40 with large bust and won't wear white - wedding dress help!

[Drizzlehair]

My long term partner and I have decided to get married. Therefore I need to choose an outfit...

I have no idea where to start. I'm 40, not bad looking for my age, I'd pass for 35 on a good day and I'm vaguely stylish compared to some 40 yr olds I know, but I really don't have the first clue what sort of dress would look good on me.

I'm 5ft5, size 12 but v large bust - 32JJ territory.

I like things which are fairly simple but with a slight edge. Maybe a bit vintage, or slightly rock.

I really don't think white/ivory etc will work for me, I never wear pale colours and will just spill food down myself

I'm not even sure I'd want a pale or plain colour. Maybe a print? I've got good legs and am not afraid of heels. But nervous about showing too much shoulder / back as my big boobs means I carry all my fat on my top half so I'm a bit wobbly

Has anyone got any ideas at all what a top heavy older bride who doesn't want to wear a bridal dress could wear?

Huge thanks for any ideas

There's a Facebook group called Rock and Roll Bride that's worth joining - full of all sorts of non-traditional dresses and ladies of all shapes and sizes (and blessed with boobs of varying sizes)

It's great for inspiration :)

I always think that Vivienne Westwood is cut really well for bigger busts. Would you consider red? I love this! www.saintbustier.com/vivienne-westwood-anglomania-alto-red.html

I’d go for light gold or similar
Shape wise I’d stick to shapes that you know you can already wear.
Long hem line

Vintage style and serious sass?www.saintbustier.com/nigella-dress-champagne-gold.html

A friend went for a red trouser suit. She looked bloody amazing.

I love that Nigella dress.

I’d go to a wedding shop and try on a load just to see how you feel in different shapes/fabrics. Subject to your budget, you could think about getting something made for you. I am large busted and bought a strapless dress and had a wide halter neck strap added to it which made me feel a lot safer.

Rather than going high street you could perhaps go to a bridal shop and look at their bridesmaids dresses or perhaps they can order you a wedding dress in a different colour. The reason I suggest a bridal shop is that they will be able to do all the fittings etc in house

I have big boobs and found a scoop or v neck with wide shoulder straps or sleeves best plus can get a good bra underneath. Strapless looked terrible

Or as PP said a halter (or bardot) looks good if you can cope with the bra requirement

With a a prominent bust but, presumably, still not your waist to the belly gods, maybe go for something 50s?

I too am large of nork. My wedding dress was a pale colour, but had a black lace overlay across the bust.

It still felt weddingy as it was much palerctgat I would normally wear, but the lace visually minimised the bust area.

Maybe something like that would suit?

I used to work in the industry.

If you don't WANT a traditional style dress that's absolutely up to you and there's loads of other ways you could go.

But...did you know that many wedding dresses are already available in non traditional colours? Purple, Maroon, navy, even scarlet or black?

Or prints?

https://www.hebeos.co.uk/ball-gown-v-neck-long-sleeves-floor-length-lace-tulle-dresses-po16033po1904.html

https://m.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/dark-wedding-dressesnn_58407a02e4b0c68e047fac27

Also if you order from a boutique they'll take your measurements so your bust will be accounted for and the dress made bespoke, there are very few designs that you couldn't add straps, sleeves or a halter to if you wanted the added security.

Just as an alternative perspective to the alternatives

Congratulations. x

A lot of brides would give their arm to be top heavy. Be proud!

It depends what sort of budget you are on, you could Google for a local bespoke dressmaker who works from home and has good references. They could also advise. Consider if you would want to wear the dress again for other (posh) functions/events because that may have an influence on your style.

Also look at what is available on line from Monsoon to get ideas.

I posted this late last night and forgot about it so a lovely surprise to see these replies today!

Thanks for them all. I'll have a good look through.

I think I do want to wear the dress again. I'm not particularly short of cash at the moment but I think I'd feel really weird spending hundreds of pounds on something to wear once. This is part of the reason I wouldn't go white / pale

I also have a very kind friend who has just started a dress making business and she's keen to make it for me, so it's all about finding some examples of what I like and what I'd feel like me wearing.

I love the long multicoloured one posted by graphista, but it is on a tall thin model! However that's a really good one to add to my mood board

Any more ideas v welcome, but these are really useful as a starting point

why not have a look at Bombshell dresses OP ?

They're just to show you that wedding dresses don't have to be white/pale. You could go for a similar print but different style

Friend of mine married in a dress from these:

www.lindybop.co.uk/wedding-shop/bridesmaid-dresses.html