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Wedding dress advice needed from knowledgable dress people!

11 replies

FraterculaArctica · 26/03/2013 20:03

Have just started planning wedding. I have a pretty clear idea of what I want in the dress department, but clueless about whether it's achievable (and for a reasonable cost). Can any of you good people help?

I am thinking I want to wear a red dress (on the burgundy size of red - certainly not scarlet). To be A-line, all-in-one, minimal or (preferably) no train (this will not be a church wedding, and I tend to trip over things at the best of times...). Am 5' 5", pear shape, size 10-12. I would be quite happy to have a second-hand dress, on cost and 'ethical' grounds. Have been browsing Ebay, preloved, etc. There's several things I'd be happy to wear if I was going for white/ivory, but red dresses are not that common.

Have seen on Ebay a (new) Monsoon dress which looks fab in terms of shape, colour, etc., but it's just too plain. Does anyone know if it's possible to get an overdress added to an off-the-peg dress (or bridesmaid dress - these are often in red, but also a bit plain), with embroidery/detailing, etc.? and how much would this cost? Or does anyone have any other great ideas?

Thank you so much!

OP posts:
DewDr0p · 26/03/2013 20:06

How exciting! Love the red idea.

A few of my friends had dresses made by local (but specialist) dressmakers. It worked out very reasonably cost-wise much much cheaper than mine
As I remember they tried on lots in shops and then took pictures and chatted it all through - you can pretty much get whatever you want.

showtunesgirl · 26/03/2013 20:11

OP, have you tried any actual dresses in real life yet? Because what you have in your head and what you end up with may well be two very different things.

I was adamant I wanted a red dress but when I went shopping, I picked an ivory one.

Wedding dresses are very different to normal dresses so it's impossible to say what will suit you / what you'll like until you try some on.

happymundanes · 26/03/2013 20:31

I just got married in a red full length a-line dress. It was a bit expensive, I don't know your budget, but it was my dream dress and it felt amazing. Plus, it sucked my tummy in. It was this one. I think I will wear it again.

FraterculaArctica · 26/03/2013 20:48

showtunesgirl no I haven't tried anything on yet! Am interested that you say that wedding dresses are very different to normal dresses... in what way? (I don't often wear 'normal' dresses, either). Will try some on - including ivory! My current thinking though is that I don't want to lose sight of what feels like 'me' - at the moment I don't think that's ivory.

happymundanes you must have a much better figure than me, it's a lovely dress but I would look terrible in it! I wouldn't call it a-line either (but as I say I know nothing about dresses).

This is the one I was looking at, what do you guys think?

(sorry first time doing link, so I don't know if it will work...)

OP posts:
showtunesgirl · 26/03/2013 20:57

Wedding dresses are more structured than normal dresses on the whole. Even the softer style ones like Jenny Packham will be cut differently than a normal dress.

Yes, definitely go for what makes you feel like you. I didn't think that would be ivory. In fact I was trying on all these dresses at one place and they were beautiful dresses but I felt like a dressed up dolly despite the fact that my friends were oohing and ahing.

The lovely shop assistant said I needed to articulate how I felt and I said that I wanted a dress that was more, er, slutty. Grin. She went away and got a mermaid style dress and I put it on and immediately wanted to strike a pose. Disclaimer, it wasn't a slutty dress but it made me feel sexy! Wink

yellowsnownoteatwillyou · 26/03/2013 21:09

Go and try on loads of styles as what you originally think you want sometimes doesn't look right.

I got mine from lamaras dresses online after trying on a few, all her dresses come in any colour you want, might be worth a look.

However I was given a dress that i could have worn at my wedding which is red that is a strapless dress but didn't fit, Hmm I think it's about a 14, and is yours if you want it. I was going to donate it o charity.

slug · 26/03/2013 21:29

Ghost will dye dresses to order

FraterculaArctica · 26/03/2013 21:39

Thanks all, that's food for thought! showtunesgirl feeling like a dressed up dolly is exactly what I'm worried about! Smile

yellowsnow that's a lovely offer, do you have any photos?

OP posts:
MrsKoala · 26/03/2013 21:47

i got married in this <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=media.coast-stores.com/pws/client/images/catalogue/products/2143420284/zoom/2143420284.jpg&imgrefurl=www.coast-stores.com/breita%2520bandeau%2520maxi%2520dress/dresses/Coast/fcp-product/2143420284&h=1500&w=1000&sz=154&tbnid=tW6niNtYwOMIXM:&tbnh=93&tbnw=62&zoom=1&usg=__zsnJnvNprvBkhINLT3e5klGMld0=&docid=OpMgDe2RI5LVnM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=oRZSUa7sMYGhO4f-gcAK&ved=0CC8Q9QEwAA&dur=536" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">dress in Jan. It looked lovely and certainly made me look curvy.

I wore it with this shrug

I think red is a lovely colour for a wedding dress. :) Hope you find something you like - i also agree, don't rule anything out till you've tried it - even bright white (which i wore and loved for my first wedding Wink )

showtunesgirl · 26/03/2013 21:57

MrsKoala I bloody love that dress!

yellowsnownoteatwillyou · 26/03/2013 22:02

Will take photos and pm you tomorrow. Grin I feel bad I didn't get to wear it, it's only been worn once at the Albert hall.

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