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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask if anyone wore an 'alternative' wedding dress/outfit?

118 replies

Coronationchicken34 · 18/04/2025 16:59

I'm mid 30s and no offense to those who did but I have zero interest in wearing a highly elaborate, white traditional wedding dress complete with train and veil.
I'm not even bothered about wearing white! Would probably spend around £50 max on it.

Just wondering if anyone else wore something different?

OP posts:
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AprilBunny · 18/04/2025 19:17

My DM wore a white mini dress with a hat in the late 60’s, she looked absolutely amazing.

terracelane23 · 18/04/2025 19:21

I wore denim skirt and T-shirt when I got married the first time. It’s what I wanted to wear and felt comfortable in. Most guests didn’t even comment. My mum said she’d prefer if I was more traditional and I pointed out that it was my wedding so I’d wear what I wanted to.

Mikart · 18/04/2025 19:22

Knee length red dress...just the 2 of us in NYC

Mercedes45 · 18/04/2025 19:25

Newnameshoos · 18/04/2025 17:12

I got a lacy knee length dress in my favourite colour for mine. A work friend had a white trousers suit for hers. We were both 'older brides' and didn't want the whole fuss and expense of big white frock etc.
You do you! Have a lovely day when it comes.

What's an "older bride"? Not being smart, just curious. Getting married next year and wondering if I'm too old to wear a white wedding dress 👰 🤔

Tessiebear2023 · 18/04/2025 19:27

My Grandmother got married in the early 40s when wedding dresses were hard to come by. She wore a killer fitted jacket and pencil skirt with a silk blouse and heels, she looked amazing. If I was ever to get married (I won't) I'd wear something like that. I love wearing a ball dress, they're sexy and fun in a classy way, but I would prefer a really structured, elegant outfit for a wedding.

Would you go for something vintage op? £50 could get a lovely well made outfit. 40s and 50s tea dresses can be very stylish and flattering.

Netcam · 18/04/2025 19:49

I got married a couple of years ago in a registry office and wore this silk dress from LK Bennett with Arche shoes and this Alpaca silk cardigan: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/734383376/ivory-brushed-alpaca-silk-cardigan-ivory. We didn't buy into the outrageous prices for one day.

We had an afternoon meal in the restaurant we had our first date at with close friends and family. We stayed at a B&B near the venue with family members who had travelled some distance for a couple of nights.

The whole thing including the registry office, new clothing for DH and I, rings, the B&B and the meal for 12 people including drinks cost about £2500.

We had an amazing time, it was one of the best days of my life.

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To ask if anyone wore an 'alternative' wedding dress/outfit?
MagpieCastle · 18/04/2025 19:54

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. Wearing what you want (rather than someone else's idea of what you should wear) will help you feel more relaxed and confident on the day.
I wore a dark red, crushed velvet midi dress made by a friend. One of my bridesmaid's did my hair and threaded a few white flowers into it and my brother drove me to the wedding.

DrCoconut · 18/04/2025 19:57

I wore my re enactment costume. I did get a new dress made specially for the wedding but it was historical style and work for events later. I still have it even though I'm divorced.

nonmerci99 · 18/04/2025 19:59

I got married in a courthouse, so I wore a navy blue Vera Wang off the shoulder dress, it was flattering and less than £200. We had a wedding celebration type party a few months later and I wore a pink chiffon dress that was definitely meant for bridesmaids but had a classic silhouette and again, was flattering.

Bippityboppitybooo · 18/04/2025 20:08

I'm getting married this summer, also mid to late 30s, and have a swing dress with rose print. Sequin trainers. I needed something practical to chase my young kids, and it's a low key town hall, restaurant, beer garden thing. It's even got pockets!!

Newnameshoos · 18/04/2025 20:08

@Mercedes45 I was 46 and my friend was probably late 30s. A lot of my school friends married in late teens early 20s and were grandparents by the time I was getting married!
That said, I have a friend who was in her very late 50s when she married, and she had a beautiful wedding dress.

Stinksmum · 18/04/2025 20:12

I wore a Royal Purple long skirt and a matching sleeveless top I bought from a department store whilst I was on holiday. I think it cost me $100.

UtterlyOtterly · 18/04/2025 20:22

Red velvet from Monsoon, it still fits perfectly 35 years later. I don't wear it out, but occasionally put it on and preen for a bit.

A friend had a hippyish floral dress and wellies, it was in a forest and many guests had similar.

WitcheryDivine · 18/04/2025 20:23

I wore a blue silk dress made by a friend, I felt brilliant in it. Like a PP I also tried on a traditional dress and couldn’t stop laughing, it looked so wrong on me. I love them on other people though!

If I were thinking of £50 budget I’d maybe think of renting a lovely dress from one of those places that rent out designer gear.

Namechange2567 · 18/04/2025 20:28

I wore this dress, I felt like white didn’t suit me

To ask if anyone wore an 'alternative' wedding dress/outfit?
Genevieva · 18/04/2025 20:29

Buy something nice that you’d enjoy wearing again.

Ellepff · 18/04/2025 20:31

I did a black body con cocktail dress covered in sparkles. A friend wore a beautiful medieval/fairylike gown in light green.

The only caution with going non traditional is if you think there’s a chance a guest might wear the same (i.e. it’s from a chain shop) you might want to spread the word. I’d have laughed and taken many photos if a friend dressed like me, but some brides wouldn’t like it and a more distant guest might feel embarrassed.

RitaFromThePitCanteen · 18/04/2025 20:31

If I ever married, I'd probably wear a dress in my favourite colour (not white) and comfortable shoes.

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 18/04/2025 20:33

I wore a very dark purple (almost black) evening dress.

Genevieva · 18/04/2025 20:33

PS back in the 30s my granny wore a silver dress. It became her ball dress for the next 20 years. Then it got cut up and turned into fabric for a quilt. So it lives on, almost a century later. And she looks amazingly fashionable in her black and white wedding photos, even now. Such a glam lady!

Owlteapot · 18/04/2025 20:48

I wore a royal blue off the shoulder dress brought in the sale for about £25. Registery office wedding

Echobelly · 18/04/2025 20:58

I wore a pale sapphire blue 3/4 length bridesmaid dress, a fascinator I had made to order and silver wedge sandals. I can't move nicely in full-length or large dresses, and am very pale and also clumsy and likely to spill things over something white and very expensive. For me, a big white dress would have felt like 'me dressed up as a bride' not 'me getting married'; they can look amazing and right on many other people, but just wouldn't have worked on me.

Had a 180-guest wedding, didn't have any negative comments, even from my very vocal and not-liking-unusualness MIL, about my dress.

No regrets at all about not wearing a big white dress (which I know is something some women worry about if they don't go for it)

Malbecmoron · 18/04/2025 21:03

I wore a pink trouser suit, felt amazing.

Echobelly · 18/04/2025 21:09

I never thought much about what I'd wear for a wedding other than it was going to be a colour, not white, and I'd like an interesting headpiece. I'd seen a photo once of a celeb wedding where the bride wore a raspberry coloured dress and a dried-flower headdress and that gave me an idea that stuck with me.

SummerDaysOnTheWay · 18/04/2025 21:11

My friend wore a beautiful 1950’s style black dress with red shoes and lippy. She looked awesome!