Inspiration needed for a registry office wedding in December please – what would you wear?

[Loopzy]

I’m getting married at the Town Hall on a Monday morning in December! It will just be the two of us, with our adult DC as witnesses. We did plan on getting married this summer, but with one thing and another, we didn’t get around to it, so now I don’t feel the dress I bought is suitable. I will link it anyway, just in case anyone thinks it will be fine!

We will be going out for a meal after, but not celebrating with family and friends until we can arrange something. We are not telling anyone until afterwards and with most people having plans during December, we can’t just drop it on everyone.

I really could do with some inspiration, I think I’m having difficulty, as it’s on a Monday morning. I want to feel special, but feel daft getting dressed up on a Monday for some reason.

I’m looking for a dress which I can wear again, so nothing remotely bridal. I’m size 12, 5’4 and I’d prefer something below the knee or midi, as I don’t like my legs. I also have wide feet, so finding non-frumpy comfortable footwear is difficult. I suit burgundy, teal, plum and purple, but a lot of the dresses I’ve seen look more suitable for a bridesmaid.

I have a budget of around £500, for dress and shoes.

Thanks!

Rixo dress

I'll just pretend I didn't see it was reduced to £95 😢

Congratulations - how exciting!

The dress you’d chosen is lovely but I’d agree it might be better to keep it for your party (next Spring or Summer?).

For your December wedding, how about another, more wintery

Rixo dress?

The velvet makes it wonderfully seasonal and it flows beautifully in the skirt.

Your dress is lovely, I honestly can’t see any reason you can’t wear it in December! You just need a coat or jacket while you are outside. It will be plenty warm enough inside the registry office and restaurant.

Your dress is lovely and I think would still be perfect for a winter wedding.

It's got a real late thirties/ early forties thing going on so I'd go for sheer black tights, some fancy mary- Jane shoes or sandals, and a lovely white furry or feathery shrug.

Alternatively, this is breathtaking, not bridesmaid-y (but a little over budget):

Me and Em dress

This, ditto - but well within budget (bits of teal in the print):

Klements dress

In case you want dresses for a Winter honeymoon, you could also look at:

Justine Tabak

Hill House Home

I love the dress you have. Pair of Mary Janes and a beautiful black or cream coat that you can enjoy for years is a much better way of spending your money. Have a lovely day.

Clearly the world is divided into those who believe (UK) December demands a different colour palette / style to summer - and those who don’t!

You’re sure yo be well dressed either way, @Loopzy.

I really like that dress! You could add a warm little jacket, a slip, a scarf and some ankle boots.

Lyra Embroidered Midi Dress Green | Evening Dresses | Monsoon UK.

maybe too much leg but fits your colour palette Tiffany V-Neck Dress Blue | Evening Dresses | Monsoon UK.

This is beautiful.

Your original dress is beautiful and the colours would be fine, but I couldn't be bothered with the potential to be cold. I'd definitely be going velvet for a December wedding, lovely opportunity to buy something opulent.

Your Dress would be perfect either with a lovely cost over the top.

But I would maybe go for something in a heavier fabric-velvet maybe?

Sadly Nancy Mac has gone bust or I'd be directing you there tout suite. There's still some floating about but I didn't spot anything in a size 12 although would you consider renting? Eg: https://byrotation.com/products/nancy-mac-green-coats-clo3c9qpw000i000sy75agv9r?srsltid=AfmBOopR_cL01X5YM4hBl3mWDwVmvcoB9NrL63UphEFH9xk3ijOOF3W8.

In the meantime, House of Foxy has some possibilities:

https://www.thehouseoffoxy.com/products/30s-paramour-bias-cut-gown-ebony-ivory-satin

https://www.thehouseoffoxy.com/products/30s-cherry-velvet-loretta-bias-dress

There's this in midnight blue from Monsoon: https://www.monsoon.co.uk/belle-bow-sleeve-velvet-midi-dress-1000339760.html?utm_content=nonbrand&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADjtA_EYVexYvstZStRFAu5mlrxIt&gclid=CjwKCAjwreW2BhBhEiwAavLwfKcHnyBfvKvhNV4Hwgf7lit6jyhn0LX2nDaOdt2J9XOH9N3OGzLerBoC03gQAvD_BwE

Knee-length, not midi but the caped sleeves are wedding-ready: https://clubllondon.com/products/flawless-navy-velvet-square-neck-midi-dress-with-cape-sleeves-cl128999015.

Alternatively I would pop a short-sleeved silk slip under your current dress and wear a velvet frock coat. Put some crystals in your hair.

Congratulations!

I would wear the dress you bought with a jacket or smart cardigan, perfect for a winter wedding, just with tights and closed in shoes

Whereas I firmly believe the original dress is perfect for a summer celebration and would be wasted under a coat or jacket. (Seriously, who wants to get married in a cardigan?)

Also those colours in that print will be jarring against a December background in all the photos for ever after.

I can't edit my post now but one of the links seems to have broken. But you can still see the dress if you put "velvet dress with cape sleeves" into the Club London website.

And tsk, tsk to you, @BlanklyMyDear there's nothing wrong with a bit of bridal knitwear! Look at these lovelies: https://bridalknot.co.uk/bridal-knitwear--coverups-335-c.asp.

Wow, I didn't expect so many replies, thank you. It seems we're clearly divided over my original dress and that's why I'm so undecided about it myself! One minute I think it could work and then I'd love a velvet dress, but I'm not sure how much wear I would get out of it. I will have a look through all your suggestions now. Thanks again!

I don't see any reason why you can't wear your lovely dres in December. Plenty of brides wear sleeveless dresses all year round, and it will be warm indoors. You'll need a nice coat or jacket for outside, but you're not getting married outdoors so you'd be fine! And it's not as if you'll be posing for photos outdoors for hours.

ooh velvet would be lovely and it's quite timeless so you could wear it again. John Lewis have a few Velvet Dresses | John Lewis & Partners

What coats of jackets do you have OP? you could wear your Rixo dress with this coat https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1170329001.html and plain black shoes https://sargassoandgrey.com/collections/all/products/tilda-extra-wide-fit-kitten-heels-black-leather?_pos=13&_fid=36a6faf01&_ss=c

I also think the original dress works for December!
And snap, I am having a registry office marriage in December and I am planning to wear a Rixo dress!

A friend of mine wore a jumpsuit to her Dec registry office wedding, with a fake fur bolero shrug thing. She looked frickin amazing!!! And toasty, which was a bonus.

I was looking at some jumpsuits but the toilet situation seemed like a hassle on my own wedding day!

A teeny register office wedding on a Monday in December, why not feel fabulous. It's a big event, even if it's a small crowd.

Roksanda Knotted Plisse Dress | Multi – Jigsaw (jigsaw-online.com)
I'd go for something like this with some great boots. Not remotely bridal or bridesmaidish. Whether or not you'd wear it again is a matter of taste and lifestyle, but it's way under budget and would be hugely out of the ordinary.

Whatever you decide, have a wonderful day.

The dress you have chosen is perfection