Choice of wedding guest dresses

[BrightonFrock]

Hi 🙂 I have two weddings to attend in late summer and am torn between two dresses. (Totally different casts at each wedding, so thankfully I don’t need to shell out for two different ones!) Both weddings are in country hotels, so formal-ish without being stately home level.

This is choice one:

https://www.johnlewis.com/raishma-alice-floral-midi-dress/p111671763

I love the design and unusual colour. The length would be good on me too as I’m tall - anything too short makes me look like I’m wearing a tunic and forgot to put my leggings on 😁 However, it’s viscose - which I wouldn’t mind, but it feels like a lot to pay for that (although I do get a discount at JLP so won’t be paying full price).

Choice two is this. I love it and, even better, it’s silk. It’s also really top end of budget even with the discount, but I’m trying to justify it based on the fact that I’ll be wearing it to two weddings:

https://www.johnlewis.com/hobbs-aurelia-cascading-floral-print-silk-midi-dress-cream-multi/p111904250

Which would you pick? I’m dark-haired and am a large 12/small 14.

The second one. Gorgeous

Definitely the second one, it's stunning, strong dislike the first.

I much prefer the first one OP, for the colour and style

The second one is lovely. I have to say that the sooner JL get some new buyers, the better (ex JLP)

Couple of other options

I don’t have a problem with viscose but I just don’t like that first dress at all.

Neither. Both overpriced and second one is WHITE

I never even considered anyone would think that distinctive a print was “too white” - yet someone has said exactly that! I never cease to be amazed at some comments on here!

Thank you all for your advice 🙂

Only trying to help! You have a whole rainbow to choose from so why risk causing offence?

https://www.theknot.com/content/wearing-white-to-wedding#:~:text=Unless%20all%2Dwhite%20outfits%20are,or%20disrespectful%20to%20the%20couple.

If the weddings are late summer I’d buy neither now and wait for the sales! There’s a high chance you’d get the Hobbs dress substantially reduced. If not there will be tons of other choice e.g. look at me and em maxi and midi dresses and assume you will be able to get 30-50% off.

I am in the too white for a wedding group on dress 2. It wouldn't bother me personally but I know a lot it would. The first would be my choice of the 2 but I think there's better options for your budget

But it isn’t even white! It’s a bold print on a cream base - I honestly can’t believe anyone would be agog at someone choosing it for a wedding.

I voted 2 but didn't see the price, will you get much wear beyond the weddings? If not keep looking.

Of course it's not "too white". What a load of nonsense.

Here's more views of it on Hobbs site. It's clearly being promoted as a wedding guest dress. Of the two it's much the nicer but I'm still not blown away by it.

Hobbs dress

Have you tried both on? They look like they would suit different body shapes.

I love the second one, hate the first.

have you looked at Hope and Ivy, they have similar style dresses to what you like and I can vouch for the quality

I prefer the second one but, honestly, if you’ve got 350 quid to play with, keep looking - you’ll find something better.

Second one is an absolute knockout in the pics, would love to know what it's like on a real person.

If budget isn’t an issue, Me and Em have some lovely, wedding-appropriate dresses in natural fibres and beautiful prints.

Of the two you’ve posted, I prefer the second. Really dislike the hemline on the first.

The first one reminds me of this dress, which appears regularly on wedding guest threads under various brand names. It's one of my all time most disliked dresses.

Yuni dipped hem dress

As for alternatives , I would go to Liberty or Harvey Nick's or MyTheresa websites and search all dresses up to £350 and then separately search the brands that come up.

Love the colours of the 1st one, adore any shade of green. 2nd one is my least favourite odour.

Hire a dress! It would work out much cheaper. I always find that it’s rare that I buy a dress for a posh wedding that I ever wear it again. I get bored with these type of dresses so quickly.

I like dress 2, but it's a huge amount of money. It reminds me of a dress I have (this, sold out on their site but still available at M&S and other places https://www.nobodyschild.com/products/white-fruit-print-isla-midaxi-dress).

What about hiring a dress? I do this a lot for weddings. Hope & Ivy have some very suitable ones: https://www.hirestreetuk.com/collections/hope-ivy

I know your budget is high & your looking at High end dresses but there is a lovely Bright Pink Floral Pleated Maxi Dress which would be perfect for a wedding & a bargain in the sale for £20.80 from George at Asda.

First one is likea dressing gown and the second is WAY too old fashioned.

The second one is stunning