I finally got around to writing about this wedding dress because I kept telling my friends about it and they said I should post something. I ordered it online which I was nervous about because you never know with wedding dresses right? But when it came I ripped open the box and tried it on right there in my living room and it actually fit.

Like no weird gaping in the back or anything. I got a size 10. I'm 5'9 and about 165 pounds for reference. The top is lace and off-the-shoulder and it has this structured thing going on so it didn't slip down even though I was moving around a lot.

I wore it for the whole day from like late morning until after dinner and I didn't get those red marks on my shoulders that I was worried about. It hugged my curves but didn't squeeze me too tight. I could breathe and eat which was important.

We had our wedding by a lake. It's called Lac Memphrémagog near Magog in Quebec's Eastern Townships. Gorgeous place with all these green wooded hills around and a wooden dock that sticks out into the water. The dock was actually a bit shaky and my husband nearly lost his balance a couple times but we got some nice shots there.

His shoes got completely soaked because he stepped into the water trying to get a good angle. I laughed at him but inside I was more worried about my wedding dress because the skirt is really full and it drags on the ground. It's made of layers and layers of tulle but surprisingly lightweight.

Like it looks huge and poofy but when the wind came off the lake it just lifted the whole thing up and I had to keep pressing it down. The fabric is soft not scratchy. There are these little lace flower appliqués on the bodice and they continue down onto the skirt. In the afternoon sun around 3 or 4 o'clock they cast tiny shadows on the layers underneath and that looked really beautiful in photos. I didn't expect that.

The dress was comfortable temperature-wise too even though it was a warm Quebec summer day. I thought I'd be sweating in all those layers but the tulle is airy and I didn't feel overheated. I had a short veil as well but to be honest I took it off after the ceremony because it kept blowing into my face during the outdoor photos and I got annoyed.

The photographer said it looked whimsical but I was just frustrated. We did a lot of walking around the grassy shoreline and the lawn and of course the bottom of the skirt picked up some grass stains and a little bit of mud. I noticed when we were packing up at the end and I was like oh well it's going to the dry cleaner anyway. It came out fine later.

I wore flat sandals for most of the day because the dock wood got hot and I knew we'd be on grass. Then I switched to heels for a few formal shots and the heels sank straight into the soil. I couldn't walk properly so I just kicked them off and went barefoot for the rest of that session. That was actually more relaxed and the photos look natural. My husband kept stepping on my skirt when we walked together which was annoying but also funny. We have this one shot where we're on the dock and he's leaning in and I'm laughing because he almost tripped over the tulle. That's my favorite picture now.

If you're a taller bride or have some curves like I do I think this style works well. The full A-line skirt balances out your frame and doesn't make you look boxy. It flows nicely against the lake and forest background. I'm glad I didn't go with something tight because the breeze and the movement really added something to the photos. Also the off-the-shoulder neckline is flattering for broader shoulders or fuller chests. At least that's what my mom said and she's usually honest with me.

Anyway I'd recommend this dress for outdoor weddings especially lakeside or countryside. It held up well and I felt beautiful but also comfortable and not like I was wearing a costume. And don't let your husband stand on the wobbly end of the dock unless you want a near-disaster photo. That one turned out the best though so maybe do let him.