Older Brides?

Well, I'm not an older bride, but I think for an older woman, it's about the silhouette and shape of the dress, and less about the details. I don't know if you like David's Bridal, but here are some dresses that I think might look really good on an older bride, but that's just me.

http://www.davidsbridal.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplayView?storeId=10052&catalogId=10051&categoryId=3001534¤tIdx=2&subCategory=-49999486%7c3001450%7c3001534&catentryId=6142360&sort=

http://www.davidsbridal.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplayView?storeId=10052&catalogId=10051&categoryId=3001534¤tIdx=20&subCategory=-49999486%7c3001450%7c3001534&catentryId=6097085&sort=

http://www.davidsbridal.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplayView?storeId=10052&catalogId=10051&categoryId=3001534¤tIdx=58&subCategory=-49999486%7c3001450%7c3001534&catentryId=6144080&sort=

Ran out of space.

Http://www.davidsbridal.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplayView?storeId=10052&catalogId=10051&categoryId=3001531¤tIdx=4&subCategory=-49999486|3001450|3001531&catentryId=6110595&sort=

I'd say, stay with classic shapes and a really nice silhouette. If you still think those dresses are too young then you can look at these styles http://www.davidsbridal.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10051&storeId=10052&categoryId=3001628¤tPage=0&subCategory=-49998947%7c3001471%7c3001628&pageSize=9999 or go with a really nice classic pantsuit. Anyways I hope those helped.

I'm 44, I went with a simple fitted dress (on my IB). I decided to go with a blush color because it's a beach wedding, not because I was staying away from white. The ivory/champagne or blush colors just looked better with my coloring.

I think you can look elegant and still look like a bride if you stay away from poufy princesses gowns

I'm 45 and I found mine at DB...it is trumpet style, rather form fitting with classic clean lines. The best part was that it was a dress that had been discontinued and was marked down from $800 to $99! Look on the internet at designers that offer the look you are going for, then call around to your local shops to see if they carry the line....happy hunting!

I am also 45, will be 46 on my wedding day. I have not found my dress yet, but I have actually been looking at bridesmaid dresses that come in ivory or champaigne. There are many designers out there that doe these dresses. I am also a plus size bride, so this makes it even more complicated. But the designers I like so far are PC Mary's (can be found on www.Marysbridal.com) and Aurora D'Paradiso (can be found on www.formalsource.com). Good luck in your search.

Well sounds like I'm the oldest of the bunch................I found my dress at a spot called Alawoo.com. They are based in China but the prices are amazing. My dress is ivory with Navy blue embroidery around the bodice and the hem. I didn't want an all white or all ivory dress but wanted to look elegant and somewhat different. It's an empire style and I love it. I will have turned 53 the month before our ceremony. BTW it takes about a month to get anything back from overseas if you choose a foreign vendor, but the prices are amazing! Good luck! Karen

@ Miriam, great suggestions. :>)

@ Sharon, we cant see you IB cause your profile is rescricted

@Camlynn2 would you mind sharing how the quality of your dress is? I am considering finding "the dress"and having it made cheaper b/c I dont want to blow so much on the dress.. But am Scared I will end up wasting the $ on the "cheaper" dress and end up getting the one I wanted after all (and have 2 dresses)

I'm 49 (I'll be 51 when I get married), and haven't tried any dresses on yet. But from the dresses I've looked at online, I know I'm staying away from strapless and "princess-y." Some of the dresses Miriam pointed to are the silouettes I've been looking at. I've also seen some mother of bride dresses that were gorgeous and didn't look very "motherly" at all! That might be an option as well.

Hahaha.. I forgot to post what I was going to give as an idea, b/c I was responding to other posts.

Jasmine bridal has wonderful dresses (I think MOB dresses can be ordered in white/ivory)

this is my favorite:

Heidi, I suppose I am not as particular about somethings as some folks. There were a few threads that needed to be clipped but nothing that would have made e change my mind. The dress ended up cossting me less than $150 with shipping and all. My camera is broken so I can't upload any pics but if you look on the Alawoo website under wedding apparel and scroll through you can easily find it. I just couldn't see spending hundreds or thousands on a dress I will surely only wear once. I almost bought a nice white suit for the same price!!!

I'm a plus size so it wasn'teasy to find something that would look good. There are a lot of vendors online and you can check shops in your area having sales. It's much easier for a BTB that wears let's say a 10 to find a dress than a bride who wears a 20!

Good luck in your search!!!

I was against strapless too until I fell in love with my dress. It has enough detailing to hide most of my flaws lol!!!

52yo/o and bought both my dresses at Davids. I stayed away from dresses that were too pouffy or ball gown types. Also when with ivory because the white just washed me out and dresses looke too bridal.

* Karen - I 'win' in the old department - 6 weeks shy of 55 when I get married! I will check out Alawoo.

* Dorothy - great websites - thanks!

* Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. I am sure this old bride will find just the right thing!

Thank you Camlynn2.

Trying to keep my options open. i havent tried anything on yet so I am still at the starting gate for this. But, want to be able to save $ w/ out losing much quality :>)

@CLM well God Bless ya!!! yes ma'am you do have me beat, lol!!!! Your date is 1 week before mine!!!! Congrats.............we're never too old to find love.

Ha ha - thanks Karen! And this is my first! I think Vegas odds would have had me as a bachlorette my whole life but I fell hard - with a guy I had gone to Junior & Senior High School with no less!!! Strange how life turns out ..... guess there was a reason why I waited so long!

Carolyn

I'm 49. Getting married in September. Turning 50 in October.

I cannot tell you how much time I wasted looking dresses on-line, trying to avoid going into a bridal shop. (Part of it is that I am plus size also.) I also didn't want to spend thousands of $$$ on a dress I would wear once.

If you are willing to go with something on-line - take a look at Martin McCrae http://martinmccrea.com/. I also toyed with Olivia Luca http://olivialuca.com/home/ or Dolly Couture http://www.dollycouture.com/.

I finally decided to visit Kathlin Argiro in Manhattan. (I see you are in Ramsey, so Manhattan is doable for you.) They advertise primarily as a bridesmaid shop, but they have white and ivory materials that you can use. It is one of those places where they offer you a number of silhouettes, and you can pick out the material and embellishments that you want.

They were wonderful (and they had plus size samples to try on). I had originally selected one silhouette, but then Kathlin came

Over and suggested another one, which looked much better on me. (I guess that is why she's the designer!)

I am getting the Long Present Silhouette (without the bow in the back), in ivory lace. They are also including cap sleeve straps - so it really won't be strapless on me. The cost is $650, plus tax and shipping (you have to arrange for your own alterations).

Anyway - I may have had more "issues" than you have - i.e., the whole plus size thing had me dreading the idea of going to a bridal salon. If you are slender, or normal, look at destination wedding dresses - some designers have separate lines for those.

I ordered the dress in the beginning of March and I should have it by the start of June. Time is running out if you are going to go the traditional route.

Good Luck!