Honest Answers Please

I like the dress you’re wearing. Has it been altered yet? I also like the other picture you posted, I think the dress is super cute and I love the bottom of it. Would it be in your budget to purchase another dress? Do you think it’ll arrive on time and you’ll be able to get it altered before your wedding?

View Quoted Comment It hasn’t been altered yet, no. If I get it altered I’d shorten the torso/bring up the skirt a little and shorten the sleeves.
We /could/ afford to purchase a new dress, but I’d be staying late at work etc to feel comfortable doing that.

I also would have a little time but it would be tight if it needed too many alterations

It is very difficult to tell from pictures how a dress will look on and make you feel. Sometimes brides will have a style or silhouette in mind but end up falling in love with a dress that is the opposite. My recommendation is to go to a bridal salon to try on a variety of dresses in different silhouettes to get a better idea of what shapes, fabrics, etc. you like and do not like!

View Quoted Comment Would you not want to get it altered? I don’t think anything is wrong with the dress personally. But if you don’t like it, I’d agree with Natalie and say try to go to a bridal shop and try on some dresses you like to get a better feel of it.

I think the one you’re wearing will look great once it’s altered. I think a lot of stress regret happens from looking at a dress before it’s altered to fit and in poor lighting. Your dress is beautiful, but it hasn’t been tailored to you yet and you’re backlit. I bet if you even took the photo facing the other way (facing the light), you’d like the dress better because you’d get a better look at how others will see the dress. Once it’s properly altered (and I do think your proposed alterations are good ones), I think it will look great. The sweetheart neckline is very flattering, and it’s unique.

Most bridal gowns don’t fit anyone correctly, even if you order to your exact measurements. Most people get alterations. Around me you could get alterations within a month or so, altho it’s ideal to give your seamstress at least 3 months.

Out of the two you’ve shown I’d pick the one you have on! As hard as it is I’d go to a bridal store and try some others on! You can get an idea of what you like! I’ve seen several people buy their dresses off SHEIN and Amazon for fairly cheap then you can get it altered to what you need! I know what I went into get and what I got are night and day different. Don’t be scared to try I’m a girl who has maybe worn a dress less then five times my entire life and I’m 40!

The sleeves on the last one just look lil big I think the other would be better if the sleeves didn't look baggy like and lil more form fitting it would be fine