Cheap wedding dress - impossible?

smart_cookie

Hi all,

Long time reader and first time poster on this board, but I can't find a thread with the answers I need. I'm hoping you can help!

OH and I have been together for ages and are going on holiday this September. We have suddenly (last week) decided to get married whilst we are there, mainly because none of us want a big wedding and this way we can also have a fantastic honeymoon at the same time

This is not a very conventional wedding/elopement and I didn't really want a very 'bridal' dress so I have set the budget at £200.

However, I am starting to panic as we leave in less than 4 months and I have been to loads of shops (Debenhams, House of Fraser, all of them) and looked at everything from white wedding dresses (nothing fit me properly) to occasion wear (either looked like a bridesmaid or didn't look 'special' enough - I know, I am starting to sound unreasonable now!) to just pretty dresses but haven't liked anything.

My requirements: We are getting married on a beach when it will be 25 to 35 degrees so it needs to be comfortable and I am happy to consider a shorter length, especially as I am 5"5' and will be in flats. I am generally a size 8 - 10 in the body but because of my stupid bust size I need to wear a 12 on top. I am also olive skinned and pastel colours do not look good on me. TBH my bust size is one of the main reasons nothing seems to fit me and I am now seriously considering just going down the bridal shop route as they are more made to measure but am concerned about price and also time.

Can anyone help?

comeandgo

My last wedding dress I bought from a wedding dress shop but it was one of the sample dresses. If you want them to order one in they can take 4 months as most come from China. At first I did not want to try on this sample dress as it was not what I had in mind, colour too dark, it's a dark cream and a size 16 and I was a ten. But I put it on, colour did look good on me and I was told it could be altered and given a price for doing so.
I had that dress ready to wear in less than 6 weeks but if I'd been in a hurry it could have been less.
At a wedding my daughter was at the dresses came from Littlewoods shop.

smart_cookie

Thanks. I think it might be time to do the rounds of bridal shops. OH thinks there is plenty of time to do this... how little he knows!

DomRavioli

Try amazon. I got a lovely dress which could be used as a wedding dress for £30, from a seller called Ever Pretty.

Fuzzy_Duck

Apologies in advance if you've already tried these, but BHS and Monsoon also do cheap wedding dresses. I understand Tesco has recently started selling a wedding dress too!

If you'd be willing to consider a short 50s style dress, there are a couple of websites you could buy from:

http://www.honeypieboutique.co.uk/
http://www.lindybop.co.uk/lindy-bop-m1/wedding-bridesmaid-t51

There are also wedding dress outlet stores which are reasonably priced.

DigForVictory

Drop the word "wedding" from any phone calls asking what frocks they have that meet your criteria & add "tailoring service included".

Or find someone who'll adjust to fit, go on a bender in charity shops & have your finds cleaned then jigsawed into something unique?

Y'know, it's quite possible there will be a sensational little number available locally, and you may get far more custom & unique & seriously fun for your money onsite. (Whether that seems like a fun way to start a holiday/honeymoon hustling around clothes shops though?)

Whatever you choose, have a smashing day & splendid decades to follow!

Mushaville

Have you looked at ASOS? I was lookingon there the other day and saw some dresses I quiet liked as a potential wedding dress for a holiday beach wedding :-)

rach_k

My dress came from Monsoon, it was perfect. You can always buy the bigger size to fit your bust and ask a dress maker to alter it if needed.

purple_butterfly28

Have you tried Face Book groups. There's several including wedding freecycle, and wedding bargains where people are selling/gifting their dresses.
Then if you find someone locally who does seamstress work you could get your alterations done fairly quickly/cheaply.
Remember that wedding dresses tend to come up a size smaller though.
Good luck!!

Floss

Have a look at your nearest outlet place, like Cheshire Oaks or Clarks Village - Monsoon, Phase Eight, Coast are all good places to start.

JoolzS

If you want a weddingy-looking dress but need something cool and comfortable - just search for "dress white" online. Something might turn up. Add the word "wedding" to anything and the price immediately jumps by 100% ... lol

Or, don't even consider wearing white. My best friend wore the most gorgeous black/orange/hot pink dress for her wedding, with flowers to match the orange and pink.