Happy MLK Jr. Day and thank you for all of your kind comments on my sister’s engagement story! I promised to share parts of the wedding planning process, so I thought I’d fill you in on the latest wedding development: bridesmaid dress shopping.
I’m back at UNC now for my spring semester, but over Christmas break, Marissa and I went shopping for bridesmaid dresses in Raleigh. We wanted to also shop for her wedding dress over the break, but she realized it wouldn’t make sense to buy a dress in Raleigh and then have to keep coming back to Raleigh for alterations when she’s living in Baltimore.
So, sadly she had to shop for her dress in Baltimore on her own before the break, sending us live text updates and pictures the whole time so my mom and I could be there in spirit. She found a beautiful dress at a boutique there.
Then, when Marissa was in Raleigh, we headed to David’s Bridal one morning after the gym to check out their selection of bridesmaid dresses. Although she’d purchased her wedding dress at a local spot, Marissa decided to pick bridesmaid dresses from a chain like David’s Bridal so her bridesmaids could easily try on and purchase their dresses at a location near them since her five bridesmaids currently live all over the East Coast.
Since I’d never shopped at a place like this before, I didn’t know how things work. Basically, they only have a few of each dress and style and size in stock, so you try on the style of dress you want, and then may have to also separately try other dresses on for color and size.
First, we had to pick a color. Marissa was really open to my suggestions and input, and we both really liked this mint green color, which is perfect for her planned spring wedding date in late May. And if the fit looks funny, that’s because it was– this dress was about 16 sizes too big so it’s majorly pinned in the back.
Next, we had to decide on the dress style. These were the two favorites and as you can see, they were pretty similar, with just slightly different bodices and a ruffle/no ruffle. Neither one of us had extremely strong opinions, but I did prefer no ruffle. The simpler, the better, right?
After I tried just a few dresses on, Marissa and I settled on the cobalt blue dress’s style (no ruffle) in the mint green color. It was hard to visualize exactly what the combination would look like, so I was excited to try on the real deal later. I paid for it at the store (and bridesmaid dresses just so happened to be $30 off if you purchased them before the New Year- score!) and arranged for it to be shipped to me in Chapel Hill.
The woman who helped me order the dress said I’d receive it in 6-8 weeks and I prepared myself for a long wait, so imagine my surprise when I picked up a package from the campus package center on Friday and found my dress inside, just two weeks later!
Now, all I have to do is get it altered to take a couple of inches off the bottom. Getting a dress hemmed is definitely a first for me since I’m 5’7,” but it’s pretty long, especially since we’ll be wearing flats instead of heels at her outdoor wedding. So, just like that, bridesmaid dresses: ✔️
I got to meet up with Marissa and her fiancée, Alex, on Saturday for lunch one last time before they drive back to Baltimore for their spring semester at Johns Hopkins.
We met at a Chipotle halfway between UNC’s campus and my parent’s house. They treated me to lunch, hand-delivered a save-the-date AND brought homemade brownies. How sweet are they?
I can’t express how thrilled I am for my sister to have found a guy who loves her so well and makes her so happy. Alex already acts like a big brother in the best possible way, and I’m excited for him to join our family. I cannot WAIT for May 28th!
Hope you have a great MLK Jr. Day and I’ll be back soon with other life posts and some new recipes for you!
Absolutely love the dress! Such a pretty color and I love the style of it.
Thanks, Brie! I love the style, too!
LOVE that dress. That color looks so good on you Liv!
Thanks, Alyssa! I wasn’t sure how I felt about mint green at first when I saw it online but I loved it in person!
WOW that is an incredible color Liv; that’s wonderful that your sister got her dress already too. 🙂 Are you all wearing different colors? And I love simpler too.
Thanks, Emily! I think it’s a fun and unique color! All of the bridesmaids are wearing the same color & style of dress, so Marissa and I picked it out (since no one else was in town) and then let everyone else know what to order!
That dress looks so beautiful on you Liv! I love reading about wedding preparations and can only imagine how excited your family are for May 🙂
xx
Thank you, Charlotte!! I love reading about the behind-the-scenes parts of weddings, too 🙂
I can hardly wait to see all the beautiful bridesmaids! Thanks for sharing.
Of course- I love sharing these stories!
Yay congrats to your sister and her fiancé! They are such a cute couple! Also LOVE that dress, it looks amazing on you <3
Thanks so much, girl!
You look stunning in every dress! Such a fun season!
Thanks so much, Faith!
How exciting that your sister has found her dress already! She doesn’t mess around! 😛
Your dress is perfect for you – that colour and style is so you!
Right?! She’s not wasting any time 🙂 apparently with alterations, it can take 6+ months to get the dress ready!
YAY FOR YOUR SISTER!!!! 😀 😀 😀 😀
When I got married in November… I had all my bridesmaids pick the style they wanted – and just gave them the color COBALT BLUE as the guide line. I think it turned out really really well, and I will re-confirm this on Saturday when I get all my wedding pics back! WAHOO!
Oh that’s awesome! Hope you’ll share some wedding pics on your blog 🙂
You look beautiful in the dress! I love the simple elegant style and the color is great!
Wow thank you, Jennifer!
I am so excited for Marissa and your family! I can’t help but think of you as cute little girls that giggled and liked to baked cookies and now you are such beautiful young women! =) I’ll be praying for Marissa and Alex as they patiently wait to begin this new and very wonderful adventure! Give my love to your family!
Thank you so much, Casey! We still have really great memories of baking Neiman Marcus cookies with butterscotch chips with you and driving in your car listening to “Can’t Touch This” (basically the best weekend of our young lives haha!) You were so sweet to us!
You look absolutely beautiful!
O I love it! That color is perfect!
I love love love reading wedding posts, so seriously, post as many as you want 😛 Your dress is so elegant and the color is perfect for the season of the wedding! Not to mention, you look gorgeous in it! <3
Thank you so much, Claire!! I always appreciate your sweet comments!
CONGRATS to your sister!! That’s so exciting babe!! also- you’re so gorgeous!! Ummm… model status much??? So pretty babe and I love the style/ color!
xoxo Cailee!
Thank you for sharing this experience, and it looks like a fun process. I love the dress and color that was chosen!
Definitely a fun experience! Thanks, McKenzie!
I love this post!you also looking gorgeous in these dresses.Am also very happy for your sister.All the dresses in your post which shows that David’s Bridal has a beautiful range of dresses.Am sure that after reading your post a lot of girls will definitely get there dresses.
Thanks for share.
Very pretty dresses, thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Liv for sharing your great experience. It will help me a lot when I would go shopping for bridesmaid dresses.