The great wedding dress dilemma! Opinions please on this wedding dress...... not long to go and getting desperate

[Thegreatweddingdressdilemma]

Getting married early next year (winter wedding)
By way of background I am early 30s, tall, size 8.

I have been to a few 'proper' bridal shops and seen some amazing dresses, but there has not been any one in particular that I have fallen in love with and have to have (although lots that I have really liked). I do not feel like I have found 'the one'. The cheapest dress that I am considering from a 'proper' bridal shop is £1500 (including alterations). I can afford this without getting into debt but I am aware that it is a lot of money and I can think of lots of other things to spend it on (honeymoon, a fund for if / when I find myself on maternity leave etc).

I have also tried on this dress in Ghost which as you can see is reduced to just £75
www.ghost.co.uk/taya-dress-ivory-dp30ca-m10

Here is a real life wedding featuring the dress (and I personally think it looks better here than on the Ghost website)
www.fitzgeraldphotographic.co.uk/2013/12/bell-in-ticehurst-wedding-ali-john/

And here it is being worn by bridesmaids (although in a different colour) www.ablognamedscout.com/lisa-and-david-in-cork-ireland/

Ok so the Ghost dress is not quite as nice as the 'proper' dresses, and if money was no object I would go for the £1500 dress.... but the Ghost dress is £1425 cheaper and still a lovely dress, which after all I will only be wearing for a few hours.

We are also only having a very small, informal wedding so spending ££££ on a dress feels out of proportion somehow to the rest of the wedding.

My Mum thinks I will regret the Ghost dress. Would value any opinions on it. Many thanks.

There are other pure silk 'high street' options: www.hossintropia.com/gb/en/catalogo/p/embroidered-silk-maxi-dress?momento=37

I love the Ghost dress! Simple but yet stunning.

OK, OP - Monday morning voice of reason. And I have just spotted the bit where you say you are getting married early next year, ie in a month or so?

So, on your wedding to-do list, where it says "Get lovely dress that I feel and look good in", put a big, big tick, and move on to the next thing on your list

There, sorted!

The Ghost dress is lovely and looks very weddingy to me.

Its stunning! Love it!

I know. I just need to convince my mum! I am her only daughter, and she loves loves loves clothes, fashion, sewing etc , so seeing me in an amazing wedding dress is very important for her.
I know it is my wedding not hers, but my Mum is lovely and I don't want to disappoint.
She has even offered to pay for the expensive dress, but I would feel so guilty taking her money (I earn far more than she does and wouldn't feel right spending her money on something I am not prepared to spend my own money on)

This may not be your taste, but what about something like these:

Monsoon wedding dress 1

dress 2

dress 3

Love teh ghost dress

Of every dress linked, the ghost one is by far the nicest as a wedding dress. Defo that one and £1425 in your pocket!!

If your mum loves sewing, could she make you one? I know you don't have long tho!

I loved this, and it was made by her mum!

stonefabrics.co.uk/portfolio/wool-crepe-wedding-dress

I do think that the ghost one is the nicest one linked to so far, but agree with poster who mentioned it is viscose.

Let us know what you decide!

No would not let Mum make me one - too much pressure for her and I wouldn't feel I could say if it wasn't quite right

Not sure why it matters so much that the Ghost dress is viscose?

Ghost dress is lovely. Could your mum help make a wrap? Or buy you amazing shoes?

If your mum would like to sew something, then making you a lovely veil would be a great cost saving, and the sort of thing only a loving mum would do as its no great technical feat, but its a long way round one.
My mum made mine (silk tulle with 10m of handmade silk lace - she regretted the throwaway remark when I was a child and she was learning to make lace) and I treasure that as a heirloom, which a dress couldn't be

A wrap's a good idea. What's your mum's issue with Ghost dress? Is it that she pictures you in a meringue or a Kate Wales special? Or is it just that it's a bargain and therefore second-best. If you'd picked the identical dress from the bridal section at Libertys for £2,500, would she be enamoured? And if so, maybe you could put it that way to her, suggest going out to Claridges The Savoy for a pre-wedding mum and daughter bottle of pink champagne with some of your savings, and perhaps she'll realise the error of her ways.

I love the style but it doesn't fit the bride in the blog. I would spend some money on a dressmaker fitting it to you, and maybe a lining for the skirt (not sure if that works on the bias).

tempted to order one even though no wedding planned

Fair enough on the sewing, it could be a bit tricky, if it didn't turn out right.

For the fabric, viscose is just not as 'luxury' a fabric as pure silk for example, which I would prefer, for example. Doesn't have to be an issue.

I do really like the ghost dress though.

I think it doesn't look particularly well made.

Phase Eight have some beautiful ones in their sale.

Thanks I have decided to keep the Ghost dress and see if I can find anything better. Given the timescale I might not, in which case I am happy enough with the Ghost dress and the saved money can go towards honeymoon . If I find something else I can eBay or dye the Ghost dress.

My Mum has not actually seen the Ghost dress in person, only the internet photos, so she might like it more when she sees it on me or maybe not

I am not too concerned by the fabric being viscose. I agree that skirt would be better if lined. I actually tried on another Ghost dress (this one www.ghost.co.uk/diana-dress-ivory-dz48ca-m12 which had a lined skirt which was better, but not sure I like the cross over bit at the front of the top.

I prefer the one you have. Just investigate getting the skirt lined and you have still saved a fortune.

Love the Ghost dress. I wore one to get married (Giselle). Loved it. They are simple but chic and move beautifully.

Thanks BringMeTea did your dress get crumpled / creased?

let's face it, if you marry in a bin liner it doesn't matter, especially not with a big smile like the bride in the blog. It's the bloke you are making the promises to that is the vital choice.

Kate Middleton's dress wasn't good with all that lace making it look like her bra was showing. Princess Di was a bag of creases (and no smile but now we know why...) You don't always get what you pay for.

the ghost dress doesn't fit the bride very well but as I said, with that big smile who cares?

good luck and have a lovely day.

it wouldnt cost much to get it lined, especially just the skirt. I'm guessing £20 for about and £10 for fabric????

It's not much compared to the cost of buying another dress

The ghost dress is lovely.

The bride wearing it in the pic looks lovely but I would say needs something at the neck or in her hair or matching hair clip/ necklace to finish it off.

Perhaps a special necklace/ hair decoration/ spray of orchids/ fur trim/ veil ?

Sorry weddingdressdilemma only just seen your question. Answer is the bottom bit that was too long for the dress bag did get creased but nothing a bit of steam ironing didn't sort out on the morning! Have you decided yet? Excited for you!