Wedding Dress Question

[Bodear]

I'm getting married in January and am dress shopping (whoop!). I can't justify spending a huge amount on my outfit and think that the guilt at "wasting" a lot of money would ruin it for me so I am trying to keep my budget to £500 in total (inc shoes).

I've found an online dress "shop": www.honeypieboutique.co.uk

The idea is that you take your own measurements and then the dress is made for you (but with a lace up back to accommodate small adjustments). The dress is not returnable if you don't like it.

I like the style of their dresses and I have been sent material swatches which I am quite impressed by.

I need some advice - am I crazy to consider buying a wedding dress online, having never seen one of their dresses and not tried it on??

They look v similar to Lindy Bop and/or Vivienne of Hollyway dresses tbh and they are cheaper- maybe worth a look?

If you're a size 6 you can get an ivory swing dress similar to the ones on honey pie for £18!
www.lindybop.co.uk/sale-c49/dresses-sale-c50/ophelia-ivory-swing-dress-p184

www.lindybop.co.uk/sale-c49/dresses-sale-c50/ophelia-ivory-swing-dress-p184

Oops posted same one twice!!

Anyway, the 'Octavia' dress on there is also £18. And I think the petticoats are cheaper too.

I will have a look now - thanks! Although I am definitely not a size 6

Yes I think it would be safer to get something pre made that you can send back if you don't like it. Have a look at the sites suggested above and also Lady V London, Fairy Gothmother, Chichi London, Dolly dagger... there's probably others.

Forgot to say, if you do like it, you can get a local seamstress to alter it to fit perfectly (and maybe even change the style a bit if you want, eg neckline or adding a sash etc).

its fine if you get it in advance and then have time to give it back if you don't like it and get another one.

Thanks wise ones!! I will check out all of the above and let you know how I get on!

I've been looking for a dress for a wedding (as opposed to wedding dress) and noticed that Chi Chi London have some lovely ones for less than £100.

Hi All, thanks for your replies.
Tinklypoo - the site I posted seem to be in the Uk so I'm wondering if that makes it more sensible? I know that there are some shocking companies around as you've mentioned!

Can I ask why the dress makes you sad now?

On another note, I'm happy to spend up to £500 so it's not about finding something cheaper than Honeypie Boutique but whether it's a daft idea for my wedding dress.

Thanks!

I think it is a bit risky if you can't return it, yes. You can never really tell what something will look like until you try it on - it's all about the proportions.

Noooo! Don't buy it from them!! I bout 6 VERY expensive custom made bridesmaid dresses from them and they were awful a complete waste of money that cost me more than the price of each dress to get them fixed and presentable as it was too late.

I'm a good buyer I spent ages researching and spoke to them a lot and they were awful. Cheaply material badly cut and measurements so off it was ridiculous. Please avoid!

I can post pics of my bridesmaids dresses if you don't believe me - just as I know there are nuts out there

But I can vouch for Lindy bop - not individually made but amazing I must own at least 20 of their dresses!

Ooh Busy, I believe you but can you post pics anyway??

I've attached a few. Out of the 6 we bought 4 had to be completely rebuilt and the other 2 needed serious repair work. Shoddy stitching and bunching. Mismatched hems that hung differently. All in all a complete nightmare and I was so excited for them.

The pictures are hard to show without showing them on my bridesmaids but don't want to break their confidence. They were awful. And I'm not textile minded at all but even I could see the absolute p-take that the stitching was

Honeypue Boutique are reputable and genuine. Whirling Turban are based in Bali but also reputable and beautifully hand made - the quality from either of these shops is in no way comparable with the mass made cheaper alternatives from e.g. Lindy Bop.

Shit sorry I was thinking of Oh My Honey!!! NOT Honeypie - who I dont know personally at all although their dresses are I think mass made abroad. Oh My Honey are hand made (or used to be). [Blush] oops.

I have done a photo shoot using Kitty & Dulcie dresses and they are nicely made and good quality from what I have seen. www.kittyanddulcie.com/3-view-all-wedding-dresses

My stbsil bought her wedding dress from tbdresses. She had to get slight alterations done as her boobs aren't exactly porportional to the rest of her, so need the top part let out a bit but it was a gorgeous dress and cheap as chips too.

This is the site I was thinking of www.ohmyhoney.co.uk/#

I bought my dress from a wedding dress shop for £199. The alterations were around £100 and it had to be dry cleaned as it was "off the rack" I had a halter neck strap added and ended up losing so much weight it was taken in three-four sizes! It's worth going into a dress shop for a fitting and trying it