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Help! I need a wedding dress

84 replies

TheThermalStair · 19/04/2021 11:41

Wise MNers I'm in a pickle, I need to find something to wear at my (rather short notice) wedding in June. I don't want a white wedding dress, something colourful (a colour or several colours) but still long/ish and "special".

Due to the time it'll have to be "off the rack" and then maybe tailored a bit to fit me. (I've got a slightly plump hourglass type figure)

Any idea where to look? I'm a clueless person who needs all the help I can get. Thank you!

OP posts:
TheThermalStair · 19/04/2021 13:05

@YouJustFoldItIn

usually I wear dresses that have a defined waist and then go out - is it A line? Or wraparound type things with a tie belt. Thanks to the massive bazoongas I look like an armchair in high necked things, but equally a very low neck looks pornographic... so somewhere in between (a scoop neck, cowl neck or v neck) is my comfort zone. Colours - bright jewel colours or kind of goldy type things suit me. Blue, green, purple, black (!) etc. White and pastels make me look sick - and not in a good way.

Oh my God. Are you ME?

Shit @YouJustFoldItIn - maybe? Do you have a wedding dress you can lend me? Grin
OP posts:
starsinyourpies · 19/04/2021 13:25

If you like wrap dresses then the ultimate ones are DVF, I massively covet the long ones!

https://uk.dvf.com/abigail-silk-jersey-maxi-wrap-dress/DVFDW1P007.html?dwvarDVFDW1P0077color=TFLMG&dwvarDVFDW1P0077size=XXS&bcid=dresses-maxi

sashh · 19/04/2021 13:29

Have a look at the sari shops, you can usually buy the pieces unsewn so you can have it fitted to you.

www.sareesbazaar.co.uk/Catalogue/Salwar-Kameez/Anarkali-Dresses

I love this one www.andaazfashion.co.uk/silk-wedding-anarkali-suit-in-peacock-green-colour-lstv05106.html it's almost Elizabethan.

And this one

www.andaazfashion.co.uk/tea-green-net-embroidered-anarkali-suit-lstv0965.html

I need to find myself someone to marry.

sashh · 19/04/2021 13:34

And this is quite bridal

www.andaazfashion.co.uk/off-white-georgette-churidar-suit-with-resham-work-lstv04054.html

That's it, I'm going to be spending the afternoon looking at saris

Graphista · 19/04/2021 13:35

I used to work in the industry

What's the budget and style wise do you still want a wedding style dress? You should definitely be able at this time of year to get something gorgeous for under £2k BUT allow costs for alterations by an experienced bridal seamstress, high street alterations places are high risk as they're generally not often working with these fabrics and cuts. I've dealt with many a distressed bride who's dress has been "stripped" (threads pulled, hems frayed, necklines lopsided) by an inexperienced seamstress, but a good bridal seamstress can work wonders including changing the shape of necklines, sleeves and gems, adding and removing sleeves and straps, altering fastenings eg from zip up to button and loop or lace up back and adding modesty panels etc

If so you couldn't be shopping at a better time. Just after Easter the bridal boutiques are usually having sales clear outs to make way for new season designs.

They don't only come in white/ivory either that stage has long passed you can get wedding dresses in all kinds of colours

You could also get a bridesmaids dress which will have a toned down style and they're available in a ton of colours.

Ex "display" stock will also be being sold at this time with huge discounts and I suspect with corona meaning many people have postponed weddings and planning weddings there will be great bargains to be had.

My usual tips are:

Try all styles on. Ball gown type dresses aren't a style we wear regularly now so we rarely know what suits us. But with your figure I would recommend you definitely look at mermaid/fishtail/trumpet styles (look WONDERFUL on hourglass figures), or full skirt styles with nipped in waists and at least a hint of sweetheart neckline, or wrap styles, corset bodices look good on this body type too. Generally speaking I'd say avoid column or sheath style dresses - but again try them anyway if only to confirm

Colours depends on your colouring of course but there are a range of Matt, satin and iridescent finishes available. I'd say iridescent works particularly well on hour glass figures.

As a general guide dependant on style, cut and bias they can be taken in up to 3 sizes but only let out by one. So consider a slightly too big dress if you find one if a suitable seamstress says they can take it in for you.

Wear for trying on as close as possible the type of underwear and heel height you'd likely wear on the day to get a true sense of the drape. Samples come very long as it's easier to take up of course this allows for gowns for taller brides. This is why boutiques have little platforms to stand on and try on so you can see how it drapes

Even if you don't end up buying from a boutique they are very useful for trying on a variety of colours and styles to see what suits in real life and also for measuring you accurately (thats a bit cheeky I know but it's true) the service you'd get from a boutique is the best really. You may have to make an appointment this is to ensure they can provide an excellent personalised service, plus so the shop isn't overwhelmed with visitors which can put the stock at risk - don't be put off by this.

From a quick google it seems they're dropping prices by 1/3 to 2/3! It's normally around 25-30% so you should definitely be ok price wise

Graphista · 19/04/2021 13:36

Gems??? Hems!! Bloody autocorrect

Graphista · 19/04/2021 13:39

Also tell a boutique your price range, don't be afraid to do this they are totally used to it and will go out of their way to find you the perfect dress in your price range - a sale is a sale after all and the sales assistants usually get Commision bonuses per sale (however much you do or don't spend)

TheThermalStair · 19/04/2021 14:40

@sashh

Have a look at the sari shops, you can usually buy the pieces unsewn so you can have it fitted to you.

www.sareesbazaar.co.uk/Catalogue/Salwar-Kameez/Anarkali-Dresses

I love this one www.andaazfashion.co.uk/silk-wedding-anarkali-suit-in-peacock-green-colour-lstv05106.html it's almost Elizabethan.

And this one

www.andaazfashion.co.uk/tea-green-net-embroidered-anarkali-suit-lstv0965.html

I need to find myself someone to marry.

These are incredibly beautiful!
OP posts:
TheThermalStair · 19/04/2021 14:42

@Graphista thanks SO much for sharing your industry knowledge. All the wedding shop websites I've looked at have been white dresses only so I didn't want to waste any time. In "normal" times I'd definitely be up for just going in and trying on some different shapes because - as you say - they're not the sort of thing you usually wear. Any tips on how to find a shop that might have things beyond white? And what about timing - only a couple of months isn't long enough right? (or have I just been watching too much Say Yes to the Dress)

OP posts:
MadamBatty · 19/04/2021 14:55

I’d also look at Suzannah dresses...lovely quality.

CallforHecate · 19/04/2021 15:05

For £2k could you go bespoke? You would probably get it cheaper than official wedding dress prices if you commission it as just a formal dress rather than a wedding dress, since you don’t want white ...

Graphista · 19/04/2021 15:06

You're most welcome, this is my small way of still "working" in an industry I loved but am currently unable to due to ill health.

If you look at the websites and dresses in more depth online you will often find (though I'll admit some of the websites are poorly laid out for this) that they tell you in the description the colours the dress is available in. I've dealt with brides wearing colours as varied as orange, green stripes and purple!

Ordinarily - because the dress is made bespoke usually in Asia as that's where the silk etc is plus cheap Labour costs but high quality work - you'd need to order 6 months in advance. But if you're happy to buy "off the peg" as I said this time of year the boutiques are clearing out sample and display stock to make room for new designs. These dresses take up a LOT of space even on hangers!

These dresses won't necessarily be the ones on the website but the websites will give you a rough idea of the type of styles they stock and maybe even prices. Not all boutiques list prices.

My advice - do some phoning around. State your deadline, pricing and colour preferences and they will in most cases be able to say if they can serve you or not. Even if they can't it's the type of industry that works on word of mouth and "it's a small world" principles - reputation is everything. So even if they can't they may well recommend another boutique or retailer to you, boutique staff know their stuff! You could also call bridal seamstresses for recommendations and they might even have dresses that brides or indeed bridesmaids have decided not to use or were unable to use (pregnancy is the most common reason for this) that they have available. They will also be familiar with the local retailers.

The dresses on websites are mostly white/ivory etc as that's the expectation of most brides and it reassures customers.

But most bridal boutiques and retailers now have coloured and unusual cut or style of wedding dresses - eg jumpsuits are huge a the moment but done in bridal fabrics and colours

Some can also be dyed - but again ensure you use someone reputable.

Likewise shoes can be dyed to match too.

HandforthParishCouncilClerk · 19/04/2021 15:08

Have a look at:

  • The bridesmaids dresses on halfpenny London
  • ghost
  • we are rewritten
ShirleyPhallus · 19/04/2021 15:12

@Graphista gives excellent advice

Are the poster who did the wedding dress adjustments for someone on MN for free years ago, who then blocked you!

Graphista · 19/04/2021 15:18

Some retailers will even send/give you swatches so you can see it in various lights and get accessories, flowers etc to match

I got my own wedding dress (this was long bedrock worked in the industry but I've always been a bargain Hunter) from a small independent boutique after hunting all over a major Uk city and not seeing anything I liked. I was after something very specific as a slightly themed wedding and I wanted one I could add elements of my colours to, it was an ivory dress but I was adding some dark colours so it needed a somewhat dramatic style so it wasn't overwhelmed by the colours. At the time I was shopping very plain, simple clean lines dresses were the fashion (think more Meghan than Diana of you will) which is all well and good, but wasn't what I was looking for. My other difficulty was at the time (remembers wistfully) I was extremely thin (size 6-8 when I started shopping, the stress of planning a wedding while working full time as a nurse meant I dropped to size 4 at this time) so it needed to not swamp me, plus I'm only 5'2" I also had a short deadline so bespoke was out too.

The dress was ex display and had a little sun damage, where I was lucky is I have an aunt who is an extremely talented and experienced bridal seamstress who advised me how to remedy the sun damage and who was able to take it in and up for me, she also changed the neckline slightly, shortened the sleeves and added the coloured fabric.

She also dyed my shoes as I wanted them in a colour I couldn't find the style in.

Planned and executed a 200 guest Catholic wedding in 3 months! Insane!! Grin

How the hell we pulled it off I'll never know! Well we had a lot of help from friends and relatives is how!

Sadly divorced now, but the wedding was fabulous Grin

Wishing you so much luck with yours Thanks

Graphista · 19/04/2021 15:19

@ShirleyPhallus I'm not but I think I'm aware of the story? Bride turned out to be a right CF?

TheThermalStair · 19/04/2021 15:19

@MadamBatty

I’d also look at Suzannah dresses...lovely quality.
Thank you! This is absolutely gorgeous www.suzannah.com/products/margot-maxi-mini-polka-glimmer

Getting beyond my price range unfortunately Sad

OP posts:
TheThermalStair · 19/04/2021 15:30

Sorry I hadn't reloaded the thread - Graphista that's so encouraging to hear you organised yours in such a short time. I massively appreciate all the tips and advice and I'll keep referring back to them. ALL my friends have been the sort to go into a wedding dress shop and buy the first thing they try on so I feel quite fussy not wanting to do that.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions for shops - I am tempted by bridesmaids dresses as they can be beautiful.

OP posts:
MadamBatty · 19/04/2021 15:31

It’s beautiful though...I have 3 Suzannah dresses(bought in sale). I sometimes just take them out to admire them.

Graphista · 19/04/2021 15:47

Bridesmaids dresses can be absolutely stunning definitely - keep your options open.

allofthecheese · 19/04/2021 15:53

Needle and thread deffo. Really lovely intricate designs in colour.

slug · 19/04/2021 16:03

Stop Staring dresses are wonderful for the hourglass types

Red Billion Dollar Baby dress
Celebrity dress

Or how about something full length and purple

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