Anyone else feel hideous in their wedding dress?

Maybe it's just nerves. Can you post pics?

I went shopping for a new dress weeks before my wedding because I had second thoughts about the original, but I'm glad I kept mine in the end.

Amanda, I'm sure it's not the dress, it's your self esteem issues. I remember your other post(s) about it.

I am yet to see a bride I think is ugly and who *ruined* her pictures. The pics are a documentation of your wedding day. You're not a piece of decor in them.

Post the pics, I'm sure you're wrong.

I think it is due at least partially to the pressure of the whole thing. This was the dress before alterations. Frankly I think it looks worse now - they tightened it up too much at the top and I feel I look huge from the side (sorry no picture from the side)

It makes me feel a little better that someone else questioned their decision. I'm glad you ended up liking it.

http://i.imgur.com/qu0m9.jpg

Mrs S - I'm 99% sure you're right. I have post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from sexual abuse as a child, and it's really affected how I feel about myself. It's coming to a head with this though because it's the one day I really wanted to feel good about myself.

Oh my God, I love that dress on you. It's stunning

I think you look very nice in that dress. You are not huge at all. I hope you get some confidence before your wedding otherwise you will hate yourself in all the pics. Just remember your FH loves you and thinks you are beautiful and wants to spend his life with you. Try to get help for your self esteem.

Amanda that is a beautiful gown, u look amazing in it. I am so sorry that you had to go through that as a child.

I think your dress is beautiful AND it looks great on you! I can only hope to find something that well-suited to me!

Girl, you are rocking that dress! You look beautiful in it. It's a gorgeous dress - you should be excited about wearing it!

Every time you think a negative thought about yourself, counter it with a positive one. It truly helps.

You are gorgeous in that dress! You do not look a bit fat! I am not being nice, I am being completely honest. Just wait until your day, when you have the dress, the shoes...make up, beautiful hair, and all your other accessories. I bet you will feel like a princess!

Thank you ladies - I'm sorry for being so needy. As I said, I'm just really insecure about it because it's the only day I feel like I really need to look nice, but my esteem problems don't let me feel that way. You're all right though - my husband will think I look great, I should try to counter my negative thinking, and perhaps on the day I'll feel entirely different (cross-fingers)

I felt hideous in mine but everyone said it looked good. I still don't really like it but it did look good in photos! Sometimes I think we are too critical of ourselves. We see everything about our bodies.. every little imperfection and they stick out to us. But other people don't seem to notice as much.

You look super tiny in your profile photo and I don't see any of your imperfections. You will notice them because you have had your body your whole life. Everyone will see how gorgeous you are the day of.

And you will feel good about yourself. You're a gorgeous girl and that dress is perfect for you.

I know it's a lot of pressure and I can only imagine the demons you're fighting. But it's the day you're going to marry the love of your life. You've spent so much time preparing for it. You will be surrounded with love, support, and affection.

Once you have your hair and makeup done, you get into your dress, and you start walking down the aisle, you will feel like a million bucks. It's a new beginning.

Amanda, you my dear are not hideous you are the opposite of that... I think on your wedding day with your hair and make up done you will see what we are all saying ... try to picture it all put together.

I know it isn't the same... but for my senior prom I went and bought this dress that was 500 $ and was the most beautiful dress I had ever seen... went to get it the week before prom and they ordered the wrong size and color and didn't have enough time to get the right dress... I had to settle for a dress I was not happy about and hated all week long I cried but when I got my hair make up and jewelry on I fell in love with it!

I love you in the dress. FAT? WHERE? You look awesome!

Thank you again ladies. Seriously you have me in tears (and they're the good kind for a change!) It's just so hard for me to try to see what other people do. I hate myself so much I don't leave my house (seriously - not even to get groceries) It makes me angry that the monster who assaulted me still manages to ruin my life some 28 years later. Your support means the world.

Please know you are very beautiful ... don't let anyone tell you differently!

Are you in therapy?

@Mrs. S. Yes - I'm in an intensive 8 week program at one of our countries best hospital. It specializes in women recovering from abuse. But I've only had therapy for the last 4 weeks versus an entire lifetime trying to cope with it myself, so it'll probably take a long while to rewire my brain.

True, but it's possible. I worked with refugees for some time. Many of them were victims of prolonged sexual abuse. So in addition to that, they also lost their homes, families, and witnessed incredible cruelty. It's truly inspiring to see these women take control over their lives and learn to cope.

So I know it's going to take a while and your wedding is coming up. In meantime trust us, you know we're telling you the truth :-) That's a WW blessing and curse.