I went out with my MOH and one bridesmaid to just "look" at dresses and lo and behold I actually found one I LOVED and bought it.
First I should say that when I went out looking I thought I wanted a v-neck, mermaid, no train, very simple (my mom super vetoed the red dress from an earlier post). I knew that I was probaby going to end up with a sample dress because my budget was under $900. These are the places I went in Toronto:
The Dress Room on the Danforth, associated with Becker's Bridal. Being as this was the very first bridal store I had ever entered AND I went alone (my girls were joining me later), I needed a ton of help. But even after I explained I needed help the girls at the counter just told me to pick whatever I wanted to try on. I was really hoping for a little more guidance so I just picked a couple to put on. The girl did help me zip or tie them up when I needed help, but was ultimately bored with the whole experience. I just didn't feel taken care of and kind of like I was just wandering in a dream. I did find one I liked that was roughly $300, but the beading wasn't very nicely done. I thought that if I found nothing else at least I had this option. The good part about this dress was that I would have gotten a brand new one, not the sample.
Sposabella at St Clair and Dufferin. By the time I got here I had both my girls as backup. When I told the girl at the counter my budget she told me that the samples were kept in the basement and I could go help myself. So down we trudged and found a few. No one came down to help us so we lugged these huge dresses back up the stairs and started trying them on. No one helped me do them up so my friends had to try to work the zippers and/or corsets. I did find a nice one at this place for $600. The bodice was lace, though there was some pulling and the bottom was an a-line with gathers, though some of the gathers needed to be repaired. I actually ended up putting this dress on hold so I could take a couple days to decide.
Jolie Bridal at St Clair and Dufferin. I actually didn't plan on going in this store, but we passed it on the way to Sposabella. Again we were sent to another floor to find the samples, this time upstairs and there was actually a manager to help me! Mary, the manager, took a real interest in what I was looking for and helped me pick a couple of real contenders. We took them all downstairs and both girls actually helped to get me in and out of dresses, they joked with me and my girls and actually made the experience FUN!!! As I tried on each dress Mary really listened to what I liked/disliked about each dress and constantly went back to find me more. I must have tried on 20 dresses. Finally, she snapped her fingers in the air and said "I've got it" and she brought over the dress that would become mine.
It is gorgeous, full lace, light beading on the bodice and train, embroidery on the train, sweetheart neckline and the best part is the price! I looked at the tag and it was $1200, my heart sank a little but I immediately started thinking about what I could cut out of the budget to get this dress and she said not to worry because it was 50% off!!! It doesn't need any altering because it fits perfect and there are no repairs because it is in stellar condition. I am so happy with how everything turned out. The girls at Jolie were fantastic and really made this experience special for me and my ladies.
Now I only need to wait 10 months to wear it!!
ps. they put a GIGANTIC fascinator on my head with a birdcage veil. I will have a fascinator, but a much smaller one. ;)
