About bridesmaid dresses (BTW I know I am not)

[HairsprayBabe]

Ok so I may have been a bit clickbaity but I am getting so frustrated.

3 adult bridesmaids, we are paying for the dresses budget of £80 each. One size 8 petite, 2 size 16/18s.

All I want is sage green dresses with sleeves (don't mind if they are 1/2 full length or 3/4), all bridesmaids happy with the style. I am basically totally flexible on length and on embellishments...

I can't find anything anywhere with sleeves. They don't exist! I am getting married in October I don't want freezing cold blue bridesmaids! Plus the two bigger girls are conscious of their arms.

Also I don't know if I can trust janky sites like jjs house or bliss extra. I have already checked johnlewis, coast, phase eight, Dorothy Perkins, monsoon etc.

Please help me! Where did you get your bridesmaid dresses from?

AIBU in thinking that there should be somewhere I can get these dresses from or am I being picky and unreasonable?

What's 'janky'?

I love those Ghost ones. I'd rather go over budget for a beautiful, wearable-after dress than spend extra on shrugs. I think the latter tend to look a bit messy and/or posh-night-out-in-the-suburbs.

www.little-mistress.com/outlet-little-mistress-carmen-pearl-top-prom-dress-p10428
Found this but the 16 is out of stock, could be worth asking if it’ll be back or if it’s stocked elsewhere.

Hi Quimmy! Waves!!

I am gutted about the DP dresses, have contacted them and they said they don't know if they will be back in stock at any point so not especially helpful!

Got mine from Debenhams

stick a blingy belt on it

Or these on Amazon in mint green.

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0797LCXYJ?pf_rd_p=0e11f8c9-98e1-4a93-bd5e-367420b613ee&th=1&sb-ci-n=asinImage&hsa_cr_id=7777006120302&sb-ci-a=B07F8ZS7GT&pd_rd_i=B07F8ZS7GT&tag=mumsnetforum-21&aaxitk=3ENpUfOZAc8f5IlsgrLAIw&sb-ci-v=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-na.ssl-images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F81fEXl2qUGL.jpg

@DarlingNikita

Janky means dodgy, untrustworthy

Really can't stretch the budget by more than about 50-60 quid

Or these are even cheaper!

www.amazon.co.uk/LADIES-PLAIN-KNITTED-CROPPED-BOLERO/dp/B0114P62W4/ref=sr_1_7?s=clothing&keywords=green%2Bshrugs&th=1&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1548765039&sr=1-7

Love that little mistress one - have emailed them!

you'll need to request updates as they don't have many left

Thanks OP. A good new word!

i got married in December and my bridesmaids had strapless dresses with fur boleros. It look lovely.

www.amazon.co.uk/Leader-Beauty-Sleeve-Bridesmaid-Evening/dp/B078V21GN9/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=bridesmaid+dress+sage+green+sleeves&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1548765188&sr=8-3

Any good?

These boleros are nice www.lindybop.co.uk/shrug-pastel-green-lace.html

Just to add - my bridesmaids would be more than happy to pay £20 for a dress! Please just ask. Mine were more upset I'd think they wouldn't! If it means a dress everyone loves, then have the conversation!

Shame about the DP dress, what a disappointment! Is it on eBay at all?

www.bestbridalprices.com/

The most extensive range of wedding clothes I’ve seen online.

Have you tried ringing round any DP stores you could reasonbly get to, or anyone you know could get to, to see if they have any in stock? For eg they seem to have the lovely dress you want in DP Oxford Street, London in a size 18. Not sure how many they have or how accurate the website is for stock levels but worth a try maybe?

You say “all I want” is the colour, and max £80 cost, but have identified that suitable dresses are not currently available in that colour for your budget.

So IMO your options are to consider other colours, or increase the budget, eg to open up more options or cover the cost of a shrug.

I don’t think it’d be reasonable to ask the bridesmaids to chip in - many bridesmaids don’t like the bride’s choice or want to wear the dress again. If £60 or £90 extra seems unaffordable, perhaps your wedding plans overall are more than you can afford.

Try Lindybop.
Lots of tea 3/4 with sleeves.
www.lindybop.co.uk/lisette-green.html
www.lindybop.co.uk/pearl-green-polka.html

If you ring them they may make to order (eg you could see if they will add longer sleeves to this www.lindybop.co.uk/leona-teal-polka-dot-mesh-prom-dress.html).

There are so many styles/colours if you like vintage.

Have you looked at the cost of getting a dressmaker to make them..

A few years ago, I had to go to a very formal do that required a ballgown. I despaired of finding something suitable and then found out that someone I slightly knew was a dressmaker.

She made me a fantastic silk ballgown for a lot less than I'd have paid in somewhere like Monsoon and also gave some excellent advice, eg not going for a pastel shade as it would look "bridesmaidy". I ended up getting quite a few wears out of it and when I got too fat for it, I sold it for only £30 less than I'd paid for it.

The great advantage of going bespoke is that they can tweak the basic style to suit individual bridesmaids, so all 3 will look their best.

https://m.shein.co.uk/Lace-Panel-Sleeve-Pleated-Dress-p-573339-cat-1727.html?urlfrom=ukadpladress180827311XXL&gclid=EAIaIQobChMItbu65YST4AIVhYjVCh1Orwz5EAQYASABEgLcTTDBwE&ref=www&rep=dir&ret=m

I had a good experience with jj's for my bridesmaids .

If your bridesmaids are on the larger side of a size 16, that Little Mistress dress won't fit.

Be careful of sizing.

Dessy were fab when I was looking for sage green dresses for very different size and shape bridesmaids and just wanted everyone to be comfortable.

Choose your colour and style from hundreds of different options and the colour will match even if the style is different.

You can get fabric samples sent out to check before ordering. And you can order extra fabric/ribbon in the same colour, so I ordered extra fabric to have straps made for my pregnant bridesmaid to be able to have a maternity bridesmaid dress with straps to allow her to wear a bra. (I also got matching sashes made for the flower girl dresses so they had cheap white dresses from Asda made fancy with big silk sashes).

Prices were a bit more than your budget, I think about £120 per dress all in. Worth it though.

“What about changing the colour and have sage green accents (accessories) as it may be easier to find dresses that suits everyone — ducks for cover —“

I agree with Suresurelah
Being inflexible about the colour is the main problem. Do they really have to be this colour? Could you not have accessories in sage green instead? Does the colour suit all of your bridesmaids? Why are you so fixated on sage green?

“When I got married mid Oct years ago it was clear blue sky and 24'C!”

Those kind of temperatures are pretty unusual for mid October where I live.