Finding the right dress

Have you checked Stillwhite? You may be able to find the dress that you love and your size for a lower price, and it comes in normal shipping time.
Do you by any chance have pictures of the dress you love?

Also check on Poshmark, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace for the dress you love! You may be able to find it for way cheaper than a bridal salon and either in your size or a close enough size that can be altered.

This is the worst! I told my consultants my budget and style, they found one that they thought I would LOVE and boy, I did. It was literally $2,000 over my budget. I literally cried knowing I couldn't afford it, it was a little traumatic LOL. I was sick about it for weeks - dramatic I know.

I agree with Lisa! You may be able to find a gorgeous dress used (if you don't mind that) from Facebook Marketplace or Ebay!

View Quoted Comment Ugh, that would make me so mad. I tried on one over budget but my consultant was very clear about it before she even showed it to me. She was like “I think this is what you want, but btw it’s this much over budget. I will not bring it out unless you okay that.” I did okay it, I tried it on, it was very nice, then she tried to talk me into it, & I decided going over budget on my dress wasn’t something I wanted. I ended up buying another dress from that store. But someone not telling me it was over would have been an instant “out of there ASAP.”

View Quoted Comment I'll check out the stores! I wouldn't mind a used dress - I'm donating the fabric afterwards - and I'd like to be under $500. I also would want to see/try on the dress before I bought it. I've been burnt by buying clothes online s I'd be worried that I did like something when I see it in person lol.
Also I don't have a picture of the dress, and it as a consignment shop I went to first. The dress was too small, but I found it online. But the dress is Allure Romantic 3265 in white. It's sparkly and poofy, but I don't want to spend over a thousand dollars for something I'll wear once and then will just donate

Is this the dress? https://allurebridals.com/style/3265 I'm just a little confused because that particular gown isn't sold in white as far as I can tell- only ivory and a champagne color. I found one in ivory on stillwhite ( https://www.stillwhite.com/202063-allure-romance ) for $650, but you could always make an offer.

View Quoted Comment That's the dress. I have a picture of the tag and yup it's ivory, my bad lol. That's great! The only problem is I'm about a size 18 right now lol.

Thank you all for your comments! These are already so helpful and I only posted two hours ago!

I agree that if you want this specific dress, one of the used sites is the way to go. I do want to ask though...do you know your size in THIS dress? Bridal sizing seems all over & in the brand I’ve bought I’m 3 sizes above my street size...another brand I was measured into I was only 1 size above. I had actually debated buying secondhand but having to determine a) if the listed size was brand sizing or street sizing, b) if the alterations would mean it wouldn’t fit, & c) what my size in each brand would be...was all too much haha. I have a friend who bought her dress on stillwhite, but she had tried on that exact dress & been measured, so she knew her size & found an unaltered dress.


If you end up looking elsewhere for another dress, I would try BHLDN or off the rack at a local store!

View Quoted Comment Ah gotcha! Is that a size 18 in bridal or street size? I saw one on preownedweddingdresses in a size 14

View Quoted Comment My measurements for Azazie were a size 18ish but needed alterations to fit me better.
So I'm not really sure what the difference between street and brand sizing is. And I really don't want to buy the dress and have it not fit. I can post my measurements if needed.

The dress I wanted was at a consignment store for $800, and it was a size 8. I picked it because I was instantly in love with it and tried it on (more of a holding it to look at it lol). And was still in love, but the cost of altering that to my size would have been very expensive and the essence of the dress wouldn't have stayed the same in my mind.

I've checked David's and local shops and they either don't carry a lot of cute size 18s or start at $900, and that is a negative ghost rider.

View Quoted Comment I know nothing about Allure sizing, or if Azazie is more street or bridal, so I won’t be able to help there (maybe someone else can!). My point was that they all seem to vary & I (personally) would worry about buying secondhand unless I was fairly confident in the size I needed or returns are possible.


I do think you made a good call—from what I’ve heard, buying too big is okay, buying too small can really backfire. And both can be expensive if you are way too far in either direction.
I’m not sure how much you hope for THIS particular dress, but I know you’ll find something that works! There are so many lovely dresses in the world.

Https://poshmark.com/listing/Size-18-Allure-Bridal-Wedding-Dress-6033e46fc936af1957f8c267?l_con=NWT%2FNEW&gclsrc=aw.ds&utm_source=gdm&utm_campaign=11560144720&campaign_id=11560144720&ad_partner=google&gskid=pla-1075453771874&gcid=477582625668&ggid=112050314105&gdid=m&g_network=g&enable_guest_buy_flow=true&gclid=CjwKCAjw6fCCBhBNEiwAem5SO6tllNaULtxIMKEkQbIjUkucfJIRhE88vAEKO0KgTNq4k7adAGyk0BoCLIIQAvD_BwE



Size 18

View Quoted Comment I worked in bridal for three years, if you send me your measurements, I’d be more than happy to walk you through the size chart

You can also try cocomelody they have a lot of dupes.

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Ooo! I'll check that one out too!

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Thanks!

Bust : 45.5"

Waist: 41"

Hips: 46"

Height: 63"

Height to Hollow: 53.5"

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Okay here we go! I've highlighted the relevant size chart and underlined what size your measurements have you falling under. You're between a few sizes, which is typical, I've only ever met two people who fit the size chart exactly. Unfortunately, height will not matter with this dress- all of Allure's gowns are scaled to fit someone who is 5'10". Unless you order for a custom height (which, considering your budget, I would not recommend), you are going to need a hem. Luckily, for the 3265, a hem is very easy. The tulle layers would just get trimmed with sharp scissors, and there's only one layer of lining to hem.

For this particular dress, since it has an open back and a fuller skirt, the bust and hip measurements are flexible, but the waist needs to fit properly.

Onto sizing! Your bust (45.5) is putting you in between and 18 and a 20. Your waist (41) puts you in a size 22. Your hips (46) put you in a size 16. Like I said, this is totally normal to be between sizes. It's also normal for your "bridal" size to be larger than your typical clothing size (rule of thumb is to add two sizes, so a 10 becomes a 14, 16 becomes a 20, etc). As I said before, bust and hips have wiggle room, but with this particular dress the waist needs to be perfect. If I were selling you the Allure Romance 3265, I would strongly recommend trying to get a size 22. Please let me know if you have any other questions about sizing for this dress or any others! I hope this was helpful

Okay holy cow!!!! I can't believe this, I was on preowned wedding dresses and I found the dress!!!! It's a size 24 and it's selling for $495!!!!!