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Original poster

Wedding Dress Stress!

21 replies

Hiphopopotamus · 25/04/2018 11:56

Hi,

Hoping you awesome people can help me. I'm getting married in October this year. I've been very chilled about wedding planning generally, including getting my dress. But now I'm starting to stress purely because I've realised I've got no idea what I want. I've been going back and forth between wanting an actual wedding dress looking dress, or just wanting a nice dress in a darker colour. All I know is I don't want to spend very much as is it just a dress at the end of the day! I'm a size 14ish. Definitely want some kind of sleeves or straps. Apart from that I have no idea. I realise that's a terrible brief but I've seen you guys do amazing things on this board so...help!

OP posts:
LadyOfTheCanyon · 25/04/2018 12:30

Monsoon have a sale on a few bits at the moment. Some of their wedding stuff is really pretty.

Alternatively Phase Eight do dresses that are between wedding and 'evening'
John Lewis, house of Fraser and Debenhams all have "occasion" sections that could work if you don't want a full on wedding dress.

goose1964 · 25/04/2018 13:33

My sister bought a beautiful long dress in navy for her second wedding,then changed her mind and bought a wedding dress. If you don't want to pay a fortune some charity shops sell wedding dresses, not always pre worn.

Original poster
Hiphopopotamus · 25/04/2018 13:48

See this is my worry - that I'm going to regret not going for the 'proper' wedding dress.

OP posts:
welshmist · 25/04/2018 14:14

Book a day with a good friend, make appointments with all the bridal shops,have a nice lunch in the middle, if after that you are still meh about a wedding dress, try a shop that does prom dresses, many of the bridal shops do prom dresses these days to augment their income. When bridal shopping with DIL, we did four shops, I saw some gorgeous prom dresses whilst standing around.

NotMeNoNo · 25/04/2018 15:57

Try on loads, take selfies, you will gradually work out what you like and suits you and feels right for the occasion. Eg. floaty or structured, plain or detailed, colour or white, silhouette. I would just say you are the bride and you should feel special in your wedding outfit. What's your day to day style?

thedevilinablackdress · 25/04/2018 16:19

Do you have any good vintage shops you could get to? You could get something unique and special for a fraction of the cost of a wedding dress.

thefirstmrsdewinter · 25/04/2018 23:53

I'm afraid the only way I found something was to just keep trying stuff on. If you start with the chains (Monsoon, John Lewis and Debenhams seem a good idea) and just try a tonne of stuff on you'll get closer to knowing how you feel about it all.

I didn't like the places where you get a lot of intrusive attention. I remember being pinned into something and feeling like I might have a panic attack about it. At one place someone told me to put on a waist cincher and take off my leggings which made me a bit Hmm. So don't be afraid to be assertive if you have strong opinions.

Frouby · 26/04/2018 07:27

I was exactly the same as you OP. We get married on 19th May this year, I bought my dress a month ago.

I looked at 100s of different dresses online. Discounted everything strapless, with a train or a big full puffy out skirt. I wanted simple, strapped cos norks and cheap because I would have broken my heart spending a bomb on a dress for one day.

Went (to keep my lovely auntie happy) to a charity shop that had a bridal section. Tried on 3 or 4 with straps, simple, blah blah blah. Kept looking at a strapless dress I loved but was strapless, big skirt and a train. Tried it on just so I could shut up the sales assistant who was adamant it would hold me up.

And fell in love with it. It cost £150. I will donate it back to the shop when I have finished with it. I was going to spend £100 having it cleaned but the tinternet says best way is to handwash it in the bath. Care label says no to dry cleaning anyway.

My advice is go and try a few styles on. Wed2be is supposed to be good and fairly cheap. Try the charity shops and dont even look at size labels. I am a size 14 and my dress is a size 20.

Excuse the funny looking face on my pic. My dress makes me look about a stone lighter. I have spent £100 on some beautiful underwear (a basque) and of all the things I am stressing about on my wedding day the dress isn't one of them.

Wedding Dress Stress!
lasttimeround · 26/04/2018 07:59

I bought a non wedding dress in white from lk bennet. With white coat/jacket. I found white helped with making it look wedding ish. But conventional wedding dresses didnt suit me or venue. I think thinking about your dress matches the style of your wedding helps narrow it down. Outdoorsy beachy wedding = more boho floaty dress. Formal church wedding = more proper wedding dress. Our wedding was more civil wedding.
I didnt bother trying on lots of stuff.

Glitteryfrog · 26/04/2018 08:03

See this is my worry - that I'm going to regret not going for the 'proper' wedding dress.

If you love the dress and it makes you happy you won't regret it.

Omnomnomnivore · 26/04/2018 08:08

Lovely dress, @Frouby. I agree OP, go out and look at dresses and something will catch your eye. You'll know what you want when you see it.

lasttimeround · 26/04/2018 16:14

On the other hand re dress regret, i found ive been reallt happy that i spent my wedding feeling like me. The big wedding dress would have made me feel not me. That may not be the case for you but i have no regrets about not having the big dress

VileyRose · 26/04/2018 18:32

I wore black and loved it.

neveradullmoment99 · 26/04/2018 18:44

I am quite impressed by next's dresses. Some of which are simple and elegant:

www.next.co.uk/shop/gender-women-category-dresses/use-bridal#1_882

Original poster
Hiphopopotamus · 27/04/2018 14:13

I think I'm leaning more and more towards a proper wedding dress which I never thought I would! I've booked a bridal dress try on session so I can work out what suits me and what doesn't, and then I'll see if I can get a similar dress second hand

OP posts:
VileyRose · 27/04/2018 14:44

I did that, once I tried it on I knew I didn't want it lol x

pumpkinpie01 · 27/04/2018 14:49

I think thats the best option, - try lots on then you will know what style you want. Im getting married in 5 weeks and only bought my dress 2 weeks ago - a 2nd hand one off Preloved, it fits perfectly. Prior to that I went somewhere(couldnt really call it a shop!) and tried on about 12 and quickly worked out what did and did not suit me. Good luck and you have lots of time yet !

BumbleNova · 27/04/2018 14:55

Have you looked at high street wedding dresses? There are some lovely ones out there. Try whistles, ASOS and French connection. I know whistles you can try them on.

Original poster
Hiphopopotamus · 08/05/2018 11:02

So if anyone's still following, I went and bought a wedding dress at the weekend! Found it in the first and only bridal shop I went in and it's perfect. Very happy now!!

OP posts:
Omnomnomnivore · 08/05/2018 22:23

Yay @Hiphopopotamus. I knew you'd find something perfect!

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