Dress for a wedding - help!

[TolstoyAteMyHamster]

My wedding. Eek! Second time round for both of us and I do not want anything wedding-y. What I would love is something I feel comfortable in and will wear again, as that would be far more me than a cream suit (or similar). I’m mid-forties, tall with a fairly substantial waist and decent boobs, and am perfectly capable of looking decently pulled together for work and weekends - simple, tailored stuff. No pastels.
However, formal wear of any sort has always been my nemesis. I’m able to get to London and am willing to spend reasonable money on the right thing. Where do I start?

What’s your reasonable amount of money?

Up to £500. Less would be good, but I don’t mind spending that much for the dress of my dreams.

Ok. What is the dress you currently own That makes you feel your best?

That’s a good question. I have a black and white spotty skater style dress from Hobbs from years ago which I quite like but it doesn’t have sleeves. I think my issue with dresses is always my waist - I tend to wear slim trousers and bigger tops to break up the silhouette so dresses are tough. But I do want a dress, I think.

I wonder if the best option is to book a personal stylist appointment somewhere to get some ideas.

So something skater style, which defines the figure and provides some structure? Do you want white?

When you talk about breaking up the silhouette - how about an overlay dress, which has sort of the top bit to it?

That dark coloured one is very pretty.
I don’t know about colour. I don’t want white. I wouldn’t mind pale grey. Cream or ivory would be fine if there was a pattern of some sort, I think.

I like the skirt on the paler one too.

My worry is looking too matronly. I can probably lose a few pounds and get a decent set of shaping underwear but I want to look bride, not mother of the bride. Despite the fact that I am indeed old enough to be that, and dd is making noises about marriage...

How about these:
Hobbs floral
Hobbs belle dress
Hobbs navy

I do like the navy one. Navy would be excellent - I love navy.
And the style of the top one, if not the print.