How much is too much - wedding dress abroad

nublue

Hi,

I am getting married in Mauritius in May next year, and am in the process of trying to find a dress. I went wedding dress shopping on the weekend, and despite going for a record and trying 4 shops, I found I didn't like any of the "destination" wedding dresses...

All the ones I likes were much more traditional, and probably will be far more impractical, and very hot!! Luckily for me the wedding is planned for about 4pm, so not in the worst heat of the day.

Also, as a redhead I realised that the gold coloured dresses looked really nice on me - far more than white or ivory, but not sure how that would look in the setting...

Just wondered if anybody had any insight/suggestions on this at all??

Thanks so much!!

ellay864

Monsson do some lovely dresses that would be more suitable in the heat....this one looks nice in champagne colour

nublue

Hi Ellay,

You're right, that is a beautiful dress, and would be perfect for a beach wedding, but I did try something quite similar on, and it just didn't suit me. Figure wise, I am quite short (5'4") with a pear shape, including saddlebags and chunky legs. On the plus side I do have a really small upper body (well except my arms!!). I am a size 10/12.

The dresses that really suited me were:

http://www.benjaminroberts.co.uk/1033-p-629.html

http://www.usadressretailer.com/wedding-dress/orderweddingdressonline-553.html

and also this one which is clearly ridiculous for Mauritius - it was like wearing a quilt, and not to mention REALLY expensive - but I loved it, and I even began to regret the Mauritius decision for the first time!

http://www.maggiesottero.com/dress.aspx?line=m&style=A3427B

Thanks,

Leah

Birdie85

Hi! I'm getting married abroad and went through the same problems that you're having. When I was thinking about booking the wedding my Mum just kept telling me, 'Wear what you want, if you want to wear a massive meringue dress with a chapel length train, then wear it!' but I was mindful that it'd be too hot... even though I tried them on just for the fun of it!

I tried on a load of destination dresses, most of them were grecian style, which were beautiful but not quite right for my shape (pear, like you!) and I was soooo happy and relieved when I found my dress (this one!) because it seemed like the ideal mixture of 'proper' wedding dress and sensible, it's really light too so I don't have to worry about overheating!

I also found that the gold tones looked better on me (dark hair and pale skin) and I went for that, I didn't even think about it looking odd in the setting, the gold will tone with the sea and sand very nicely I think, and it's a bit different which is nice.

I'd say from the options you posted the Essence dress would probably be best as it is beautiful but also not too big so it should be a little easier to transport and to wear. But I really do love that Benjamin Roberts one!

I have seen brides wearing big dresses on their destination weddings and it looked lovely, just as the brides in simpler dresses did... it's really up to you!

sexymouse

I'm getting married in Jamaica, and didn't even know that destination wedding dresses existed when I looked for mine. I am having this dress, which although it looks like a traditional wedding dress, has netting that pushes the dress away from the body at the waist, so it's quite airy underneath. I'm the same shape as you and only 5ft5. The dress is quite expensive at just under £1000, but then we are saving money by going abroad, and I only plan to get married once. We'll be having a reception when we come home so everyone can see the dress etc as no-one can come out for the actual wedding, so I look at it as I'm getting it for half the price as I wear it twice. lol

maggie111

I know you might want a traditional wedding dress and that you're aware of the heat - but seriously, it can be really VERY hot. (I met a bride the day of her wedding who was very very grumpy as she had overheated!)

If you do want to go for a more traditional one, I would say that to the staff. They will know which of their dresses are lighter than the other. My BHS wedding dress is very light, and the seamstress commented - just had a look but I don't see it on their website anymore!

lindens

Maybe try a dressmaker to make one in the style you like but in a better/cooler fabric and less of it?

poppyscorner

Hi,

I got married abroad 5 years ago to my ex husband in the Dominican Republic I was a buxom bride and my dress was a size 26.

I was really self concious of my size so I went traditional to try and disguise some of it I wore a big traditional dress it didn't have any train on it.

It was a forever yours dress and as someone else said all of the netting underneath pushed it away from my body and kept my legs pretty cool (well as cool as they can be out there lol)

I was hot I admit it but I was not too hot and I was fine the ceremony was quite quick and the photos took about an hour and a half I did get straight out of it after the photo session though.

The experience was actually quite good (despite the fact we split about 2yrs after and are now divorced lol) I would have no reservations about recommending marriage abroad just decided it wasn't for me this time having already done it once IYKWIM

I say just get the dress that you like the best the ones you posted are really nice I especially like the essence one

Hope that helps xx

BarbC

Hi there, I am getting married in St Lucia and was all set to get a grecian floaty job and then fell in love with this Maggie http://www.maggiesottero.com/dress.aspx?style=J1223 which I got for a song at a Wedding fair (sample). I have had some of the train removed (you can't see it in the front view picture but it is really quite long and would be delightful after dragging in the sand) and as it is away from my arms and not clingy etc I figured - what the heck, I'm only in it for so long, and when I have my party at home it will be November and I will need a parka with a grecian job!! :rotfl:
I say get whatever you like best and ask your friendly neighbourhood dressmaker to improve it, or even as lindens suggests, make you one from scratch to your exact spec.

nublue

Sorry not to have replied sooner, been at work all day, and only just got the little one in bed!

Wow thanks girls, and thanks to those who have posted their dresses - they all look absolutely stunning!!

I popped back into the Benjamin Roberts stockist today as I was passing, and I have a arranged on Friday to have another try of the one above I posted, and this one:

http://www.benjaminroberts.co.uk/5070-p-303.html which was the very first dress I tried on - ever! I dismissed it a bit, because I assumed that was why I liked it, but looked at it again today, and it is beautiful!!

I had a lovely long chat with the lady in the shop too, and she reassured me about some of the dress choices, and said that the fabric of that benjamin roberts one is not synthetic so would be less hot than some of the lighter synthetic ones as it would breath. Also she made the same point as you, poppyscorner, in that the underskirts puh the skirt away from your legs making a shady tent in effect!

I also spotted this one, which is like the other I like, but with a smaller skirt, and it comes in various fabrics including silk, which of course is great for breathability. I have ordered some swatches of the fabric from Benjamin Roberts and the shop will order it in for me to try if I like it (for a small fee)...

http://www.benjaminroberts.co.uk/1058-p-476.html

So I have lots of options, but I do feel I am leaning towards the traditional shape. I do like the idea of getting a dressmaker to change the fabric of the dress, and read the thread on dresses from china with interest, so I will bear this in mind...

Thanks

alimatt82

Hi, I'm new to all this, sorry for jumping in on your thread, but it came up whilst I was searching benjamin roberts, I'm looking for style 966 but I can only find it around £1200. Does anyone know where I might be able to get it cheaper, as this is way over my budget, but I've completely fallen for this dress Thanks, Ali