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Original poster

So I think I've found the perfect wedding dress... just not the perfect price!

41 replies

PickleTheWeasel · 21/08/2013 17:53

I think I've found the perfect wedding dress, but it's just completely out of my budget Sad

It's this one, retailing at £1700 Shock

The shape of the neckline is perfect, the lace at the back, the little buttons, it's slim fitting but not too much, it's available in ivory and its lace - I love lace.

I just know the style will suit me perfectly, but there's no way on Earth I can bring myself to spend that much on a dress!

I'm 28, 5'6" and a size 10, slim but with fairly big boobs, so strapless is a complete no go. And it needs to be something with a reasonable train so that I can pin it up and crack on on the dance floor all evening. I need a dress that I can enjoy myself in and not spend the whole day hoiking the skirt/train out of the way of galumphing great farmers!

So my challenge to the S&B gurus is to help me find something similar but at a far more reasonable price. I'm open to suggestions of different styles too, but this is my favourite!

Thanks in advance Smile

OP posts:
Strictly1 · 21/08/2013 17:56

I love your choice - not much help, sorry.

Iheartcrunchiebars · 21/08/2013 17:58

I loved a dress very similar to this but a Claire Pettibone one. I found a very similar one handmade in china on ebay for £100. My mum convinced me not to get it saying it would be a waste of money ifit was rubbish. I ended up buying a dress for £1000 which was really nice but I did regret not giving the ebay option a go. If not stick it on Facebook and see if any friends of friends are selling one second hand. On the day you won't give a monkeys that you aren't in a new dress! Congratulations by the way.

Mumbledore · 21/08/2013 18:01

Beautiful! I think I have seen similar styles in a bridal shop window near me, so hopefully you'll be able to track something down. Sorry I'm not more help, just wanted to say it's a lovely choice and very classy. Good luck!

mynameisslimshady · 21/08/2013 18:03

this is similar

so is this

and this

this is my favourite one

Yonihadtoask · 21/08/2013 18:05

Gorgeous dress. But I also would balk at paying so much for a wedding dress.

I got married 5 years ago - and my dress was actually the sample dress. It fitted perfectly - and was only £200. Bargain.

This website has some lovely designs - but much cheaper than the dress you have chosen.

www.jjshouse.com/Wedding-Dresses-c2/top-sellers/Cap-Straps_p67i70/Lace_p29i33/Mermaid_p1i6/

BetterWithCheese · 21/08/2013 18:06

Look around and see if you can find it second-hand or as a sample. I got my amazing Jenny Packham dress as a sample for half the cost of retail. That's a lovely dress, BTW.

OldRoan · 21/08/2013 18:12

That is gorgeous. Where in the country are you? Trunk Shows might come up trumps, like Cheese suggested.

Phase Eight have lace dresses, but compared to yours they aren't as nice. The one I've linked to is long sleeved, but might be worth trying on?

workingtitle · 21/08/2013 18:14

Have you looked at Phase Eight? Look here A friend wore 'Eliza' recently and the beading was beautiful, and the back was especially pretty.

3boys3dogshelp · 21/08/2013 18:25

Hi pickle, that dress is beautiful, but £1700 is a huge amount of money.
Where are you based and which bridal shops have you tried so far? I live in nw England and reasonably rural. Dresses in bridal shops near me tended to retail between £450-£2000. Mine was £720 with lots of lace and detail. My sil lives in the city and had a very pretty but very plain dress for £2200 just because that was the typical price at theshops she went to.
If you have time wait for sample sales or designer weekends to save some more. And don't forget to factor in extra charges for fittings and alterations, shoes/veil/tiara etc.

Tilpil · 21/08/2013 18:40

I found my design and getting it made its half the price

cookielove · 21/08/2013 19:42

Definitely have a look at your local wedding shops, you won't be able to find an exact copy but many smaller brands copy popular designers. I am willing to bet you'll find a very similar dress at a fraction of the price :)

LoganMummy · 21/08/2013 19:46

Have you tried wedding dress charity shops? You might get lucky.

7to25 · 21/08/2013 19:50

Very similar to a friends daughter's dress, wedding in May but I think hers was £2000.
The lace will make the dress much more expensive.if you had it made then materials could be £400-£500.

borraxohastaelalmanacer · 21/08/2013 19:52

Try Preloved or some of the numerous bridal forums (You and Your Wedding and Hitched are two that I can think of) as lots of brides advertise their dresses for sale after their wedding and Justin Alexander is a pretty 'common' brand.

It's also worth phoning around various stockists as you will be amazed by the variations in price. Some shops may also offer a significant discount if you order other bits (veil, hair accessories, bridesmaids dresses etc from them)

Just a word of advice though - if you haven't tried it on yet, definitely give it a go as you may find that you don't actually like it and at least that way you can put it out of your mind. I had seen a dress online that I was adamant was 'the one', but when I tried it on, felt really 'meh' about it.

Good luck and enjoy! Dress shopping was definitely one of my favourite parts of wedding planning!

showtunesgirl · 21/08/2013 19:56

Hang on a sec OP, you haven't actually tried it on have you?

In fact have you tried on any actual wedding dresses yet as very, very often you end up with a dress nothing like the one you had in your head. Wedding dresses are nothing like any dress you've ever worn before and you really do need to go try on quite a few styles before you narrow it down.

lastnightidreamt · 21/08/2013 20:01

showtunesgirl I agree - my friend with very big boobs (in fact size 10 and 5'6'' too!) had a strapless dress and looked absolutely stunning. It's definitely worth trying everything on.

lastnightidreamt · 21/08/2013 20:02

Sorry borax you said the same too Smile

MikeLitoris · 21/08/2013 20:05

I saw this dress in the window of a local shop recently. It is amazing.

We have another wedding dress shop that has one almost identical for £399. All their dresses are that price.

I want to get married :( :(

purpleloosestrife · 21/08/2013 20:08

My dress was hugely similar to that one, and I had it made. I chose some beautiful fabrics (silks and real lace) - but it would have been way under that price if I had chosen "cheap" fabric. Lots of wedding dresses off the peg are made out of cheap polyester crap and cost a fortune - choose a local designer/seamstress and cheap fabric for a bespoke but much less expensive option.

makingdoo · 21/08/2013 20:08

Gorgeous choice.

Have a look on here -

www.mcelhinneysbridalrooms.com/wedding-dresses-!15-cat.html?bizpageno=4

Sorry can't link on my phone

theboutiquemummy · 21/08/2013 20:08

Have you thought about having one made ?

If you live near London I can recommend someone PM me

mynameisslimshady · 21/08/2013 20:10

Have you seen this site?

GirlWithTheDirtyShirt · 21/08/2013 20:12

Is it this one?

www.rockmywedding.co.uk/un-dress/undress/undress-listings/?id=1089

Sassee · 21/08/2013 20:34

I have that dress, amongst others, as a saved search on eBay. There's a size 12/14 on there for £750

GoWestcountry · 22/08/2013 18:08

Debenhams have a similarish one, no train though.

m.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_008010868485_-1