Alternative wedding dress which doesn't cost the earth?

[threeleftfeet]

Ooh, a S&B picture thread! I have a question up my sleeve (no pun intended )

DP and I are engaged, and I've been thinking about wedding dresses.

I'm not into traditional white wedding dresses. I think they are lovely, but are simply not me at all, it's not what I want.

I'd like to get married in a colourful, pretty dress which has a sense of occasion, but it doesn't need to be weddingy at all. I expect it won't even come from a wedding range.

I don't want to spend the earth! Maximum budget probably about £500 but hoping to spend less. As I'll be giving birth between now and the wedding, I can't say for sure what size I'll be, but hopefully a curvy 14 (possibly more realistically a 16!)

Any ideas lovely mumsnetters? I'm not sure where to start!

they do all of their dresses in a myriad of colours...

gorgeous

I'm looking for something more boho than ballgown I think

A picture thread...I shall try!

I love that green dress OP - but green is my favourite colour.

Can you tell me how to do pictures please?

ghost?

Or look - I think this one is stunning.

I got married in this. I was about 20w pg at the time, and it hid the bump very well. We're going to a friends wedding soon, (I'm 27w pg at the moment, and mahoosive this time round), and it's still a very flattering dress.

Ooh pictish they're lovely!

DP's favourite colour is green, I'm fair and my eyes are greeny-blue so I think green could be a good colour :)

Where did they come from?

ruprekt I'm not sure I do dare to wear red!

I tend to go for blues/greens/purples/oranges.

Having said that my favourite / most wearable evening dress in my wardrobe is red and black. I don't really feel comfortable in all red though. I'm fair, and I think it works better on darker complexions.

Alas I do not know...they are googled images. I googled 'green wedding dresses' and 'green evening gowns'.

I'm just trying to give you ideas. If you have £500 to spend there's nothing stopping you from contacting a dressmaker, and seeing if she can help.

My wedding was planned in 5 weeks and I had no time to plan the dress. If I had had time on my side, that is what I would have done.

Look in Yellow Pages or ask around.

leggy thanks for that, tbh I didn't even know they were Chinese dress makers!

Green

Damn! Chinese again, sorry!

I love this dress but only a one off

lovely but wrong colour

Very boho. And exquisite with it.

Would you have a look at the Australian designer Colette Dinnigan? I occasionally venture to her site to sigh over her lovely designs. Pricey, but AUSD converted to sterling might mean a good price for a very beautiful dress.
Something like this? Would be fab with some headgear.

shop.collettedinnigan.com.au/bouquet-lace-tiered-lace-dress/

or this shop.collettedinnigan.com.au/lace-insert-short-sleeve-dress/

Wow Pictish that is lovely! Totally up my street!

Do you know where that one comes from by any chance?

Depending on what you're looking for, I really love this website:

www.modcloth.com/store/modcloth/shop-spotlight-styles/fancy-frocks

nothing too twee, really nice shapes to flatter different figures, waistlines where you want a waist, lace bits to cover bits you don't want showing... etc etc, and some gorgeous colours. I hope that helps.

btw I got an original 50s dress off ebay for 100 quid and got it resized for 40

ggirl that's amazing, definitely colourful!

"btw I got an original 50s dress off ebay for 100 quid and got it resized for 40"

Oh that makes sense, of course. I wouldn't usually go to the bother of getting a dress resized, but I could of course for this!

I enjoy ebaying anyway :)

ruprekt thread on new picture feature here

You can upload a pic under your message - you need to have the pic saved on your compter.

Thanks for the Coast suggestion everyone.

Knockedupmell that looks lovely (and it has a purple version!) - however I'm no spring chicken these days and above the knee isn't the best for me sadly!

Think I need something longer.

Pretty

I am linking because when I tried to do it the proper way for pictures it didn't work .