45 days... Mom hates one, kids love one i rejected, both hate the high low.

The image...

My favorite, but it's still too tight (mermaid and to die for lace), the kids favorite that isn't my favorite (traditional), and the one that the others don't want me to wear (high low). *Mom doesn't care what the dress looks like but "I need to look like a bride" because "these are the photos she cares about - not the do over." - This means not the high low. Period. The kids want me in a veil over my face and tiara - at 45 and a second marriage this seems like a lot. I just want to marry him.

They are all nice, BUTI love the mermaid one!

I agree with your favorite- the mermaid looks amazing on you!

I love the first one by far! It looks like it was made for you. Go with your gut, that's the one!

My vote goes for the mermaid dress too

It's your wedding and your body. I would try to ignore what everyone else wants and focus on what you want. That being said, if you want opinions of strangers on the internet, I think you look fabulous in the mermaid. Also, I think the high-low may look better if you can get the skirt steamed.

Agreed mermaid is gorgeous on you! It is a good mix of traditional and bridal for them while being something you like!
You’ll look like a bride on the day of regardless, the boys won’t even miss the tiara or veil over your face if it makes you uncomfortable.

I must be old fashioned, I absolutely love the 2nd more traditional look. Please keep in mind, my dress is on the more traditional side (by choice). But ultimately...you should choose the one you feel most beautiful in. It's YOUR day, I don't care if it's your first wedding / bride or tenth. Who cares what anyone thinks or says... it's all about how you feel.

But the first one is tight - it won't zip past my waist... which leaves like 5 inches that is unzipped. I think I am going to beg someone to put a corset in - it's an older style or it was mis-manufactured. It's the right size but it doesn't fit. Or the cut being tight is the issue - I'm not sure... Would you try a couple seamstresses to see if it's doable?

The first one . The other 2 don't hold a candle to it!!!

View Quoted Comment Yes, I would see if a seamstress can let it out a little. Did you try shapewear? If not, that may help too. That style or dress is supposed to be tight, but there's fits like a glove tight and then there's I can't breathe when it's zippered tight lol.

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I can zip it to my waist - I was thinking about adding a corset - but would that ruin it?

The first one looks amazing and I think the kids would still think you look like a bride in it. Obviously, how it feels is on you more important than how it looks to strangers. How tight is it? Can you breathe in it? Can you sit down? If not, or if you really feel best in the high low one, you could probably win your family over by steaming it and adding a belt/veil/tiara/whatever accessories so it looks more "bridal." At least it works that way on Say Yes to the Dress! In the end, you should just wear whatever you want. Your mom and the kids may have opinions now when everything is still kind of abstract, but in context (on the day of the wedding or in pictures) there will be no question about whether or not you look like a bride.

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I can breathe - it is tight across the hips but not by much. The issue is that the zipper won't go up just past my waist. I'm wondering about insisting that a corset be put in- rather than abandoning the dress altogether. But, would it look alright with a corset. I'm also still losing weight - consistently 1 pound per week for the past 3 months. So, I'm confident there will be wiggle room. I'm thinking about insisting that they let it out what they can - and add a corset. Hold off on hemming until we see if that's enough. Everything (to me) falls flat apart from that dress - and God knows I've tried others. I'm hung up on this dress.

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If you think* you'd be happy with the way it would look with a corset, that seems like a great option. Also, have you tried shapewear and/or asking someone else to zip it up the rest of the way for you? Sometimes you just need an extra set of hands. If it's really close to being able to zip (with help) a seamstress might be able to take it out enough to zip it all the way without having to add a corset.

*If you're unsure, think about whether the way the back looks now is part of why you love the dress. If it's not, how do you feel about corseted dresses on other people? If the current back of your dress has little to no impact on your feelings toward it and you have a positive or at least neutral feeling about corseted dresses generally, it makes sense to add one to yours. If not, it could make your decision more difficult.

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The back is simple. I wouldn't mind a corset - I don't love them or hate them. I would hate not wearing the dress. lol! Maybe I should just ask. I have a picture of it zipped half way... I really think it's that close. I'd pay for the corset because I'm either getting married in it or wearing it to vacuum once it fits. Do you know how much they cost?

The mermaid dress!!!! ALL THE WAY...LOOKS AMAZING ON YOU!

The back...

That mermaid style is gorgeous! I think your kids would definitely think you look like a bride in that one. A seamstress should be able to come up with a solution.

What I keep trying to wear... Appointment in an hour to see if we can salvage it... Cross everything!