i bought my dress because my mom liked it...

Clearly you’re already set on exchanging the dress. Both have a very different look, but I agree that the second looks more appropriate for a helicopter wedding. You’re just going to have to tell your mom. It’s not that you don’t like the first one, you just found one that you love. This can’t possibly be the first time you’ve disagreed on something. However I suspect that when she sees you in the second and can see how happy it makes you, she will change her mind.

You are right. I do really like the first dress, and In a more formal ceremony I wouldn’t hesitate to wear it for a second. It’s beautiful, but it isn’t going to work for my wedding as far as comfort, style and functionality goes. I know she will understand....I just hope the guilty feeling does away. Thank you for responding!

How about this:
1) Tell your mom her input is Hugely important to you.
2) Tell her the gown you’ve gotten just won’t work for what your wedding day is- and explain what that vision Is.
3) Tell her you want to have her help find a gown that fits the Helicopter in Vegas look
4) Try the second dress on, you like it but didn’t sound @IN LOVE” with it, am I right?, and a few others like it- with mom there- and pick one you both like.

Just be honest with her. I’m sure she will be fine. BTW it’s beautiful and I don’t think the back is too open at all.

Dress one is the same dress I bought! I do love the second dress for the type of wedding you're having. Does your mom not like that one at all? I think if you sat her down and explain why you don't want the first dress, I'm sure she'd understand. You're her daughter, I'm sure you could put on lots of beautiful dresses that might bring her to tears

Both are beautiful but you have to end up with the dress your in love with. You have to put your guilt aside and do what is right for you otherwise you will regret it. Personally the 1st is more of my style but like I’ve said you have to have the dress that is your style, not your mom’s or anyone else’s. Explain this to your mom and how you’ve been feeling guilty. She would understand.

I really think the first dress is gorgeous. It’s a beautiful dress and flatters my figure and covers me in all my insecure places. The problem with it is it’s very formal and not the most comfortable thing in the world. I’ll be sitting in a helicopter for my vows and then doing a 2 hour Vegas strip tour directly after the wedding for photos and I know I won’t be comfortable and the 1st dress will be wrinkled for photos. The 2nd dress is more my style and is lighter and more comfortable to wear sitting down in a helicopter and then walking around in the Vegas heat. It just goes better with the style of my wedding and my needs for the day. I knew it the day I tried these dresses on, but my mom lives the first one so much I couldn’t say no. If I was getting married in a church or a more formal location, I wouldn’t even hesitate about the first dress.

Both dresses are gorgeous. I'd go with the one you love

You have to do what you want because it is your day. Would you be okay looking back at your wedding pictures or would you look at them and wish you had a different dress? My Mom didn't like the dress I picked out but I still bought it because I absolutely loved it! My opinion mattered more than hers on the dress because I will be the one to look at my wedding album for years to come not her. Same goes for you, Moms opinion is appreciated but if it's not the dress you want and you don't absolutely love it then you need to be honest with her about it and do what makes you happy.

I can SO relate. I fell in love with a dress while shopping, on my second trip dress shopping ever, and my MiL did not love it like I did... So I didn't say yes. I felt hugely guilty about saying yes to a dress she didn't love as much as I did. At the end of the day though, she'll understand and be happy for you no matter what you are wearing. And she got to see you in the dress of her dreams anyways, pictures will always last. But the memories will always be of you in the dress you got married in - and that's something that will stick with you more than anyone else I feel like. It's not uncommon to feel guilty, but don't. She'll support you no matter what. Ps I love dress #2 for your occasion too

I exchanged the dress and for the one I originally wanted and I feel 100% better!