Go to the LBS. Buying from BD for your first road bike is asking for trouble. You should be able to find some nice deals now (or soon).
And in my opinion a $1500 dollar bike will buy her nice tiagra 105 mix. Where $1000 will buy her Ultegra on Bikes direct.
My 2.3 has 105/Ultegra (RD) and cost $1400 at the LBS (on sale, talked them down a bit). On paper it will never match a BD deal but I knew what I was getting and I knew I would have support if something goes wrong.