Help someone clueless- wedding!

[GinevraMollyWeasley]

In two weeks I'll be attending my first ever wedding, well as an adult anyway! I need to know.... everything really. I don't know what to wear, how to do makeup, anything really. This is a Big Deal for me- very good friend, meeting all of her family for the first time, and his too!

So I know I want to wear a nice frock- I'm thinking Monsoon. I have to try on, I have a very odd shape so trying on very important so nothing online. Budget up to... I don't know, I don't know what people spend on dresses etc. £100? More if needed? This is a one-off thing and I want to look my best. What else do I need- I'm thinking a bag, shrug/cardi type thing, shoes. I'm staying at the hotel with them the night before and after so can change, take stuff with me! I'm size 16-18, I think, it keeps changing because I lost weight and have gained some too. Top-heavy. I can't show my arms above elbow due to extreme stretch-mark scaring, but some kind of shawl thing could cover that?

I have the day off before, what could I do? Bride has stuff booked so I won't be meeting her till the evening (we're sharing the night before). I'll need something for that evening too! Anyway I'm thinking a manicure? I've never beautified! I need a haircut too. I've booked an appointment tomorrow to sort contact lenses, never worn them so about time I got round to it!

I'm rambling. Here's my list-

Dress
Something to go over
Tights
Shoes (flat or teeny heel)
Bag
Manicure, or something
Contacts
Something for evening before
Makeup advice?

Any help about any of... anything! gratefully received. I have no idea what I'm doing! I did post on this before but.... I gained weight since then (stressed, lost job, actually this wedding is the day after my job ends and I have no new job yet).

I think the Monsoon one is gorgeous - you could get a little purple or blue (or any of the other colours in the dress) cardigan or shrug to go over it. And neutral shoes like she is wearing would be perfect. You could maybe get away with the Unze shoes in gold rather than black.
Good luck!

A little update- I went Richmond today and well... I spent 200 actual pounds! In one shop! On three items! I got this (only link I could find) and another one that I love but I can't find a link for anywhere! How annoying, I really really need advice on what goes with it. It's sleeveless, so I'll need something over. all-over flower pattern, big flowers, blue, coral and light brown. I got a little cardigan that ties, it's navy, I seem to spend half my life looking for cardis so if I see one I get it!

Now I need.... something feathery to stick on my head, a bag, shoes. I have one weekend left!

Oh and I booked a make-up lesson for next weekend, I had my first eye appointment to sort contacts. All going along!

Looks & sounds perfect :)

for shoes - maybe look out for Irregular Choice Shoes - they are very comfy for standing around in all day, but glam too & they have some lovely, unusual shoes that would set that dress off beautifully - all handmade & very cheap considering that - they also do some beautiful bags & other accessories - Schu - stock them, & I know they have a shop of their own in Brighton - probably elsewhere too, but thats the one I know

Hurrah! I found a link to the dress I got- the one I think would be best to wear. Sadly not a size 12.... nor a 14 or 16, as I thought I was. Turns out I've gained a stone in the last month or so . It looks better on, I think- the waist bit cinches right in and then flares out. Sadly the top bit is a bit baggy, although I am fairly generous boob-wise (36G at last measure!). So must have something over.

Um, as this is my first wedding ever I need to ask- do you tend to change between the day stuff and the evening do? It's a sit-down meal.

Thanks for mentioning Irregular Choice Shoes rockin they look AMAZING! I wish I could wear heels.... I have stupid feet, so I do. I actually own these but I don't know if they'll go with either dress- my lovely OH got them randomly just because I liked them!

I really struggle a lot with heels & stupid feet too, but I own these & I am amazed at how comfy they are - trying them on felt like putting on slippers & I wore them for a whole day on my feet, the very first time I wore them & they were great - unheard of for me :), so don't rule heels out

I love the shape but um, not really the pattern for me! I have these and they are real;y uncomfortable- my feet just push forwards so there is a huge gap at the back but my toes are squished! I have no idea how I get shoes so wrong, I've never found any shoes that I truly love.

They do the same shape in other fabrics too, they are nice & wide at the toes & sole is padded & lined with velvet too & they are made of quite soft materials which again helps the comfort - those you link to look quite ridged & the toe shape would be squished & uncomfy for me too :(

ballet pumps would work well with those dresses too though & you can't go wrong with them - if you get plain ones, you could maybe add clip on accessories to match the dresses & swap the accessories when you change - you could maybe jazz up your IR shoes above with clip or sew on flowers to match your dresses too ??

Ignore the last bit - your IR shoes already have flowers - they would look great with the floral print dress :)

OP, I love the 'boat' dress more than the flower dress, but of course you must wear what's the most comfortable and what you feel most confident in.

Normally you would stay in the same outfit all day.

Am I right in thinking you bought a navy cardigan to go over the Boat Dress? Also, as you want something for your hair, may I recommend this corsage to pin in? Gather all of your hair in a messy bun near to one earlobe, then pin in the flower, like this

Also, some very low navy shoes

thanks rockin, next weekend is for the buying of shoes etc so I'll make it a mission to try on those you recommend! I've never worn ballet pumps, I can't find any that stay on my feet! How do you keep them on? I usually go for Mary Jane type shoes as the strap holds them on. Weird feet!

Gnocchi The boat dress is really nice that's why I got it even though I can't really afford it! I got a navy cardi, it's a bolero tie type like this only more expensive! Loving that corsage! I'll look in accessorize next weekend too! I don't have enough hair for a bun, it's to my jawline. I need to work out hair too don't I!

After all the running around buying sexy shoes for the wedding I went to at the weekend it turned out that most guests were in wellies!!! I hope your wedding is somewhat drier!!

I love that dress! I went to a wedding recently and a lady was wearing it and looked fab - definitely suits a curvy figure like yours. She wore coral /orange accessories -shrug, big necklace, orange looks good with blue
Enjoy the wedding!

Just realised that you linked to two dresses! It was the boat dress that I saw at a wedding and which I loved - it's a bit more unusual than the flowery one