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Original poster

Wedding dress for budget wedding

36 replies

used2bthin · 28/05/2011 19:47

I am getting married in november and although it won't be a traditional big wedding and we are keeping costs as low as possible, I THINK I want to wear a white dress. I would also wear a dress in another colour if I loved it and would wear again. Any ideas or websites for low cost dresses? It will have to be off the peg as not much time.

OP posts:
thejaffacakesareonme · 28/05/2011 20:05

Congratulations! Monsoon have some lovely ones as do BHS (I was really surprised about BHS). i think that BHS may only do them as a spring line so it may be worth looking at them soon if you are interested. I bought my dress for about one tenth of the sum that it'd have been sold for as it was a sample that the dressmaker was selling off. It didn't bother me at all that other people had tried it on in the past and I had it adjusted to fit and dry cleaned before the big day (the hem was very slightly grubby). If you don't mind a second hand dress I've heard that some of the charity shops have particular shops where they sell second hand wedding dresses. I've heard that Oxfam have such a shop where i live. When I was looking for wedding dresses it also struck me that the bridesmaid dresses were substantially cheaper, but not always too unlike the wedding dresses so it may be worth looking at them too.

herecomesthsun · 28/05/2011 20:05

silk from TK Maxx

nethunsreject · 28/05/2011 20:06

I got mine in Debenhams.

Monsoon have lovely frocks.

ja9 · 28/05/2011 20:07

My lil sis got hers in Debenhams - stuning white satin - wasn't even classed as bridal wear, and in came in at under £100 iirc. Also second monsoon.

groak · 28/05/2011 20:07

Monsson sale outlets! we have one near use and they have quite a few bridal dresses in at 75% off! Shock

Depending where you are, would def look into that!

DiscretionGuaranteed · 28/05/2011 20:14

Monsoon. Lots of people buy their wedding dresses each year if they're on a budget, but that doesn't matter because the good thing about being the bride is that you know no-one else will be wearing the same dress to that event.

Debenhams might be worth a look too if you're not precious about labels (like BHS start looking now, because October is a bad time to be looking for a wedding dress).

Original poster
used2bthin · 28/05/2011 20:25

Thanks everyone I will have a look at BHS now. And the others, I had a look at monsoon although hadn't thought of the outlets. And I will get looking, didn't realise it was seasonal!

OP posts:
Original poster
used2bthin · 28/05/2011 20:26

also really like the tk maxx one, I need to get trying on I think.

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UrsulaBuffay · 28/05/2011 20:30

What is ballpoint figure you want to spend? I also had a debenhams dress but monsoon ones are gorgeous.

ja9 · 28/05/2011 20:35

where are the monsoon sale outlets?

Original poster
used2bthin · 28/05/2011 20:37

ja9 the only one I know of is Bicester which I could get to easily enough. Not sure if they have bridal wear though. I think £200 max.

OP posts:
Selks · 28/05/2011 20:43

That tk maxx one is lovely

ja9 · 28/05/2011 20:57

this is really like my sister's one She wore it strapless (with a matching bolero) and to the ground. It was truly stunning.

some other good options here

ja9 · 28/05/2011 21:00

oops, second link didn't work... i just searched for 'ivory dress' on Debs website.

This one lovely too

Original poster
used2bthin · 28/05/2011 21:01

Thanks,really like that ja9, was thinking oh couldn't do straps but would prob do strapless.

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UrsulaBuffay · 28/05/2011 21:06

Mine was satiny like the tkmaxx one & I wouldn't do it again-could just about get away with it back then but it does show any lumps and bumps!

Original poster
used2bthin · 28/05/2011 21:09

Ah good point ursulaBuffay, I won't be wearing anything shiney come to think of it! My friend thinks we should go and try some dresses on at a boutique wedding dress shop to get ideas, no way in the world I could afford a dress from there, is it going to make me hate every other dress I try after that?

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UrsulaBuffay · 28/05/2011 21:13

I had a nightmare being ridden over roughshod by MIL & SIL, ended up going to debenhams with my DH at the last min! Try on ones at the shops suggested on this thread, also if you want something less bridal and possibly coloured they'll be in the stores too.

ja9 · 28/05/2011 21:14

Ursulabuffay - yes, but there is some amazingly effective underwear around Wink

Original poster
used2bthin · 28/05/2011 21:16

Must say part of me is tempted to just buy a dress that I will wear again, something I could never usually afford from Whistles or something but then I think I may regret it.

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UrsulaBuffay · 28/05/2011 21:19

I had some massive pants on ja9 Wink

UrsulaBuffay · 28/05/2011 21:20

I was persuaded at one point to buy a non wedding dress dress, didn't love it anyway but felt so down that I would never get chance to wear a long white one. So took it back! Still have a variety of regrets but glad I did at least get a wedding dress.

floweryblue · 28/05/2011 21:25

DP's sis got a bodice/bustier strapless thingy and a seperate ballet-type skirt, she was on a budget and she looked divine. They were both off the peg and not actually in the wedding department so she didn't pay the premium which wedding shops need to charge.

Agree with those advising you to look now, while the summer colours are out.

mummylouise · 28/05/2011 21:27

ebay is good for monsoon wedding dress - i just got mine for £12, it arrived and fits perfect.

PickleSarnie · 28/05/2011 21:27

This is mine: honeypieboutique.co.uk/ourshop/prod_651114-Lauren.html Couldn't bring myself to spend a huge amount of money on a frock I'd only wear once so bought lovely shoes instead.