The Dress

I LOVED my wedding dress! It fit like a dream and was perfect for my outdoor wedding in a redwood grove in California. I wore the dress for my entire wedding, but it has been dry cleaned and looks spectacular.

When I was looking for a dress, I wanted something more casual to go with the outdoor wedding (I had a very strong idea that it was going to be a tea-length dress) while also being classic. I went to several different boutiques to find the dress that I wanted, and after hearing what I liked or didn't like about the various styles I was trying on, each attendant at every boutique I went to suggested I try this dress on from Allure. One attendant said it was part of the style they typically show people who are having beachy or destination weddings.

It kept popping up at the boutiques I went to and every time I tried it on, I fell more in love with the style. Some of the key deciding factors for me in choosing this dress: it felt like me when I put it on; I have very sensitive skin and it shows irritation very easily (woo pale skin, haha) so I wanted soft fabric that wouldn't cause irritation (ie, no sequins, beading, etc), and I wanted something flowy that also had structure for my body type.

Alterations

I'm 5'3" and wore flats to my wedding and the dress was actually maybe a bit too long (I would suggest getting it hemmed a touch more if you're not wearing heels.) The torso was shortened to accommodate a 5'3" person.

The train was trimmed so it's not as long as the original, but is perfect if you're looking for a dress where you don't need help/assistance to go to the bathroom during your evening.

I had cap sleeves added with the same lace fabric, but if you want the original sleeveless dress, they should be easy to remove.

Again, I loved, loved this dress - I was able to dance, move around and sit freely. It's perfect for taking in if you are 5'3" or shorter and a street size 24 or smaller.