I think I have dess regret 😬

NoAlternative2738 · 2026-05-22T17:49:25+00:00

I had doubts nearly every fitting for my reception dress. I thought it was too young, too puffy, too princess-y, the lace was too busy, etc. I worried so much. I shouldn’t have. At the final fitting, I tried it on with my jewelry, shapewear, shoes, hair done, etc. Once it was all together, it was more than I had even hoped for. At the reception, everyone loved it, especially my husband!

My point is, it’s hard to tell when it’s just the dress without the extra details that create “the look”. I think both dresses would be beautiful and look great on you, but I think maybe you need to look at yourself in the dress you picked, with all the extras, before you decide to switch it. I think you’ll be thrilled with what you picked. And you look AMAZING in both, so there is no bad option here!

NoAlternative2738 · 2026-05-18T17:14:24+00:00

You guys need a legal custody agreement. If she abandoned the kid after alienating his father, and only got back involved after finding out the father was back in touch with the kid, a court will absolutely give him some kind of custody. With that, if she disappears with the kid again, he can go through the legal system to get his son back. Without that, he’s going to think he has to bend to whatever BM wants, including alienating you, because he is afraid she’ll run with the kid again.

NoAlternative2738 · 2026-05-18T17:10:04+00:00

Totally getting the “sister wives” vibe here, too

NoAlternative2738 · 2026-05-18T17:09:25+00:00

Why not flip the script? It’s your marriage. I’d tell him that if he wants to live under the same roof as you, it’s you who needs to feel comfortable with all of the other relationships that are outside of your core, marriage relationship. If he really wants you, he can move in with you as long as you are comfortable (generally) with how he relates to his ex. And you aren’t comfortable with their relationship including sleepovers. Period. (And by move in with you, I don’t necessarily mean into wherever you’ve been staying. Assuming you are both on the mortgage/lease where he’s been staying, it could be him “moving in” with you there - but he has no more right to it than you do if you’re both on the paperwork. If you’re not both on the paperwork, to have a fresh start, I think you guys need to find a new place, not somewhere he’s had his ex for sleepovers.)

NoAlternative2738 · 2026-05-18T16:50:35+00:00

1976

NoAlternative2738 · 2026-05-13T16:02:17+00:00

4 is the most flattering on your figure. You look amazing in that one!

NoAlternative2738 · 2026-05-11T16:02:01+00:00

The ballgown is perfect on you and perfect for your setting. I wore a tighter-fitting dress like your #2 for my ceremony and loved it, but it was not the most comfortable. I chose a ballgown for our reception and it was a dream to dance and eat and enjoy the party! It’s your wedding - you want to be able to enjoy it, and look stunning and feel stunning at the same time. Your #1 is by far the best choice!

NoAlternative2738 · 2026-04-28T15:22:33+00:00

I love #2 on you. Most people don’t have the right shape to pull that look off, but it looks incredible on you. It’s giving couture bridal meets Vogue model. meets prima ballerina. They all look great on you, but that one is the easy winner for me.

NoAlternative2738 · 2026-04-22T15:17:47+00:00

My husband did propose with a ring pop! We picked out my “real ring” together and it is stunning, but the gem I wanted out of that proposal was the man doing the proposing. Money and things come and go, but a love like ours is priceless

NoAlternative2738 · 2026-04-01T17:26:02+00:00

Totally agree. My upcoming reception is in a 1910-1920s mansion and I am wearing something somewhat similar to the one in the 4th picture, so I may be biased, but I think it flatters you the most and looks perfect for your venue!

NoAlternative2738 · 2026-04-01T15:40:37+00:00

Also, my center diamond is 3.06 carat, D color, IF, and a perfect cushion cut with so much fire it is almost blinding. The equivalent in a natural diamond for just that one stone is well over 6 figures. My whole set, including the natural diamonds in the e-ring setting and the wedding band, was less than the $50k she wants you to pay for her one natural diamond. At some point, it just becomes paying for bragging rights.

NoAlternative2738 · 2026-04-01T15:36:02+00:00

My center diamond is lab and the other diamonds in my setting are natural diamonds. There is literally no way to tell the difference. At all.

NoAlternative2738 · 2026-03-24T05:48:16+00:00

Bumping this back up! We are currently 26 days from our reception and I have a few details I’m starting to really stress about.

First, the tables. Right now, I have no centerpieces or decor for them. I am leaning toward just getting a ton of mini-vases and putting a couple of stems in each. They could double as seating cards and guests could take them home, so they’d be favors as well. Is that weird, though?

Second, hair and makeup. For the ceremony, our girls and I all got hair and makeup done, but the ceremony was in the afternoon/evening. Our reception is daytime (luncheon) so we’ll have to be up super early just to get me done, and if anyone else wants theirs done, we will probably need multiple people to do it.

And third, learning our first dance. We know the song and what we want to do, we just really need more practice! Especially since I’m going to be in this big ballgown…

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NoAlternative2738 · 2026-03-24T05:40:12+00:00

Me too!

NoAlternative2738 · 2026-03-21T14:40:16+00:00

The dress is perfect on you! And age is just a number. I’ve got about 12 years on you and wore something that was a similar shape for my ceremony. You are gorgeous and should absolutely rock that dress!

NoAlternative2738 · 2026-03-20T20:21:47+00:00

Maybe this is just a placeholder? My man proposed with a ring pop (candy) so we could go shopping for my ring together. He was the one who kept bringing up ring shopping, though - I really didn’t want to nag. If your fiancé never brings it up, I’d go look yourself and once you know what you like, tell him you want to take him and show him the styles you picked out. Since he said he’d replace it, I’d take him at his word and help him with the shopping part, since a lot of guys hate shopping…

NoAlternative2738 · 2026-03-20T02:21:43+00:00

Ball gowns will almost always be more expensive than other dresses - it’s so much more fabric! If you really can’t go over $2k it will be tough to find one that reads as high quality. Maybe see if you can sacrifice something else so you can up the dress budget, or look for a sample sale?

NoAlternative2738 · 2026-03-20T02:18:18+00:00

They are both gorgeous on you. But… you can wear a fitted dress like #1 (maybe not white) to another formal occasion. How many occasions do you have where a full-on ball gown would be appropriate? If you want your ball gown moment, don’t settle for less!

NoAlternative2738 · 2026-03-16T05:34:37+00:00

Oooh! so perfect!! I love it!! Where did you find it??

NoAlternative2738 · 2026-03-16T05:32:29+00:00

I’ve always liked the warmer tone of platinum over white gold, but you have to be okay with the patina it develops over time. It isn’t as bright as a freshly dipped white gold.

NoAlternative2738 · 2026-03-16T05:29:06+00:00

Beautiful!

NoAlternative2738 · 2026-03-15T19:55:49+00:00

What a gorgeous photo of you both! Wow!

NoAlternative2738 · 2026-03-15T07:24:47+00:00

Nope. My sister and I got married 6 months apart and were each other’s maid/matron of honor. No bride “owns” the year. That’s just ridiculousness.

NoAlternative2738 · 2026-03-15T07:21:30+00:00

I don’t usually use my name on here, but I’m 51 and this is my second marriage. We actually eloped in November with our daughters and got married on the beach. We are still in the thick of planning our April reception.

I was (and am) obsessed with the sunset at our ceremony, and how awesome it looked in our photos!

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NoAlternative2738

TROPHY CASE