that some brides should not choose strapless dresses.....

[PosieParker]

Just saw another collection of pictures with a bride getting married in a dress where humongous breasts are nearly falling out and arms are huge. Now I've seen a few curvy girls look lovely like this and so it's not a size thing, but more of a suitability thing. I am not large but my arms are not small and so I wouldn't wear this. Why do some folk not know their own shape?

Hmmmm, crap linkage on phone there.

Mine had vintagey lace like the picture with off the shoulder short sleeves. The 'solid' bodice part was a sweetheart neckline under a scoop neck off the shoulder lace bit. If that makes any sense. I had many compliments on it, and on how unique it was.

Strapless is unsuitable for a church wedding- just too much flesh.

Strapless looks lovely on models and dreadful on most real people. It is also now just spectacularly dull and unoriginal-every single dreary bride on "Four Weddings" (blush at admitting to watching this rubbish) wears a strapless polyester monstrosity, the only variation being in the amount of hideous "detail". The worst are the dresses with a bodice seemingly moulded out of fibreglass.

This thread is making me remember Victoria Beckham's wedding dress

Strapless, yes, and no back-fat or bulges but also not very flattering.

Never seen VBs wedding dress before.

Looks really uncomfortable-not much room for food

I don't like the strapless bodice type wedding dresses, mainly because they all look the same to me - but each to their own.

What surprises me is that it's apparently so hard to find anything that isn't strapless. When I got married many years ago, I didn't want a strapless dress for the opposite reason - I was skinny and could only create the illusion of boobage with some artificial uplift. But I remember having loads of styles to choose from - and I would have thought after Kate M's dress having sleeves, that style would be all over the place by now...

balanceball - give us some info (vital stats, preferred style, dress preferences) and we can help you find a dress ...

Ooooh Joanne Fleming made my wedding dress - I'm on her website! I'm 'Emma' of the 'Emma' dress (slash neck, cap sleeves, ballerina length)

Here is my dress: www.joanneflemingdesign.com/Gallery.aspx?ID=45&aID=127

Oh god, they are all so beautiful...

There are hundreds of dress styles and millions of colours in the world, lots of which would look lovely on each of us. It just makes me sad that someone has decided that strapless dresses with corset bodices and foofy skirts, in white, are what women should wear to get married.

Strapless a-line dresses are boring, and I particularly don't like the ones that disappear on head and shoulders shots.

I would recommend to anyone to do what I did, and buy a non-wedding, but lovely dress from a nice shop or department store. Not only was there no premium price, I could try it on unmolested and walk out of the shop with it that day.

Are you blonde looking at a bracelet in the photo? (link only goes to the homepage).

I wore strapless in a church, but that's all there was available in 2004 (unless you wanted to pay £500 plus, and mine cost £70 in Monsoon sale) plus it was June and warm. Plus the fact I was 9 and a half stone, and my decolletage and toned arms were my best feature! Been working bloody hard in the gym and running and doing Weightwatchers for six months plus before too and there was no way I was going to be covered up. I did however wear a elbow length veil and keep it on until the "You may now kiss the bride" bit as a nod to the traditional.

Yes that's me! Not the nicest shot - am focussing very hard on the strange clasp...

emsyj thanks so much for the Whirling Turban link...they've got some stunning things! Thanks for the advice all...I reckon I might order one from WT when I'm a size 10...I'll stuff the bloody cups of the frock!

They are beautifully made - the little boleros are completely reversible, very well constructed and finished. I've got a polka dot pencil dress and desperately want a 'Peggy Would' dress with circle skirt. Just need to find an occasion to wear one then I'm right there to make the purchase!

I thought I didn't like "wedding dresses" and always thought if we get round to tying the knot I'll just have a coloured 40s style dress or suit made, but those Joanne Fleming ones are absolutely beautiful and make me swoon.

I have gone from happily unmarried to desperate bridezilla now! I live miles and miles from her studio though so would have to find someone local to make something similar. Oh, and would have to magic up a load of money to pay for the dress and a wedding big enough to make it worth wearing! I've bookmarked the page though :)

Actually emsyj I've always fancied a Peggy Would for such an occasion (probably in a green, yellow or pink) but now I'm not so sure...

I'm getting married next year and I've had a right bugger of a search to find something non strapless - it's ridiculous, I've had shop assiatants look at me in utter disbelief when I've said that's what I'm looking for because it the majority of shops they don't have anything, I don't usually wear strapless corsets why do I want to start on my wedding day!

Lukily I've found an off the sholder style in a sample sale, but I couldn't have afforded it new

The off the shoulder dreses on here are beautiful - I adore the one C1122, but far too expensive for my budget!!

www.le-spose-di-gio.it/