FAO SarinaCain

I could spend hours on this.

Are you having an asian themed wedding?

The dresses now a days are so many colours and combination of colours and have high to low amounts of embroidery....bit like a normal dress realy so it depends on what you want to have. Some brides like to realy go over board and some dont.

If there are going to be a lot of asian poeple at the wedding would recommend lots as asian poeple wear a lot in general at weddings and the bride has to stand out.

Mine is red with a huge amount on it...but thats cause I love my bling and red is my fave colour. Its a mermaid tail skirt with swarovski diamante and lots of beads etc I still need to get the top adjusted.

Where abouts in the UK are you? And when are you getting married?

Thanks for replying so quickly.

Asian themed you could say - I'm Vietnamese marrying an Indian guy and we're having a Hindu blessing so I have no idea about any of this. Everyone keeps saying look at magazines, but not being used to so much bling it's quite difficult to pick something. I get worried that I'll look completely over the top if I turn out covered in jewels. But then I don't want to be so plain that I'll be embarrassing for OH's side.

I live in Birmingham so have Soho road to go to which is the closest place for me to go and look at outfits. OH's parents live in Kent and I think we may be taking a trip to Green Street (I think) to have a look at some shops. I just wondered what the fashions are at the moment. Also the practicalities of different things for the day...will it be difficult to wear a sari if I've never worn one. Is there a type of skirt that will be easier for the day if I have to do a lot of sitting and getting up (want to look half graceful standing and sitting). I know you're wearing a lehnga instead of a sari, is that ok nowadays? Also what colours are ok, seen a lot of greens and creams in the magazines as well as red, is that really ok for a bride to wear different colours? Also I'm not mini, I'm a size 12 and a lot of the shops I visited say that I need to have it specially made to even have a chance of fitting, so what styles do you recommend, I can't see me looking right in a mermaid skirt like you.

My MIL2b will be going with me as well as his sister and some of his cousins, I just want to know what kind of options there are so I don't get bullied into getting something I don't want.

Sorry, bundle of questions that are ultimately up to me, just wanted to understand things a bit more. Thanks again.

Okay first ...have you been a family do? Or to a wedding with the family? Thats usualy a good way to figuire if they are the overboard types.

Every family is diffrent. My sister keeps it simple ...well for an asian lol Im the opesite.

If when they go to a wedding or are dressed up to the nines for a dinner/do then I would say that you would probably need the whole lot.

Im not hindu so I cant realy give you any specific advise..just general stuff.

Are you on msn? or Facebook? I have some pics I could flash you but I'd rather not show everyone.

I got my dress in Green st. Make sure you haggle..my dress was 700 and origianly they wanted 950. They expect haggling but Im your your MILTB will do it for you.

A sari is more traditional but most girls I know wear a Lengha ..where ever they are from...Bangladesh (like me) or Pakistan or India. I think its just become the norm.

I think I got a fishtail skirt..not mermaid...lol Its all very confusing.

They are right though ..the magazines always have the current fashions and thats normaly taken from movies as well.

I found I had to have one made for me as Im a size 12-14....and they dont cater for that. But I think sometimes thats preferable anyway as..you can take bits from diffrent designs and haveit exactly how you want it. Delievery is usualy two months.

Colours are realy upto you and the dress...a friends daughter recently got married and she wore a blue and green dress...and someone else wore a pink and blue dress.If red wasnt my fave colour I would have gone with gold...some lovely pale gold wedding lenghas out there. Or you could have a white one with lots of asian ebroidery?

Whats your fave colour?

I cant realy imagine the skirts being a problem. Which ever one you go with...but you will be able to try diffrent ones on.

If you wear a sari then someone will have to dress you...its a bit complicated and the pleats are hard for a begining to get right.

If the OH's parents are Hindu you may be able to show a more skin than me so that will give you more range

Http://www.varietysilkhouse.com/Bride.html

Have a look at this site just for ideas..you can go to any shop that is reputable and get it made there fyi

Any of these take your fancy?

Hey sorry I don't have facebook (the horror!) Thanks for your replies and taking time to find these for me.

I really like the gold colours and ivories, love the shape of the skirt in the 2nd picture, something straight and will hide lumps and bumps. But I also wanted to go for a more traditional red rather than something so different. I'm going to look out of place being Vietnamese already, don't want to give people more reason to point and laugh!

His mum's dress sense is not fab and don't think clothes are a big deal to her, as long as it's nice and reasonable then I think she won't mind. I think the general consensus it to go for something 'heavy' so lots of embroidery jewels etc. So they just come up with a pattern for you to embroider or do you give them pictures of what you want? How long do you think I'll need to spend on Green Street, will a day b enough to go to all the shops?

Yeah I'm thinking lehnga too, didn't want to go to the bathroom and accidentally pull all the pleats out, seems easier to move about in as well. The problem with not being a 'normal' size for them is that the shops don't have much that will fit over my bust for me to get a good idea of how things will be. We had an engagement party and I got a suit thing and it was so hard because stores only had mini sizes to try on. Hopefully they'll be some good shops that will be useful. Which shop did you buy yours from?

The other thing I wanted to ask was, what make-up are you having for the day? The looks in the magazines tend to be quite heavy so I wanted someone to do mine for me. If you live in London do you know of any good make-up artists and hairdressers?

Im off to work but promise will reply properly tommorrow.

Ah not to worry. Thanks for your help so far it's very much appreciated. xx

I can't help in the slightest but just wanted to say what beautiful outfits! You two really must flash them soon! Really beautiful.

You could come up with the pattern yourself or go with something you like in their shop...or take in something from a mag. They will accomodate what ever you want.

I think we spent an afternoon when we went shopping but if your getting your jewelry there too then you will need a whole day. You can get shoes and everything youd need for the whole outfit all on Green st.

Im a bit stuck on make up at the moment cause Im wearing two dresses. I had a make up and hair trial and I didnt like it.

It just wouldnt go with the white wedding dress. .....and I looked a bit of a clown. The lashs were too long and the lipstick was awfull and patchy cause I have darklips and she used pink???

So Im not sure what to do realy. I might look for someone new and start again or keep her and ask her to tone it down on the day...dont realy want to pay her another £60 for a trial. She did my face flawlessly though...its was just the lips and eyes were too much.

Sorry bout the delayed reply. Night duty tuckered me out

MrsB2b - don't know if it helps but an old Uni friend of mine is a prof make up artist - http://www.makeupproonline.com.

Love the outfits - I looked at lehngas for inspiration and though in the end though I chose a normal(ish) dress it has got the most gorgeous Indian fabric playing a big part of it.

Hi Sarina, so rude of me to have gotten back to you so late. Thank you for your help, I kept all of that in mind when we went shopping. We visited a man in Watford who was amazing and this is the one we chose. I'd have it as cream/gold brocade with red and gold embroidery. None of the frilly bits at the bottom and a longer top to show a little skin only. It costs £1895 though so a little more than I wanted it to be. I showed it to a few tailors in Birmingham and they quoted that it would be £900-£1500. I'm going to have a look at Green Street next weekend too and see how that goes. There is so much choice around it's so difficult to choose things!

We had a look at some outfits for OH too and that was about £1200 too, can't believe how much it could all cost us for just another wedding day, it's crazy. Will keep you updated with what I finally manage to get.

Katscamel, thank you for that recommendation, I will have a look at her site and get contacting.