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!!

Oops - Jenny Packham bridal accessories

Have a look at ellieandcharlotte

I wanted something non-meringuey with sleeves and they had a lot I really liked.

In the end I went for this which admittedly is strapless, but I'm wearing a lacy bolero with it to cover my bingo wings . It was around 1500.

Oh you Style and Beauty people are BRILLIANT.

J.Crew is a fantastic thought, love loads of those and they're doing free shipping and returns at the mo so I think I might just order a few and try at home

Have to go and get the DDs up from their nap now so will look at the rest later on and report back.

Glad those look good. I've just thought of another possibility: Anthropologie has a wedding site now: www.bhldn.com It's more expensive than J Crew but within your budget, is more vintagy and they deliver to the UK.

A bit Temperley

Sleeves! It's a miracle!

Crepe de chine

And so on

FairPhyllis that's also a great idea thank you, they have some beautiful gowns there. I've got two appointments now on Saturday, so I think I'm going to have a try on and then do some online ordering after that (assuming I don't make a purchase then and there).

Bicester village also a good idea, thank you girl gone mild I'm working on some contacts to try and get some kind of discount at Temperley but even if I succeed I think I'll still struggle on price....

Hi TheBeanAndTheBee. I found a beautiful Pronovias gown in London for my friend in London who had a month to plan her wedding. We went into a number of bridal dress shops (both designer and local). Make friends with the ladies who run the local boutiques - ask them to speak to their contacts at the designers to see if they have any dresses in your size at their warehouses. Why not go into lots of bridal shops anyway - you may find a great deal by buying one of the samples that they have in store. Some ranges are discontinued and we managed to get a deal for less than £1000 on a gown that would have cost a lot more - we could also have it immediately as they no longer wanted it there for orders (rather than wait for 6 months to have it made). Also negotiate with the shop if you see something you like - they are a lot more willing to give you a discount if you buy a dress the same day you see it for the first time. When I was a bride I also tried on some things I didn't want (like the one with the extra massive skirt) even though I always wanted and eventually had a slip dress. It was loads of fun! My wedding dress was eventually bought at a big wedding dress sale (those ones they hold at hotels). I never thought I'd find anything there but there it was! Congratulations on your wedding.

Google swoon wedding dresses, older styles, samples and 2nd hand - incl Jenny p dresses.

Someone I know got married in that temperley one and had v similar sounding figure to you. She looked fab.

I got my dress from Monsoon - not strapless or meringuey. Some of them are grim but I loved mine and it did look good.

Another one to try is Marchesa - they had some lovely (not wedding but white) dresses which I think you'd like.

FairPhyllis those bhldn dresses are stunning! Making me want to get married again (to the same man I should hasten to add)

If you know what you're looking for style-wise, you probably would have enough time to get something made by a decent dressmaker.

If you want to go the ready-made route, how about

Alberta Feretti - little bit over budget though
- just under the top end of the budget
- Amanda Wakeley
- Marchesa, Grecian style dress

ivanapoo does your friend want to sell it?!