Short wedding dress?

[SugaredSweet]

I'm getting married next year. It's a summer (hopefully!) wedding and is set in a woodland. The guests including us will be no more than 20 with a casual dinner after.

I have a son who will be 6 and is a fight risk (ASC) - I need to be able to move. I don't want to spend crazy money on a wedding dress. I don't want a big floofy dress. So I was thinking something more non traditional, but traditional enough that it will be bridal. Would you ever consider a short dress? I'm just not sure I could pull it off... I'm 5'8 and I'll hopefully be a size 12. Currently a large 14. I'll be 38 if that changes anything.

I've been to at least one wedding where the bride had a short dress. I've also seen a couple. Have a look at 1950s style dresses. You get a full but not long skirt. The fullness of the skirt can be altered with underskirts or lack of.

https://www.stacees.co.uk/products/ball-gown-bateau-3-4-sleeve-knee-length-satin-wedding-dresses-with-lace-S10110307BTBW?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17347214342&gbraid=0AAAAABZ07IMIpvW8TAU8dgfycv6UKeV4s&gclid=CjwKCAjw_pDBBhBMEiwAmY02NnmglKmLp7zP-gMOUnTKSaPw5tUIEB9xga0tN4zaW_5nS4XlR9aLiRoCWAUQAvD_BwE

https://www.hebeos.co.uk/sheath-column-lace-scoop-long-sleeves-knee-length-wedding-dresses-wd16033wd0027.html

Yes short wedding dresses are lovely. My only gripe with them is most seem to be the same shape that the poster above posted which I'm not mad about. I'd go more along the lines of Lily Allen's wedding dress style.

Oh, oh, oh - my all time favourite wedding dress, @Heidi2018! I’m always referencing it here - and getting a curled lip response …

@SugaredSweet - you’ll be very much in style if you choose a contemporary short dress. They’re becoming more and more popular amongst the ‘fashion forward’.

What’s your budget?

Or might you prefer to rent a dress?

https://fairygothmother.co.uk/collections/tea-length-collection

Ah this absolutely beautiful.

I'm not keen on sleeves as I think it will be too warm and I'll get annoyed But I would like straps as my body shape doesn't lend to strapless.

I'm also not a tea dress kinda person. I prefer shift dresses really, but I don't want to look like I'm wearing a sack!

I'd happily rent a dress. I would be concerned about my son getting something on me though. Budget is probably around £500 max. Ideally a couple hundred would better.

Would this be too casual / inexpensive?

NaP 1

Or more this sort of thing:

NaP 2

Or:

NaP 3

Or:

NaP 4

You may have meant midi, rather than mini of course. And probably plan to spend more than the example above? Ah - just seen your update!

I got my tea length wedding dress on vinted for £60 it was a wed2be dress they are usually around £600-£800

Any white / ivory / cream dress (or even a different colour) could be made to look bridal with the addition of bridal accoutrements - just choose what makes you feel best.

For the setting you’ve described, would something from here be more the thing:

A Perfect Nomad dresses

I wore a short dress because I wanted everyone to see my shoes It was a beaded shift dress from Monsoon.

Alternatively:

https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/clothing-rental-sites

Rixo, longish but runnable

Monsoon - it does have sleeves but they’re sheer

That looks so pretty, ideal for a wedding

I considered a short dress for my wedding! My friend also wore one for hers and she looked lovely. There were lots of options on Revolve and Reformation, although I did realise that googling "short wedding dress" specifically was making it more difficult to find anything. In the end googling "short white dress" brought up far more results and you can always buy a bridal top or overlay to fancy it up a bit. Good luck!

Have a look at Debenhams search their short wedding dresses they’ve got some really nice ones that aren’t vintage style

https://www.debenhams.com/categories/womens-dresses-wedding-short-dresses?page=2

Ooo thanks for all the suggestions. The two Self Portrait from NaP (particularly NaP4) look incredible and I think my husband to be would approve (not that he has too but you know what I mean hopefully!) @BlanklyMyDear

I had considered a slip and then a Lucy Can't Dance overlay but I just can't justify the cost.

I have seen these which I like:

I love a short wedding dress! Also a big fan of Lily Allen's wedding dress, for someone who mentioned that.

Those Self Portrait dresses are lovely.

I quite like this one: https://www.sixstories.co.uk/products/split-sleeve-bubble-hem-mini-dress-white

This top over a simple ivory shift dress would be stunning: https://lucycantdance.com/collections/sample-sale/products/strawberry-split-bell-sleeve-top

What about a jumpsuit?

What about a really simple dress from Reformation (they fit incredibly well) from their bridal range? Like this or this?
Or even this.
There whole range is here. I am on the US page, but I know they now have a UK branch (with online ordering) too.
Having seen several of the dresses on, the fit is really lovely.

And I agree with @BlanklyMyDear, that Self-Portrait would be a super choice.

You could probably rent something by

Cecilie Bahnsen

from one of the better rental places. At most places you pay a small amount of insurance when hiring an item.

How about halterneck?
https://clubllondon.com/products/jezebel-white-lace-plunge-neck-collared-midi-dress-cl135567005?variant=54940500164981&country=GB&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1709634417&gclid=Cj0KCQjwoZbBBhDCARIsAOqMEZVxf9l6Xl7FY5O93hnHEJ1I7hpa2lny9X9hlAEou1YxfRctJ8ebw_YaAmCuEALw_wcB

or

https://www.victoriasqueen.com/ivory-lace-and-tulle-short-wedding-dress-3184.html

https://www.houseofmooshki.com

Mostly tea-length dresses. I’ll be getting my own wedding dress from there when we eventually get round to planning a wedding after a 6-year engagement

But the OP has already said she’s not a tea dress type …