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Original poster

Where did you go dress shopping if you're and older bride like me ?

18 replies

Easterdaffsx · 07/04/2022 10:40

I'm 51 and will be almost 53 next year when we get married .
It's DP's first marriage and my second so we've planned a traditional wedding but on a smaller scale ( no bridesmaids etc )
I feel quite self conscious after going dress shopping with my dd last year for her wedding . We had a lovely amd memorable time but looking back the shop was full of young ladies and at 52 and having had 4 dc with my ex dh I'm really quite nervous .
I'm 5ft 3, usually a size 12 but currently a stone heavier than I usually am so need to shift that , amd I'm very top heavy ( 34G) .
I'd really like to look wowza for dp ( and myself ) but am I too old to be wearing a wedding dress ? I don't want to look like a barbie doll iykwim .

OP posts:
Gruach · 07/04/2022 10:57

Wedding or not I’ve hardly stepped into a clothes shop for years! And think you’re seriously limiting yourself if you’re only looking in physical shops. There’s no need at all to only consider ‘traditional’ wedding dresses - most clothing designers produce at least a couple of frocks every season that might it might not be worn by a bride.

Have a look at Matches Fashion - you may well find something you fall in love with.

Gruach · 07/04/2022 11:01

Congratulations, by the way!

Please try to enjoy getting married and don’t spoil it for yourself by being ashamed of being alive! Who on God’s earth is going to think that being almost 53 means you shouldn’t want to look the best you’ve ever looked on your wedding day?

Doidontimmm · 07/04/2022 11:06

I’m a similar age and just ordered dresses to try on online. I looked at monsoon, Debenhams, John Lewis etc but ended up with one from Phase Eight.

tattychicken · 07/04/2022 11:21

This is lovely

www.monsoon.co.uk/miranda-bardot-bridal-midi-dress-ivory-34411646.html

AuntieStella · 07/04/2022 11:45

How much are you prepared to spend?

And how far would you be willing to consider 'non-wedding' dresses - colours other than whites?

harriethoyle · 07/04/2022 11:48

I wore a beautiful one shouldered dark navy Ralph Lauren gown (second marriage, 41). Felt amazing and I can wear it again and again!

Original poster
Easterdaffsx · 07/04/2022 12:02

Thanks everyone
Budget is okay . I guess £2k but if it's £200 and I love it all the better .

I'd like floor length I think and white or ivory or maybe gold . Perhaps something Grecian / off the shoulder or floaty but fitted at the waist which remarkably I've got somewhere still.
It's a black tie wedding so I could go for any colour I guess .
Unfortunately I'll have to avoid those gorgeous jumpsuits as I have no bottom !

OP posts:
AuntieStella · 07/04/2022 12:08

No idea if the quality of this would be right, but what do you think of how it looks?

www.google.co.uk/shopping/product/4663649374545694534?q=gold+grecian+evening+dress&client=safari&hl=en-gb&biw=1024&bih=672&tbs=vw:g&prmd=simvn&prds=eto:3418619271916198369_0,cdl:1,prmr:1,cs:1

(Expanding search to include 'gold' is returning many lovely dresses. Also ones which look as if made from bacofoil)

Original poster
Easterdaffsx · 07/04/2022 12:13

Auntystella that's beautiful !

OP posts:
ugifletzet · 07/04/2022 17:41

Marylise have a lot of dresses in that floaty Grecian style. I almost went with something from there.

Would you consider House of Mooshki? I think their dresses look amazing on women with a fuller bust, and that retro vibe looks good at any age.

loopylindi · 07/04/2022 18:56

Try Joanna Hope. There's a couple of really lovely dresses in the new Ambrose Wilson catalogue

WeddingFavour · 08/04/2022 23:18

You are not too old to be wearing a wedding dress if that's what you want to wear! Please at least go and have a look or I feel like you'll regret it. I went dress shopping a couple of months ago and lots take a deposit (about £25) and close the boutique so you're the only bride in there, that might help if you feel self-conscious around other (maybe younger) brides. I really don't think you should worry though, wedding dress shopping is a surreal experience and I'd be surprised if anyone really feels in their comfort zone doing it. Some of the dress shops have a reputation for being snooty, better for bigger brides, more welcoming, etc. The bridal Facebook groups are probably a good place to ask, or tell us what area you're in if you're comfortable doing that?

Also I'm about the same height as you so most high-street maxi dresses will be far too long on you anyway and would need altered.

diege · 16/04/2022 08:55

I'll be 52 when I get married in August (second time too) and to be honest it didn't cross my mind that my age would (should?) affect my dress choice Confused I'm going for what I love and am wearing a dress by Needle and Thread - a good online place to consider maybe?. Be led by your heart - you'll regret it otherwise!

MrMrsJones · 21/04/2022 15:53

I'm 51 and getting married in Oct

I've gone for a traditional full dress.

RaininginDarling · 28/04/2022 15:36

Congratulations OP! I will also be 53 when I get married next year. I've not been married before but soon realised how spendy (and frankly deranged) some of the bridal shops can be! I'm 5'4 and a 12-14 and pretty busty. I love clothes but don't have a lot of money and, at first, was all gung ho about "not wearing anything that looks like I'm hiding a giant toilet roll or going to my first Holy Communion" but we've gone for a woodland setting and soon I realised I did want to look like the bride after all .. but what kind of bride? (Cue: searching Pinterest for grey haired brides and finding lots of gorgeous young women who have dyed their hair grey) so I began with what was important to me: I needed to find something in my price range (obvs), that I felt really special in, was comfortable to wear and, for me, was something I could see myself wearing again...whilst also feeling bridal on the day. I found myself on the Nancy Mac website. They sell 40s inspired dresses and jumpsuits in a variety of colours and patterns- and a bespoke bridal range which is at the same prices at the rest of their stock (on that alone, I think they show integrity). Their whole spiel is that their designs work for all body shapes. I bought the red velvet jumpsuit with some gift vouchers to see what the cut and quality was like. Size 3 is a 14 and it fits me really well. I showed my seamstress and now she's a NM fan too. However, I still wasn't sure about the bridal range as they don't seem to have any photos of the bespoke range on their socials. Hmm. I took the plunge anyway as their customer service has been excellent, they sent me, free of charge, a crepe jumpsuit and the sable maxi dress (in non ivory colours) to try on and I fell in love with the crepe sable maxi, which has a heavy slip under a decent weight crepe and it sits really well. I wasn't sure it would, as the model on the website is tiiiiiiny. It is very long and I will need to get it shortened at the front but that does mean I have a tiny train(?) at the back plus I can get it shortened for further use thereafter. The dress should arrive next week and it cost £200. They sold me extra material for £20 too so I could line a beautiful short tapestry jacket I bought in Oxfam.

Anyway, as others have said here, you do you. Whatever makes you feel great on the day. One of the best things about getting married later in life is that its usually easier to work out what's important to you and not everyone else. Have fun with it!Nancy Mac Bridal

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