Dress panic!

You could look for sample sales in local bridal boutiques or online. There may be something available to pick up straight away. Some bridal shops will offer a rush services if you need to order one in. Some dresses do take less than the average 6 months. I ordered mine at the end of April and it arrived on Saturday. There is also the option of buying ready-made on the high street from BHS, Monsoon, Phase Eight or Coast or, if it's your style, Kitty and Dulcie can be ordered online. Another route may be to look at pre-owned dresses on Ebay or Preloved. You still have 3 months, it is definitely time to find a dress.

What Icklefee said High street has some beautiful dresses

There are a few bridal outlets that sell formal gowns off the peg. There's one near Leicester somewhere I think and another down south. Someone will be along soon I'm sure to give you directions! If you know exactly what you want you could get a local ressmaker to make one up for you if you know of someone good enough.

Otherwise, what Icklefee said: online, high street, second hand.

Congratulations :-D

As you're getting married outside of the busiest time you could probably find a seamstress if you know what you're after?

Which area are you in? I know there's a bridal factory outlet near me with literally hundreds of dresses to buy off the shelf - I'm sure there must be plenty of other outlets to around the country.

Oxfam and tkmaxx? they have bridal shops/depts

There are various boutiques with great preloved dresses. Go on your local wedding FB group (there's lots) or 'wedding find it buy it' and ask where they are near to you.

Or contact your local bridal shops and explain you need one to 'take away' and see if they sell samples. I honestly wouldn't mind a sample at all if it looked great.

Look at the ones in John Lewis. One of my brides got one for £95 in the sale and it was amazing!

Dress shops can also do rush orders there are lots of brides who don't know that ideally it takes 6 months, some leave it later than you so you can ask.

I am going to a bridal shop tomorrow to see what advice they can give me.

I am in the Berkshire/London area if anyone knows anything near there?

Thank you very much for all your replies.

I got my dress from http://londonbrideuk.com/

They were really helpful and the dress was just perfect, and it was bought and altered within just three months.

I bought my dress in a sale and could have taken it there and then. It needs some altering nearer the time though so left it at the shop. It still wasnt cheap sale doeant mean you'll end up with trash. There are also some dresses which only have a lead time of 3 months so you could get one of those and then have a seamstress work on it as a priority (I had a friend have her dress changed the day before her wedding (due to a tv show) and it came out perfectly).

All fab ideas and there are lots of amazing dresses on the highstreet now. You could always phone local bridal boutiques and explain your shorter timescale and see if it is possible for them to provide a dress in that time. Don't panic, you'll find your special dress for your big day!

I got my dress from John Lewis, it wasnt a wedding dress but it was gorgeous. I'd look on the high street, John Lewis, Debenhams, Monsoon etc

Thank you all, the bridal shop sold me a sample :-). Phew! - Maggie Sottero Kyra.