The "perfect dress" dilemma/vent.

When you've tried on dresses, have the bridal consultants suggested any dresses for you? keep an open mind. I tried on 3 dresses that I absolutely ADORED. Not a single one of them were dresses that I picked out on my own - including the dress that I ultimately ordered. Certainly understand wanting the girls to stand out. It's absolutely important to feel sexy for your man! Look for v-neck or sweetheart neckline. Maybe even a halter - those are usually vnecks.

Another thing, when you go to try on dresses, get dolled up. Curl your hair or pin it up and put on some makeup. It really makes a difference in how you look & feel in the dress. And bring a pair of heels. If the dress is dragging the floor, it WILL look frumpy.

I get really pale in the winter too and I'm probably going to get an airbrush tan. Nothing drastic. Just enough to make it look sunkissed. I don't burn but I've seen enough old ladies who's skin looks like leather that it prohibits me from tanning! N

LoL. This one dress the consultant suggested. I put it on and came out and the first thing she said was "That's too old for you." So even she was having a hard time. Haha.

You may want to try on some mermaid style dresses too. The cut will make you look/ feel taller. Totally agree with the v-neck suggestion too, that will also help elongate you. Be open to everything. Also, stark white makes you look pale-er, and can also make you appear heavier. You may want to try some ivory toned dresses, or even a diamond white.

I had a hard time finding my dress, but that's because I'm really picky about my clothing. So I tried on a lot of designers and a lot of styles finding the dress I loved the most. I wouldn't call it the "perfect" dress, but I love it so much.

I would say not to worry about being pale...but what if you bought a tinted moisturizer and tried that?

FYI- wedding dresses are designed for someone who is 5'7", so bring heels!

So I am roughly around the same height and weight as you. If you got to my inspiration boards I have the dress I am wearing on there. It is by Christina Wu. I absolutely loved the dress when I put it on. Their was another dress that looked similiar to it by Alfred Angelo that I had seen in a magazine and the one I ended up getting is similar but you may like it. I don't know. Hope you find something you love though because that is so important.

I would try something that is pulled at the side at an angle at the waist and go with a nice sweetheart top, I feel your pain on the short and pale. I also made myself fall in love with a dress (mainly because it was on sale and it looked okay) and now here I am with 2 dresses because I went back to try on the first one again and found something I liked ALOT. Now I'm not saying I ever had that OMG this is my dress feeling I just liked way the dress looked at every angle.

What I ended up doing was going by myself and with my and the lady we tried on a fwe dresses until I found one I was happy with with no one else to nit-pick things they didn't like or point out things they did like that I didnt. That helped me out alot.

Good Luck

Yah, my only option is to go by myself because I'm in NY and all my friends and family are in ME. I'm just not having a good day today!!

I agree with ladylee and the other girls on here. Keep trying on dresses and be open to what the store associate says. Going with a sweetheart neck line (or halter) will accentuate the girls.

And I am also very pale and end up with a farmers tan, I get darker arms from sleeves down and this little v on my neck/chest area from where my shirts usually end. So I will also be going for an airbrush tan. But I will be only doing it to even out my skin tone, not to get darker, because I'm pale and don't want to not look like myself.

Since you have some time, you should try out the airbrush tanning now, find someone you like and try it out, that way you can see how it looks and decide if it's right for you!

Charlotte - If you'd like I have a few dresses in mind that you may like I could go ahead and send them over and you can look and see if you like them / tried them / or if any of your shops there have them. (I just bought my last dress last week so dresses are still on the top of my mind lol)

Charlotte, do you think that may be why you're not enjoying the dress shopping experience because you're not able to share it with your friends and fam?

I think that might be it. I miss home. A lot. I want the same experience with this all as everyone else, take your MoH and mom and go do it. But I get to Maine like once a month and its usually for 1 day. And it sucks. Like, we're going up in Dec, but we're going up like xmas eve (getting in maine at like 1am), then staying for xmas and then coming back. That and I am SO broke I can't IMAGINE spending like $400 on a dress I'm wearing once. But, the dresses I think I might like are atleast that. I'm just tired from it all. I'm headed to work, but I might be able to get on from my phone. Ttyl.

I would agree with the others about trying on more dresses and eventually you will find one, also keeping a very open mind as to what you want. When I tried on dresses there were several times I was either in tears or near tears because of the way the dresses were or were not fitting. Eventually I did find the perfect dress and it was nothing like what I had pictures originally.

For the tanning part, if you really want the tan coloring, I recommend spray tanning, either with a person at a salon or the Mystic. Both have always worked really well for me because I burn as well and don't want cancer!

Keep your chin up, you will find that perfect dress!

Awwwwww. Well ... not sure what type of dress you're looking for but here's a few i found on nordstrom's website. they have a handful of bridal dresses and they're not terribly expensive.

This one's $178 and is available in petite and I believe "the girls" will do it justice http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2984554/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6014155?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6014155&P=1

Here's a link to the entire collection: http://shop.nordstrom.com/C/6014155/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6014155?mediumthumbnail=Y&Category=6014155&boutique=dress_shop&viewAll=1

One thing I found (at least for myself) w/being short is that dresses w/a lot going on below the waist like pick ups or beading and what not appeared to weigh me down and look shorter and frumpy. Keep trying and try different stores b/c finding a great consultant will help. Like ladylee the dress I bought was the one (and the only one) the consultant pulled for me! I would have never tried it on if it weren't for her suggestion. Good luck and let us know when you do find "the one"!

Hey there! Don't worry dear, I am probably 10 X more pale than you, lol! IVORY is the way to go. I knew it right off the bat. And, low and behold, the dress I bought is Ivory and it looks great with my skin. Give that color a try.

Good luck!

Hello There! I definatley agree with the sometimes grueling process that brides endure when trying to find the perfect dress. I would suggest something with an empire waist or mermaid to add length as well as a waistline. Try going with ivory or off white shades instead of white which may wash you out and may not make your lovely skin look as creamy as it should in photos.

As for self esteem, just remember that you are marrying a man who loves you so much that he wants to spend the rest of his life with you. You are valuable. So no matter what dress you wear, you will still be a beauty in his eyes.

Also, have you tried vintage or a dress that may have been previously loved before, on sites like ebay,craigslist, etc? You will definately not break your bank and you will fill better knowing you are not going into debt over a dress.

Much success to you in your search!

Have you tried spray tanning?

I looked at your pics and you are a beautiful girl.

I think very pale skin is georgous. Try going to one of the make up counters at a department store and having professional make up. You really have model skin!

I loved the Nordstrom dress that ladylee posted.

I am short as well and I have found that the empire waist dress with a fitted waist makes me look taller and slimmer. The halter with empire waist will probably look great and show off the "girls" too!

Hey Charlotte. I'm in NY too! I recommend you try on empire waist dresses. I too am short and know how you feel and empire waist dresses are best for ladies of our hight. Also maybe go for an off white dress so that you don't feel pale. A white dress on fair skin actually makes you feel more pale. Hope that helps a bit and good luck with everything.