Ruined the wedding dress i was going to send back

[whathaveidonehelp]

Oh mumsnetters I'm hoping you can help me.

I'm getting married soon, and ordered a selection of dresses from John Lewis.

One dress arrived in a box, and as soon as i got it out i could smell it had been worn (BO). Took it back to the store same day, spoke to the manager, refund organised. Stay with me...

Try on another dress (also from john lewis). Got my daughter to take a couple of photos but it wasn't right, and was too small. Walked through to the bedroom and to my horror there is dark make up on the chest. It's a cream shimmery fabric. I have absolutely no idea how that happened, but it must have been my fault as the photo DD took had no mark on the dress.

Not content with messing it up, in my panic i tried to blot it gently and made it worse.

I'm on a budget. We can't afford a big do, I'm happy with that but I've just thrown £500 down the toilet. Ive already taken one dress back saying it was soiled and asked them to make a note to ensure it's not attributed to me.

Is there anything i can?

I much prefer your rogue dress. It is more flattering. I don't like the addition of the lace on the first one, and in any event, with the alterations you will have spent £940 on it if you have it cleaned as well. You could have it cleaned and sell it, although i doubt that you'd make back any money. You could get it dyed and then just wear it as an evening dress or sell it as an evening dress. Don't do it yourself on the cheap though.

Get some white vinegar spray (most places like home and bargain sell it in the laundry section) spray the stain and leave in the sun (doesn’t have to be a warm day just a bright one) the stain will come out. I’ve never failed with this method, I’ve even removed food colouring on fabric with it! Good luck!

I like the rogue dress better. Cut your losses on the first dress, and go with the second.

If the first dress is polyester, stick it inside a duvet cover and wash in your machine at low temp on delicate with minimal spin. Use non bio powder. I've washed maybe 30 wedding dresses in the washing machine with no disasters so far. Then you can sell it on or dye it if you want to.

If you do want to go with the first dress, get a second opinion on the alterations - that's a very simple dress, no lace or tulle or masses of layers, i can't imagine there's much work in putting a couple of darts in, hemming it and putting in a bustle. (I've done some bridal alterations before but never charged for it so don't know a reasonable cost - that just seems like a lot for quite an easy job).

How about buying a wrap? I got married in January and wore the dress pictured. I bought the wrap with it being January and cold. A similar wrap would hide the stains and you wouldn't have to go to the trouble of adding lace.

Im sorry to hear that…

but the disaster dress looks great on you!!! Much better than the second option!

you look fabulous!!

The rogue dress is very flattering. I love it.

A little update! I went to another seamstress (not wedding, just a standard local one) and to put the darts in the bust, shorten the dress and put a button in for the train cost £85. Got the dress back just before Christmas and it fits so well! The seamstress also said she'd have never spotted the mark so i took the advice from here and ditched the lace. Keeping it simple (and I'll probably chuck gravy down it anyway). I might get a small pearl belt, not sure though.

Now toning up so it's more flattering on the tummy, plus have some sexy big pants to help!

I promise when i get married I'll post a photo.

Thank you again for all the advice and support!

Great news!

But the sizing is so ridiculous, you have no choice to do otherwise!! I still go to an physical shop to try things on, because I got so fed up of online clothes and shoes being totally arbitrary sizes! I hate it!!

Thank you for the update, @whathaveidonehelp !
Wonderful news.
Sounds like a really pretty dress.

Lovely update OP

If you go for a bridal belt, be careful ordering online as a lot of sites buy them in from China. I recommend Wed2B. They had some lovely belts. I didn’t end up buying one but I bought an overlay lace jacket to cover my arms instead as I’d annoyingly gained weight due to a back injury prior to the wedding.

Your update made me really happy! I hope you have an amazing wedding. You seem like a great person, you look fab in all the dresses and I am sure you will have a brilliant day.

My post above is silly as you have probably got married by now (didn’t see date). But the comments stand!

Sorry, this is a risk you take ordering multiple dresses and trying them on yourself, rather than going to a bridal store where the ladies help you in and out of the display dresses, hold the dress off the floor etc.

Unlikely they will take it back with make up stains, even if you have it cleaned it would be missing tags?

I think best option is to clean it and either sell it on vinted for half the price, or have adjustments made and keep it for the wedding. The person adjusting it should be able to cover or disguise any stained bits.