♥ AW Bridal gifted me the three dresses featured in today’s blog post; all opinions are my own ♥
After nearly three years of wedding postponements and minimony announcements bearing promises of a “sequel wedding,” several friends have finally decided to consummate their multi-stage weddings this summer.
As excited as I am to celebrate the occasion with them, I am equally excited for the opportunity to shop for special occasion dresses.
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One e-tailer that I recently ordered from is AW Bridal, which offers their dresses in a wide range of colors (60+) and with free customization. The price points are extremely reasonable for dresses, many of which will also work as wedding guest options, with custom sizing: most come in at under $100.
While I was pleased with all three dresses that I selected, I liked the Graziosa Dress so much that I ordered it in another color. In “Purple Haze” (pictured below), it is reminiscent of Jules’s lavender dress in My Best Friend’s Wedding, but adapted for everyday. While the dress will need to be thoroughly unwrinkled before first wear, the mid-weight material has a beautiful drape and I can see it flattering many different body types.
While the Dallas Dress is extremely photogenic and the cut-out details are quite tasteful, the floral appliques and elastic back both look a bit shoddy when inspected closely. Further, the snap buttons that attach the off-the-shoulder sleeves to the dress may need to be reinforced as they were loose on the dress that I received. The degree of customization also feels more limited for organza dresses than for dresses made from chiffon or satin charmeuse.
The Peitha Dress is one option that I can see myself rewearing in the future as it is extremely comfortable to wear, easy to restyle, and has many classic details, like the sweetheart neckline, ruched bodice, and side slit. But I wished I had gone bolder with the color choice, as the navy fabric hides the lovely draping at the bust and sleeves.
For first-time AW Bridal shoppers, I would suggest trying dresses in a satin material and providing your measurements for a custom style to ensure the best fit. And do take advantage of the free fabric swatches that AW Bridal offers to avoid color surprises. You can also use code elle15 for 15% off your order.
Note that even though AW Bridal has an office in California, most orders ship from China and custom sizes have a 10-15 day lead time, so it may not be the best option for last-minute shoppers.
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Have a wonderful wedding season!
