Am at a loss on where to start shopping for wedding dresses!

[TheBeanAndTheBee]

Can any of you lovely S&B people suggest designers/boutiques?

I have a budget of around 1000/1500. I do want white and full length, and definitely don't want strapless and meringue-y. I have been looking longingly at a Temperley number on net-a-porter (it has some arm coverage hurrah!) but too many £££s.

We get married in 3 months so not enough time to get something made (I don't think?)

Live in London, so should be easy, right?!

Help me please!!

Book yourself an appointment at somewhere like Berketex Bride or London Bride & Groom and go with an open mind to see what shapes, styles suit you. The shop staff will have an eye for what might work, because one big white frock looks much like another on the hanger.

Even if a shop like those isn't where you ultimately want to get your dress from, jump in at the deep end and just try stuff on and you might be surprised.

cream - knee length? Only in a 10 and 12 (US 4 & 6 but runs a size larger)

greeny-grey???

pink?

grey with these?

This is absolutely stunning - available in a multitude of colours and just think what fabulous shoes you could have with the leftover budget...

Thanks for all the suggestions! procrastination there are some beautiful dresses (and real bargains!) there. Am really thinking white and full length though. Any more bridal-ish suggestions much appreciated am going to have a bit more of a mooch on the courtesan website now...

Love the style of dress you are picking though procrastination, definitely up my street for the wedding. When I say more bridal-ish I just mean in terms of length and colour.

Not to piss on your chips Procrastination but I'd warn the OP to be very wary when ordering made to measure dresses online.

I ordered that exact dress in your second link for my brother's wedding last year and it was a disaster. I ended up running around town looking for a last minute dress the day before the wedding.

Can you link to the Temperley dress OP? So we can get an idea of what you like

Ah, lol, mis-read the OP as don't want full length and white...

Oh yes, I quite agree - anything 'made to measure' that has to bought on line should be ordered a few inches bigger on each measurement so it can be fitted properly be a dressmaker. Is that not common knowledge then?

Oh, and ordering fabric swatches before having anything is made is vital too.

OK thanks for the warnings!! Heres the Temperley one I like. temperley I haven't seen it in real life and it might be a bit too bling but I love the shape. Am fairly flat chested but with small waist, about a size 8/10, I hope it would flatter... 2.5K though!!!

Ooooh that is beautiful!

What about this?

This is lovely I especially love the back.

Have a look here Lots of similarly vintage style not-too-weddingy dresses

Augusta Jones dresses are lovely and, no, I don't own the company! They are beautifully made and not at all fussy. I paid about £1k for mine just over four years ago. Felt like a princess...

Think they have a list of stockists on their website.

Just looked at their website and the styles are a bit fussy now.

There's a few streamlined styles if you scroll through.

I have no idea how expensive they are but the Temperley dress makes me think you'll like Jenny Packham?

It's a bugger to link to individual dresses but the ones that leapt out were Aspen, Willow, Foxglove, Callie and Damask.

Bunny that's spooky, have just booked an appt to go and see the vintage wedding dress co. on Saturday! Will have a look at Jenny Packham and Augusta Jones now, thanks so much for suggestions, keep 'em coming!

way too much skin?

shame this is sleeveless

Oh arse can't afford Jenny Packham, yes you were right Bunny I do like her stuff but just called them and her dresses are around 2-3K. :(

TK Maxx online have a wedding section

one last one

Alfred Angelo has some lovely designs (at least they did a couple of years ago) check out their website then you can google to find a stockist if you like their stuff (goes for any designer really)

Or find your local bridal shop, book a time to go in and try on loads of dresses until you find one you love, they often look v different on to how you think they will.

procrastination I do like that last one, thank you, my DP would love me forever if I bought something that reasonable as well!

TK maxx next.....

I hope he's going to love you forever anyway

obviously freakishly expensive shoes are needed if you go more affordable for thd dress, maybe one of those fab Jenny Packham headpeices too... these are quite nice, theses too...

I think you should look at J Crew's wedding selection: they have a lot that are not strapless (hurray!), streamlined and most are within your budget. They would be my first port of call if I were getting married.

My favourite. Sigh.

Similar silhouettes to the Temperley one:

www.jcrew.com/wedding/Wedding_Bride/gowns/PRDOVR~49876/49876.jsp

www.jcrew.com/wedding/Wedding_Bride/gowns/sheath/PRDOVR~47965/47965.jsp

www.jcrew.com/womens_category/weddingsandparties/forthebride/PRDOVR~22516/22516.jsp

You could also try looking at Coast's wedding range, which was better last season, but is still OK and not too Coasty - if you got something from there you could splurge on shoes or something else:

www.coast-stores.com/VENETIA-DRESS/Bridal/coast/fcp-product/2224740403

Have you thought of going to Bicester Village as they have a Temperley London store and obviously will be big discounts. There is a bus which goes straight there from central London or can do Marylebone-Bicester in about 45mins on train.
www.bicestervillage.com/en/brand-directory/brands/temperley-london?category=women&
Also I saw a lovely Temperly dress to hire hire.girlmeetsdress.com/products/long-violetta-dress-1# or something like this www.wishwantwear.com/dress-hire/ruth-tarvydas/367-ethereal-dress.html
The designer of that last dress is stocked in Harrods and the rrp is about £1200 for that one so may well be something perfect in budget www.ruthtarvydas.com/collections/bridal-collection