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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About bridesmaid dresses (BTW I know I am not)

228 replies

HairsprayBabe · 29/01/2019 11:25

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?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
15
Advice79 · 30/01/2019 19:03

You could buy the dresses you love from Dorothy Perkins and have them
Altered to fit?

loz85 · 30/01/2019 19:06

Unsure if sorted or if this is too light but is this any good? www.ever-pretty.com/uk/lace-cap-sleeve-evening-gown-ep09993.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6avHz5iW4AIVS7XtCh1mwQCgEAQYBCABEgK9b_D_BwE

Incaseofemergencybreakglass · 30/01/2019 19:11

You could buy the dresses you love from Dorothy Perkins and have them Altered to fit?

I was just about to say the same myself. The size 18s are in stock - just get three of those and get one altered. My wedding dress came from a shop that sold samples and ex display etc. It was about a size 14 and a talented seamstress took apart all the seams to make it fit me perfectly as a size 10 - ah those were the days...

blackteasplease · 30/01/2019 19:15

Or if they can't be altered, get 2 size 18s and a sleeveless dress in the same colour for the smaller bridesmaid as you said she isn't as bothered about her arms.

notangelinajolie · 30/01/2019 19:18

HairsprayBabe - that Oasis dress is stunning.

I hope the real thing lives up to the picture for you - I'm sure your bridesmaids will love it.

pineapplebryanbrown · 30/01/2019 19:19

www.very.co.uk/little-mistress-little-mistress-lace-top-chiffon-midi-dress/1600316301.prd

is that the right shade of green?

Mrsmadevans · 30/01/2019 19:21

Hairspray for what my opinion is worth the dresses you wanted are so lovely l think you should buy them and get the one altered nearer the time. After looking at loads of them online your original pick is just gorgeous .

SimplyPut · 30/01/2019 19:24

DSIL got five bridesmaids dresses in the sale... she only had four bridesmaids but used the fifth in the biggest size possible as fabric to use as sleeves on two dresses. It cost £30 to add each set of sleeves!

Oooarrnamechange · 30/01/2019 19:24

I did get mine from JJs House Blush but they were actually really nice!

Ali1cedowntherabbithole · 30/01/2019 19:28

www.johnlewis.com/jolie-moi-three-quarter-sleeved-lace-dress/green/p3711442?size=8

Would this work. 3/4 sleeve and looks like it might be the right sizes?

slithytove · 30/01/2019 19:29

Why not buy the DP ones in size 18 and have them cut down - it looks easy enough to do
Ask your seamstress

Havana7 · 30/01/2019 19:33

Next have one by maya but it’s £120

slithytove · 30/01/2019 19:37

Whoops left the thread open and didn’t realise there were loads more posts suggesting the same 😊

helenlsmith · 30/01/2019 19:45

Hi, have you thought about a shrug with sleeves 1/2 or 3/4 length ?

WaterOffaDucksCrack · 30/01/2019 19:50

Come on this is mumsnet! Where are the suggestions of wearing bin bags as dresses with a tiara made of chicken bones?!

FeeLock28 · 30/01/2019 19:56

I had my dress made as I wanted pure white, high necked, close-fitted, which was impossible to find. Interestingly, the only person who'd even consider it was a furniture coverer who was used to working with brocades, etc. All the other regular seamstresses I'd found (C&H Fabrics, etc), baulked at cutting up satin silk.

I'd offered to have my bridesmaids' dresses made, too, but two of their mothers wanted to do it, so I gave them the pattern and the material, so they had dresses which were similar in design to mine but fitted them all comfortably. Their ages ranged from 14 to 2. All in all, the whole thing cost less than some of the off-the-peg bride's dresses I'd looked at.

Iloveautumnleaves · 30/01/2019 20:02

I don’t think a shrug or bolero is the answer, I’d hate to have to keep one on all day & evening because I’d be way too hot, but like 2/3 of your BM’s I wouldn’t want to expose my arms. I think you need to keep trying to find a dress with sleeves.

I’m just grateful it’s not me looking, I don’t like any of them 😖. I hope you find something you all like, at a reasonable price.

I know you thought a pp was rude (personally I don’t think she was) and I know you haven’t yet, but I really don’t think it’s fair to ask your bridesmaids to chip in (even though they offered to buy their own originally, presumably in their colour choice though, or something neutral black/navy) because you can’t find suitable dresses in the colour you’ve chosen. If you’d found dresses with sleeves, in the colour you wanted but they wanted a different one, then fair enough, but if you’re determined to stick with the colour you want, then I think you need to find suitable dresses and decide whether your budget or colour preference is more important to you.

Another option I’ve just thought of...black dresses, with sleeves, with a sage bolero/floaty overtop and if an appropriate style a ribbon around the waist or some kind of fascinator? Accessorising in sage might be easier and just as effective.

cuspish · 30/01/2019 20:34

joanieclothing.com/product/taylor-satin-occasion-dress-green-gables/

This is a bargain from Joanne! At £16 you could buy an extra one and use the extra fabric to pay a dress maker to add little cap sleeves or a shrug to them.

Squiz81 · 30/01/2019 20:37

On my local Facebook selling site are these multi way dresses... This shows it with sleeves. Is that enough sleeve?

About bridesmaid dresses (BTW I know I am not)
emzw12 · 30/01/2019 20:39

Check out Dessy group.
You can pick the colour and then they can pick from a million styles all in the same colour.

cuspish · 30/01/2019 20:40

www.scarlettandjo.com/products/lace-top-with-skirt-2?variant=35729453380

Sleeves , but abit darker . Nice though

Sarahrellyboo1987 · 30/01/2019 20:46

Buy or cream ones and dye them the colour you want.
October isn’t always freezing and is often still quite warm. We’ve had 2 years of Indian summers.