What on earth can I wear for my wedding?

[Elephantofsurprise]

We are planning a low key wedding at the town with a big party for friends and family afterwards.

I think I do want a wedding dress but not set on a traditional one. I am worried that I will look like a hippo as I have put on a lot of weight since having DD (who is now 2). I am about a size 14-16 with big boobs and a massive tummy. I read that bridal sizes are tiny.

I would like to be able to try things on rather than ordering from the internet. We are going to spend less on the whole wedding than some people spend on their dress but I do want something nice. I probably have about £500 to spend.

Are there any good shops you can go to? I am basically clueless.

Monsoon could be an option if there's one near you
www.monsoon.co.uk/wedding-occasion/the-bride/wedding-dresses-/

Thank you, there is one near me but they don’t have a bridal section. I would like to try some on rather than ordering online because often thing I think will look nice on me look dreadful.

They have lots of options where you can wear a bra which is a good thing for me.

Where are you in the country and how far are you prepared to travel? That should help people to make viable suggestions.

Even if you prefer physical stores for actual shopping I would still suggest you do a lot of browsing online. That way you’ll have a good idea of the entire field of options - what looks current (if that matters to you); comparisons of prices … And you should be able to see hundreds of dresses on all shapes and sizes of models so you’ll know what to look for, or ask for, in shops.

If you can get to London

https://fairygothmother.co.uk/

Have a lovely selection in a variety of styles

Go to bridal shops most have an appointment system so nobody else is there, try on see what suits you, they don't all come up "tiny"

it doesn’t matter that the bridal dresses are tiny but it matters if the shop has samples in a range of sizes. When I went trying on they only had size 12 samples and I was a 16. It was a humiliating experience. I had to remind myself that I could wear any dress as a wedding dress and it doesn’t have to be “ designated” bridal to be stunning. Have a wander around a designer section of somewhere like Liberty and look at beautiful dresses. ( even if you end up somewhere like the Monsoon dresses which I know are lovely)

I am in South Yorkshire but could travel. I like the look of Fairy Goth Mother.

Oh this is nice

Oh I forgot about the photos thing.

Phase Eight do wedding dresses

I really love this one. It says it is sold out thought.

https://fairygothmother.co.uk/products/starry-beaded-v-neck-tulle-a-line-wedding-gown-al-gabrielle-r

It is available other places I did an image search.

Thank you. I didn’t think of doing that. Hopefully there will be somewhere nearer to me.

One of my Dds is getting married I've dresses on the brain 😀

There are some lovely ones in wed 2 be but I am not sure I could get away with a strapless dress
https://www.wed2b.com/florelle

https://www.wed2b.com/koa

and this one. They have a shop quite near me so I could try them on.

That's lovely and not strapless I think of you are quite "booby " then totally strapless just distracts from the dress.

https://www.aliestreet.com/uk/occasionwear/item/ASCLGIL/Claudia-Lace-Wedding-Gown-Bright-Ivory.html
Simple but fits the brief and its stretchy. Empire line/fit and flare covers the stomach and hip but still gives shape.

Get one from ASOS. Mine was an above the knee cheap & cheerful wedding dress from there. Still happy with how I looked and a few years on I don’t even think about it 😬 but very glad I didn’t spend an extortionate amount on a dress I’ll never wear again.

There is a stockist (Quinlan Bridal) in Thorne near Doncaster.

Wed2B stock loads of dresses in loads of sizes, you could try on loads there. I got mine there recently. Most are around £1k

Oh that is helpful. I like the lace.

@Elephantofsurprise I think some John Lewis stores stock Monsoon bridal range - could be worth checking if there’s one near you 😊

I got married last year (also very booby with a tummy and a fair bit bigger than you 😊) and ordered dresses online rather than going to a store. Also didn’t want to spend any more than £500ish on a dress.

Monsoon & Phase Eight - beautiful quality, very true to size, great with returns and exchanges etc. (I ended up wearing a Monsoon one)

ASOS - lovely styles, quality very mixed, might just have been the styles that I picked but they weren’t great for boobs!

TH&TH - Avoid like the plague. Awful quality and awful returns experience!

@JustAMum31 that is a fantastically helpful answer. Good to know you found a lovely dress for your wedding.

It does look like John Lewis sell some of the monsoon dresses which would be great if I could try them on. A lot of dresses make me look pregnant and I don’t want to buy lots of things that are difficult to return.

I was totally overwhelmed looking at ASOS a lot of their dresses seem to be backless which I could not do.

a lot of the bigger charity shops have a bridal and party section.
I got my dress from the local hospice shop and got an amazing sequin evening dress. The ladies in the shop made a real fuss of me and it was lovely