What do you think of these wedding dresses?

[Circles2squares]

Micro wedding 16 including us. My 2nd marriage (I didnt wear a wedding dress first time and regretted it)
Im 49 so wondering if im too old for this. I’m in a very fashiony job so i think im very fashion conscious and dress well. I’m a size 12.
I’ve ordered a whole load of dresses online and this was the first to come. My mum loved it but she would say a bin bag suited me. I’m worried it’s a younger persons dress.

I like No. 4 best.

It’s hard to feel good in a dress that other people hate. She will love compliments from guests makes a difference. If you are confident enough to wear a dress that everyone else hates then that is the goal as a strong person. How it should be 😃

Dress 5 is nice.

You'd need a killer figure for all the others. I'm not saying you don't have a great figure, but be brutally honest with yourself when you try them all on.

As @Ruthietuthie says, you might do better to look for a beautiful dress that is not ‘a wedding dress’. I realise you’ll want to make up for not wearing one previously but I think you’re asking £400 to do too much - and most of the dresses you’ve shown so far don’t look expensive or chic - just rather generic in cheap fabric. I know it is possible to find inexpensive but pretty wedding dresses - but I also think your budget could get you a perfectly lovely dress that happens to be white or ivory or cream. And you could then add bridal accoutrements like a veil.

Can you say what dress size you wear?

This should satisfy any sparkly inclinations:

https://www.net-a-porter.com/en-gb/shop/product/rotate-birger-christensen/clothing/maxi-dresses/sequined-recycled-satin-maxi-dress/1647597345550580

This is very simple but embellished:

https://www.net-a-porter.com/en-gb/shop/product/rotate-birger-christensen/clothing/midi-dresses/strapless-embellished-recycled-satin-midi-dress/1647597345550582

This is over budget but so simple and lovely:

https://www.net-a-porter.com/en-gb/shop/product/solace-london/clothing/gowns/kira-one-shoulder-satin-twill-gown/1647597346716179

So sorry - you did give your size above! (Hard to see posts easily on the app whilst posting.)

This is possibly not summery enough, but it’s intriguing:

https://www.theoutnet.com/en-gb/shop/product/talbot-runhof/dresses/gowns/ruched-lurex-gown/1647597351725041

The Outnet is worth browsing (although maybe not somewhere to rely on for delivery as you only have weeks to go).

Have you looked at Etsy? Some really lovely classic things there- well within budget.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1333406642/boho-beach-wedding-dress-wrap-crepe

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1757315749/modest-dress-with-sleevesfairycore-dress

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1606584208/bestseller-vintage-style-open-back-deep

and so many more for around or under £400.

The one you tried on in Phase Eight is good, great arm coverage (not because you’ve got fat arms ! but like every woman of my age arms look older unless you’re a total gym bunny - it’s a texture thing)

the others have way too much arm action for me

I like dress 5 the best.
3 was quite nice if you take those annoying bits off the shoulders.

To me the Phase Eight dress is far too confused and fussy - epitomises ‘throwing everything at it’.

ive had a similar issue as I booked a late notice micro wedding (it’s in a couple of weeks). I don’t think your age is the issue at all with dress 1 - I agree with others that it just won’t look great. It manages to make the model look big across the back so probably won’t be great on a normal person.

I like dresses 2 and 4 and also the phase eight dress. Do you have a length preference? I’ve seen some lovely tea length wedding dresses while I’ve been searching for myself.

A lot of the dresses I saw online are very cheaply made and much thinner in reality than they look on screen.
I initially went for a vintage style (1930s style) dress which was a sample wedding dress but I lost weight and unfortunately can’t wear it. So then I had to start looking again :(

good luck with your search.

I also like 2, 4 and 5

This. With you being in a very fashiony job, head to Net a Porter and pick up something a bit more up to date, and of better quality.

I like 3 but not the beads and 5.

This.The ones with more coverage that show the still good shape but not the texture of a 49 year old arm and cleavage are far nicer / classier. The initial choices are for 20 somethings who like the gym. Cheap fabric needs a young and fit body to compensate . You can obviously wear whatever you wish but your previous wedding was probably the time for the first options you have listed. That time has gone. You can still look absolutely fabulous. You have a very nice figure . Dress to flatter the reality not the dream and you will look beautiful.

I’m over 60 and find no necessity to hide my perfectly normal arms …

I like dress one best. It is a Disney Princess dress but why not if you like it.

@GoldDuster Whistles has some good dresses and some size 12 in the sale @Circles2squares. They are reliably good. I like the tiered one in the sale. I’m not a huge fan of sequins for a day wedding. A bit too bling.

2 and 4 are lovely!

Dress 2 is the best out of the bunch. I really don’t like the phase 8 dress, sorry!

Some other suggestions

https://clubllondon.com/products/define-white-satin-asymmetric-fishtail-maxi-dress-cl134837005

https://www.solacelondon.com/collections/bridal/products/the-amalie-maxi-dress-in-cream

https://www.self-portrait.com/products/ss25-white-crepe-maxi-dress

A bit too bling But isn’t the whole concept of bling completely irrelevant now?

TBH I’ve been seeing sequins worn as ordinary daywear - in the street and in shops - for at least twenty years. And if one can’t wear sequins for one’s wedding … ? 🤷‍♀️

(I do think it’s more about the tenor of the whole outfit. The worst thing would be to dress timidly, in something you don’t completely adore.)

I like 2 and 4, they look classy. But not very forgiving for the old lumps and bumps! (I know OP is a size 12 but that looks different if you are 5ft tall opposed to 6ft tall!).

I dont think you can ever look too old for a wedding dress though. Too tacky? too cheap? too extra? yes....but not too old.

I love this - of the dresses you posted OP I think they could look a bit clingy and therefore might be a bit tacky. I like option 3 best of them. Monsoon dresses would be within your budget and well made. I was an older bride a few years ago and wore a Raishma dress - it was lovely, age appropriate and cost £300 - congratulations ❤️

You seem determined to have a white dress. White is utterly bland and overbearing.

Why don't you just get a nice dress that suits you instead of going down this awful route?