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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:
Original poster
PickleTheWeasel · 22/08/2013 20:36

Wow - lots of replies! Sorry I posted and disappeared, we're flat out in the middle of harvest here, the perils of being a farmer's wife (to be)!

Will try and answer everyone's questions...

No, I haven't tried that particular dress on, but I have tried a lot of different styles on and because of that I know that style is just right for me. I knew exactly which style I wanted before I started trying them on and it just confirmed that it suited. Unfortunately strapless really doesn't suit me - I end up with boobs like a bus shelter which is NOT a good look!

I need to see if there is a local stockist who will order it in for me to try on - maybe that wil get it out of my system!

My nearest big town is Shrewsbury (Shropshire) so pretty rural and not really able to head to big cities for big wedding dress shops.

I've also seen it in the 12/14 on EBay, my mum is pretty nifty wi a sewing machine but I think it might be too much of a gamble to take it in.

Some fab links and some beautiful dresses, but not quite right yet. I am beginning Ito wonder if bespoke might be the way to go, but my sister had hers made bespoke in Cheltenham and it cost her £1600 Shock, does anyone know of any Shropshire/Staffordshire designers/seamstresses that wouldn't cost charge an arm and a leg?

I want something classy, elegant, lace, shoulder covering (ie not strapless or halterneck) suitable for a good dance, slim fitting, ivory, not cheap polyester and preferably under about £1000 - not a a tall order at all surely?? Grin

Oh, and my wedding is next May, so I still have time to play with but I'm a 'planner' and like to organise things in advance!

OP posts:
Original poster
PickleTheWeasel · 22/08/2013 20:48

This is that lovely shape neckline again, gorgeous dress, but it's open on the back and there's no way I'd go without a bra or some decent boning/corsetry.

Much better price too, I'm really apprehensive about ordering online though.

My mum's colleague's daughter ordered hers online, gave her exact measurements, it came from China and was miles too small and the quality of the fabric was awful.

Just seems such a gamble. It's 'only £300' but if 'twas wrong then that's 300 that could have been put towards the right one.

Hmm.

OP posts:
Allthingspretty · 22/08/2013 20:53

www.berketexbride.com/Products/RNM3510/liberty

Allthingspretty · 22/08/2013 20:57

www.berketexbride.com/Products/SP7060/verity

RubyrooUK · 22/08/2013 21:01

My friend wanted a particular dress. She is a size 6. It was over £2000 new. She got a size 14 off Ebay for £400 and then spent a hundred quid having a professional wedding dressmaker alter it for her. You would never have known it hadn't been made to measure.

So don't discount the wrong size immediately if that is definitely the dress for you. I would try it on at a local wedding shop though just to check you really do love the style on you.

KatAndKit · 22/08/2013 21:07

Buy it! I tried a very similar Justin alexander dress on and it was gorgeous. Wasn't for me as i am bigger than you so went for a plus size dress in the end which was more flattering on my giant norks, but if you can strech to the one you want then do it! Try preloved website to see if there are any going second hand

KatAndKit · 22/08/2013 21:09

Also if you are a ten in high street clothes then you may well be a 12 in wedding dress sizes or even a 14 if very busty as the sizes come up smaller than ordinary clothes.

JumpingJackSprat · 22/08/2013 21:12

You have impeccable taste in wedding dresses OP! I absolutely love your choice.

What about this one:

www.jjshouse.com/Mermaid-V-Neck-Chapel-Train-Satin-Tulle-Wedding-Dress-With-Lace-Beadwork-002000630-g630

Jbck · 22/08/2013 21:29

I was 10/12 when I got married a 34DD and had to get a 14 and have lots of alterations. They took the sleeves off and lifted the bodice put it back together, took waist in and no doubt other stuff. I also had a little Dolly bag made from the material for lipstick and a tissue.

It is beautiful but you really need to try them on.

Vintagebeads · 22/08/2013 21:37

I would find your nearest stockist and go and try it.
Don't even waste your time untill you have seen it on,as you have tried others you know what you don't want, but sometimes that means the ones you think are the one.Are not.

I got married in a dress nothing like I wanted and yet it was perfect.

It's beautiful btw

bishboschone · 22/08/2013 21:40

The majority of wedding dresses in up to £2000 price range in high street shops are made in China from polyester so I wouldn't be too worried about buying from china or eBay. I know this as a dry cleaner who has cleaned hundreds upon hundreds of wedding dresses . I have come across maybe two 'proper ' silk wedding dresses in all that time . When I have had contact with wedding dress shops thy can't answer questions about the manufacturing or materials as they order them via EMAIL!! From china ... May as well cut out the middle man and save some money..

OldRoan · 23/08/2013 17:27

I was looking at wedding dresses with my future SIL today. Have you tried the Dessy group?

After Six by Dessy - the lace isn't as fine, but might be worth trying? There are 3 Dessy stockists around Shrewsbury - Jessica's Bridal (Shrewsbury), Simply Brides (Telford), and Lucy Alexander (Stafford).

Betty5313 · 23/08/2013 19:59

I'm probably fairly local to you :) Geraldine in baschurch made my wedding dress a few years back, she was lovely. I bought the fabric and a pattern and she modified it a bit. Cost less than £200 altogether. I think the shop on dogpole makes to measure but I don't know what their prices are like. there is a shop in oswestry too I think that offers a seamstress service.

eurochick · 23/08/2013 20:06

The ebay one might be worth a go as others have said - wedding dress sizes are odd. I usually wear a 10, but the shop ordered me a 14 (although it did need to be taken in a bit).

eurochick · 23/08/2013 20:08

I also agree with the advice to try it on. I fell in love with a Justin Alexander dress. Found somewhere that had it in stock. Tried it. It looked completely awful - all wrong for me. I ended up with something that couldn't have been more different.

BuntyCollocks · 24/08/2013 02:21

Gorgeous dress, but also wanted to say, strapless not a no go. 32hh, strapless on my wedding day, and the girls didn't budge. I looked rather lovely, too

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