Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

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

'Safe' wedding dress or something a little more special?

119 replies

writeitonthewall · 10/10/2023 20:02

Option 1 is very like this
Liz Embroidered Bridal Dress Ivory | Wedding Dresses | Monsoon UK.
I like that my arms would be covered, I would be able to dance in it easily, it would be lovely and very me. I do feel like I basically wear a coloured and knee length version of it every summer.

Option 2 is more of a princess style. It does show my wibbly arms and I'm possibly too old for it (33?) . I did love it on and it felt more special...
JJ's House Wedding Dresses (171937) | JJ's House (jjshouse.co.uk)

(these aren't the exact dresses, just very close to)

Liz Embroidered Bridal Dress Ivory | Wedding Dresses | Monsoon UK.

Shop the Liz Embroidered Bridal Dress Ivory from the Wedding Dresses collection at Monsoon UK.

https://www.monsoon.co.uk/liz-embroidered-bridal-dress--ivory-54075646.html

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 10/10/2023 21:35

I don't like number 1 at all to be honest.

Peachyscream · 10/10/2023 21:36

2!! No contest

Fourecks · 10/10/2023 21:38

I thought I wanted a simple wedding dress but tried on a 'princess' one for fun. I was really surprised that I loved that style and ended up wearing that type of dress as I figured it was my only opportunity.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Clothing General shopping General style & beauty
PicaK · 10/10/2023 21:44

I don't like either tbh.
But this is your wedding day.
Buy the dress you love and makes you feel special.
Because how the dress makes you feel is what people will see

Smartiepants79 · 10/10/2023 21:56

Choose the best, most special dress that you can afford. This is one of the very few occasions when you should not play it safe!

Fouramclub · 10/10/2023 21:57

Option 2!! Go for the dress that makes you feel special!

RandomNutter · 10/10/2023 22:00

I love option 1. I'd want that with a simple posy of wildflowers. Perfect.

SeulementUneFois · 10/10/2023 22:02

caringcarer · 10/10/2023 20:17

Option 2 is stunning. Go for it. You want to feel really special on your wedding day.

Agree with this.

Morewineplease10 · 10/10/2023 22:16

I prefer the first one.
I married in my late 30s and wore strapless, I didn't feel too old!!
We'd really need to see them on you to give better feedback if you're feeling brave!

xyz111 · 10/10/2023 22:34

Number 2!

TomaytoTomaato · 10/10/2023 22:35

Think about how you'll be spending the day after the ceremony - walking around at your reception/ dancing etc.
I went to a wedding earlier this year and the bride had a beautiful dress with a very full skirt. Looked fabulous when walking down the aisle but she spent the rest of the day/evening 'carrying' the dress around with her as it was very impractical to move around in between tables at the reception and dance in. She was exhausted at the end of the evening due to it!

TryAgainWithFeeling · 10/10/2023 22:40

You need to feel special and gorgeous! Don’t play it safe. I love dress 2. But if you don’t love love it, go try on some more. Let the shops choose things you wouldn’t have considered to really get a good idea.

nancypowers1983 · 10/10/2023 22:58

2! I got married at 35 in a strapless satin princessy ballgown and felt a million dollars in it. You are not too old.
You only get married once (at least that is the idea) so why would you not wear the dress you love and feel wonderful in?
Enjoy your wedding and be every inch the belle of the ball!

nancypowers1983 · 10/10/2023 23:00

ShirleyPhallus · 10/10/2023 20:26

How sad that you feel like 33 is too old to wear that wedding dress! Definitely not. It’s much nicer than the first one

ps, don’t put this in style and beauty or you’ll be told they’re both awful and be promptly directed towards an Amish sack in a fetching shade of sludge

I only discovered that board tonight and you are so right! What is with the unflattering sludgy dress suggestions on there? It's bizarre 😄

SoundTheSirens · 10/10/2023 23:08

ShirleyPhallus · 10/10/2023 20:26

How sad that you feel like 33 is too old to wear that wedding dress! Definitely not. It’s much nicer than the first one

ps, don’t put this in style and beauty or you’ll be told they’re both awful and be promptly directed towards an Amish sack in a fetching shade of sludge

The sludge-coloured Amish sack would still be preferable to the blue Andy Pandy-style clown costume someone on there recommended as a wedding ‘dress’ recently, and no I’m not even joking (and neither were they 😬).

supersonicginandtonic · 10/10/2023 23:16

Oooh I love number one. I think number two is awful but it's your day and your choice so choose the dress you love.

nancypowers1983 · 10/10/2023 23:40

supersonicginandtonic · 10/10/2023 23:16

Oooh I love number one. I think number two is awful but it's your day and your choice so choose the dress you love.

That seems kind of harsh to say. Maybe just say it's not to your taste. No need to say awful.

Blanketpolicy · 10/10/2023 23:46

Personally not keen on the dropped sleeves on dress 2, but that is just my personal preferrence, the rest of the dress is lovely.

Like dress 1, elegant and understated, but perhaps understated is not what you want on your wedding day!

GirlFromTheBackstreetsOfNever · 11/10/2023 00:21

I love the skirt of number 2, not the sleeves, sorry. Though if YOU like it then go for it ! I actually like number 1 but what would be really lovely would be a dress with a skirt like 2 and the top like 1. I don't suppose that's an option though!

notanothernamechange12 · 11/10/2023 01:10

Definitely two, it's your wedding day! I got married at 31 and wore similar, 33 isn't old at all you can where whatever you like! You only get to wear something that magnificent once so go all out, I ended up with two dresses, princess unpractical one for the day and first dance then switched to a 50s style number for the evening so I could let my hair down

Ruthietuthie · 11/10/2023 01:33

The bride in the photograph of dress one looks as if she is apologizing for herself. Very sheepish. Go for dress two. It's your wedding day! Everyone is going to say, "The bride looks beautiful" not "I thought I saw a tiny wobbly bit at the top of her arm"!!!

AussieManque · 11/10/2023 01:41

Not a fan of the off the shoulder fake sleeves in number 2. Very fashionable right now but will look very dated in 5 or 10 years I feel. Have it fully strapless and that would be more timeless.

merrymelodies · 11/10/2023 01:45

I've never liked the "cold shoulder" look but if you took those flaps off, it would be beautiful.

mathanxiety · 11/10/2023 02:08

There's a lot of unwarranted pressure to make your wedding day 'special' and to feel 'special' on this oh so 'special' day.

My advice would be to go for the dress you feel most comfortable and relaxed in, and try not to succumb to the 'special' hype.

Dress 1 is one you would feel secure in, you'd be able to dance, you'd feel like yourself.

With dress 2 I feel you'd be trying to live up to someone else's ideal of what a 'special/ wedding' looks like. Would you end up feeling the dress was wearing you?

You could bling dress1 up a little if you wanted to - add a jeweled belt, maybe a lace overlay, a veil. Or a tulle underskirt that could be removed for dancing?