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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think I can get a nice wedding dress...

119 replies

guiltynetter · 21/01/2015 22:01

on a budget of £800?

I don't know if I was being naive but I genuinely thought this was an okay sum of money. I've been to 3 shops so far, the first shop had no dresses under £1000. A shop I went to today that advertises having dresses for all budgets had 3 I could try on in my price range. Another one I went to said they only had their sample gowns for that price (but in strange sizes).

feeling slightly dejected. I thought wedding dress shopping would be fun! am I being unreasonable, and any tips for me? do you think it's a bad idea to maybe call or email the wedding shops beforehand to check if they have something in my budget, as the one I went to where they had none under £1000 was just embarrassing. is that just how much they all are?

I feel as if I've got £100 to spend or something, not £800...

OP posts:
DertieBertie · 21/01/2015 22:03

Would you consider buying online? My wedding dress was £50 from ebay and was absolutely lovely. Nobody would have known were I not so proud of the bargain I got!

TwitterWooooo · 21/01/2015 22:06

Of course you can! Mine was £150, plus £50 to alter it. 'Twas lovely, if I do say so myself!

addictedtosugar · 21/01/2015 22:06

Monsoon
debenhams

BHS

coast

Would anything from the High Street meet your ideal dress?

I got married in and Debenhams dress. I went more looking for ideas, and discovered the perfect dress. No-one believed it was a high street one.

RandomMess · 21/01/2015 22:06

I would go and try on wedding dresses you like, regardless of prices. Find out what you like and what suits.

Then look on ebay for similar styles in the right size.

olaflikeswarmhugs · 21/01/2015 22:07

My mum offered to buy my wedding dress so I had no budget but it just so happened the one I picked was £850 in a bridal shop . This was in 2011 so not that long ago . You can definitely do it . Good luck Smile

ifitsnotanarse · 21/01/2015 22:07

Have you tried Debenhams? I got dream style dress there for £250 and it was lovely. It needed some slight altering which cost about £80.

I too visited local shops when searching and found the same as you attitude as you. Not nice to be made feel so small. Sad

notnowImreading · 21/01/2015 22:08

Oh gosh yes. Lots of lovely things around the £500 mark. Alternatively, you're welcome to have mine for nothing. It's plain and nice, 5 years old, Alfred Angelo, obviously worn joyfully once.

ifitsnotanarse · 21/01/2015 22:08

my dream style dress

Amaxapax · 21/01/2015 22:08

I think you can definitely ask ahead. When I called to make appointments they often asked about the type of dress I was interested in and my budget. I know lots of people will say to look at Monsoon, Phase 8 and similar, but there is something really lovely and special about going to a boutique to choose your wedding dress. You can also look for sample sales, which are an excellent way of getting a dress for a more reasonable price.

I'm wanting to sell my dress, which is gorgeous and in pristine condition, but I have found that the market is saturated. There are definitely good deals to be found if you're willing to look at used dresses.

GretnaGreen · 21/01/2015 22:08

I bought a basque for about £180 and a velvet skirt for about £40. Mine weren't white or cream but no reason why you couldn't do something similar.

RoseberryTopping · 21/01/2015 22:08

I know how you feel. I went to a shop and said my budget was £500 a roundabouts, was promptly directed out the back to the grotty sale rail or to take myself off to BHS!

I think looking online is your best bet. I ended up getting mine from phase eight for £250 down from £500.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 21/01/2015 22:08

That's a reasonable budget. I honestly think that dresses can be very similar. Maybe treat dress shopping as an opportunity to identify what shape/fabric/colour/embellishments you like. After that, focus on getting something within budget.

notnowImreading · 21/01/2015 22:08

Size 12 (ish - top end)

drinkyourmilk · 21/01/2015 22:09

I had mine made to measure. Cost £400 October last year on South coast.

BlinkAndMiss · 21/01/2015 22:09

A quality shop will have a dress in your price range - usually off the shelf. Mine was from a bridal shop, it was from last season and much too big. They measured me, adjusted the dress and did everything I would have expected if I'd have bought a latest season, made to measure type dress. My budget was £1000 and the dress was £900, the same store sorted out my relative with a budget of £500. There is no reason why a bridal store wouldn't be able to source you a dress that they can alter and professionally fit for within your budget, it's a myth that you should have to spend ££££ on a dress, not that £800 isn't £££££ - I think that's a perfectly reasonable budget.

GretnaGreen · 21/01/2015 22:09

... assuming that fits with what you want, obviously!

FryOneFatManic · 21/01/2015 22:10

Do you have to go for a traditional dress?

I saw a website that DD likes the look of for her prom next year. They also do wedding dresses in the style of the 1950s teadresses, so not floor length, but they are lovely, and quirky.

If DP and I ever do get married, I want something like these dresses. I think to get dress, petticoats and sash would come to £300 - £400.

RobbStarksBitch · 21/01/2015 22:10

Google 'Wedding Dress Factory Outlet'. I'm not sure if there is one near where you are but they have stunning dresses (you can see some on their website and facebook page) and all cost under £449.

pepperfish · 21/01/2015 22:11

I bought mine second hand - best decision I made! I loved it (was able to try on a sample in a bridal shop before I committed).

It's been worn once and most dresses are in near perfect condition, plus you'll probably get it for 50% or less of the original price.

Search preloved.co.uk and www.rockmywedding.co.uk/undress, both brilliant sites for bargain dress hunting Smile

nottheOP · 21/01/2015 22:11

Where are you location wise? Shops tend to vary in their budget range.

I had a budget of 600 & had plenty of choice on the right shops.

Original poster
guiltynetter · 21/01/2015 22:12

thank you for the suggestions! addictedtosugar I've had a look at coast and monsoon but I will check the others out now. I'm unsure about eBay as my sister got one from there (from china which I'm guessing people mean) and it was tiny, despite it being 'made to measure'. and it wasn't returnable.

OP posts:
WooWooOwl · 21/01/2015 22:13

YANBU!

I got a gorgeous Sophia Tolli dress for that from a lovely little wedding dress shop for £800, I just had to find the right shop first. Some wedding dress shops are crap.

steppeinginto2015 · 21/01/2015 22:13

well I have one for sale ! £200, never worn, very pretty. Was loads more originally. (no sad story, happily married in another dress!)

I tried to sell it on ebay and no-one bid on it

I am pretty sure that it didn't sell because there were so many pretty dresses for sale for less.

So if you don't mind second hand dress, you could find an expensive dress on ebay for a cut down price, then spend money on dry clean and alterations

Lazymummy2014 · 21/01/2015 22:14

Call a load of bridal shops, state budget and ask how many dresses they have. Saves you going and their not having any.

Think about second hand? Is it oxfam in London (oxford Street?) who have a big second hand wedding dress store? They've all been cleaned and lots are ex samples so never actually worn.

I agree, it is mental. Unfortunately dresses, like all things with the word 'wedding' attached, have just gone barmy in the last twenty years.

VanitasVanitatum · 21/01/2015 22:15

I second the outlet shop - several friends have bought fantastic dresses for under £500