To think brides often get their dress wrong?

[FreeMantle]

I have always thought this actually but no one else seems to have noticed.
My lovely friends, who pride themselves on dressing very well, seem to chose a dress that doesn't suit them at all. Skinny ones go for the tightest column dress ,so they look like beans. My large busted ones are falling out of massive strapless meringues.
The latest is my size 8/10 cousin who without an inch of fat, has wide hips. So of course she's gone for a full on strapless mermaid. Making her shape look totally out of proportion.
Obviously she'll be beautiful as a bride but why that dress?
I am now looking for one for myself . Despite being short and athletic everyone seems to love a huge ivory fluffy tulle princess type dress on me. I look like a dumpy fungus. It's thin straps and tight bodice totally emphasise my lack of top half. And yes, I'm tempted.

Your choice is gorgeous, sailorcherries

I don't really like strapless dresses that much (and have never worn one myself as I'd look bloody awful in one), but I don't generally remember the dresses brides wear. Am I unusual in this? I have been to weddings with brides of vastly different ages, personal styles and of course appearance and I remember the weddings but not really the dresses. And I'm not disinterested in clothes, either.

The 1 wedding dress I do remember clearly was a friend who married about 10 years ago and as soon as I saw her I thought what a perfect choice she'd made. Her dress suited her to a tee (probably not easy when you're 5"2 and very pale). It matched her personal style yet was still different enough from her usual clothes to be special. I think I remember it because it was such a different shape and style to other wedding dresses I'd seen but so beautiful and made her look like herself in a wedding dress rather than 'a bride' (if that makes sense?).

My choice of wedding dress was bloody awesome; cream Thai silk column dress with a buttoned back, bolero jacket to match. I was a size 10 and I looked stunning.

Less successful with my choice of husband, however.

Husband's are less predictable. I mean what is the worst thing a dress can do to you compared to a man breaking your heart?

Lumpy fungus 😁😁 love that lol.
Just wear something you love. Everyone's opinions shouldn't matter.
I've beem married twice. My first dress was totally "me" and gorgeous and fitted like a dream. The second one was rushed and pretty out there and tbh I looked like a bloody forest fairy. Not the look I was after 😂😂

*been

I got married ten years ago. It MIGHT be different now but then there seemed to be pretty much ONLY strapless dresses

^ this!!!

@Mightymucks that sounds very similar to my dress and I think even 18 years later I would still choose something similar.

Yeah definitely hard to find straps 10 yrs ago. I got a halter neck added to mine so I didn't spend the day hoicking! I did go for fishtail but I had size 10 curves in the right places then rather than my post 2 kids saggy belly & general chunkiness these days!

I agree.

My wedding dress was one I absolutely loved, everyone commented on how it was very 'me'. I wasn't interested in trying anything on that had features I wouldn't wear in a norm outfit:

Absolutely not strapless (hate having back on show)
Not low cut (small boobs)
No massive puffy skirts
Not floor length

I see a lot of brides who seem to go for the typical huge meringue with no straps and most look uncomfortable and self conscious. I look back on my photos and am so happy I wore something less common (though still very much weddingy) that made me still feel like me.

Could be worse. I just saw this post on (the dreaded) Facebook!

Hmmm. Photo didn't attach.

.

I was determined to have a big dress with long sleeves. I still think it looked nice 22 years on but it was the hottest day of the year and I think my make-up had melted by the time I got to the altar.

Strapless is fine by me, your dress has to fit well and suit your figure and personality, that's what matters.

@sailorcherries LOVE your dress choice. I’m just starting to look for my dress (wedding is a little way off yet) and tea length with pockets is my dream!

mumathon thank you, it's a Romantica of Devon number but I had also looked at True Bride's Brighton Belle collection and House of Mooshki.

Tea length is lovely for a wedding dress. Most of my favourite wedding dresses I’ve seen friends wear have been that length and those ones looked much fresher (even now) than the long ones. Mine was full length but if I hadn’t bought second hand and therefore massively limited my choice, I’d have liked a shorter dress.

The Romantica of Devon dress is stunning. I was just watching Say Yes to the Dress in NY. Most brides are still going for strapless they want to look like a princess which I have more of an issue with than disliking strapless dresses.

The thing that strikes me about this thread is that whilst it’s fine to have an opinion, and constructive criticism should absolutely be encouraged, maybe about 50% of posters are posting sweeping statements like “no one suits a strapless dress”. Well tell that to the 5 or so posters who’ve posted a pic of themselves in their wedding dress and look good in their strapless dresses!

Also, strapless dresses haven’t been in fashion for 10 years. Of course that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wear one, but I’ve been to four weddings in the last year and not a single bride has worn strapless. They aren’t pushed onto brides like they were in the noughties.

But I do agree that people don’t always know what suits them, and also aren’t great at knowing what suits their friend who’s getting married. They project their own style onto the bride, or are too influenced by current fashions to be truly objective.

AuroraBora
I don't think brides want constructive criticism on their wedding day, it's a bit late then. I'm also not sure why it should be encouraged.

Why can't a bride and groom be happy with what she's wearing, even if everyone else doesn't like it? why isn't that enough? That would be priority I should think..not the opinion of the huddled masses.

If the bride likes the dress and feels good in it it’s not wrong

30 yrs ago I wore a Laura Ashley leg of mutton sleeves dress ...wonder if that style will make another appearance .

I love how you can tall what era someone got married in.

Agreed. I got married almost 12 years ago and everyone was having strapless meringues. My idea of hell (gorgeous on others, just not me!)
I took about 10 pictures of dresses I liked to my designer, and he sketched me a slim fitting, chantilly-lace covered dress, with small lace straps and an open, low back.
I still love my dress all these years later! As good as bridal shops are, I’d advise brides to use them for ideas, then head to a designer.

My cousin wore a red strapless dress and she looked fricking amazing. She was just so happy that she was positively glowing. Her mum hated the dress and tried to talk her out of it but she made the right choice in ignoring all the horrid opinions. Never seen her as happy as she was that day and that is the most important thing.

bananafish LOVE your dress!