I feel depressed and worried about getting married at 42

[MrsNextDoor]

Aren't I silly? I just do though. I'm happy we're getting married but I'm so worried about finding something nice.

We're marrying in DH's home country which is hot, hot hot. The wedding will be either on a beach or in his parent's garden...either way...outside and casual-ish....so I'm not looking for something massively formal....I'm a size 12 with a small bust...I have a lot of broken veins on my chest so want a halter style but not a low halter....or something with lace that covers that area...I suit halters which go right up to the throat or high necks.

My arms are fine...nice even...as are my shoulders and back so don't mind showing those...legs...meh....not fussed on them.

Generally I suit either wiggle style dresses or bias cut thiings...not at all keen on those 50s tea dresses...

I'm probably looking for the impossible...I like lacy, floaty slightly boho stuff...don't mind about colour...please can you help?

Budget not so hot...no more than 600 pounds....I'm worried!

you would look odd getting married in a dark colour in summer in oz, yes. I don't really get the issue with your age though. Wear what you want.

David Fielden do some stunning simple sheath dresses with high neck/halter, sounds as though it would suit you perfectly.

Try pre loved for second hand?

That blue one tethersend linked to is lovely. I know it's over budget, but that's the one I would pick.

What about the Oasis 6 (or was it 9) way dress, £85. I saw it on TV the other day and it looked beautiful, you adjust the neckline to all different ways - bandeau, halter, covering tops of arms.
The one I saw was a floaty shiny light grey and it looked quite beautiful. The telly bloke was recommending it for bridesmaids, where each bridesmaid might wish to wear it a different way to suit their individual taste, but I thought it would make a lovely dress for an informal bride.

That 9 way dress is beautiful but I don't want any of my chest showing and grey's not my colour... :(

THe Ellie Saab is gorgeous...will also go now and look on David Fielden...thanks so much everyone.

Have you watched say yes to the dress on sky? Bridal shop in america. Suprising how the brides vision looks wrong when its tried on and they go for something different. You need to try some on for style and then look at alternatives. Look out for flash sales. Some designers may not be in oz.

I'm pretty well clued up on what suits me in terms of formal dresses. I'm an actor....and have worn tonnes of different styles in various productions...I know what works on me.

Never under estimate Ghost dresses. Many can be dyed to order

Thank you for the tip...off to look now Slug

[[https://www.ghost.co.uk/claudia_dress_boudoir_pink-ds38ca-n27 this one is nice ] slug...what do people think?

Also this

I like the 30s-ish thing ...

this is the 1st one I linked to badly

I think I love that Claudia one...it's available in the dyed range and the Oyster is lovely. So affordable too! I could get some really nice shoes and accessories with a dress that price. Not happy that a 12 is considered "large" though! and 14 extra large! Hardly!

I actually feel really hopeful now! Thank you so much to everyone who'se advised me here...Slug...I'm almost definitely going for a Ghost dress...I love the look of lots of them...thinking about it I might have to lose a little bit of weight to really feel happy in that style...they seem to be bias cut which is always flattering but they're pretty slinky so I might be happier in a size ten.

What kind of accessories does one wear with a high necked column style frock though? Just earrings? It's backless so hair up?

Another thing...I can't wear massive heels or I'll be taller than poor DH...who I don't think would mind....but I'm not sure I want to be! Will it be ok to just wear a 2 inch heel with a dress like that do you think? I'm just a bit over 5.6 and DH is only about 5.10...is it ok to be taller than him or as tall? Am I being a nob thinking about that?

Love the ghost dresses, good idea slug... Small heel will be fine with them.

Accessories to a minimum, I think... Maybe some sort of small floral/feather hairpiece? What's your hair like?

I love the blue elie saab dress tethers...
Ghost one is nice too.
You mentioned you might've wanted something 'different' would this fit the bill?

Hettiethat is gorgeous but not quite formal enough I think...I could get away with that at a party in general.

I'm pretty sure I'll go with one from Ghost...tethers hair is shoulder length and dark brown. I don't like feathers but did see a star hair piece...sort of gold metal stars on a clip designed to go up the side of your head...that or one flower? I don't like tiaras or filigree type headbands.

Elegant

Sheer top

Sheer top with long skirt

Single shoulder

High top

Sorry, didn't see you've moved onto accessories!

Yes, stars up one side would be lovely

The Ghost dresses are gorgeous but REALLY long, and I say that as a 5'10" woman. You might need to get it taken up. But the lines are very elongating so I think you could get away with minimal heel, esp if you get if shortened carefully so you can't really see the shoes. They are also very unforgiving although stretchy IYSWIM? so I wore control tights up to my armpits to smooth me out and also you may want to think about what pants as all lines show. But they are wonderfully glam and sexy and the fabric is delish. I wear glasses so can't do limb earrings without looking like Sue Pollard bug would stick with long elegant earrings and perhaps a beautiful cuff or delicate bracelet and keep away from busying up the neckline. I tried on oyster and loved it but as it was a bridesmaid dress ended up with a steely grey which matched the bride's deco dress but didn't do much for me. Still a lovely dress though. I had one similar to yours.

Long earrings!

For a beachy wedding in that Ghost dress I would go with jewelled flats. Probably sandals.