Red carpet dress needed

[cjo1]

I know there are a few threads at the moment about nice dresses but i have to find something quite specific...

I have been invited to a wedding this summer that is black tie. The invite has a paragraph of instructions about dress code (!) that says it has to be all out glamour and "nothing is over the top".

I am finding it really hard to find something. Its a wedding so no white or black, which rules out a lot. I can't go too sexy as it's in a church and I would be mortified if anyone thought I was doing that awful "guest secretly hoping to upstage the bride" thing. but I don't really want to spend a lot of money on a dress that is boring or makes me look like a bridesmaid. The bride is expecting floor length red carpet gown rather than nice cocktail dress.

I am late 20's, 5"10, size 12, deep autumn. I have a top budget of £200 but anything less would be a relief.

Have been looking for weeks and so throwing myself on the mercy of the S and B experts.

Sorry to hijack but Wow MrsL those dresses are incredible!

Wow, MrsLettuce/OP - can you imagine the AIBU responses to this scenario? I can't believe OP has to spend circa £200 for a dress she'll probably never get to wear again...

This is quite elegant...

Autumns wear teal, right?

[[http://www.coast-stores.com///fcp-product/2310003722 Roy

Oops, don't know what happened there! Last link was supposed to be to this royal blue dress.

The e-bay ones are very cheap if you know your size. There are loads, new.

Quality could be a bit with these, but they might be worth a look since you're unlikely to wear the dress again:

is pink, and could be good for the money...

Might be nice, depending on how it fits your shape...

The navy one is gorgeous, DaftDame

Gorgeous IMO and in your colours, but slightly over-budget!

Also pink, also pretty, and slightly cheaper...

Nom- I know was toying with AIBU but thought it would just wind me up-there was a lot of phone call between guests exclaiming at dress code. But figure if it is really expensive i could at least ebay it.

Daftdame i really like the second black/purple one. but is it too revealing? i am thin but not overally toned and worried i will look a bit lumpy .

despite what the bride has said there is a voice in my head screaming that its in a church. At mid-day. In a small market town. God only knows what the saturday shoppers are going to make of it.

If Daft's is too revealing I do like the red new look one shoulder number nom suggested-maybe in the darker red options.

Thanks so much-you have done more in one night than I have done in weeks!

cjo1 you might have to wear some sort of slip, I think. But at that price not too great a 'risk' to take IMO.

I think it's lovely you have been given free reign to wear what you like. Shopping for weddings is usually hideous cos of all the rules about what you can't wear!