Wedding dress panic...

[SideshowBoob]

Hi all

I was stupid enough to get my wedding dress made in China and it's awful... Anyway, I have less than a month to go and I need something under £200 if poss.

We're doing everything on a budget - wedding in Gretna, parents only, no friends/family as we're both quite shy and wouldn't enjoy the attention (hardly anyone even knows it's happening!) - therefore, as we are to an extent parting with tradition, WIBU to wear red? TBH I'm going off the idea of ivory anyway as I really can't see myself looking good in it. I would however consider ivory if there was anything reasonably priced.

Thanks in advance!

You can wear whatever takes your fancy! Have you seen the dresses in John Lewis by Ghost

Might be worthing calling some local charity shops to see if they have any wedding dresses in? One of my local ones had loads recently, including in the window display, and some of them looked pretty nice. Nothing wrong with wearing red though - just make sure you feel special!

worthing? Sorry, worth, obv

What size are you and what style are you going for - full skirt, fitted etc?

I'm size 12 hourglass. Fitted, not full, and I'd prefer straps but could always get a bolero. I like the Coast Savannah dress but would like to check out alternatives first, I just don't know where to look!

Thanks to all posters so far - and thanks for the Ghost link!

what about one of those designer dress hire companies?

If you like the Savannah, have you looked at the Hermione (in bridesmaids section) on the Coast website?

I did the exact same thing as you, we didn't have a big wedding, it was just our parents, grandparents, sisters and 2 friends. I didn't want a big dress either and so I ordered online, it was cutting it fine and arrived 3 weeks before our wedding...it didn't fit. I ended up calling a couple of bridal shops and asked what their cheapest dresses were, they had an appointment and I went in the following Saturday. I managed to get a dress for £300 there and then. Ok so it wasn't a traditional girls dream wedding dress experience but as I'd orginally decided to buy mine online I kind of figured it didn't matter. The dress was gorgeous and I couldn't have given a hoot at how much it cost (apart from being under budget!).

Did you see Superscrimpers this week? They did a feature on wedding dresses, some of the suggestions were charity shops (especially those in nicer areas), hiring a dress or buying from the high street. Some of the high street shops mentioned were Debenhams, BHS, Monsoon and Coast.

It depends on what you are looking for but this one from Coast is simple and nice for a small wedding - also comes under budget. This one is also nice and simple for a small wedding.

If I were in your shoes I would have a look on a few high street websites and then call up the stores local to you, book a day off work asap and go into all of the shops in the same day. Make sure you check that the dresses are in stock or that they can be ordered in for when you visit. Also call bridal shops, ask what they have in stock and be honest about your budget. It WILL be ok - trust me - I was looking for a size 18 wedding dress and I managed to get one with 2 weeks until the wedding!

I had about a month to buy a wedding dress. Found one, requiring minor alterations. The shop's dressmaker wrecked the dress with her 'alterations'. Three days before the wedding.......

Mum and I returned post haste to another shop which had a dress which had fitted. We tried it again and took it home that day!

DON'T PANIC

Yes you could wear red, have a purple heather bouquet and you'll look very Scottish

I don't know where you are, but I know in Edinburgh someone has set up a shop re-selling bridal dresses second hand. Might be worth googling to see if there is one locally?

Try Preloved website, lots of choice, I had mine second hand, my dream dress!

How about Monsoon, most are slightly over £200 but at least near your budget:
uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/category/uk_catalog/mon_13,mon_13.2

Sorry, here's the Monsson link again:
uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/category/uk_catalog/mon_13,mon_13.2 (forgot to tick the box!)

Thanks all - I've just discovered there's an Oxfam Bridal near me so I'm going to check it out on Saturday!

Have a look on ebay for monsoon wedding dresses. There is some for about £100.

what about this, red gorgeous and under your budget

red pattern and with sleeves

I know you said no to full, but this may look stunning at gretna

How tall are you? If you're around 5'2" and can get it from the SW you can have mine.

Strapless top, straight skirt, detatchable train, worn once :)

What's wrong with the one from China?

What area are you in? There's a place in Liverpool called the Bridal Basement (you can find on google) where they sell new dresses I think all under £300. They're arranged by size so youc an head straight to the size 12s (also try 14s as you could have alterations). It's not glamorous and plush, but you can get some fantastic bargains - some are ex display samples, some are bankrupt shop stock.

How about trying Girl Meets Dress, I'm sure you could get a really lovely dress for you budget if you hire.

I had the same sort of wedding (shy too) and I wore a pale green Coast dress. I still love it 13 years later. Good luck on the day, and congratulations.

My sister runs a charity shop. She gets hundreds of wedding dresses donated but can't display them all. She eBay s some and has a wedding event every year but honestly some of them are stunning and often cleaned beforehand . Why not runs round a few and see if they have any you can look at . My sisters shop has a storage room upstairs full of them .

Bliss Studio I think - it's just (or was) just off Elm Row?

This place link

I haven't bought anything from them though so don't know how good they are.