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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:
Pixa · 21/01/2015 22:15

I got my wedding dress from a bridal store for less than £800, my advice would be shop around and try to get an idea for different designers prices and their stockists. Even when you find the dress you like, call all local stockists of that dress, prices vary incredibly.

Congratulations. Smile

Thenapoleonofcrime · 21/01/2015 22:15

When I started wedding dress shopping, I actually liked the cheaper dresses! I didn't want big or net or lace or jewel encrusted, just a very elegant simple line in lovely fabric- I found this in Monsoon for about £180 including a wrap. A friend of mine then married in the other dress I had deliberated over for £100- she looked gorgeous as flowers so beautiful.

I know lots of people who have spend ££££'s as well and looked amazing too.

I just think it's all about finding something that suits your body shape and perhaps having an honest friend who can give you some good feedback helps here.

AgentCooper · 21/01/2015 22:16

Of course you can! I tried on piles of dresses and in the end went for the cheapest because it was absolutely the nicest. It was Ben de Lisi for Debenhams, a white version of a red one he dressed Kate Winslet in for the Oscars a few years ago. A few of my more mercenary friends commented on how expensive it must have been.

£140.

londonrach · 21/01/2015 22:17

Of course you can. Mine cost that new from a designer shop......

Lazymummy2014 · 21/01/2015 22:17

If eBay, don't get a new made in China one. Get second hand from someone in the UK and set aside money for cleaning and alterations - I'd day up to 350 for this.

Original poster
guiltynetter · 21/01/2015 22:17

I wouldn't mind second hand but the thought of going to somebody's house I don't know to try it on is a bit embarrassing to me Blush I'm glad it's not just me who's had that experience of being directed to a grotty sales rail though!

I'm in the north west.

thanks for the suggestion of the wedding dress outlet, I've been to my nearest one but they didn't have a lot of choices in my size as apparently it's popular. loads of amazing dresses in tiny sizes though. :)

OP posts:
TheGirlOnTheLanding · 21/01/2015 22:17

Sounds crazy but gave you looked at bridesmaid dresses? This was suggested by a bridal boutique to me when I wanted something simpler than the wedding dresses they had: the bridesmaids dresses had less embellishment and were a fraction of the price. They could have the various designs made in a range of colours, including white, cream or ivory. Depends on the style you're after of course.

Thenapoleonofcrime · 21/01/2015 22:17

My friend also put her unworn (wedding called off) dress on Ebay and didn't get any takers. It could be worth looking about- don't assume all dresses in 'second-hand' type places have been worn.

Biggles398 · 21/01/2015 22:19

Mine was 800.
How about one from their old stock? While I ended up with a 'new' dress, I tried quite a few of their ex display ones on. They were all greatly reduced and both shops said they would clean the dress as part of the price

StillProcrastinating · 21/01/2015 22:19

Dresses are much cheaper in the states. So I tried them on here, found the one, then phoned a shop in USA who agreed to post to me. I then paid import duties and postage, but still made very large saving

dietstartsmonday · 21/01/2015 22:19

I bought a 2k dress on ebay. it was a bridal store sample. they have amazing dresses, very cheap. lincsbridal I think they are called on ebay

Amaxapax · 21/01/2015 22:20

Have a look at Bliss Studio. They do secondhand, but all the dresses are in their shop so you don't have to go to someone's house.

dietstartsmonday · 21/01/2015 22:20

should have said I paid 500 for it

kerrymumbles · 21/01/2015 22:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Thesunrising · 21/01/2015 22:22

Phase Eight has a lovely selection all under £800. That's where I got my wedding dress from - had to them spend another £100 getting it taken up.

steppeinginto2015 · 21/01/2015 22:23

the dress I posted about earlier was actually bought at a wedding show, it was one of those at a hotel, advertised all over local paper.

It was all ex-display dresses, ex- samples and so on. Non over £300, all new but needed a clean, all worth 3 or 4 x that price in the shop. Well worth looking out for one.

Brummiegirl15 · 21/01/2015 22:25

OP the best thing to do to be honest is potentially go to a wedding show.

The National Wedding Show is held in London, Birmingham & Manchester. They have tonnes of bridal stores exhibiting with all budgets. You can try on and buy on day if you want

4PlusMum · 21/01/2015 22:26

This website has some wonderful dresses at discount prices. My dress was by Pronovias (not from this site) and the quality was incredible.

buybridal.co.uk/catalogue/wedding-dresses/pronovias/

MrsMook · 21/01/2015 22:35

There must surely be some choice in that budget still. Admittedly I've been married 5 years, but there was good choice around that price bracket then. £500 seemed to be the starting point for mainstream ranges. I'd be surprised if they've all jumped up several hundred beyond your budget.

auntynorm · 21/01/2015 23:17

If you know a good seamstress etc look on ebay; i bought a beautiful wedding dress for £60 and a friend of mine adjusted the fit so it looked custom made (in the end the adjustment were extensive as i was 20 weeks pregnant by the time of the wedding )

wheresthelight · 21/01/2015 23:29

there is a wedding factory shop in Nottingham which is fantastic and most dresses are between 500 and 800.

lollipoppi · 21/01/2015 23:30

I'm in north west too and have just bought my dress. There are shops near me that have pre-loved rails, they are like new. I also know of 2 outlets in the north west. Pm me of you like and il give you a list of the shops
And also a lovely shop who have brand new dresses within that budget

Lweji · 21/01/2015 23:30

John Lewis too.

icclemunchy · 21/01/2015 23:39

Try romantica of Devon (pretty sure that was the brand) when I was looking a few years back I found my perfect dress plus 2 bridesmaid dresser and would have been looking at well under £500 for the 3.

The DD came along and we never got round to it lol still dream bout that dress though

Dowser · 21/01/2015 23:50

Preloved.com has some gorgeous second hand dresses. Some never worn too.

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