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Original poster

Ruined the wedding dress i was going to send back

340 replies

whathaveidonehelp · 06/11/2024 21:10

Oh mumsnetters I'm hoping you can help me.

I'm getting married soon, and ordered a selection of dresses from John Lewis.

One dress arrived in a box, and as soon as i got it out i could smell it had been worn (BO). Took it back to the store same day, spoke to the manager, refund organised. Stay with me...

Try on another dress (also from john lewis). Got my daughter to take a couple of photos but it wasn't right, and was too small. Walked through to the bedroom and to my horror there is dark make up on the chest. It's a cream shimmery fabric. I have absolutely no idea how that happened, but it must have been my fault as the photo DD took had no mark on the dress.

Not content with messing it up, in my panic i tried to blot it gently and made it worse.

I'm on a budget. We can't afford a big do, I'm happy with that but I've just thrown £500 down the toilet. Ive already taken one dress back saying it was soiled and asked them to make a note to ensure it's not attributed to me.

Is there anything i can?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
HowYouSpellingThat10 · 11/11/2024 15:22

Is the lace at the front the bit that's pinned? What's the reason for that? To alter or cover the stain?

I think disaster dress looks lovely on you. How far away is it from fitting? On your pictures it doesn't look a lot.

How far away is the wedding? A couple of pounds weight loss and you might just get in it?

I don't think either of them look bad. It really depends if you are happy with a high street fit. If not it's likely anything you buy will need some alteration.

I had a little beaded bodice/ bolero (I don't know the correct word!) thing that slipped over my shoulders just from Debenhams. Something like that would add interest to disaster dress (as we seem to be calling it).

The back is stunning on you.

Delphiniumandlupins · 11/11/2024 15:09

I like the disaster dress but the alterations do seem a lot (of course you still need to add the cost of alterations even to the second dress). Really good underwear can achieve miracles. As John Lewis were so nice do they recommend anyone for alterations?

bunnybunnybunnybunny · 11/11/2024 15:04

Disaster dress not to disastrous OP. In fact it's infinitely better! Maybe it needs a little lift at the shoulders (and a better bra). Am sure you have the latter in hand.

PrimalLass · 11/11/2024 15:00

Sorry didn't RTFT. The disaster dress is nicer and will be fine with some lace and darts.

PrimalLass · 11/11/2024 14:58

Just send it back

Makingchocolatecake · 11/11/2024 14:56

whathaveidonehelp · 06/11/2024 21:46

I did think i could maybe get some beading on the bodice, and get it adjusted but might that cost even more, not sure how much adjustments cost?

Thought it was standard to get your wedding dress altered? I paid around £150 4 years ago

OhYeahOhYeah · 11/11/2024 14:50

gamerchick · 06/11/2024 21:56

Yeah, it's cheeky and the reason a lot of places charge for returns now. Hopefully it'll catch on everywhere.

Does my head in that people think it's ok.

Show quote history

It’s not cheeky at all, as the company you are purchasing from will have a published returns policy. Your consumer rights give you 14 days cooling off period for anything bought that you’ve not seen (online). Whether they charge or not for a return is up to them.

Online shopping has hugely affected the way in which people shop, and in order to remain competitive, this is part of the deal.

Don't understand quite why ‘this does your head in’. It doesn’t affect your ‘bottom line profit’ does it?

Manthide · 11/11/2024 14:46

whathaveidonehelp · 09/11/2024 18:40

Yup I'm going to invest in some serious big knickers!

Do seamstresses usually charge for a consultation BTW? This one did which i paid as appreciate it's her time, but like the idea of a second opinion as suggested so don't want to keep paying out unless that's standard.

It probably depends on the seamstress. Dd's didn't charge for a consultation.

Manthide · 11/11/2024 14:40

whathaveidonehelp · 06/11/2024 22:34

To add to the helpful comments about buying a few dresses to try, we live rurally, and our nearest town centre is more or less empty. Given the choice i would love to visit a city to try on lots of dresses in the safety of a clean changing room, but for various reasons that is not an option.

And I think dd1 had to pay for an appointment to try on dresses!

Pherian · 11/11/2024 14:25

Im curious why you’re wasting your time buying dresses and taking them home to try on ….

Just go to a bridal shop and try dresses on. Wed2be has cheaper dresses and 1000’s of them.

Get the dress cleaned and return it.

eatreadsleeprepeat · 09/11/2024 20:31

Disaster dress is so flattering from behind, it works better as a general shape than the other one. The whiter colour suits better too. Would some detail to the front of the neck improve it?

JawsCushion · 09/11/2024 19:17

Dora33 · 09/11/2024 18:54

Neither dress. The back of the disaster dress suits you but the front looks shapeless and doesn't do justice for your figure.
The second dress looks a size too big on you.
A dress with a bit more of a sleeve would suit

I agree with most of this.

PeloMom · 09/11/2024 19:00

Wedding sizing is 2-6 sizes smaller. I’m size 8-10. My wedding dress was wedding dress size 16

queenmeadhbh · 09/11/2024 18:56

gamerchick · 06/11/2024 21:56

Yeah, it's cheeky and the reason a lot of places charge for returns now. Hopefully it'll catch on everywhere.

Does my head in that people think it's ok.

Show quote history

What is different about ordering 3 and sending 2 back, to buying one, returning, buying a second, returning, and then buying a third and keeping it?

Dora33 · 09/11/2024 18:54

Neither dress. The back of the disaster dress suits you but the front looks shapeless and doesn't do justice for your figure.
The second dress looks a size too big on you.
A dress with a bit more of a sleeve would suit

Original poster
whathaveidonehelp · 09/11/2024 18:40

Yup I'm going to invest in some serious big knickers!

Do seamstresses usually charge for a consultation BTW? This one did which i paid as appreciate it's her time, but like the idea of a second opinion as suggested so don't want to keep paying out unless that's standard.

OP posts:
Breadcat24 · 09/11/2024 18:35

Rogue dress all the way- much more interesting! Drapes better due to beads.

bouncydog · 09/11/2024 18:33

Dress B is too long in the bodice so needs adjusting at the shoulders to lift it up a bit to fit properly. Try dress A with an all in one possibly with a bit of padding in the bust area and see if the fit is slightly different. The right underwear can make a huge difference.

DD got a massive nosebleed at her wedding which delayed things by over an hour whilst we tried to stop it. She got a few spots of blood on her dress bodice so we sponged it as best we could and nobody noticed - put an emergency towel under the celebrants table in case it started again!

NippyCrab · 09/11/2024 18:33

Disaster dress looks amazing on you, you have a lovely figure and it shows off your arms and back beautifully. I don't like the other dress at all and on you, it doesn't do your figure justice xx

Runningforthebus · 09/11/2024 18:33

Disaster dress for the reasons stated above. Imo it’s more youthful, lovely fabric and the button detail is beautiful. Underwear is your next project (not easy when it’s backless!).

Original poster
whathaveidonehelp · 09/11/2024 18:29

Thanks for all your opinions!

I do feel "bigger" in the rogue dress so totally see what you mean.

OP posts:
IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle · 09/11/2024 18:28

Anonymousess · 09/11/2024 17:51

Your figure looks better from the back of disaster dress than the rogue dress, but the disaster dress looks shapeless and bland from the front. The rogue dress visually looks better in terms of style but it’s not a flattering fit.

Edited

Really? I thought the rogue dress looked like a shapeless nightdress from the front. The disaster dress is much nicer.

marylou25 · 09/11/2024 18:28

Not everyone has accidental damage added to their policy and even if then there is normally an excess so hardly worth it to claim and lose no claims bonus for future years and possibly have increased premium.

IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle · 09/11/2024 18:26

SilverChampagne · 09/11/2024 17:56

Much prefer disaster dress.

Same here. I don't like other dress at all.

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