Wedding Dress Advice - What would you do

[badasahatter]

My nephew is getting married next year and his fiancée has bought a beautiful wedding dress by Enzoani called the Danbury Blue. It's from last year's collection and so she got it in the sale. The wedding shop have got in touch with her to say there's a belt that goes with the dress but it'll cost her £300. This is an insane amount of money for a belt, but what worries me is that on the Enzoani website, they've said the belt is included. I have offered to do a dig around to see if I can get her a belt, size 12, in cream, but part of me thinks the wedding shop should offer it for free, regardless of the dress being in a sale. It won't go with any other dress in the shop. So I thought that Mumsnet mums would have sage advice on this. What would you do in this situation?

Danbury Blue Belt

Call the desigber to clarify if the belt should be included.

I would say that the original belt got seperated from the dress. I'm assuming that if the dress was bought in a sale then it was sold as seen?

Generally there are a few options when purchasing a wedding dresses -
Dress including belt
Dress only
Most enzoani belts are available to purchase as a seperate accessory too. A lot of shops will have a price for dress only and show the belt as an additional option.

When she tried it on was the belt with it?

Definitely check with the designer first...or find out by calling another bridal shop that stocks that dress.

If it doesn't come with it, there's a huge market for second hand wedding accessories out there. Either look online, or shops like Swoon which specialises in second hand.

If she's not keen on second hand there are some amazingly beautiful hand made belts for bridal dresses on Etsy which start from £30. Alternatively, could a seamstress copy the Enzoani belt?

I think she tried it without the belt. You are totally right makingdoo but the fact they want to charge her £300 for a belt that won't go with any other dress seems like blatant profiteering.

I hadn't thought of Etsy or getting something made.

I just feel so sorry for my niece to be as they have a small child and were trying to economise. I think the dress was only £400. Admittedly the belt wasn't seen with the dress, but I do feel the shop are taking the piss slightly.

I will mention the Etsy option and the seamstress option to her too. Thanks so much for the feedback. I knew some ladies on here would have a better perspective of things than I do and would have some great, creative ideas on how to get around spending this kind of money on a belt!

Has the shop said this is the price to order a new belt? If it's one they have in stock then I think they could offer her discount.

Is it black or ivory?

No need to spend that money on a belt. Lots of less expensive designers will have similar for cheaper.

Etsey and eBay are good suggestions

Thanks making. They've said they have the belt, and this is what it will cost, so they're not ordering it in specially. Shame they didn't show it my niece when she bought the dress. The cynical part of me thinks maybe the plan was always to sell the belt for a profitable sum. My niece is practical about this. She says if she can't source a belt for less money, she'll make do without as the dress is stunning unadorned. Thanks though :) It was the ivory, not the black. The black looks gorgeous too though. Wish I was 25 again and getting married instead of being an old besom of nearly 50 who walked down the aisle 25 years ago :)

bad , don't know if you're still checking this thread but an eBay search for 'Enzoani belt' throws up a lovely ivory sash that might work. Seller is Swallowuk and it's only 39.99.

Well, tbh I don't like the belt with it. I would wear it with something a bit more subtle.

Has she tried it with the belt on at all?

Having seen the belt I'd say she had a lucky escape.

All sorts of bridal sashes here for under £30, but she could spend more if she wanted to.

It's SO much nicer without the belt.