Wedding dress dilemma

NKLK

Or oxfam bridal

KxMx

Buying in the US (not EU) means you will be liable for customs charges: these are calculated from value of goods and postage cost: so a $100 dress with $25 shipping charge means fees on $125.

pinkteapot

Maggie Sottero have a stockist list on their website. Ring around other local stockists and ask what they sell the dress for - you might find it cheaper.

Alternatively, eBay/Preloved. Wedding dress dry cleaning is fabulous. A friend of mine got a second hand Maggie Sottero for about £250 instead of >£1000 and I had no idea the dress was second hand until she told me a couple of years later. Be warned if you buy a dress that hasn't been professionally cleaned yet - wedding dress cleaning can cost anywhere up to £150 depending on the complexity of the design, beading etc. Just so you can budget for that if need be.

I would always go for a second hand Maggie over a Chinese knock-off. I had a Maggie dress and the quality of the dresses is just amazing. The boning in them is phenomenal as well - really comfy all day long and also supportive. I can never go bra-less but I did in my wedding dress and had a fab shape. The fabrics used and the support are where the Chinese versions can't compete. For the same money, second hand genuine every time.

fannyanna

I got my Maggie Sottero wedding dress from the US.

It woud have cost £1,850 over here but for the dress, shoes and veil I paid about £450.

Jill1234

Thats amazing, weren't you nervous about buying online though? Did you have to take it to be altered once it arrived?

mirrorimage0

oohh i loved planning my wedding, havent got much advice as i bought my dress from an auction house, i pad £125 for a dress that had a price tag of over £3000. hope you get what you want

paddy's_mum

Is Lincolnshire far enough North for you?

If so, Break (charity number 286650) has a bridal boutique at its shop in Holbeach, Lincs (PE12) and some of those dresses are samples, immaculately presented and stunning in their beauty.

Plenty of small hotels and b&b's in the area if you wanted to make it a weekend trip. Hope that helps.

Toto

Go into a wedding shop and ask about buying a sample. I bought my dress as a sample which had a price tag of £1800 for £225. It was in perfect condition. I got married 4 years ago tomorrow so this might be a good time to search the shops sample rails.