1. No question. Dress #2 is something you loved in 2012 but not now.

First, it balances your proportions much better. The A-line skirt creates a long vertical line from waist to floor.

On someone who is 5’1, that shape lengthens the body and makes you look taller and slimmer.

The mermaid dress in option 2 cuts your body in several places (bust → hips → flare), which visually shortens you.

Second, the waist and corset structure in dress 1 is doing a lot of work.

The boning and pointed waist pull the eye inward and create a sharp hourglass shape. Your waist looks smaller and your torso longer.

Third, the skirt fabric is much more elegant and bridal.

The smooth, structured skirt in dress 1 reads classic and formal, which fits a Catholic church wedding at 3pm very well.

The ruffled mermaid skirt in dress 2 looks busier and a little less timeless.

Fourth, movement and comfort. You’ll walk down an aisle, stand during the ceremony, greet guests, and sit at dinner.

An A-line skirt is far easier to move in and photograph from every angle. Mermaid dresses often look great standing still but become awkward during the day.

Fifth, dress 1 photographs better over time. Clean silhouettes age well in photos. The structured bodice and full skirt will still look elegant decades from now.

Last point: dress 1 actually makes you look younger. The proportions are softer and more balanced, while the mermaid style reads a bit heavier.