Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

No wedding dress 6 weeks before the wedding...

240 replies

ThisMustBeMyDream · 15/06/2025 17:22

I need help, and quickly!
My dress has been unable to be altered to fit. It was purchased off the peg and the bridal shop assured me it would be made to fit by the seamstress (I'd not have purchased otherwise!). It can not fit. It isn't possible.
So, here I am, 6 weeks before the big day with no dress (I do, however, have my money back - for the dress at least, but not the cost of the alterations!).
I am struggling. I'm around a size 8. I need off the peg. This seems to be difficult. Most stores stock 14s and 16s, then pin to fit and say it can be altered - this is how I've ended up with no dress, so I really don't want to be doing big alterations. 12's are the smallest I've found in store, but this is simply too big and too much altering. I also want the dress to fit me on the bust in the right way - which was the challenge in the previous dress. I wear a 30F bra, and due to weight loss, they are more loose skin than anything, but can look great with the right support. The dress I had couldn't give any support even though it had straps (mermaid style).
I don't want anything from Monsoon, Debenhams etc. They just aren't my style.
I'm in the north west, between Manchester and Liverpool. Where would you go to find a dress off the peg that is a size 8. I don't have lots of time either due to work and other commitments. So if anyone has any good ideas, I'm all ears!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
53
MikeRafone · 16/06/2025 19:02

Love the plunging neck line and the back of that dress - remember the back will be on view through the service, the day and the first dance

im not one for strapless so I am bias

you look great in both though

GetDressedYouMerryGentlemen · 16/06/2025 19:05

It would be really easy to get straps fitted for the strapless one if you love it but just have the dread of it slipping.

housethatbuiltme · 16/06/2025 19:07

I was having a dress custom made (a replica of a art deco dress Id seen in a museum in America) but Covid hit and the wedding was postponed. By the time covid was over the dress make had changed careers (but already been paid) and she went rouge and just made a random dress. It was the wrong color, wrong material, wrong silhouette and 2 weeks before the wedding I was left with nothing (no refund either as it was 'custom made' but NOT anything I asked for, didn't even fit, pretty sure it wasn't even my dress just one she pulled out of a cupboard somewhere).

I ended up getting a dress of Asos for £100 in a sale and it was perfect. My exact dream dress (exactly as the dressmaker was suppose to make) and it was only on Asos a few weeks then completely vanished. I don't believe in fate but its really hard to explain how it happened like that.

Did sting that I lost money on the first dress though. Six weeks is plenty of time to find a new dress though.

WhenITalk · 16/06/2025 19:24

spoonbillstretford · 16/06/2025 11:32

What actually is your style, OP @ThisMustBeMyDream ? You haven't said.

OP posted a photo of her original dress, up thread.

Doggielovecharlotte · 16/06/2025 19:29

ThisMustBeMyDream · 16/06/2025 18:58

I've looked at all links - thank you. Nothing is drawing me to it at all.
I did end up taking emergency annual leave this afternoon as work was quiet (not something I can usually do - have to give 3 months notice). I went to wed2be just to try things on. I'm a size 9 in there 🥴. I also went to a bridal store. I now have 2 potentials.
I let them put anything on me, as long as it was close as possible to my size! As a result, one is strapless, and I'm in a boomba in one pic, and not in the other. I'm not sure, but I do like it. Im just not sure I'm confident enough to pull it off really. The other dress I did love, and teared up, but I'm not sure if that was just relief at trying something that fit me!

Defo not the strapless one - you look like your falling out of it

the other one is much better

Kipperandarthur · 16/06/2025 19:34

Doggielovecharlotte · 16/06/2025 19:29

Defo not the strapless one - you look like your falling out of it

the other one is much better

Completely agree.

Fairnair · 16/06/2025 19:58

@ThisMustBeMyDream I think the 2nd dress you posted a pic of looks gorgeous on you.

Well done on your weight loss!

LOLOL82 · 16/06/2025 20:04

I have these two for sale OP. Both fit me as a size 8. The allure one is £90 and the other £250. Both BNWT but the allure one needs a new silk head button and a dry clean. @ThisMustBeMyDream

No wedding dress 6 weeks before the wedding...
No wedding dress 6 weeks before the wedding...
No wedding dress 6 weeks before the wedding...
ThisMustBeMyDream · 16/06/2025 20:06

I tried this too. What do people think of this one?
I'm struggling so much right now, lack of time, not wanting to make a mistake etc etc.

No wedding dress 6 weeks before the wedding...
No wedding dress 6 weeks before the wedding...
OP posts:
ThisMustBeMyDream · 16/06/2025 20:07

This is lovely, but I can't pull it off. The excess skin on my tummy would not work with this.

OP posts:
Bunny44 · 16/06/2025 20:12

@ThisMustBeMyDream did you look at the one I said my sister has available new in size 8? It looks very like some of the ones you said you liked and she's selling it 50% off retail.

No wedding dress 6 weeks before the wedding...
No wedding dress 6 weeks before the wedding...
ThisMustBeMyDream · 16/06/2025 20:15

Bunny44 · 16/06/2025 20:12

@ThisMustBeMyDream did you look at the one I said my sister has available new in size 8? It looks very like some of the ones you said you liked and she's selling it 50% off retail.

Yes, thank you! The straps are too wide for what I think suits me. I need to buy from a store rather than from an individual too, as I can't risk it this close. But thank you!

OP posts:
PeonyBlushSuede · 16/06/2025 20:19

May have already been mentioned but is there a Wed2Be store near you?

They have hundreds of dresses to buy off the rack - and often contacts for local seamstresses if any alterations needed. They sell dresses in every dress size and don’t require appointments. When I got married 7 years ago all the dresses were under £500 though may have changed.

Bowies · 16/06/2025 20:26

ThisMustBeMyDream · 16/06/2025 20:06

I tried this too. What do people think of this one?
I'm struggling so much right now, lack of time, not wanting to make a mistake etc etc.

This seems to give you a bit more bust lift and shows off your waist OP, it looks lovely, how do you feel in it?

Doggielovecharlotte · 16/06/2025 20:38

ThisMustBeMyDream · 16/06/2025 20:06

I tried this too. What do people think of this one?
I'm struggling so much right now, lack of time, not wanting to make a mistake etc etc.

Too small and revealing round the bust but lovely dress

QueenOfWeeds · 16/06/2025 20:38

@ThisMustBeMyDream give the team at Bridal Barn Boutique a call - I got my dress from them. They’re just outside Ormskirk so pretty good for you, location wise, and are so helpful. They also have a fab seamstress.

Doggielovecharlotte · 16/06/2025 20:40

Bunny44 · 16/06/2025 20:12

@ThisMustBeMyDream did you look at the one I said my sister has available new in size 8? It looks very like some of the ones you said you liked and she's selling it 50% off retail.

I think this one is best so far

PragmaticIsh · 16/06/2025 21:02

This is £700, size 8 from the Suffolk Wedding Dress Exchange.

No wedding dress 6 weeks before the wedding...
FishChipsAndVinegarPlease · 16/06/2025 21:03

There's a shop upstairs on the rows in Chester on north gate street. They seem to have very small sizes in stock - I was a size 12 and everything was too small.

Cismyfatarse · 16/06/2025 21:03

ThisMustBeMyDream · 16/06/2025 20:07

This is lovely, but I can't pull it off. The excess skin on my tummy would not work with this.

I LOVE this one. So simple and classy.

Sorry. Edited to say quoted wrong post. Love the most recent photo.

ThisMustBeMyDream · 16/06/2025 21:11

QueenOfWeeds · 16/06/2025 20:38

@ThisMustBeMyDream give the team at Bridal Barn Boutique a call - I got my dress from them. They’re just outside Ormskirk so pretty good for you, location wise, and are so helpful. They also have a fab seamstress.

Awww, funny you should say this - one of my friends is friends with the owner! So I have tried there, they don't have anything sadly!

OP posts:
beetr00 · 16/06/2025 21:13

ThisMustBeMyDream · 16/06/2025 20:06

I tried this too. What do people think of this one?
I'm struggling so much right now, lack of time, not wanting to make a mistake etc etc.

no, definitely not, this does nothing for you @ThisMustBeMyDream, sorry

Lollyluv · 16/06/2025 21:32

I wonder why the seamstress couldn’t fix the original dress for you. I bought a size 12 (American size) and I wore a 4. My seamstress fixed it in a week and the whole top was beaded. She was a seamstress at home that had been a long time neighbor of my bridesmaid. They should have been able to fix the dress. But you can go online. Read reviews really well. And do a search for the company because online can be tricky. Good luck

TicTac80 · 16/06/2025 21:36

I thought the first pic - the strapless one - you posted of the dresses you tried today was lovely (that and the second one). I think the important thing is....how did you feel when you tried on the dresses? Which one really stood out to you?

FWIW, my wedding "dress" was an ivory silk skirt (full one) with an overbust silk steel-boned corset. The corset gave brilliant support and I was able to lose/gain a bit of weight and not worry about things needing altering. I was used to wearing proper corsets (from my goth days in distant youth!!), so it was an easy option.

Swipe left for the next trending thread