The Dress

Silk gazar wedding dress with embroidered bodice and ruched waist detail - Reem Acra
I was drawn to this dress because it reminded me of Kate Middleton's wedding dress, with an edgier twist. If you have similar body type as me (straight with wide hips), the dress is very flattering since it cinches you at the tiniest part of your waist and has pads that shapes the bust and keeps everything where it should stay. I was able to dance, eat, sit and stand without having to sacrifice any style.
The dress was purchased from Kleinfield's in New York City and worn once at my wedding in September 2018. The dress is a Reem Acra design with an original retail price $8,999. If you see the dress in person, particularly the shiny beaded lace in the bodice you'll understand the price point.
Given how delicate the dress is, I intentionally worked with a wedding dress shop (not the neighborhood laundromat) to have the dress cleaned and add a bustle. This obviously cost me way more but I didn't want to take any risks with this beautiful gown. The dress has been dry-cleaned since it's been worn so you won't need to pay for cleaning prior to wearing.
The bodice is so intricate and beautiful that the only other accessories I wore were a pair of earrings. I kept my bouquet small and wore a very plain veil so as to not take away from the dress(which I received tons of compliments on).
Feel free to reach out with any questions! If you are in the area we can arrange for a meet-up either in Brooklyn or somewhere closeby.
The dress has been professionally cleaned since I wore it (see last picture).

Alterations

Minimal alterations - bustle and an inch off the bottom (note I am 5’7” and was 5’9” with heels on my wedding day)