The White Dresses, Part 1

If you've seen Inception, you know that an once an idea is implanted in your brain it grows like a seed and sometimes its hard to tell where it came from. So-- I don't know where, when, or how my idea was planted, but somehow I've always just known I would wear my Mother's dress.

I never dreamed of big fancy white dresses or princess gowns, and since I've worn so many costumes throughout my performing years, I didn't want to feel like I was wearing a costume and performing a bride. Mom Barrettes' dress is pretty and simple and perfect, but it needs a 'punch' to update it a tad. While I want to wear her dress, I'm not thrilled with the idea of going back to the 1980's!

(Mom Barrettes on her wedding day- 08/30/80)

Soooo....we're taking this:

(please forgive the blank stare, I must have been hungry!)

and turning the top into this:

(source)

What do you think? Totally doable right? The seamstress seems to think it will be an easy enough alteration and I'm sure we can do something fun with the sleeves. My least favorite body parts are my trapezius muscles (connecting neck and back) and the highneck/cap sleeve/sweetheart neckline combo looks very flattering on me. But here's the catch: I won't be trying on the altered dress until 5 weeks before the wedding. I'm crossing my fingers everything goes as planned. If not, you will witness a Barrettes Breakdown.

The thing is, Mom Barrettes' dress isn't made to cut loose on the dancefloor. There is going to be a lot of booty shaking going on. Haaaaay! Hence, the need for my own sassy white cocktail dress. I went on an internet hunt for white dresses and my search came to an abrupt halt when I stumbled upon this beauty:

(source)

*gasp* Hi have you met me? I love satin bows! I can't get enough of this dress and can stare at it for hours without blinking. I mean, it's perfect. It's Marchesa. And it's out of my price range. MOH tried to get some of his stylist friends to locate it and perhaps pull it for one night, but Mom Barrettes quickly reminded me that I do not want to be responsible for a dress that is not in the budget. 

A re-creation of this dress can be done by a popular LA dressmaker, but it's going to cost me $1000+ . And while I'm in love with it, I know we can find a super cute white cocktail dress in NYC or LA for under $500. That money is better put to use elsewhere. Lil' white dress hunt continues....

Did you ever think about wearing your mother's dress? Are you wearing 2 dresses? Did you have to sacrifice your dream dress for the sake of your wedding budget?