic.  The stitching and the regal fabric made me feel like a million bucks.  That being said, there was no way that 10% of my budget was going towards a dress (before alterations, shoes, hair, veil, etc).

After that outing, I began to think about the role of the dress in the wedding.  You see, my mother rented her wedding dress.  You could do that in the 70s.  My Husband’s mother made her dress and my sisters bought used dresses.  I think those decisions helped shape my ideas of what my dress would be.  I wanted to feel beautiful and comfortable.  I wanted a formal, fancy wedding dress even though we were having a barbeque.  I also knew that my dress would not be worn by my daughters some day.  I didn’t have a very sentimental attachment to the dress.

I also asked my fiancé what he was expecting in terms of a dress.  The moment I was most looking forward to at the wedding was the moment the church doors would open and I would see my fiancé at the other end of the aisle.  I wondered if he had a similar sentiment.  My always practical and candid fiancé responded that he did not share that perspective.   Continue reading Dress, Offered XI

It's that time ladies! It's time for one of the all time favorite things on APW - the time where we give away wedding dresses... passed from one reader to another. The first wedding dress is being given by Sarah, and the recipient is Leah, who said:

I love that dress. And it would fit me! We are getting married right after Christmas this year. He’s a science teacher and I’m a grad student (getting my science teaching license! we’re nerds together). Like others, we’re also paying for our own wedding. We’re actually going to hold the wedding at the boarding school where he works to save on the venue.

Plus, can I say, I’ve been really nervous to go dress shopping. I now live halfway across the country from my family and friends (moved here for a short-term job, tried to go work other places, and just had to come back). I feel weird “imposing” on people I’ve only known for a year or two. I know they’re my friends, but it’s not the same as going shopping with the people I’ve known for much, much longer. I feel like this post is serendipity!

Here is the thing about The Sisterhood of The Traveling Dress. Sometimes, when you give a dress away, it works out perfectly. But sometimes, it works out imperfectly. Which is why I always warn people who want to give their dresses away that they need to be willing to let go of the outcome. That the action of gifting has to be the reason that they are doing it.

But, as we talk about a lot on APW, sometimes the beauty of things is in their imperfection. Melissa, who you'll remember from her kick-ass brewfest wedding, gave away her wedding dress last year to Kelly. Over the last year, Kelly got very ill, and her wedding was pushed back. Because Kelly is adorable, she kept emailing Melissa to ask if it was ok, could she still keep the dress? And of course Melissa said absolutely yes. Keep the dress, and wear it in good health. But, recently, Kelly emailed us to say this:

I am, thankfully, in better health than I was. It was scary there for awhile and I'm glad to be well again. But I'm also 30 pounds heavier than I ever thought I'd be. Which means that while Melissa's dress is still just amazing as always, the whole look is so less cute when it doesn't fit over my ass. Sigh.

Last week, I ordered another dress and I pick it up in a few days. It's beautiful, even if it's not draped in the same karmic goodness as Melissa's dress, and I'm just thankful at this point to have something to wear. It's strange, how much seems to work out that way. Our caterer called Friday and said they couldn't honor our contract. Which I'm thankful for too, because yesterday, I complained loudly enough in this little natural foods cafe I like, and the two women who run it were all "Oh, honey, we'll cater for you. Don't you worry about a thing." Hooray! They were certain it was meant to be this way and I am too.

And frankly? Melissa and I are just thrilled that Kelly is WELL, and GETTING MARRIED (next week!!!!!!!! Eeeeeeeeee!!!!) But that means that Melissa's dress needs a new home, that it will hopefully find in one of you. Here is the story of the dress:

The dress is a lovely champagne color (perfect for fair skin) and is a true-to-size 16, with measurements of 45 bust/37 waist/49 hip. I'm 5'7" and wore a 1/2" heel, with the skirt just brushing the floor. Continue reading Dress, Re-Gifted (VIII)

This feels mind-blowing to me, but this is our TENTH wedding dress giveaway. Which means ten wonderful ladies have chosen to part with their wedding dresses, with the hope of sharing the love they felt on their wedding day with others. Today Sarah is the one generously offering her dress. The rules are the same as always: Leave a comment about why you'd like to receive the dress. Sarah will select the recipient (with occasional lobbying from me… as hard as I try not to). The recipient pays for shipping, and promises to send Sarah a picture of them wearing it, full of joy. Hopefully the recipient will come back as a wedding graduate too, but that’s encouraged, not required (but we've never had a dress recipient grad post yet. Snifff!). Beyond that, remember, if you receive a dress from a wedding grad, they automatically become a small part of your bridal brigade. Keep them in the loop, send them a love note or two. Because suddenly, they are now invested in your wedding. With all that, here we go:

I am hugely sentimental. I keep ticket stubs and champagne corks and old college tee shirts; objects that become deeply associated with memories. But ever since I first read about the Sisterhood of the Traveling Dress, I knew I wanted to pass along my dress. I’ve been waiting almost a year to write this, and I’m so excited to share it with you all.

My dress is an Alfred Angelo #1148; an off-the-shoulder dress with a sweetheart neckline, ruching along the bodice, a corset back, and a train. It is diamond-white (i.e., ivory) taffeta, and was perfect for my super-pale complexion. It didn’t have any major stains or dirt, and has been dry cleaned, so it’s ready to head out to its new home. According to Alfred Angelo, it’s a size 14, and had some minor alterations—the off-the-shoulder-sleeves were taken in, cups added- for ‘oomph’ (I still needed to wear a strapless bra, though), a three-point hook-and-eye bustle, and the hem. The train is GORGEOUS and very bridal (I left it down for pictures and the ceremony) but even when it’s bustled, the back is beautiful.

Continue reading Dress, Offered X

We interrupt this APW lovefest to bring you some news for you to assist in or pass on.

We've heard from reader Theodora and several other readers that a bridal shop burned down in a Chicago suburb on Wednesday.  Not only is that devastating to the owners, it's bad for all those wonderful brides who thought, in the midst of their wedding planning anxiety, "Well, at least I have my dress."

A local radio station, WGN Radio, is putting out a call to women who are willing to donate or loan their dresses out to these brides in need.

Please check out the story here and then go to WGN's Facebook page to post about your dress.

We don't have any more info than what we've listed here, so please check out the links and follow the instructions or contact the appropriate people if you have any questions.  If you are willing and able to donate or loan your dress, please do!  Consider it The Sisterhood of the Traveling Dress: Community Edition.

And feel free to pass on APW's info.  Those poor girls might need a little sanity right now.

We return to our regularly scheduled hugs, kisses and sunshine.