Please help me find a reception dress

[Dresshelp123]

Hello, I'm looking for a dress for my wedding reception. Long story short, I bought a dress earlier this year from a bridal boutique and am having second thoughts. It's a beautiful dress, really elegant, but it just isn't giving me that feeling. I feel nice in it but not wow. So one option is to wear it for the ceremony and photos and change into something a bit more glamorous for the reception. I did go under budget on this dress (probably the main reason I bought it!) so could stretch to a few hundred for the reception dress (Max about £500 but ideally less).

I'm looking for something white/ivory, floor-length, in a sort of drapey material like crepe or maybe silk, maybe with a wee bit of a train. I'm a size 8 but carry some weight round my middle, I'm aiming to tone up before the wedding (June 2023) but ideally the material would be thicker or more structured to hold me in a bit. Not sure I'm going to get all that for £500!

Something like this would be the dream but obviously way out of budget. This is a budget-friendly option but I'd prefer something higher quality if I can get it. I did wonder about this Ghost dress but would prefer something with spaghetti straps.

Any recommendations of brands would be great.

https://www.theoutnet.com/en-gb/shop/product/ghost-london/dresses/gowns/draped-satin-gown/38063312417937587?tp=175320&utmsource=partnerize&utmmmedium=affiliation&utmcampaign=euulaurenlyst&clickref=1100lvWhRTiD

It comes in medium (size 10) but you'd have budget to get it fitted?

www.oliversbridalandformalwear.co.uk/wedding-dresses-under-500?pgid=kzyhphrm-9d97aa39-b312-4808-9e80-f3d3a74d5053

www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/558005812499675/

Thanks for your reply. The first one is lovely but I think the bottom is a little messy (although I'm 5'2 so once I got it altered I might lose that detail). Second one is gorgeous but I think they only sell in shop? And I'm in Scotland. Beautiful though so I may make the journey if needed!

I'm open to buying second hand but only if it's sold from somewhere I can try on first, it's too much of a gamble to buy from somewhere with no returns

www.hebeos.co.uk/sheath-column-ruched-spaghetti-straps-satin-sweep-brush-train-sleeveless-wedding-dresses-po16033po2332.html?ref=googleplauk&gclid=EAIaIQobChMItMnG_9T_-AIVfIBQBh2IOwy0EAQYASABEgI2vfD_BwE

www.asos.com/asos-edition/asos-edition-rosie-satin-cami-wedding-dress-with-square-neck/prd/22045948?affid=25897&EAIaIQobChMIyNPI1dX-AIVDeztCh36iAbjEAQYAyABEgIBzfD_BwE&channelref=product+search&ppcadref=12029787983%7c117574734673%7cpla-295337885746&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyNPI1dX_-AIVDeztCh36iAbjEAQYAyABEgIBzfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

@BlanketsBanned Thanks but Hebeos is a scam site. They rip off designers, use their pictures (in this case the exact same pictures as the 2k Grace Loves Lace dress I posted first) and then send poor quality items. The ASOS one is nice but not slinky enough, I'm looking for something quite glamorous.

Any recommendations for bridesmaid brands? There's a trend for white/ivory/neutral bridesmaids so I could maybe pick up something like that

Really, thats awful, I hope you find something.

Could you buy the Ghost dress and get it altered to include spaghetti straps? I bet a clever seamstress could do that? (You could always order it and show them, and return it if that’s not going to work).

Can I ask you what the dress you do have looks like?

When you bought it, why did you buy it and not decide that you should have waited for another dress, your dream dress?

I'm sorry for the questions but there must have been something redeeming in the dress you have already.

I've found this after searching for ivory bridesmaid dresses and I think it might work. I've never heard of Dessy before but looks like PP was onto something! I've found a retailer who stocks the bridesmaid dresses so hopefully they stock the bridal range too

I know this isn't in the wheelhouse of what you are describing but I think you would be able to carry it off with a plomb!

www.wolfandbadger.com/eu/dori-white-asymmetric-neckline-midi-dress-with-a-slit/

@LookItsMeAgain It's a halterneck, lace at the top with a chiffon skirt. It has a tulle cape attached at the shoulder. Of course it has something redeeming, as I said in my first post it's beautiful and elegant (which I want for the ceremony, definitely want my boobs away and loads of dresses at the moment have a plunge neckline) but not sure it's glamorous enough for how I want to feel at the reception. I bought it because I had tried on about 15 dresses and nothing else looked right, it was a really good price point, and I was offered the sample dress so got hundreds of pounds off it. With hindsight, I should probably have waited and tried a few more boutiques, but at the time it felt like the right decision.

Also as the wedding has come together and we've chosen suppliers, colour schemes, bridesmaid dresses etc it has taken shape a little differently to how I expected. It's a rustic barn venue and I thought I wanted to be low key and casual, but as it gets closer I've realised I want something a bit more extra.

Going back to your wishlist - how about this one: www.revolve.com/katie-may-bambina-gown/dp/KATR-WD121/?d=Womens&page=1&lc=3&itrownum=1&itcurrpage=1&itview=05

This is gorgeous, any idea if there would be customs charges etc if ordered from Revolve? It's not a site I've ever used

Maybe this one: www.revolve.com/sau-lee-hailey-gown/dp/SLEE-WD24/?d=Womens&page=1&lc=41&itrownum=11&itcurrpage=1&itview=05

Another one - this is £373 - www.revolve.com/norma-kamali-low-back-slip-mermaid/dp/NKAM-WD357/?d=Womens&page=1&lc=61&itrownum=16&itcurrpage=1&itview=05

I don't understand why you need to change for the wedding reception. I think we need to see the actual wedding dress. I also don't understand why you bought it more than a year in advance.

@RosesAndHellebores I don't need to but I think I might want to. I don't think the wedding dress is relevant, but I've described it above. And because the lead times for certain dresses can be 9 months+, and then you need to factor in alterations. So it's not unusual to go shopping over a year in advance, a lot of boutiques advise 18 months ahead.

I would look at Monsoon wedding dresses. Keenly priced and plenty to choose from. J Crew do amazing wedding dresses but you might need to ask about shipping here.

Last but not least (and not cheap) Beulah do amazing dresses. Perfect dresses and I’ve attached a couple of ideas. Not long with a train but, in my view, more chic.

Goodness. Future DIL and DS got engaged around Christmas time. She and her mama ordered her frock in February for September. Doesn't seem to have been an issue but I know they both raised eyebrows at the intensity of some of the shops. I don't know the make or many details as it's a secret so I appreciate your reticence about showing us the wedding frock. She isn't changing for the wedding reception.

All I know is that it's creamy and the bridesmaid is wearing a yellowish/gold frock. Bride and her sister and mum are autumn's so can wear those hues.