The Dress

I bought this Zavana Bridal wedding dress from a bridal boutique called Jessica Bridal in Auckland, New Zealand. I wore this for my reception and LOVED it! (So did everyone in my bridal party!) It was every bit as fun and sexy as it looks, with a lot of room to play (i.e. I was able to dance comfortably). The colour is gorgeous too - Ivory white tulle skirt with a champagne coloured bodice and embroidery with sequins on it. I am light on the chest (34B) but this dress fitted very well and no room for any ‘accidents’. It has a generous amount of train and my seamstress has also fashioned a fastener at the back to allow for the skirt to be gathered up for a ballroom-style first dance. I am a consistent size 8 in most brands, weight 50kgs, height 164cm and was wearing Loeffler Randall Camellia Pearl Pleated Bow Heel which was 3.5 inches.

Alterations

I bought a size larger as that was the smallest size available to me at the time and subsequently got it fitted to me. The bodice of this dress was altered from a size 10 to a size 8, narrowed in the underarm area and straps shortened. The skirt has been trimmed to my height (I am 164cm + wore a 3.5inch tall heels) My seamstress created extra lace to cover the zip at the back. Because it was a size 10 skirt, I had gorgeous amount of tulle and this made for a beautiful dress during the first dance. There is a layer of silk and also a layer of shimmering tulle which gave a subtle glow to the dress when it caught sunlight. It flowed seamlessly during the dance and subsequent photos.