Please help me pick a nice evening dress for my elopement!

[Purplehearts9066]

Hi all

I'm eloping to Scotland in May - it'll be just the two of us (plus celebrant & photographer), and we're getting a boat out to a stunning loch where we'll be getting married.

I'm looking for a dress to wear that fits my personal style and is within a budget of around £300. I want something long, and I'll be wearing hiking or lace-up leather boots underneath.

I'm unsure yet if I'm going to wear white or black. I'm leaning a bit more towards a black dress - I am a bit of a goth and I always feel my best in black. I love clothes and appreciate nice fabrics and good cuts. I'd rather spend my budget on a high quality "normal dress" rather than a very cheap "wedding dress".

I'm having a hard time finding something to wear though - even trying things on is challenging because in my city the department stores that sold that kind of thing have closed down and very few shops stock "evening gown" type stuff.

My shape/features:

• Just under 5"7
• Slim (size 6-8) with a small waist
• Long dark hair
• Boob deficient

My style:

• Sharp lines
• I like a bit of "drama" but I need this to come from shape/structure/fabric, unusual design features. I strongly dislike fussy details on myself.
• High necks, sharp v-necks, halternecks, boat-necks
• Nothing "booby" (i.e sweetheart necklines, padding) but I can pull off some plunging necklines as long as they're sharp.
• Gothic/edgy/alternative elements
• Fine lace
• Prefer wearing one colour head-to-toe and my preferences are black, white and emerald green

The Wedding Look I want:

• A dress that will look cool in photos with a mountain back-drop
• Going for a slightly gothic look with my make-up
• Would like a veil or cape

Please help me!!

In particular, I'd really like your thoughts on:

• Retailers/brands/shops to consider
• Any suggestions for dresses - hit me with your links!!
• If you happen to know of any shops in the South Wales area where I could try on dresses

Thanks so much all!

If you love a Vampires Wife Falconetti, maybe you could get a local seamstress to sew you a Fabric Godmother Peony dress. The design works for loads of different fabrics and is really customisable – e.g. you could make the sleeve heads bigger/more dramatic or add a ruffle to the neck and if you picked a more structured fabric you could make the sleeve ruffles quite architectural.

This store sells amazing deadstock fabrics (recently spotted a load from Christopher Kane), they've got loads of lace for a veil too.

There would be time to get a toile made in a cheap (black!) fabric, so you could try it on... it's not a hard pattern so doubt it would take a seamstress long.

Loads of examples on Instagram - different fabrics and body shapes too!

Mine too. This would be stunning.

Hi OP, can have nothing to add dress wise, but I wanted to say that your wedding plans sound amazing and I imagine you will look stunning. The dresses linked to are all fab - I love this look. I just came on to wish you a fabulous time and to cheekily ask that you post a photo of you on the day - you can hide your face if you want to, I’m just dying to see the dress on you at a Scottish loch!!

https://www.freepeople.com/uk/shop/for-love-and-lemons-temecula-maxi-dress/?category=dresses&color=001&type=REGULAR&quantity=1&reviewPage=12&reviewFilter=&reviewSort=submissionTime%3Adesc&size=S

If you have a look at the reviews some people have used this for a wedding dress. Even in. Black. It is see through though so some have had slips sewn in!

Just ordered these boots from Amazon. I love SOREL boots. They’re comfy and very hardy & waterproof.
SOREL Brex Lace

Just wanted to wish you all the best for your fairytale elopement. I wish we had eloped. (So much more romantic, saves money, avoids dysfunctional family members and unsolicited opinions, etc… Have been married for 25 years and still think about this. Also wish I hadn’t caved and worn the white dress and veil, etc. I wanted a green fairy dress and it would have been more me.) Be true to you and you will have no regrets.

Blonde and Wise handmake the most beautiful dresses,in Yorkshire. You can vary the styles and fabric.

Thank you so much, some incredible suggestions here I agree!

This is such a lovely comment it made me feel quite emotional! You're right, it's important to be true to yourself. I love going to other people's weddings and I know for some people the classic wedding is their dream - I totally respect that and it brings me joy to see people doing things that make them happy.
I started off intending on a "classic" wedding but it quickly became obvious it wasn't what me or my partner wanted and I felt like I was "role playing" someone else.
My 30s have been a wonderful time for learning to be authentic and not care so much what people think so it makes sense to do things this way.
Thanks again for your well wishes and kind words X

I love that you thought about footwear, this is definitely important!

Id be delighted to share photos and thank you so much for your lovely words!

Ok so a decision has (kind of) been made. I ordered this! I'm going to try it on and see how I feel. They only had it in a size 6 and I'm more of a small 8 so I hope it fits ok.
Fingers crossed it's "the one" for me!

Re: midgies - oh trust me this played a BIG part in my choice of month
I loathe the things and get eaten alive!!

Thank you so much everyone for all your wonderful suggestions!!

I do have one further question though. The dress has a slit in it so I'm wondering what to do about shoes as I'll need something fairly practical. Maybe combat boots or lace up leather boots?!

Ok I just found out walking sandals are a thing and maybe that's what I need?

https://www.ghost.co.uk/delphine-dress12-df46ca-a01 maybe too simple for your liking but I'd go ghost

What about a pair of DM's?
https://www.drmartens.com/uk/en_gb/olson-zipped-leather-strap-sandals-black/p/26561001

Deadly is The Female is a somewhat quirky shop. You might find something there.

Aha. I see that you have made a choice. I hope that it fits. That dress is absolutely stunning. It's my favourite one of the lot.

If you're anywhere near Manchester, Affleck's could be a dream for you - heaps of alternative clothing, incredible dress shops, and really helpful owners who would love to help you find something! If you're a ways away, you could even make a weekend of it - lots of affordable local places to stay, and plenty of things to do around dress shopping too ❤ good luck on your search!

So pleased you picked that dress! It’s so very Dita von Teese! It’s my favourite out of all of them. I know I shared the SOREL boots previously. They wouldn’t look so glam with that. They do have some pretty amazing hiking sandals. I can attest to their comfort too. (I have a soft tissue disorder and am hypermobile. My ankles are truly dodgy. I’m not a SOREL salesperson, just a mega klutz who can fall over while standing still in their own kitchen, but does rather like to look cool while doing so.)

Ah man I really feel I've found my people on this thread!! Ehlers Danlos Syndrome by any chance? Because, snap!

Thank you and thanks for your incredible suggestions too!

These are wonderful suggestions and have motivated me to try and figure out my sewing machine because I'd love to be able to make things like this!

Oh this is gorgeous and if the Reiss dress doesn't fit, it'll likely be my choice! So impressed with the advice I've had here, you are women with spectacular taste ❤️

Ghost dresses have absolutely been on my radar - simple but very elegant & gorgeous and I think they'd work really well for this 🙂

Not sure if you’re still looking but I currently have a long black dress I’ve listed on my FB if you’re interested https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/277522362061771/