Cheaper dress shops north/midlands? Help please!

dingdongavoncalling

The area I live in is rural so the few dress shops there are are able to hike their prices to whatever they like! I've decided I wouldn't mind travelling to go dress shopping which would allow me a greater variety as well as a cheaper price! I'm hoping to spend around £500 or less on my dress, has anyone got any recommendations of where to go? Xx



P.s. I've seen a company on Facebook open up a showroom in Northallerton but they only have 6 dresses. There is also the wedding warehouse in Leicester but I think they only have the dresses that are available on the day in your size, has anyone got any experience of there? Thanks

trinity_enigma

The wedding dress factory outlet in Leicester are supposed to be very good. It is a case of whatever they have on the day is it- they can't order them in for you or anything and you do take it home with you like a normal clothes shop as far as I understand but by all accounts they have lots of dresses an the pictures I've seen of their shop look nice and not what you'd expect from their name perhaps.

They have a Facebook page with lots of good reviews from their brides and pictures people have added from their wedding of their dresses. It's probably not the place to go if you have something very specific in mind but all their dresses are under £500 so if you're open to ideas it's probably not the worst place to go.

I live in Lincolnshire so fairly rural and I was planning on taking the trip out there but ended up getting a sample dress from a local wedding dress shop. My dress new would've been £900 and I got it for £399 so that's another option for you. It has the added bonus of them storing it and doing the alterations for me (for a fee).

Hope that helps a little. Unfortunately I didn't find any other options for my area such as eBay or preloved because there are so few people in my area selling something so specific to my taste that I could visit and try on if you know what I mean?

kaletikat

i found the Leicester warehouse to be great! they have loads of different styles and sizes (im plus size and they even had alot of dresses in my size range) the ladies in the shop were very friendly even though i heard bad reports about them online.

In the end i didn't buy my dress from there as found an ex sample dress on ebay but i would recommend it highly especially if on a budget.

loopylouc

Hi
If it is the wedding dress warehouse in northallerton they definitely don't have just 6 dresses, it may be that they are new to facebook and haven't got round to uploading more pictures. It is on an business park in northallerton and have hundreds of dresses. All end of lines or samples from different designers. They also do bridesmaid dresses. They do have a website which is probably better to google than facebook. Brides don't have to make appointments but you do if looking for bridesmaid dresses. my daughter got an absolutely beautiful lace and beaded dress from there for £250 it had been over £1000 in proper shops. It is one those places though that you have to have a good look through, I think if you in this end of the country it is definitely worth a trip to have a look.
hope that helps - and happy shopping
L x

dingdongavoncalling

loopylouc wrote: »

Hi
If it is the wedding dress warehouse in northallerton they definitely don't have just 6 dresses, it may be that they are new to facebook and haven't got round to uploading more pictures. It is on an business park in northallerton and have hundreds of dresses. All end of lines or samples from different designers. They also do bridesmaid dresses. They do have a website which is probably better to google than facebook. Brides don't have to make appointments but you do if looking for bridesmaid dresses. my daughter got an absolutely beautiful lace and beaded dress from there for £250 it had been over £1000 in proper shops. It is one those places though that you have to have a good look through, I think if you in this end of the country it is definitely worth a trip to have a look.
hope that helps - and happy shopping
L x

Hiya thanks for your reply, it wasn't the warehouse in Northallerton that I was looking at, I didn't even know they had one so thanks for bringing that to my attention, will have a look at it now! How does it work there? Are dresses sorted by size and you look through and take away in the day like the Leicester one? x

loopylouc

If I recall the dresses were grouped by types and then by sizes and it was a case of hunting through them. You don't realise quite how heavy some of these dresses are until you are moving them around the rails.
We were given 4 or 5 discs and told how the dresses were grouped and then left to browse and when we saw something that was a possibility we popped a disc over the hanger. Then the assistant who was lovely took the chosen dresses into the changing room to help you try them on. It is a buy on the day type place.
They don't do alterations there but will give you details of seamstresses in your area who would do any alterations you needed doing.
I would say it is a bit like going to a sale in your nearest "proper" bridal shop but they have many more dresses available.

Whattodonow

Hello! What about Copplestones bridal basement in Liverpool? All dresees approx. £300

Geminem

Hi there

My dad and his partner own a bridal boutique in Leicester which is currently having a massive sale.

It's called Destiny Bridal Boutique & it's based just outside the City Centre in Clarendon Park. Check out their website & they're also on Facebook, Twitter etc

Good luck in your search. I haven't even started yet (guess it helps my dad owns a wedding shop!) x

Jessycat

Nora Eve Boutique in Chesterfield http://www.noraevebridalboutique.co.uk/the-boutique.php

New York Bride in Eckington http://www.newyorkbride.co.uk/

Moomin21

Not sure whether you can get there but there is an outlet shop in Kirkstall in Leeds, couple of miles out of the city centre, lots of ex catwalk and display models at cheaper prices, I havent been in but I know people who have got their dresses from there! bit of a jumble sale apparently but I think a lot of those shops are like that!

this one in warrington is supposed to be good but not been:

http://www.boutiquebridaloutlet.co.uk/

xx

early_bird

Hi,

I got my dress from the Wedding Dress Factory Shop in Leicester - it's a bit like a TK Maxx for dresses but I saw my perfect dress first time. On the high street your most basic dress is around £1000, whereas I got a BEAUTIFUL dress, just what I wanted for £400. Just need it shortening
Be prepared for a bit of a wait around, but the staff are really lovely and friendly, and it depends what they have in on the day.
Happy hunting!