Dress shopping is becoming so stressful!!!

I went and got my dress on my own. I can throroughly recommend it. It's much easier and less stressy!

And as you say - it's your dress, so you have to like it!

Ali x

It might be an idea to do a bit of internet research first and pick out some styles that you particularly like the look of, then find out the local stockists so you can go and try them on.

It might help to focus your search a bit more, as I know what it's like when you've tried on so many dresses that you just get "dress overload" and you have no idea what you think about any of them anymore!

I can see a little bit where your MIL2B and BM are coming from, as it is true that you should try on various different styles because you can't always tell until you try them on (I bet if we did a poll on here there would be a lot of brides who have gone for a dress a million miles from what they originally had in their head!). However, they shouldn't be pushing you towards something that you're not comfortable with.

Thanks Kelly29

I have seen the ones i like online and know exactly what suits me and what i am after, the dress i mentioned earlier that i really liked is practically it! But it was just missing a little something. The big princess style ones just don't feel right on. They look lovely and pretty but just don;t feel right.

I think i am going to make some calls tomorrow and go to a couple more places alone, i think am going to aim to have found the one by the end of this month!

I could have written this post myself! I need to find one by the end of this month really and as of last week thought I just had to choose between 2 that I had tried on last weekend, but trying them both again yesterday neither of them was perfect.

Feel so deflated and like I'm back to square one.

I'm desperate to go and try some more on now!

Like you also, I don't think I'm going to take my mum again until I've found 'the one' as she's too vocal about what she likes and what she doesn't and is clouding my judgement. I'm going on my own on Wednesday evening and to another shop on Sunday.

Also like you, I know what I lke and what suits me it's just something that ticks all the boxes and has that wow factor.

Sorry, I've no advice, just sympathy!

Hey Sarah-Kay

where are you based? I have booked into one shop on tuesday evening and will call a couple more tomorrow and book myself in. Going alone seems like the best option right now!

Essex, you?

I agree completely re going alone. I just found it so hard decide what I liked when hearing so many other people's opinions. It's a shame because I think my mum liked coming, but for my own sanity I need to go alone a couple of times.

Essex too! maybe we should swap info on the shops we visit?

where in essex are you? i am gidea park, near romford.

I think I was really lucky, I got my dress in my lunch hour (ok it took a couple of hours lol) from the first shop I went into! I had absolutely no idea what I wanted or what would suit me so I literally tried quite a few on first to see what suited me and what didn't.

My mum came with me and the whole experience was so much easier than I expected. Maybe going to a few shops on your own may not be such a bad idea, you can always go back and take someone with you if you do find the one you like.

You both sound like me. I loved going myself as I know what I do and don't like without others opinions but if someone gives me their opinion I do get confuddled by it and start to believe their opinion is better than mine. I went and tried dresses on myself one random sunny afternoon when I took a half day off work and popped into a shop and tried some on. It was good going myself and I had no intention of buying at that point as I still had 2 years but wanted to get an idea of styles. The my mum, bm and I went to an exhibition 2 months later and I saw a model with a dress on and fell in love with it. I was all ready there and then to order it but mum thought I was rushing into it although she knows once I've set my heart on something i don't change my mind. However I made a few appts in other shops to satisfy my mum really for a few weeks later but in between went to the dress shop to try 'the one' on by myself and after that didn't change my mind. I liked having an opinion just before ordering it but for that trying on stage much preferred doing it myself.

Has any of what I have said made sense because I'm so excited today and just rambling on.

Just wanted to say that I went through the same thing when I was looking for my dress. My MOH and I went to look 4 different times, going to about 8 different shops. I had a fairly good idea of what I wanted and tried on lots and lots of dresses that fitted my idea. However, nothing seemed right and I began to dread going to look. It prob didn't help that my MOH is a very decisive person and when she got married, she bought the second dress that she tried on. She really did feel that I was being fussy and kept asking what was wrong with each dress that I tried - I couldn't explain what was wrong but just knew that it wasn't right!

In the end, I felt pulled to try again a dress that I had tried on but not been sure abut because it was more detailed than I imagined. When I tried it again - it felt good and nothing else that I had tried had matched it so I went for it! I can't say that I ever had a "this is THE ONE" moment - but then I didn't really think that I would. I am now, however, completely happy with my choice!

Benfleet, but my mum is Hornchurch and I was in Elm Park and Hornchurch this weekend. Recommend both shops, lovely, patient service in both.

Where have you been? Do you know any where that is open in evenings?

which ones in hornchurch and elm park?

I have been to 2 in brentwood, Matchmakers and new beginnings, Bliss Bridals in Romford, Brenda Loraine in Chadwell Heath and going to confetti and lace in lakeside on tuesday. Confetti and lace is open until 10 some nights of the week and is also open on sundays. There is also Belissima in South Woodham Ferrers which is open until 9 some evenings and will be next on my list to visit.

So far every shop i have been to have been very friendly and helpful, not had a bad experience with the shops, just not found the dress yet!

Brenda Lorraine in Elm Park and Hosue of Couture in Hornchurch.

The only thing I really don't like about Confetti and Lace is the £25 consultation fee. I wouldn't mind so much if it was a one off fee but if I saw a dress I liked and wanted to go back to double check I really liked it as much as I thought I'd have to pay £25 again. I realise you get that back if you buy there, but if I don't I could be £50 down with nothing to show for it!

Going to try to get to Belissima this week, SWF is only 20 mins from me.

Going to one, hopefully two, in Rayleigh on Saturday.

That is kind of how i feel about it too, but just thought sod it! they have loads there and it is worth a shot, if i don't find anything i will just have to take the loss.

there are 2 in hornchurch so think i am going to book into them both for tuesday day or even wednesday!

must get the dress sorted! i am 9 and a half weeks pregnant and want to get it ordered before i start to get a bump!

I did think oh sod at first and was booked in there for this morning but cancelled it on Thursday because of the fee and because I thought I'd be getting one of the 2 I liked from last weekend.

Congratulations on your bump! when is your due date and wedding date then?

I have 2 weeks to get it ordered really, which isn't much time at all!

Oh congrats on your pregnancy!

Thanks!

I am due 9th Sept and the wedding is 31st december this year!

when is your wedding? x

Oooh 31/12 is a special day for me, it's my birthday, our anniversary and the day we got engaged!

My wedding is 5th September 2009 - so very close to your due date!

Busy year for you then!

It is a very special day for you hehe!

It is one of our friends birthdays on the 31st too, so we are going to bespoke his invite so that it mentions his birthday and have put his birthday on the wedding site too!

I have a very busy year, not only do we have our own wedding and the baby coming, we are moving house in may and also got 2 other weddings to go to before the baby arrives! one being in scotland eeeekkk