I agree. It's a special time for them and there's no harm in them feeling and looking special as well. My daughter also had a veil but she has a condition that stops her hair growing so it's quite short and she wanted to feel more girly. The veil made her feel like she had long hair. I don't like it when they are dressed as mini brides with huge veils, trains and the works, it seems to take away the innocence from it IYKWIM.

From the showing off side, there were at least a dozen mums from my daughter's school who definitely fell into this catagory and could be heard making comments on some of the other dresses etc. I know it shouldn't matter what other's think but if any if the children heard them they could feel upest by the comments.

Back to OP if you don't want a veil you can get some beautiful silk flowers on and a hair comb that are simple but gorgeous at the same time. I used one to hold her veil in place. Also have a look in BHS, I bought some pretty white sandals for about £6.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/clairemh29/DSCN0637.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/clairemh29/DSCN0606.jpg
A couple of pics of my princess on her day.

I used a tiny white silk flower hoop to hold the veil in place.
No train, just a plain veil with a cross embrodiered on the back & edged in a simple embrodiery.
I hate the polyester, OTT, layers & mini bride dress look too.
But just to say you can spend loads not to show off, but because its one special day (& only one for my daughter & I) and it can look elegant & special without tacky.

Finc, I think you got it exactly right with your DD. Not only does she look beautiful but also sophisticated!
MrsE you are so right, they will only do it one time and it's so nice for them to feel special!

I've been out looking at dresses with my DD today - but unfortunately she liked 2 that were both £160 which is out of our budget. But now that I know the style she likes I'll be searching ebay, USA, Canada and anywhere else. We have already bought a lovely veil on ebay for £4.99 - has cross on back and a satin trim all round.

Good luck to everyone who is looking.

I ordered the dress on the Adams website, which arrived yesterday. I was thinking I might not like it, but I'm really pleased with it and my daughter loves it. I got the dress and shrug, with a 15% discount code, total £36.

Marks and Spencer have a range of dresses in their Liverpool, Glasgow and Belfast branches, but you can order from any store. All their dresses are £65. This was going to be my back up plan.

Just looked at your pics (couldn't view them before as on a work PC, only some images come out).

She looks beautiful

I meant to say that too, she looks just perfect

surely but the day is not about a nice dress etc, it is about the recieving of Jesus for the first time, what they wear is not an issue. if you want to splash out then fine, but not everyone does and that is fine too
I help run a FHC group and in past yeasr some of the poor girls dresses were so big, they could not kneel afterwards to pray...

Yes your right its not about the dress but if the parents choose to put on a proper fhc dress which covers the tops of their arms they are different fron bridemaid dresses. there are fhc dresses out there for a reason so if a parent decides to buy a proper one meant for that purpose do not slate them. Like they will not slate the ones going for a normal summer dress.

Stress was getting the better of me on Tuesday so off I went to M&S to get a communion dress for DD. However Glasgow stores only had up to age 9 and these are too small for DD. So I went into BHS and bought the Luciana first communion dress - reduced from !!!163;65 to !!!163;52 - aged 10 for my 8 year olds first communion. Brought it home and it was just too neat & too short (need to stop stetching DD each night ). Recently she was delightedly phoning her Gran to tell her she was now bigger than her (according to pen marks on our kitchen wall!)

Went online and found they did it up to age 15 along with white Jemma shoes (reduced from !!!163;24 to !!!163;15) up to size 5.

Went onto quidco and found that as well as the normal 8!!!37; from quidco there is also a code for 15% of purchases of more than !!!163;35 before 31st March.

I ordered the dress in ages 11 &12 and the shoes in sizes 4 & 5 (planning to return those that dont fit). After discount and delivery this came to !!!163;117.40 and tracked for !!!163;9.11 through quidco.

I've already had email today saying they will be delivered within the next 2 days so even after I take back 1 dress and 1 pair of shoes and they take back some of the 15% discount and the quidco money I think I will have a lovely dress and shoes for less than !!!163;60 - and DD was delighted with the dress (which wasn't too different from one of the ones she loved recently at !!!163;160)

Dont feel like I'm getting ripped off any more. Hope the reduced prices and quidco deals can help someone else out.

please read my post i am not slating anyone, if you read it it clearly stated that either is fine!!!

Sorry, I think you are wrong.
As adults we know it's all about recieving Jesus for the first time, but you ask any little girl the most important part of the celebration and I bet she will say she is looking forward to wearing a dress!

My point is I do not think a summer dress is appropriate. As ms_newbie has done it is easy to get a FHC dress on a budget.

The two dress and pairs of shoes arrived yesterday. DD is delighted with her dress and shoes.

I took one dress and 1 pair of shoes back and was refunded £67. This means I have paid £50.40 for dress and shoes and have £9.11 validated through quidco. Even if the quidco doesnt pay out I'm really delighted to have only paid £50 for beautiful outfit for DD. I hope others manage to get what they want for reasonable prices.

hi, know this is really late to reply, but am reading through old posts. I'm one of those mums who went a bit ott for both my daughter's fhcs, but in my defence they looked gorgeous, not tarty or too old like some of the dresses but just like the pretty little princesses they are. I did spend too much each time, but I paid in for them at a local shop, then afterwards I got them cleaned and sold them on the next year for about two thirds of the original price. To be honest, they were in such good condition as they were only worn three times, they were like brand new. I know some thought I shouldn't have sold them, but we have the photos and I did wait for almost a year (sold them on a few months before the next year's fhc) so both my little darlings had stopped taking them out of the wardrobe to look at, the novelty had long gone by then!! Just a thought, it might be worth considering instead of using it as a summer dress.

Hi,

E bay is good for communion dress bargains also Melanie Elizabeth do some fantastic white holy communion dresses from £20 and accessories to match. They are based in Birmingham but there is also a website where you can order online. I my daughter's outfit from there last year and paid under £100 for dress, shoes, veil and headdress. Many of the bridal shops were a rip off.

This site has a lot of communion dresses option. if anyone find white communion dresses try MyGirlDress.com .This is the best place to find a quality product.

Hey,

It can be difficult trying to find the right communion dress and the right colour as well... there's a massive debate on whether it is OK to wear ivory... personally I think its fine though.
Have a look at lily heritage - they are fairly new and do all special occasion wear for kids. They also do really nice children's accessories as well.
You could also try m&s, although my biggest fear with them is that everyone will end up with the same thing. Hope this helps.

Aliana