Dessy's Next Trick

Dessy 1019

Dessy Dresses are a tricky business-- a lot of times you can find a similar look for a little less elsewhere, and my final verdict on their LBD experiment stands: you have to be careful or you're not really getting a deal! They have a new program called Sample on Loan which boasts one upside for the busy bride on the go; they will send you a sample to try on at home! 

There are a few ways this could be a total rip off, so let's check out the details.

The Premise: You pay Dessy $35 to ship you a sample that may or may not be the proper size so that you can hang on to it for 2 days, try it on, wear it around the house, take it to dance lessons, what have you. 

The Ins and Outs: You get the dress (from the After Six Collection) and a pre-paid adhesive shipping label in the mail, you keep the dress for 48hrs. If you haven't returned it in time you are charged an extra $20/day. Dessy MAY be able to send you more than one dress at a time, for another $35. Your size may also not be available, so they will send you the "closest" size possible-- no word on whether that's one size up or one size down, but I would assume one size up.

The Ups and Downs: If you're planning on a budget, $35 to rent a dress for two days may not be the best investment. If you're not planning on a budget, and you're a busy gal, it might be worth it to you to not have to find your nearest Dessy (which for me is anywhere from roughly 8-20mi, ranging 30-120 minutes in travel time one way) and go in to the store, deal with people, etc. If you're going to be wearing a dress from Dessy's After Six collection and you have it in hand and you'd like to do a bridal shoot before the big day, you could always rent a sample to do the shoot in. Though I'm sure major damages would result in an extra fee, it would be a safe way to do your shoot and not worry about getting dust on the hem.

As with the NewlyMaid program, I would suggest really looking around and checking your budget to see if this is the right program for you. You should also contact the Dessy Customer Service BY PHONE to ask if there are any partial refunds available, and what happens if you rip the hem while seeing if your heels work with the gown. I emphasize BY PHONE because I e-mailed them and got a form response which was copy and paste from the website. No extra information, no effort put in to the response at all.

Ring a Ding Segue-- I mean Ding (Pt. 4)

I wanted this post to be about sashes because if we've learned nothing else from this week, it's that accessorizing is key! My wedding dress would have been totally unremarkable if it weren't for the sash, and I have seen a lot of dresses that needed just that little touch to make it memorable.

So what happens if you don't luck out on a dress with anything but a plain old sash? WELL, you segue on over to Amie Noel Designs on Etsy, that's what! She actually does mostly hair accessories, but her combination pieces are truly nifty...

One minute it's a hairpiece...

The next it's a sash!

Brilliant!! She has a couple of these designs (look for the headband/sash heading), and I'm willing to bet that if you asked nicely enough she could apply a couple of the others to a similar style. ALSO, in case your bouquet needs a sash as well (and what good bouquet doesn't? Let's face it, floral wire isn't gorgeous) she has these adorable and not-too-exorbitantly-priced bouquet ties!

Basically, I'm in love. There's a good chance that I will use sorority functions as an excuse to buy some of this just for myself! And yes, one of the labels IS "shiny" because that's what these are-- shiiiiny!

Ring a Ding Ding (Pt. 3)

Have you picked up on a theme yet? Ring around your finger, ring around your neck/wrist (cut me a little slack here, I'm stuck on this Frank Sinatra thing), and now a ring around your head! Headpieces and veils are SO hard to decide on; everyone loves a cathedral veil, but who really wants to deal with that? And how big does your tiara need to be before the whispers of "nouveau riche" or "wannabe princess" start? And what about comfort? Do you WANT a big thing on top of your head all day?

I scoured Etsy when looking for mine, and encourage you to do the same-- even if you don't buy one you're bound to find some amazing things like this adorable little shop carries!

Be Something New is another Etsy find of mine, though this one didn't come through Heartsy like the last two-- this one just popped up by happenstance! I wish it had shown itself sooner, because what a perfect place to find a vintage headpiece, or something that's not a long flowing veil, OR something adorable for bridesmaids and flower girls!

These would be perfect for all three-- flower girls will feel pretty, and bridesmaids and brides will look understated and beautiful!

Bridesmaids in blue or yellow will look smashing with these daisies in their hair-- and how perfect that they won't fade away! Your gals can keep the headband for years to come and remember your wedding each time!

And for the outdoors wedding? C'est magnifique! Yes, I'm obsessed with spring weddings because I didn't get one, but how could you not be with a beautiful piece like this that would fit so perfectly? Alternatively, you could work it in to a winter wonderland sort of theme; it's really one of those things that will look lovely no matter when you wear it!

Ring a Ding Ding (Pt. 2)

OK, so AO Designs isn't carrying Rings per se, but she does have some amazing jewelry that are perfect not only for the woman building her family by addition, but by building her family through combination! I just picked up this beautiful garnet necklace (I'm in love with my birthstone, what of it?) and some earrings as well.

I'm having the hearts stamped with my initial and my husband's, and husbands to be take note-- this would be a terribly sweet present for your wife to be!

There are a few beautiful necklaces that would be perfect bridesmaids gifts for a spring wedding; a friend of mine picked the eggs in a nest necklace in pistachio-- one for each child she has running around the house! The stylish bridesmaid would no doubt be pleased as punch to have one of these delicate little items hanging around her neck. 

There are beautiful necklaces, bracelets, and initial pieces that would be perfect for the bridesmaid, flower girl, cat of honor, and mothers of brides/grooms alike! I know my mother in law loves family pieces, and if you picked one up of these Small Circles necklaces, you can contact Angela for more discs as your family grows.

Head on over to see the other beautiful pieces she has for sale-- you won't be sorry, and you may just end up as addicted as I am!