All wedding dresses are the same!

[redbamboo82]

Looking for a wedding dress - am I the only one frustrated by the lack of choice? All of the wedding dresses I se in shops ARE THE SAME DRESS and at all of the weddings I have been to recently the brides have worn THE SAME DRESS. It seems as if the ivory strapless gown with a-line skirt has become a kind of uniform. No offense if you had a dress like this as it is clearly a classic and flattering style, but where is the individuality, creativity and flair? Did anyone else feel like this? Where did you go? What did you do? Granted there might be some slight variations in colour, beading, lace embroidery, shape of neckline, but the underlying shape is always THE SAME!

Here are some examples of the kinds I mean:

here

here

here

here

same same same

can we start a rebellion?

not to my taste but very different

Forget buying from wedding dress shops, fora start - it's not compulsory. Have a look at this for a list of clothing makers who do really unusual (historical/fantasy/etc) dresses either off the peg or made to measure. Or pick up a copy of Black Merinque magazine.

mine :)

Message withdrawn

or this one

God is my second wedding anniversary today and am thinking about how nice it would be to have a new drees - DH would think I mad if I bought one though!

Mine wasn't like that, I also had sleeves.

What about this one ?

I had a silk crepe dress with long sleeves, boat neckline, v low back and long straight skirt - but that took a lot of looking for. Smaller independant shops much better than chains for a choice.

cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Wedding-dress-gown-bridesmaid-size-freed_W0QQitemZ150274173281QQcmdZViewItem?hash =item150274173281&trksid=p3286.m14.l1318 cgi.ebay.co.uk/08-Sexy-Wedding-Bridesmaid-Evening-Prom-Dress-Gown_W0QQitemZ220260315913QQcmdZViewIte m?hash=item220260315913&trksid=p3286.m14.l1318 cgi.ebay.co.uk/08-Sexy-Wedding-Bridesmaid-Evening-Prom-Dress-Gown_W0QQitemZ220260316550QQcmdZViewIte m?hash=item220260316550&_trksid=p3286.m14.l1318
Fair bit of inspiration on ebay...

do you like in london? if you do you could try a jewish wedding dressmaker, as religious and traditional jews want sleeves on their dresses, the materials and styles are much more varied too, often lacier, more detailed.

I got married last year but my dress was from the mid 90s (didn't get to wear it then so saved it until I needed it). It had sleeves and a "meringue" skirt with a waterfall down the back (probably sounds ghastly!) but I got lots of compliments on how lovely it was and I haven't seen one like it for a long while - therefore it was unusual, but not particularly dated.

I realise that is not the most helpful post but you could try ebay or secondhand places if you want something different?

All dresses are indeed the same as are all weddings however much 'the bride' likesto believe she isdoing something different. Nowt wrong with that though. Comforting really.

What about making your own? Or commissioning someone if you can't sew?
The traditional type of wedding dresses would have made me look ridiculous, so I made my own to suit my shape and size.
It was a very simple raw silk two piece in scarlet with a matching bag.
Cost £40 in total and I wear it every year when we go out to celebrate our wedding anniversary

Agree with getting one made, try a few on for some ideas of bodice/skirt fits and then you can choose the style and material yourself.

I had mine made by my Nana. As it was a winter wedding I had a velvet coat with a train over the top of a short sleeved floor length (no train) dress. A good dressmaker will be able to accommdate different styles to get you exactly what you want.

I went to a wedding where the bride had one like you mention and she had huge shoulders/was really broad up top and it looked ridiculous. A prime example of fashion over style in my opinion. Obviously I told her she looked beautiful.

This is mine - not terribly unusual but the only one in the shop with straps:
i164.photobucket.com/albums/u15/applegrl7/Photo-0060.jpg

I always think that this is a nice dress.
www.maggiesottero.com/dress.aspx?showAll=1&style=J135

I agree with getting one made,that way you can have exactly what you want. I have a close friend who is a seamstress and she made mine, it was a sort of dusky (not barbie) pink with ivory lace over the top and had sleeves. Loads of people said it made a refreshing change, and I loved it. Agree that the big strapless kind are boring.

this is my dress

it's a bridesmaid dress, but I love it!! You can get all sorts of colours in bridesmaid dress!

I am not married or even engaged but I love wedding stuff (just call me Muriel!) so thought I'd chip in! Depending on your budget, have you thought about buying a designer dress as oppose to designer wedding dress? I have seen a few glam pics of wedding dresses which are not wedding dresses per se but are beautiful, elegant and can be worn again and again (and they do not fall in to the generic wedding dress category). Or what about googling vintage wedding dresses for ideas and get someone to make it up?

Or of course, you could go to the other extreme....

please god no!

I know what you mean. I got married 10 years ago and had little sleeves. It was just as the strapless trend was taking off and I remember thinking at the time, I wish I had gone strapless, because that's what everyone else did after me.

I got married quite young so all my friends have gradually got married since, all in (very lovely but) strapless a-line ivory dresses, variations on that theme.

I am so glad now that I didn't!

Whatever you do think carefully. My only regret about my wedding day was my dress, I hated it, and I have no idea why I didnt get the one I wanted.

I know its sounds crap but it will haunt me forever...

this is interesting - daring but beautiful! just as an idea.

Have you got any ideas of how you want your dress to look?