Wedding Dress help/rant

74jax

I felt like you, we had the money to spend on the dress but 1k seemed ridiculous. When I found the dress I loved it got it off ebay for £100. My h2b then spent the money we would have used on the dress, on my shoes - which I can use again, and again.

I would keep an eye on ebay, preloved, Facebook, sample sales and wedding fayres.

MisterSmith_2

I've met a few people on facebook who make dresses, you give them a picture, they *almost* copy it and it can be 2/3 the price!
I'd be very careful if you start looking now though. The people I have on my fb I've been following for a year and won't be ordering for another year and have heard lots of good things. However, there has been a fair bit of conning going on lately, so I wouldn't feel comfortable handing my money over to a stranger.

Scotsbride

also try charity shops some spelise in wedding dresses which are nearly new also sample dresses often work out cheaper

rachie29

Sorry, didn't realise i'd had all these replies! Thank you all There is a charity shop that's near us that has a bridal rook, perhaps that might be worth a look! You just never know.

Reformedeffortmaker, thank you for your advice about Copplestones. I had kinda imagined it might be a bit like TKMaxx! It has really helped to hear about your experience and receive your advice, so thank you :beer:

GlamGirlie

rachie29 wrote: »

I set myself a budget of £500, but Mum who is paying said £600. Then we got to the shop...wow my estimations were wrong!! The dress I liked in the first shop was £1100, in the second shop £945 and in the 3rd shop £999.
:

That is not a lot of money for a new dress.

You could try the Wedding Dress Outlet in Bromley or otherwise charity shops for a 2nd hand dress?

Or eBay?

rachie29

GlamGirlie wrote: »

That is not a lot of money for a new dress.

You could try the Wedding Dress Outlet in Bromley or otherwise charity shops for a 2nd hand dress?

Or eBay?

Thanks GlamGirlie. Personally, I think £1000 for a new dress is a lot of money, especially only one worn once. People have suggested outlets, such as the one you have suggested, and the same dresses as were in the wedding dress shops last year are in these places for less than £500. Just goes to show how much profit they are making on them. Plus, you pay for the fancy shops, nice staff, tea/coffee/champagne, luxury fittings in the shop etc. I would feel much more comfortable spending £500 or less so that is my quest!

floss2

OP, whereabouts are you, to give others an idea of what is near to you? Also keep an eye open for the local & national wedding fairs.

I tried my dress on in a small local shop about 2 years before we got married - it was a Linea Raffaelli silk tafetta & tulle strapless dress, priced at £1400 in 2008. They subsequently went bust, and I found the dress on ebay being sold by the stock liquidators in November 2009. I paid £147 including courier to my home. It still had the labels on, it was in a dress bag, and came with a silk tulle wrap.

So keep your eyes on Preloved and Ebay for some BNWT bargains!

rachie29

floss2 wrote: »

OP, whereabouts are you, to give others an idea of what is near to you? Also keep an eye open for the local & national wedding fairs.

I tried my dress on in a small local shop about 2 years before we got married - it was a Linea Raffaelli silk tafetta & tulle strapless dress, priced at £1400 in 2008. They subsequently went bust, and I found the dress on ebay being sold by the stock liquidators in November 2009. I paid £147 including courier to my home. It still had the labels on, it was in a dress bag, and came with a silk tulle wrap.

So keep your eyes on Preloved and Ebay for some BNWT bargains!

Ooo wow what a bargain! I live in Lancashire in the North West. Thank you for your advice

floss2

Well in my area, the Fylde Coast, there are 4 or 5 regular shops, plus at least one who sell more bargainious but still gorgeous dresses (this is where I bought my veil, and she made my tiara and earrings for me). Then further away there are some nearer Preston and a couple in Preston too. Then you've got the department stores and charity shops too.

rachie29

Thank you floss2, do u know the names of them them i can google if u dont mind? Thank you for your help!