I ordered a dress a month ago but not paid a deposit - I said I would pay in full via transfer. I work very long hours and have been exhausted at the weekends so have invariably missed the chance to go to the bank by sleeping too long (don't have Internet banking). Dress costs in total £435 when my original budget was £200-300.
Our wedding will be part of a larger family celebration (80th and 60th birthdays) and is very casual, BBQ, garden party/Pinterest style. So I always thought I would go for a cream/white casual-ish dress similar to this.
Instead the one that I have ordered (I have tried on six so far) is a total princess dress. It's absolutely beautiful and everyone who has seen it loves it, but my DM is adamant that it doesn't match the style of our wedding and I will have to "upgrade" everything. She is coming to visit next weekend and wants us to go dress hunting in Newcastle or the Metro Centre (reason I have NC - don't have my location on my usual NN). SHe also believes that if I was desperate about the dress I would have paid by now.
I am not adverse to going looking and the more I think about it the more doubts I have about the dress. But then I think it will be the only (hopefully!) time in my life that I will get to wear a massive off-white dress and I should make the most of it. I also have a body shape that is perfect for the corset style (big hips and chest, tiny waist). Everything else will be 100% casual - self serve buffet, self-serve bar, other people's birthday cakes, I will be wearing the comfiest flat shoes I can find and DP isn't that bothered about wearing a tie. I also want to run around stuff my face and play lawn games and sit on the grass etc... not sure that is practical with my dress?
So... can anyone suggest alternative dresses that I could find in that budget in Newcastle that would suit me? I am 5'3", won't wear heels and a size 10. I don't think it's possible. The dress I have is a total bargain - I did look at Coast dresses in the sale and for the same price they were much lower quality (mine is a second hand one).
I have no experience of this and am totally at sea! I don't have any female friends who are local and free enough to wander around and look at dresses. Any help really appreciated :)