Not going to a bridal shop

[TeaandTimelords]

I’m getting married next June and planning a relaxed wedding in a local pub (think Cotswoldly on the river type place). We’ve got a small budget and so I found a dress I loved online and managed to get it for £60 in a sale. I’ve tried it on and feel lovely and confident in it and was very happy and thought that was that.

However, I’m now starting to have some doubts and a weird sense that I’m missing out on part of the wedding experience by not going traditional dress shopping, if that makes sense! I’d always pictured going with my sister and best friend and trying on lots until I found the one and I don’t know if I’ll regret not doing that? Watching my best friend do it makes it seem so magical and special.

I thought about just going to some shops to get the experience of trying dresses on by not buying them but I don’t want to waste shops appointments and also don’t want to fall in love with something that costs £1000’s.

Did anyone have any regrets about not going to a shop? I’ve added pictures of the dress I’ve bought

It's beautiful!! And if you love it (and it suits the mood of the occasion) then that's all that matters.

Gorgeous dress, wedding sounds lovely! I bought my dress 2nd hand on eBay. My mum liked the idea of going shopping though, so we went to a bridal shop and I picked a veil and a sparkly belt.

It’s not fun - spend the day you would waste on it doing something else actually fun with your sister and best friend. I love the dress you’ve found!

How about going to a charity wedding dress shop? Then you can try lots on, and if you fall in love with one it won't be a huge price. There is one in /www.strichards.org.uk/snowdrops-bridal/ Worcester]] - its pop up as a standalone, but St Richards always have a massive bridal selection

I honestly think you've done exactly the right thing, and that dress is drop dead stunning.

Bridal Shops do give you a lovely experience - with the sole purpose of getting you to spend as much money as humanly possible. Need to remember that - it's a commercial operation, as well as maybe being a rite of passage.

Of course, with that in mind, there is nothing to stop you going and doing the whole trying on thing with your gang. I'd think it better to do that at a for-profit business, rather than a charity.

Your dress is beautiful.
If it helps, I found wedding dress shopping an undignified and stressful experience.
But.... If it is something that you feel like you will regret, why not see of you can find an outlet or hire shop to try some on.

You could have a day shopping for accessories and shoes instead and a really nice lunch or afternoon tea/ cocktails to finish it off.

I hated the bridal shop experience!

I find the whole bridal shop thing quite cringey. I don;t feel i missed out.

Your dress is stunning.

I skipped the entire 'bridal shopping' experience, I can think of nothing more boring. The forced friendliness from people who don't know me is not my thing.

If you have a vague feeling that you are missing out on some of the build up, I'd encourage you to plan something with your friends and family. How about something at home, or even afternoon tea out.

Enjoy.

Great dress. Don't worry about bridal exhibitions/dress shops unless you love shopping. Many of us don't.

Thanks everyone for you reassurance, I love the idea of going shopping for some accessories and having some drinks afterwards, sounds like a perfect day. I think I’d watched too many Say Yes to the Dress episodes!

I skipped the bridal dress shopping (bought it off eBay), but I did enjoy going to the shops to buy the shoes and accessories.