That’s it, then.
Kasia January 31st, 2008
I’ve just ordered a clearance dress from Eternity Store. I’m not 100% sure I’ll like how it looks on, but that’s an issue whether you go with an online dress or a conventional bridal salon, where they stock your dress in a size 8 or 10 if anything, and when you order your size you are committing to buy it. But it’s a nice, simple design; it’s got sleeves (very important!); and best of all, it’s a fantastic price. All told (including the fat girl extra material tax, shipping, and a garment bag) it cost $220. At that price, I can afford to have the alterations done professionally if my seamstress friend doesn’t feel equal to them, and I’m not spending a quarter of our non-food wedding budget on my outfit.
I’ll feel better when it arrives; but in the meantime, I’m feeling pretty good.
** Per a request in the combox, I’ve linked to the dress I ordered. **
That’s awesome! Will you post a pic when it arrives or is it a secret reveal for the weddin’?
I’ll post a pic of the dress on a model from the site, but I think I’ll hold off on pics that include me until the wedding…
It looks like a nice dress.
I’m sure you will look fabulous in it! (and truly express the dignity of the feminine body — Hahaha, never post right after reading about the Theology of the Body….) 
Beautiful! Simple, elegant, perfect!
Well, yes - on the model it’s beautiful, simple, elegant, perfect - what Michelle said. What remains to be seen is whether it will look simple and elegant on me, or whether I’ll just look frumpy.
I’ll keep y’all posted - I got an e-mail from UPS saying the shipping process has been initiated, but since it’s going ground from Utah it’ll probably not be here until the middle or end of next week.
That is a great dress. That’s exactly what you were looking for right? I showed it to my mom and she liked it.
Keep me posted on how the process goes. There are a couple dresses on their site that I liked but I’m wary of ordering a wedding dress online.
It’s beautiful.
Julia - it’s very close to what I was looking for. Ideally I wanted long sleeves (not 3/4), no train, and more of a true A-line skirt rather than a flared sheath…but it’s close enough.
Sara - Eternity Store is simply the online vendor supplying these dresses. There may be a store in your area that carries the same dresses. Check the store locator. I don’t think the Ohio stores are anywhere near you (though I’m really not up on my Ohio geography), but the stores in Kentucky might not be too far. And if there IS a store in your area, the Web site can’t ship a dress to you - they have contractual obligations to not undercut the local stores.
However, bear in mind that most conventional bridal salons don’t truly “carry” the dresses they offer. They simply have the ability to order them, and if they order one for you, you’re usually committing to buy it. My recommendation would be to let your fingers do the walking and see if any stores actually HAVE these in stock, so you can get a sense of whether you like them.
I also noted that Eternity Store’s web site lets you return a dress for a nominal restocking fee. Food for thought…
One other point: BE SURE you use their size guide and have someone who knows what they’re doing measure you. When I was at a bridal salon that had some of their dresses in stock (a 12, a 16, and an 18), I was astonished at how small they run. (They’re made in China, so I think they’re geared to Chinese sizing.) I normally wear a 16, maybe an 18 in a few labels. I ended up ordering a 22. Again, something to bear in mind…
I think it’s hard to find long sleeve anything now in women’s clothing. I do prefer elbow length or so because I always end up pushing my sleeves up. But you might like long sleeves. On a plus side, if you wear the dress for the reception you won’t run the risk of say, getting food or something on your sleeves. But of course after working in a laundry I get paranoid about stains.
The dress is elegant- curious that it would be the Latter Day Saints- Mormons who would design and sell them?
I don’t know if the dresses are designed and sold by the Mormons per se, but they are definitely catering to a Mormon audience. The Mormons have very specific guidelines about what a bride is permitted to wear for her wedding ceremony (and quite a lot of other things), and one of the stipulations is that her temple undergarments have to be covered, though apparently a lot of Mormon brides use white bodysuits under more conventional dresses to meet the modesty standards. But having those undergarments does standardize modesty requirements a lot more than most Christian and post-Christian faiths have thought to do…
Awesome sister!