Disaster!!!!!!! now with flash :(

Go on. give us a flash!

Can you overlay the pink with white to soften up the colour? I'm sure they'll be able to do something like that for you. Can you find a swatch of the colour you want? That way there can be no ambiguity. I hope you get it sorted out.

Well said, i was going to suggest an overlay of a white tulle to mute the pink down somewhat. xx

Looking at it again, the top looks as if it's got measles! the roses are a deep pink not the red they look here.

It is a bad picture as was a close up - still AWFUL though.

The silk really isn't this shiny - honest

Ok, now the skirt I can live with. I fell in love with the darker fabric underneath but was a bit too much to do a whole dress in it.

The zip is also hideous - very industrial looking.

?

Where did you buy it from?

Oh dear.

ideal if you were remaking the Turkish deligh advert from the 80s but.................

what look are you going for?? have you got any pictures to flash so that we may help you out??

I love the idea of a traditional 'costume', if it displays where or who you are marrying, but im sorry, I can see why you are disappointed with that..

Oh my god :/

I'm sorry, I can't really disguise my horror.. How can a dressmaker get it so wrong?

Living in Kuwait the choice of dress shops are very limited - they're either swanky designer ones that cost thousands and only stock size 8s or under or have massive mahusive meringues covered in crystals, and more bling than you'd find in a bling shop. Unfortunately there isn't the luxury of tryng on a range of stlyes and sizes and this place had been recommended by a friend. Just for comparison, here was the original design

Well I guess I'll be going for a Turkish delight look. I'll get the bridesmaid to wear yellow and everyone can throw icing sugar at us instead of confetti.

I guess the only good thing was that I didn't spend mega money on it - not that it was cheap and it will make pretty dusters. Or maybe I could sell it on ebay as a pantomime fairy godmother costume.

I know I'm making light of it but am mortified - if I was able to drink over here there would be a very large empty bottle of wine in front of me!

It would suit a pantomime dame, thats for sure im sorry..... can you not scour the web and see whats on offer to buy, instead??

Thanks loads girlies..............am now looking at replacements on Landy for inspiration and will also hope there's something available in Tanzania when I get there. Otherwise it'll be jeans and T-shirt for me.

No wonder you're upset - I am sorry you didn't get the dress you were after.

Don't rule out eBay - lots of shops sell ex samples on there too (I nosed the other day and found the dress I would choose now for £139! It was gorgeous!)

Oh bless you. Sending you huge big hugs. It doesn't look anything like your original design does it :0( Your H2B will love you in whatever you wear, whether it be your pink dress or your jeans! Remember he wants to marry you, not your frock. I hope you can either get your dress altered or find one you love love love at a bargain price.

Hmmm yes, I can see why you might be a bit disappointed... ? Sending big hugs! Not sure how they got the real thing from the original design which looks like one of those splendid offerings on Strictly, in the best possible way!

To be honest....I can't see how they could've got it so wrong! I mean, the sketch and the final product are so different. I love the idea and concept in the sketch and can imagine how beautiful the dress was in your head when discussing what you wanted, but the finished product.....well, it is way off the sketch xxx

I am sorry but it is a diaster and i would not have paid for it or if i had paid sor it inadvance i would be asking for my money back.

I hope you find the dress of your dreams and not have to resort to getting married in jeans

Oh dear, I'm really sorry. Hugs from me too. Its certainly different from the sketch by a long way! Have a professional seamstress measure you and order one online from a company recommended by others on here. Let us know the outcome. Am something will work out.

Oh dear, i'm really sorry the dress hasn't come out how you wanted it too. I really hope you are able to sort something else out. x

Oh no, poor you sending you big hugs x

The sketch looks stunning but the finished article......well i dont really know what to say. ?

Yay, all is solved - a new theme for the wedding - thanks to my 'lovely' brother:

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.virginmedia.com/images/wallpapers/movies/magicroundabout_1024.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.virginmedia.com/movies/movieextras/wallpapers/themagicroundabout.php&usg=__kndaBSNetSnQNfIzCbJibyQBQN4=&h=768&w=1024&sz=52&hl=en&start=27&zoom=1&tbnid=7KVQRjazMQS6VM:&tbnh=149&tbnw=208&ei=wOVUTdP4CY-z4ga29PXQBg&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmagic%2Broundabout%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D809%26tbs%3Disch:10,545&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=583&vpy=269&dur=1054&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=117&ty=108&oei=tuVUTff0KpKwhAeXyOXPDA&page=2&ndsp=27&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:27&biw=1440&bih=809

Whereabouts in Tanzania are you going? I used to live in both Moshi and Arusha and there are definitely places that could make you beautiful dresses, I had several made when I was there for parties etc - they probably wouldn't be the traditional Western big meringues BUT they would be beautiful. It is quite a long time since I was there but if you are going to Moshi then try asking at either the Buffalo, Leopard or Newcastle Hotels where to go - there used to be an amazing seamstress near the market but that is 10 years ago so things may have changed, but the locals will know where to go.

If it is Arusha then I would recommend going to some ex-pat shops or bars to find out where they go....again things may well have changed but I know a few of the women in Arusha also had their dresses and suchlike made.

The benefit of Tanzania is that you have a very big ex-pat community so you should be able to find someone to help who understands what you want!

Omg how awful! I feel for u, the design and dress r sooooooooo different!

Am still depressed over the nightmare but thanks for your support (though I know you're all probably really really jeaolus lol). Am going to go back to the shop in the next day or so with a good translator and cry and try and get at least some of the money back.

MrsShark - will be in Dar and I know of one dress shop - there are probably more but she's the only one online - she does however send everything off to China to be done. The pics do look promising though.

Ah typical, I never knew Dar really as only ever really passed through there but I would think it would even be better for choice! Great that you have already found somewhere but god forbid if you do you do get there and it isn't working out then try to find an Indian seamstress, the lady I used to go to in Moshi was a fabulous Indian lady who used to get wonderful sari fabric and was sooooooo quick!

Zanzibar for honeymoon then? ?

But Zanzibar gets sooooooo boring lol - especially as we'll have to go over there to meet the TOG as she's based there. Thinking of Peba for a minimoon and then somewhere more exciting later - Zambia or Mozambique.

I'm so sorry hun. Have you paid a lot of money for it too?

I'm having a night mare with my dress too. I've had some alterations done to make it unique but it's all going a bit wrong. I can't sleep some nights for thinking about it. I wish I had just left it alone now

Lol, it's a poor do when Zanzibar gets boring....but I know what you mean! Pemba is very nice, went there for a long weekend when I was in Moshi, great for diving and snorkelling.

If you fancy Safari then head up north....the usual route of Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti is mindblowing but we used to love Tarangire...just off the safari main route but fabulous!

Hope you have a sense of humour or you could be completely gutted.

Found this and wondered if it was something you could wear the skirt under http://www.tkmaxx.com/cream-beaded-detail-long-dress/invt/53006161/

Aww hun I could cry for you, I'd be so upset. It looks nothing like the design and I wouldn't pay them unless they offered to make you another dress. On the bright side you have plenty of time to get another, I'd look on ebay as I bought an ex sample dress really cheap and I love it.

Sending you hugs and hope you can get something sorted xx

I am curious to know the outcome of this dress. Have you been back to the shop? Did you pay? Are they making a new one?

Actually as I am not sure where in the middle east you are I am hoping that you are ok

I know, I know, I've been a really bad hitcher but what with the move to Tanzania, regular power cuts and no internet I haven't had a chance to update things.

So much has happened in the last month - yikes is it really that long? I went back to the shop wit the panto dress and a stroppy friend and we got it altered - it does look better now especially as the measles effect has well and truly gone but am still not 100%.

Am not stressing too much as we haven't yet decided whether to postpone the wedding or just go to zanzibar - just the two of us. His mum is heading off to the US for 2 years and I just feel bad that she won't be able to be with us in August, my dad still isn't too well and my brother has decided to head off to India for 6 months. As well as all that the new job is manic and have barely enough time to do the work I have to do do let alone study and plan a wedding.

I'll keep you updated but in case it's a while, thanks for everything and I'll be watching out for all your flashes.