Best place to buy an "AMAZING" dress?

[geordieminx]

Ok so I'm begging and pleading for the help of the fashion experts on here...

I'm looking for a dress to wear at a wedding... mine but not a "wedding dress".

Ceremony in hotel, 40ish people, meal, casino later. Hotel is a Malmaison, so trendy/gothy chic? The room we are getting married in is black and this kinda colour.

I'm 27, short, will hopefully be a size 10 by then, with good boobs (34d), large thighs and wobbly post child tum.

Ideally I was thinking something long, but this isnt set in stone, I open to all suggestions!

I guess I want to look amazing (ha), cool, sexy but not slutty

Any help, links to websites that I may not have looked at would be appreciated loads.

Tis booked, 3rd October

Hoorah ! It's great having a date set

Keep us updated on the dress hunt. Is your ds going to be page boy (type thing) ? I think my dd is similar age to your ds (I noticed you on the Apr 07 thread when I was looking to see how Elkie was doing). DD was great once the ceremony was done but she wasn't keen on walking down the aisle ....

yay you can tell everyone now!

I got my wedding dress from www.yoox.com (after having bought and returned 6 dresses in total ).
Cost about £100 (iirc?) turquoise with black embroidered flower. stunning and would have worn it nowhere else, even had a bustle! got a local dressmaker(at drycleaners) to shorten for me and change some buttons.

I have an appointment here tomorrow!!! Will report back!

Oooh - looks fab. Look forward to update

Well.... I'm back!!!

Tried on about 8 dresses in 2 different shops, and am more confused than ever!!

They didnt have the TJM one that we all liked, they did have some others, but tbh the looked very "bridesmaidy" which I dont want.

The first dress I tried on was completely different to all of the stuff that we talked about, but was well amazing!, very very tight strappless bodice, with a thin co-ordinating ribbon around the middle, and the biggest net skirt you can imagine! I looked teeny tiny in it, my waist was smaller than my treetrunk arms! . I tried it in an aqua/teal colour which was the only colour they had in stock, which was very nice, but they do it in almost in combination of colours, we decided that an amethyst with silver ribbon and buttons would be fab. It was a bit like thi 170 at the bottom but the picture doesnt do it justice.

Tried on a cream floaty sheeth style dress which was very pretty, and simple, but more for a beach/abroad type wedding, and was a bit clingy on the old tummy.

I tried on the one on this page the top was lovely, the straps sit higher than in the picture, so it kinda wraps round, but the skirt was just wrong, as a bride. It would be lovely for someone elses wedding just not mine.

Tried on this in black but I was getting pushed for time, and the shop was a bit weird so I wasnt really paying much attention. The problem is because I'm so short petite, I dont get a proper feel for how the dress will "lie" IYKWIM, it always flairs out too much, although I know once its shortened it wont stick out quite so much.

I still cant get my head round the colour, part of me wants something "different" the other part of me wants something "weddingy" as hopefully I'll never get this chance again. On the other hand, I am not prepared to spend £1000+ on a dress to stand an get married in, then sit and have a meal, then probably take off.. I'm actually stressing about it, because I think no matter how many dresses I try on, I'll never be 100% certain that I have made the right choice.

Awwww - don't stress... please. I remember being so excited about going dress shopping but then feeling disappointed because I didn't find "the one". Its so difficult when all the samples are for skinny tall people - its impossible to get a proper idea of what it will look like.

I remember trying on loads of slimmish fitting bridesmaid dresses and then when I tried on my wedding dress - it was a much BIGGER skirt than I was thinking and it was so much more weddingy than I had imagined but it was the only one that made me feel wow (again, because the big skirt and tight bodice made me feel like I had a waist - something I thought I'd never see again !!)

I agree about not being 100% certain that you made the right choice. I know I'm just not the kind of person that will have "the one". I'm self critical and even though some dresses looked better than others, I always found something that wasn't quite perfect. I just had to get my head round the fact that it didn't really matter. As long as I looked good (for me), I knew it wasn't that much of a big deal. I was much more interested in having a fab party and spending time with friends and family (and dh of course )

If you do decide to go for a "proper" wedding dress - there are loads of ways to get one without spending silly money.

Sorry for the waffle ....

Did you take a camera with you ? It makes it much less confusing if you can look back on the pics after than trying to remember everything you tried on

You are right!

The main problem I think is colours, I'm a bit weird about them. I never wear more than 2 different ones at time, so I think its that thats stressing me - I'm not sure on purple, and not sure about ordering a dress on the power of a "swatch" of material. I'm tempted to go for balck and be done with it... then I can have the orange calla lillies.

Where's song bird at?

Oh and any suggestions for cheaper wedding dresses would be appreciated!

I know a great red wedding dress going cheap

The colour thing is difficult - I had my heart set on an emerald green dress and ended up with with something completely different. Another reason to take a camera - try on as many as possible in as many different colours as you can. Even if you don't like the style of the dress, you can get a really good idea of how the colour looks on you (we would of course be happy to offer our opinions if you needed it )

Wedding dress - lots of second hand sites. Quite a few people on ebay who basically make "copies" of designer dresses (you can pick the colour, fabric, style etc.) I know a few people who've had them done and have been really pleased. Ex samples in bridal shops are another good source - especially if you're a 10 or 12

I love red, but the place is black and purple, and that wouldnt go... you see how ridiculous I am??? I'm sure its a strain of OCD...

I did think about a camera but I thought you weren't allowed to take pictures in a wedding shop, incase you copied the design?

I'm a 12 just now, maybe a 10 by then...

I definately like the tight top bit, the sheeth type dresses clung in all the wrong places. and looked a bit nightie-esque. Not sure between fishtail/ballgown bottom. Wouldnt mind having second hand, would probably sell it again after anyways.

Don't worry - I think its a bridal form of OCD - I remember asking the hotel whether they could decorate their christmas trees in our colour scheme DH nudged me very hard and looked mortified. I'm almost back to normal now though

Most shops are fine with cameras now... the dresses are usually easily found on t'internet anyway, so they're less paranoid about them being copied etc.

Have a look at ASAPBAY/LANDY on ebay. or here for second hand ones

bump for song bird

Where is she?????

I'm back - have been to the first shop again!

How'd you get on ?

I can get the first dress that I tried on in either ivory and platinum, or antique gold and mocha, (the later colour being for the sash around the middle and the buttons up the back), which I am delighted about. Means I can have the dress I love, in "bridal colours" which is hilarious because that so wasnt what I wanted at the begining of the thread!

Its very tight top with big net skirt, very "princessy." Not at all "trendy goth cool".... Ha

Its nice to be able to feel like a bride, but its not major £££'s which is a bonus. Still have to make a decision betweeen the 2 colours, thinking more the first, as it will be easier to match , diamantee [sp] and silver.

I'm gonna go into town tomorrow, and head to monsoon bridal, just to make sure that there is nothing else, then hopefully get it ordered!

Oooh - sounds lovely. Lol at you getting something totally different to what you orginally thought - sounds familiar

Personally prefer silver (don't wear any yellow gold stuff) but either would be lovely

Any pics of the dress online ?

Yes I think ivory and silver will be nice, and easier to match in its a bit like yt this only this is a really ad picture

Hi Geordieminx congrats on your wedding! I love Glasgow Malmaison! Good choice! Anyway, my sister is getting married this year and found her perfect fishtail type dress and is getting it made for her. She found her dress in a wedding shop in Glasgow then sent a picture of it to the supplier in China who makes it for you for about £200! They take all your measurements and send you a different choice of fabrics. I cant remember the name of it. Will go ask her but my sister is bridezilla personified so it must be good! CAT me if you want further details.

Dress bought (well ordered and half paid for)

Will be here in 14-18 weeks, and was actually the first ine that I tried on [blush[]