Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Will I regret buying a Monsoon/Asos wedding dress?

39 replies

bayoffortune · 05/04/2023 20:51

Do they only look lovely because they're modelled on 6 foot size 0 models anyway? Will altering it ruin it?

OP posts:
Sundaefraise · 05/04/2023 20:54

I regretted mine, because they then produced a bridesmaid dress in the same design, but a different colour, and it was quite distinctive and made it feel unspecial. They are also dresses for tall people.

londonloves · 05/04/2023 20:56

My wedding dress was from Monsoon and I loved it. My godmother altered it and it was perfect. She is a very proficient dress maker though.

Original poster
bayoffortune · 05/04/2023 20:56

I am not a tall person so I know it will need altered.

I know I will find a traditional try on in a shop uncomfortable but I'm wondering if it will be worth it to feel lovely in my dress on the day.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Clothing General shopping General style & beauty
maeveiscurious · 05/04/2023 20:57

Have you tried charity bridal shops? Many of them have amazing dresses

Lcb123 · 05/04/2023 21:00

Have you considered custom made? Mine was £500 and it was made to measure, and I loved it!

Original poster
bayoffortune · 05/04/2023 21:00

I have but no stand outs. I really like that the Monsoon type ones have fluttery elbow length sleeves.

OP posts:
Original poster
bayoffortune · 05/04/2023 21:01

Hmmm I have not considered made to measure! How do you even go about that?

OP posts:
Easterfunbun · 05/04/2023 21:01

Mine was beautiful and hand mate. 300 pounds in total.

Easterfunbun · 05/04/2023 21:01

Hand made rather

museumum · 05/04/2023 21:02

Mine was from John Lewis. I don’t regret it but I do regret not spending more time trying it on, making small adjustments and getting my bra perfect. In some photos you can see it at the front and I think in a “proper” shop with fittings that would have been spotted. I could easily have had a stitch put in to solve the issue had I known. So if you do go high street my advice is do more than one trying in session with other people and look for issues.

thegrain · 05/04/2023 21:02

Try it on and see how you feel. I prefer a bit more structure.

Bigparrot · 05/04/2023 21:04

I got mine from Coast. No regrets at all.

Was good quality and I got it altered to fit me perfectly - I was pregnant too.

ElizaSkye · 05/04/2023 21:05

I had a Phase Eight one 10 years ago and have never regretted it - it was very unstructured though, which is what I wanted

Matchingcollarandcuffs · 05/04/2023 21:06

Mine was £90 on the sale rail in monsoon and I loved it more for the fact it was so cheap, I did my whole 2 day wedding (30 people football ceremony and breakfast and then 150 at bbq celebration the next day) including our honeymoon and clothes for less than the about my next door neighbour spent on her dress. It was great quality, but didn’t need adjusting

Original poster
bayoffortune · 05/04/2023 21:08

museumum · 05/04/2023 21:02

Mine was from John Lewis. I don’t regret it but I do regret not spending more time trying it on, making small adjustments and getting my bra perfect. In some photos you can see it at the front and I think in a “proper” shop with fittings that would have been spotted. I could easily have had a stitch put in to solve the issue had I known. So if you do go high street my advice is do more than one trying in session with other people and look for issues.

Yes this is the sort of thing I mean. Thank you.

OP posts:
BHRK · 05/04/2023 21:09

I had a high street wedding dress, loved it and it looks great in the photos. No regrets, spent a load of cash on the honeymoon instead

SkyK · 05/04/2023 21:11

My dress was Monsoon and I loved it, it was exactly what I wanted - beautifully detailed at top with tulle skirt, boho feel. I am a petite 5 ft 3 so I did have to get it taken up and in slightly but the seamstress did that all very easily without affecting the dress. My other option was buying second hand, and there are loads about but I just really loved the Monsoon dress so went with that.

bellsandwhistles333 · 05/04/2023 21:11

I bought my elopement wedding dress from asos and it was fabulous for £200 heavy beading and so flattering and I am 18-20.
It was a little long but with heels was fine (it would if cost more in alterations than the dress!)

MrsBunnyEars · 05/04/2023 21:12

Mine was about £200 off the peg and I loved it (still love it 5 years on and wouldn’t change a thing).

‘Proper’ wedding dresses are crazily expensive and I can’t possibly see how they’re worth it. Especially as they’re so hard to sell on.

WhatFreshHeckle · 05/04/2023 21:12

I got mine from eBay and it was super cheap. The previous owner had got it in a sample sale, then gained weight and didn't fit in it anymore, so it was a proper wedding dress but v cheap. Another friend went to a sample sale for hers.

I don't think you'd regret a Monsoon etc dress though. They are nice! And you do only wear it for one day. I haven't even looked at my dress since my wedding and I don't even know where it is (left it at my parents' house and then my mum passed away and dad got a new partner who most likely got rid of it in the great purge Hmm, but that's another story).

Don't invest too much emotionally or financially in a wedding dress would be my advice. My lovely friend paid a lot for her perfect dress which she obsessed over. Then she lost loads of weight and discovered the dress could not be altered. It was devastating for her and she had to pin and pad it on the day. It looked nice to me, but it really stressed her out.

So I always think be as relaxed as possible about the dress!

Strathyre · 05/04/2023 21:15

I tried on Monsoon dresses but I thought they seemed really poor quality. Phase eight seemed much better, lovely dresses. But a bit short for me, I'd definitely have a look if you're a bit shorter! I got mine here in the end and loved it https://www.needleandthread.com/

WorstBJever · 05/04/2023 21:18

Mine was from Monsoon and I loved it. Was about £200 and I have no regrets at all. (This was 7 years ago though)

Will I regret buying a Monsoon/Asos wedding dress?
Original poster
bayoffortune · 05/04/2023 21:21

There is a Needle and Thread dress I have my eye on too. I think I need to find a good seamstress/alterations place first and then I'll order.

Thank you.

OP posts:
MeinKraft · 05/04/2023 21:29

You won't regret it when you check your bank balance after the wedding!

Saucepot1985 · 05/04/2023 21:31

I got mine for £70 off of a website called Ever Pretty. Couldn’t of been happier with mine! It was lovely 😊