Skip to main content

Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

N

HELP!! Tell me all about your dress please!

natski, 10 May, 2011 at 21:52 Posted on Planning 0 39

Hi!

I am starting to work for myself designing and making bespoke wedding dresses, bridesmaids and flower girl dresses. ?

Therefore I'd be very grateful if you could tell me about your dress plans / experiences.

Please let me know;

+ What the budget for your wedding dress is?

+ Who designed your wedding dress?

+ What colour your wedding dress is?

+ What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)?

+ If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls?

+ What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses?

+ what colour your bridesmaids dresses are?

And any other information you'd like to give me! I'm also interested in the style you've chosen, fabric and any good or bad experiences you have had and why they were good or bad.

For myself when I got married 2 years ago:

+ Budget £800

+ Cant remember! Benjamin Roberts??

+ Champagne

+ size medium

+ 2 bridesmaids

+ £400

+ fuschia

My wedding dress was strapless with a train and lacey beaded overlay. I had a lace bolero jacket for the church ?

Bad experiences - feeling rushed (having a 40min appt and then being hustled out of the door when your time is up!), getting stuck in a dress I was trying on that was way too small for me, being limited by what I could try on by the sizes of the dresses!!

Many thanks!!!

natski.

39 replies

Latest activity by natski, 21 May, 2011 at 20:03
  • moonpie1985
    Beginner July 2012
    moonpie1985 ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    + What the budget for your wedding dress is? - Approx £1000

    + Who designed your wedding dress? - Lizzie Jayne

    + What colour your wedding dress is? - Ivory

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)? - 12/14

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls? - I am having 2 bridesmaids only

    + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses? - Havent decided but probably around £200 in total

    + what colour your bridesmaids dresses are? - Dark red

    Hope this helps

    • Reply
  • moonpie1985
    Beginner July 2012
    moonpie1985 ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    I missed out this part:

    And any other information you'd like to give me! I'm also interested in the style you've chosen, fabric and any good or bad experiences you have had and why they were good or bad.

    It will be a 50's style short dress with oversized sash in contrasting colour which will match the petticoat.

    • Reply
  • E
    Beginner October 2011
    englishrosebride ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    + What the budget for your wedding dress is? - Was £3,000 but became quite a bit more when I found the one I loved.

    + Who designed your wedding dress? - Caroline Castigliano

    + What colour your wedding dress is? - Ivory

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)? - 10/12

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls? - 4 adults, 1 11yr old bridesmaid and a 3yr old flowergirl

    + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses? - not finalised but maybe £1,000 including accessories

    + what colour your bridesmaids dresses - Plum

    We're getting married in October so I'm having a fur muff (also from CC) and the bridesmaids will have fur shrugs.

    I found my dress when shopping on my own and enjoyed being able to do it alone as my mum kept telling me what I liked. Don't think the shops I went to alone were used to it and I kept getting treated with pity. I don't think it was odd.

    Hope this helps.

    • Reply
  • kharv
    Beginner March 2012
    kharv ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    + What the budget for your wedding dress is? Budget was about £1500 but ended spending £1000

    + Who designed your wedding dress? Justin Alexander (Although not specifically for me! Ha)

    + What colour your wedding dress is? Light coffee

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)? Medium

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls? 5 Adult bridesmaids

    + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses? Approx £120 per dress - having them made by a seamstress

    + what colour your bridesmaids dresses are? Slate grey with plum underskirt

    And any other information you'd like to give me! I'm also interested in the style you've chosen, fabric and any good or bad experiences you have had and why they were good or bad.

    I have chosen a ballerina length, 50s style dress. Bridesmaids will be in 50s style knee length dresses.

    hope that helps!

    • Reply
  • ScillyB2B
    Beginner June 2012
    ScillyB2B ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    + What the budget for your wedding dress is? I hadn't come up with a strict budget but maybe up to £800, then found my dress for £200

    + Who designed your wedding dress? Monsoon

    + What colour your wedding dress is? Ivory

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)? 12, tailored in at the waist

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls? 1 adult, 1 2yr old flower girl

    + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses? about £150 total

    + what colour your bridesmaids dresses are? adult- blue, flower girl ivory with blue sash

    And any other information you'd like to give me! I'm also interested in the style you've chosen, fabric and any good or bad experiences you have had and why they were good or bad.

    Grecian style in silk with organza floaty panals hanging from an embroidered empire line with wide organza straps (the silk part of the dress is strapless).

    I never got champagne! I hear that people do when they go dress shopping and the few 'proper dress' shops I went in didnt offer- I guess maybe thats just a perk with the high end designers. I sometimes feel that because I got my dress from a high street shop it isnt a 'proper' wedding dress, but I love it!

    • Reply
  • sapphire_22
    Beginner September 2011
    sapphire_22 ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    + What the budget for your wedding dress is? Didn't have a budget but my dress cost £1200

    + Who designed your wedding dress? Mon Cheri

    + What colour your wedding dress is? Ivory

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)? 6

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls? 1 BM, no FG

    + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses? BM is buying her own. I don't think she will pay more than £50

    + what colour your bridesmaids dresses are? I asked her to pick a warm colour, but it is up to her what she wears.

    And any other information you'd like to give me! I'm also interested in the style you've chosen, fabric and any good or bad experiences you have had and why they were good or bad. My dress is strapless with a sweetheart neckline and a full skirt with a lace overlay and a sweep train.I only went into one dress shop and it was a lovely experience. I wasn't rushed at all (the manager said she had one bride who they let stay looking at herself in the mirror after her dress fitting til closing time!) and they were really helpful and nice. The only thing I didn't like was that the dresses were all size 16 so it was hard to imagine what they would look like in my size.

    • Reply
  • L
    Beginner August 2012
    Lillibet ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    + What the budget for your wedding dress is? - Budget was £1500 to include alterations, dress came in at £1000 and alterations will be £165.

    + Who designed your wedding dress? - Alfred Sung

    + What colour your wedding dress is? - Ivory

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)? US 8

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls? - 2 adult

    + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses? - As much as I have to spend. They are totally opposite body shapes, so if I have to spend more so they both feel comfortable then so be it. Fingers crossed no more than £200 each though.

    + what colour your bridesmaids dresses are? - Not sure yet, either pale, cornflower or navy blue.

    Style is sort of a fishtail style, with a slight a-line about it with a train... Figured out after the first couple of shops that I absolutely hated taffeta dresses because they were too stiff and noisy, so my dress is ivory satin. Its got a bit of bling down the front with pleating, and sort of vintage inspired with sweetheart neckline. Funnily enough its one of the first dresses I ever cut out of a magazine!

    Good experience would have to be pretty much everything, loved the whole dress experience.

    Can't really think of any bad points to be honest! All the shops I went to were very helpful and welcoming...

    Good luck with your venture ?

    • Reply
  • Cheeky_pie
    Beginner August 2011
    Cheeky_pie ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    + What the budget for your wedding dress is? £1000 Cost £1200 including Veil

    + Who designed your wedding dress? Mon Cheri, Style Name Shirley, Satin is the material, it has beading work on it.

    + What colour your wedding dress is? Diamond White

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l) L

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls? + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses? I am having 2 Adult Bridesmaids and 3 Flower girls. My budget was £200 per adult dress and I Paid £160 Per dress. For the flower girls i had bugdeted £80 pounds each but got them in BHS for £19 each in the sale

    + what colour your bridesmaids dresses are? Teal/Emerald for the adults and Diamond white for the flower girls

    Bad experiences: The 1st bridal shop I went to made my feel like crap!! The lady looked me up and down and said ur bigger than the usual girl we get in here, we wont have much u can try on!!! I am a size 16/18!!! So needless to say mum and my siter where told get ur bags we are leaving!!

    Good Experiences: The shop I bought my dress had the most fabulous staff with a real passion for what they do I think they helped to put me at ease when I came in they recommend some style that would suit my shape which I liked and if I want to try someting on that they didnt think would suit they still let me try it on. I definatly think the staff played a big part in me deciding to use the shop.

    • Reply
  • fizzypop
    Beginner July 2011
    fizzypop ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    + What the budget for your wedding dress is? Dress cost £575, didn't really have a set budget before

    + Who designed your wedding dress? Ellis Bridal

    + What colour your wedding dress is? Ivory

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)? Size 10-12

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls? I'm having 3 adults and 2 children

    + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses? £50 - £100

    + What colour your bridesmaids dresses are? Navy blue

    • Reply
  • Arquard
    Beginner May 2011
    Arquard ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    + What the budget for your wedding dress is? As little as possible. In the end, mine cost just over £700 as it was an ex-sample.

    + Who designed your wedding dress? It's Sincerity Bridal, 4520

    + What colour your wedding dress is? Ivory with pearl and lace detailing

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)? It started life as a large but has been taken it so it's more a medium now

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls? 3 bridesmaids, 1 flowergirl. All in high street dresses rather than bridesmaid ones

    + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses? The BM dresses were £75 each and the flowergirl dress was a bargainous £23

    + what colour your bridesmaids dresses are? Dip dye navy blue and royal blue

    My dress is an A line gown with side detailing and wide lace straps. I didn't want strapless because I'm a busty lass and didn't want to feel self conscious all day. I fell in love with mine because it's incredibly flattering and a little bit different from current trends.

    Good experiences - finding a plus size bridal store where i could try on dresses that weren't several sizes too small for me. Bad experience - being told (repeatedly!) that I was very small for someone using a plus size store, and consequently feeling like I didn't really fit in anywhere on the bridal size spectrum!

    • Reply
  • judeclarke
    Beginner October 2011
    judeclarke ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    + What the budget for your wedding dress is? total for outfit = £800 including shoes, jewellery etc

    + Who designed your wedding dress? not a dress, I'm having a corset and skirt from Booby Trapp corsets

    + What colour your wedding dress is? red

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)? Corsets don't come in 'dress sizes', I'm a size 18, my corset will probably be 36"

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls? 1 bridesmaid, 1 man of honour

    + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses? originally £100 each, but thats had to stretch!

    + what colour your bridesmaids dresses are? silver

    I'd also like to add that I'm goiing for a skirt and corset because I object to paying hundreds for a dress I'll only wear once - I intend to wear the corset and skirt as separates on other occasions. I'd like to see outfits that can be used as separates in bridal shops, and a better range for the bride who is a little older than average/larger than a size 10.

    • Reply
  • Knees
    VIP August 2012
    Knees ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    + What the budget for your wedding dress is? Budget was around £1,000 but ended up getting a sample for £295

    + Who designed your wedding dress? Maggie Sottero

    + What colour your wedding dress is? Diamond White

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)? The label says 8 but I'm a 10 on top and a 12/14 on bottom. Top fits fine, but bottom needs a couple of inches lost!

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls? 2 adult BMs, potentially 1 or 2 flowergirls, depending on who comes to our wedding abroad

    + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses? Adult BMs probably £150, especially if they can wear them again. If I have flowergirls, they'll be getting dresses from BHS/Debenhams with an added sash/flower as I refuse to pay Dessy prices for a dress they will never wear again!

    + what colour your bridesmaids dresses are? Not bought yet, but probably light blue

    And any other information you'd like to give me! I'm also interested in the style you've chosen, fabric and any good or bad experiences you have had and why they were good or bad. Style is a lace back top with a sweetheart neckline and flowers on the straps (can either be worn up or off the shoulder), bottom has a flower on the hip with a gathered bit that falls down from the flower (hard to describe!).

    No bad experiences really, as I bought a sample from a sample sale. I would say if anything, the only "bad" thing was not having the proper bridal shop experience.

    • Reply
  • Mrs Bass
    Beginner March 2011
    Mrs Bass ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    What the budget for your wedding dress is? Max £1000

    + Who designed your wedding dress? Mori Lee

    + What colour your wedding dress is? Ivory

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)? they ordered a 20 to fir around my boobs (normally I range between 14-16) had a lot taken in around waist and thighs and even boobs!

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls? 2 flowergirls, 3 b/maids

    + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses? b.maid £150 (ended up spending £160 plus alteration costs! doh! f/girls, as little as possible!

    + what colour your bridesmaids dresses are? purple, f.girls cream

    And any other information you'd like to give me! I'm also interested in the style you've chosen, fabric and any good or bad experiences you have had and why they were good or bad.

    shops that only had size 8 & 10 samples! how on earth is anyone meant to get an idea of what they look like! and one shop wa over protective of all her dresses and blatantly didnt like people trying them on!! if they were a bit on the snug side when trying to get them on, she tell you to take it off as the "style obviously wont suit your shape"

    the shop i went for in the end had bigger size samples and were really friendly, if the dress was a bit on the snugg side she would say to "just wiggle a bit, it'll go on!"

    i knew exactly what i wanted, a straight, dress with straps, v-neck, vintage style lace, min bling! I was very open to trying on all kinds of shapes and sizes but deep down, knew exactly what I wanted! luckily, once i had given up hope of ever finding it, i did find it in the very friendly and healp ful shop!

    • Reply
  • ForTheLoveOfMrsBrown
    Beginner January 2012
    ForTheLoveOfMrsBrown ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    + What the budget for your wedding dress is? I had saved £3500, but ending up spending £5600.

    + Who designed your wedding dress? Claire Pettibone.

    + What colour your wedding dress is? I call it "white" - the sales assistant insisted it was "pearl", "white" clearly not being good enough Smiley smile - with pale honey embroidery down the back.

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)? 10.

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls? 4 BMs, all grown up.

    + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses? Budgeted £200 each, spend so far about £215 with shoes/bag to buy

    + what colour your bridesmaids dresses are? Honey/champagne.

    My dress shopping was simplified by me having a very strong idea about the designer and type of dress. I knew I didn't want (or would suit) a strapless/bodice/A-line which frankly made shopping a million times easier.

    • Reply
  • knitting_vixen
    Beginner September 2011
    knitting_vixen ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    View quoted message

    I nearly got a Lizzie Jayne dress! I didn't go with her in the end because she was supposed to send me samples but didn't! Love the dresses though- did you get a bespoke one? What does it look like?

    • Reply
  • Frugal Splurger
    Beginner September 2011
    Frugal Splurger ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    + What the budget for your wedding dress is? Budget was about £800 but got an ex sample dress for £450

    + Who designed your wedding dress? Angel brides

    + What colour your wedding dress is? Ivory

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)? Label says 14 but I am usually a 10/12

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls? 4 bridesmaids only (youngest is 14 and eldest is 35)

    + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses? It would have ideally been £80-£100 each but spend £128 each - they should have been £160 each but Coast had a 20% off everything deal. I found most typical bridesmaids brands such as Dessy were terrible quality for the price. My Dad used to be a clothing manufacturer so I knew what to look for!

    + what colour your bridesmaids dresses are? Navy blue

    Other info: My dress is ballgown style, strapless with a dipped neckline, with pleats across the bodice and a flower/bow on the hip. The skirt then has layers to look as if pinched in by the flower. When shopping for my dress I found that anything too fussy/sparkly did nothing for me and that many dresses were uncomfortable. Going into the shop every dress was in a plastic dress bag which i liked because they were protected and didn't have dust on them, but I always liked the idea of going into a shop to see one of every dress on a manequin instead of hung up - i know its not practical but it would make choosing a lot easier!

    • Reply
  • knitting_vixen
    Beginner September 2011
    knitting_vixen ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    What the budget for your wedding dress is? £500-£700 (my dress cost around £250 including shipping and then alterations plus fabric (silk and tulle) around £150

    Who designed your wedding dress? Vintage dress from ebay, was shipped from America.

    What colour your wedding dress is? Ivory

    What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)? 8

    If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls? 2 adult BMs

    What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses? £200

    what colour are your bridesmaids dresses? Floral

    I wanted vintage or bespoke reproduction vintage... I emailed one dress maker who specialised in 50s dresses for samples. She sent me several emails about which samples I wanted but I never actually got any samples. I decided not to chase her- I thought if she wanted my business she should have contacted me. In the end I saw exactly what I was looking for on ebay and went for it!

    My dress is cotton lace tea-length 50s style dress. I am having a light sage green sash added and will be wearing shoes dyed to match, I am having more petticoats added these will be ivory, satin bound in light pink. I am knitting a bolero out of angora (ivory) and wearing a shoulder-length veil and a side tiara.

    I would say that I had a very fixed budget in my head, not many dressmakers/seamstresses have websites so it is difficult to get an idea of prices. I think websites should have as much info as poss and make it very easy for people to contact the dressmaker for more info.

    • Reply
  • Flowmojo
    Beginner
    Flowmojo ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    + What the budget for your wedding dress is? £1000

    + Who designed your wedding dress? SINCERITY BRIDAL

    + What colour your wedding dress is? BLUSH

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)? MEDIUM

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls? 3 BMS 1 FG

    + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses? 100 PER BM DRESS, 50 FG

    + what colour your bridesmaids dresses are? PALE GREEN

    And any other information you'd like to give me! I'm also interested in the style you've chosen, fabric and any good or bad experiences you have had and why they were good or bad. MINES VERY PRINCESSY, LARGE TULLE SKIRT WITH FITTED BODICE. THERE ARE TULLE DETAILS ON THE BODICE ACCOMPANIED BY SMALLER ROSES DOTTED AROUND

    • Reply
  • SaSaSi
    Beginner July 2012
    SaSaSi ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    + What the budget for your wedding dress is?

    I didnt have a budget - my mum told me to get the dress I loved regardless of price. My dress cost £1450.00

    + Who designed your wedding dress?

    Maggie Sottero

    + What colour your wedding dress is?

    Ivory - French taffetta

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)?

    Meduim - ordered a size 14 & it needs taken it a bit

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls?

    3 bm's & one flower girl

    + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses?

    Again no budget, just picked what we liked. Got veromia full length gowns with a a trial @£220 each & a matching flowergirl one @ £180.00

    + what colour your bridesmaids dresses are?

    Lipstick pink - was always going to be a bright pink

    And any other information you'd like to give me! I'm also interested in the style you've chosen, fabric and any good or bad experiences you have had and why they were good or bad.

    Ive always wanted a big ballgown dress. But I felt 'silly' in the large tulle skirts. I also love 'hitch ups' or 'pucks' on wedding dresses in magazines so my dress has these elements, along with a massive balloon hem train. I usually wear puffball dress or skirts on nites out to my dress is very me. It has a heavily embellished top & Im having straps made to match.

    I purchased it from the place i had my first wedding dress appointment. It was wonderful. 2 dedicated hours. We started by sitting down, going over the date we picked & the styles I liked. I tried on maybe 8 or 9 dresses. I found my 'one' but felt @ 18 momths it was too early.

    Went to 3 other shops in total. One was horrendous - they had mixed my appoint with another & when she found out my date she let me try one on & shusshed me out, saying it was much too early. The other 2 were good but just not the 'magic' I felt with the first. I did however end of getting my BM dresses from one of them.

    So I went back to me initial shop, 10 months b4 my wedding & my 'one' was discontinued. But i found another by the same designer with all the elements I loved about the first dress. The shop manager is also coming to my house to dress me which is a major plus.

    My only comment would be evening appoints are a massive help. I work mon - fri 9am -5pm & my mum works on a saturday so shops that provided evening appoints suited us best as she cant take a sat off (her busiest day) and I had little holidays, keepin so many for my wedding & honeymoon.

    • Reply
  • BustyB
    Beginner June 2012
    BustyB ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    You will be able to tell I dont want a traditional dress!

    + What the budget for your wedding dress is? £250

    + Who designed your wedding dress? http://www.deadlyisthefemale.com/clothing/dresses/heidi-dress-in-red

    + What colour your wedding dress is? Very red

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)? 16/18 (to squeeze my boobs in!)

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? 6 (4 sisters, best friend, his sister)

    Flowergirls? 2

    + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses? They are buying their own dresses

    + what colour your bridesmaids dresses are? Black & White 50s style

    • Reply
  • AmnesiaCustard
    Beginner June 2011
    AmnesiaCustard ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    + What the budget for your wedding dress is? Probably about £200 - diidn;t really think of it ion those terms but know I wouldn;t spoend a fortune . Also agree with PP who said that most dresses are polyester fabric and I wanted silk.

    + Who designed your wedding dress? Monsoon (and me - see below)

    + What colour your wedding dress is? Ivory

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)? M

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls? None

    + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses? None

    + what colour your bridesmaids dresses are? N/A

    I bought my dress at Monsoon outlet for £60 and then spent perhaps another £30 and some time changing it - taking bits off and adding bits! It's now unique (and made of silk). Also made a decent underskirt to give it more structure, whioch it was a bit lacking in. Saved enough money to buy my own champagne!

    • Reply
  • S
    Beginner August 2011
    Sara-Jane ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    + What the budget for your wedding dress is? - £1000

    + Who designed your wedding dress? - Mark Lesley

    + What colour your wedding dress is? - Ivory

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)? UK 18/20

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls? - I am having 6 adults and 2 flowergirls

    + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses? - £1000 in total but I came in well under budget as I got them all from BHS.

    + what colour your bridesmaids dresses are? - Sage Green

    I wish I had spend more time looking for my dress, I am getting Married in August and have only just ordered it, I thought no sample dresses would fit me so was to scared to go but it turns out most of the sample ones fitted me. The dress I ended up ordering, the sample I tried on was size 10! ha ha! I didn't really have any bad experiences but I did feel a bit presured in to picking one quickly! which I had to I suppose! My dress is sweetheart cut on top and is lace down to my hips then flares out a bit which is netting. I am also having a short sleeved lace bolero made to match the dress.

    • Reply
  • Annah304
    Beginner April 2011
    Annah304 ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    + What the budget for your wedding dress is? - Dress budget was £800, actual dress cost £705 plus £75 alterations

    + Who designed your wedding dress? - Sincerity Bridal

    + What colour your wedding dress is? - Ivory (quite pale ivory though)

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)? - S

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls? - 3 adult bridesmaids, 1 junior bridesmaid (i.e. in junior version of adult dress) and 2 flowergirls.

    + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses? - Originally £700 but ended up more like £900 including alterations for dresses, jewellery, hair, bags, wraps, shoes etc.

    + what colour your bridesmaids dresses are? - Hunter green

    And any other information you'd like to give me! - Yes! See essay below ?

    I bought all my dresses from the same shop and we also hired the suits from that shop. They were really good - until we handed over our money. Thereafter customer service dropped quite significantly in my view. I think it's really important to keep up the level of service to a bride right up until the wedding day (and beyond, if you offer a dress cleaning service!). In particular as a bride I wanted to be absolutely reassured that everything was fine, that my dresses were safe and sound and that they were being looked after with the best level of care while they were at the shop. I did not feel at all reassured by the people I was dealing with and often felt as though I was a bit of an inconvenience once they had my money.

    For example - I had gone for my first fitting on my own and felt quite miserable about the whole thing as I wasn't sure that the dress fit properly and wanted to get a second opinion. I felt quite rushed during the first fitting and didn't have the chance or the confidence to say anything. So I arranged a second fitting, on a day when my bridesmaids were also coming in to have their first fittings. I was very clear that I needed to try it on then as my BMs were coming from all over the country and it was difficult for them to travel to where I live.

    The shop owner assured me that this was fine and that she would have the dress in the shop ready for me to try on again. However when we got there, she went off to find my dress, then came back, completely ignoring me, and started talking loudly to the seamstress about my dress. I was a bit concerned so asked her if she had my dress. With no apology, no comment on where my dress might be, no reassurance at all, she just said "No!" as if it was my fault that she didn't have it, then turned around and started talking to the seamstress again.

    I was a bit upset by this point as I had no idea what was happening. Eventually the seamstress realised it was at her house still and very kindly took us all back to her house so that I could try it on. After that we had all the final fittings directly with the seamstress, who was absolutely fantastic - and just cut the shop out.

    But if the shop owner had just said to me "Look, I'm really sorry, but we don't seem to have your dress with us right now. I know you asked me to make sure it was here and I'm so sorry that it's not. I'm sure it's with the seamstress still, let me check with her and we will get it sorted, don't worry" - it would have made the world of difference.

    So my key recommendation/plea to anyone setting up in this business would be to remember that brides a) can be quite nervous and in need of reassurance that their dress/es are in safe hands and b) are probably spending more money on clothes in this shop than they have ever spent in one place before and therefore expect to be treated with respect and politeness. ?

    • Reply
  • M and M
    Rockstar August 2025 West Midlands
    M and M ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    + What the budget for your wedding dress is? £2000 but spend £900

    + Who designed your wedding dress? Art couture

    + What colour your wedding dress is? White

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)? 10

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls? 4 BMs

    + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses? £120

    + what colour your bridesmaids dresses are? Burgundy wine

    • Reply
  • charliebird7
    Beginner March 2012
    charliebird7 ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    + What the budget for your wedding dress is? £800 (cost £650)

    + Who designed your wedding dress? Forever Yours

    + What colour your wedding dress is? Ivory

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)? Large

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls? 3 bridesmaids & 2 flower girls

    + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses? £300 (Total cost £140!)

    + what colour your bridesmaids dresses are? Violet

    • Reply
  • Saisi
    Beginner June 2011
    Saisi ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    + What the budget for your wedding dress is?
    My budget was £1000, but I only ended up spending £600. I then "allotted" myself £200 for alterations, but didn't need any!

    + Who designed your wedding dress?
    Benjamin Roberts (style 958)

    + What colour your wedding dress is?
    I would say ivory, but it's possibly a little darker than that. Up close, it kind of looks like it's got a bit of gold in it. Sorry to be so imprecise!

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)?
    Well... again, am going to have to be imprecise! The dress was originally a 14, but the lady I bought it from had it taken in a LOT on the waist but not on the bust. It now fits me perfectly (I am a size 10-12) with only a little extra space in the bust, which I intend to fill by wearing bra pads.

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls?
    I'm having 4 bridesmaids aged 23, 20, 16 and 14. I myself am 22. No flowergirls sadly, don't know any little girls! I also have 3 usherettes.

    + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses?
    Didn't really have one, but was thinking I didn't want to go over £100 each. In the end I found what I wanted from Asos for £36 each. For £10 I bought enough ivory ribbon to give them all a waist sash. My usherettes are deciding themselves what to wear with no interference from me... I'm not paying, so said they could wear what they liked, even just a dress they already have. But they've all decided to go for dresses in the same style but different material, costing them about £90 each.

    + what colour your bridesmaids dresses are?
    Navy blue with ivory waist sashes, silver shoes, silver bag, silver necklaces and champagne-coloured cardis for if they are cold, as well as pearl wrist corsages with a lemon-yellow orchid with burgundy centre.

    • Reply
  • nanny plum
    Beginner September 2011
    nanny plum ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    + What the budget for your wedding dress is? I told myself no more than £750,the dress i have ended up with has cost £1000,alterations won't cost anymore than £200.

    + Who designed your wedding dress? Justin Alexander

    + What colour your wedding dress is? ivory and mocha

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)? Size 8

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls? 4 over 16 and 1 13 year old

    + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses? £80..ended up being £40 each for 4 dresses and for my 13 year old £140

    + what colour your bridesmaids dresses are?Four oldest in black and ivory,little one in white and black

    And any other information you'd like to give me! I'm also interested in the style you've chosen, fabric and any good or bad experiences you have had and why they were good or bad.

    I had a really good experience in my bridal shop..i had been quite nervous beforehand. I had an idea what i wanted and had looked up a shop that stocked the designer,unfortunately they did not stock this dress so i tried it on in a different length and colour and ordered it blind. The waiting is unbelivable..my dress was ordered in November and it is still not in!

    • Reply
  • sparkelly
    Beginner December 2011
    sparkelly ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    Hello, happy to help and tell you about my dress ?

    Budget was 1500 and was 1395

    Blue Enzoani - Dabra

    Ivory

    Sz 10

    I am having 3 bridesmaids and one flowergirl who will be 2

    Budget for them is about 150 each and 50 for FG

    They will be cadbury purple for the adults and ivory with a purple sash/detail for the FG (haven't got them yet so this may change!)

    I was adamant I wanted a lace dress that was still quite princess-y but I found it really hard to find as a lot of lace dresses were quite slim fitting. I also knew that I wanted a slight dip in the neck line so I researched dresses online LOTS and then emailed all local dress shops in the area who stocked the make and only found one who had the actual style. The experience was amazing, the girl was so helpful and was really reassuring when I told her that I had been looking for a while. When I ordered my dress, I got a printout of exactly what to expect and when for the whole experience e.g. timescales, storage options, seamstress advice and what I could expect from future fittings which I frequently refer back to as I have a terrible memory and was so emotional the day I ordered it that I can't really remember anything at all!!

    I had a bad experience in another shop where the assistant never recommended any dresses or offered any constructive advice and nipped off to talk to her friend at every opportunity once she had got me in to the dress!?

    Sorry - have rambled loads but I hope this helps you - good luck!

    • Reply
  • Elphaba
    Beginner December 2011
    Elphaba ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    + What the budget for your wedding dress is? Budget was about £1500 but ended up getting it for £300!

    + Who designed your wedding dress? Mori Lee by Madeleine Gardner

    + What colour your wedding dress is? Ivory

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)? Its a 14 but getting altered to fit me so maybe 10/12

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls? 5 Adult bridesmaids, 1 Flowergirl

    + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses? Getting them made for £36 each, flowergirls £37 from M&S

    + what colour your bridesmaids dresses are? Adult Purple with a white sash, fg: ivory

    And any other information you'd like to give me! I'm also interested in the style you've chosen, fabric and any good or bad experiences you have had and why they were good or bad.

    • Reply
  • ebony_rose
    Genius
    ebony_rose ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    + What the budget for your wedding dress is? Didn't have a budget, but ended up getting 2 really cheap dresses. First was under £30 and the second was £79

    + Who designed your wedding dress? Vivien of Holloway

    + What colour your wedding dress is? Black, with a pink petticoat

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)? L

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls? 1 flowergirl, and wasn't going to have a bridesmaid, but then changed my mind, so now having 1

    + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses? No budget.

    + what colour your bridesmaids dresses are? Pink

    And any other information you'd like to give me! I'm also interested in the style you've chosen, fabric and any good or bad experiences you have had and why they were good or bad.

    Chose a 1950's stlye dress as I wanted to feel like "me" rather than feeling uncomfortable in a traditional wedding dress. I never wear white or ivory, so didn't intend to on my wedding day. My first dress was also black, but a bit more bridal than my second dress.

    I can also wear it again after my wedding day, which also appealed to me, rather than be stuck with a wedding dress i'd never wear again, or have to sell on.

    • Reply
  • M
    Beginner September 2011
    monkey_nut ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    + What the budget for your wedding dress is?

    I thought about £500 but fell in love with a £900 dress. Thought about it for a few weeks then bought it, knowing it was the one I really wanted.

    + Who designed your wedding dress?

    Maggie Sottero - Karena Royale

    + What colour your wedding dress is?

    Ivory

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)?

    size 10 but it's in US sizes so more like 12-14

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls?

    2 adults & 2 flowergirls

    + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses?

    £150 for bm and £50 for fg

    + what colour your bridesmaids dresses are?

    inky purpley/navy-ish colour

    And any other information you'd like to give me! I'm also interested in the style you've chosen, fabric and any good or bad experiences you have had and why they were good or bad.

    My dress is slim A-line lace with a scalloped neckline and a satin sash.

    Experiences: I found the dress I wanted in a shop where the women were nice enough but wanted to charge me £950 for the dress + £30 for a box to put it in? I then went to another shop where the women were amazing and I did like one of their dresses but I kept thinking about the dress from the previous shop which they didn't have. I explained I was torn between the two dresses so they offered to order in my dress and give me a discount. I went back to the original shop to try it on to make sure I really wanted that one and the women in the first shop became really pushy, almost demanding a deposit there and then. They even tried to reduce their price to match the other shop but I went with the shop where the women were lovely as I knew I'd get a better service even though technically I've paid £15 more for the dress, I don't have to pay £30 for a box!!

    Overall I have to say that dress shopping wasn't as enjoyable as I thought it was going to be. I'm delighted I found the dress I want but at the beginning I wasn't sure what style I wanted so I ended up trying quite a few different ones and I think I became dress blind! Once I decided I wanted a lace style I left it for a fortnight and then went out for a second trip and only tried on lace dresses. That day was much more enjoyable and less daunting.

    Hope this helps!

    • Reply
  • VikingPrincess
    Beginner December 2011
    VikingPrincess ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    + What the budget for your wedding dress is? - £950 but found my dress eventually for £840

    + Who designed your wedding dress? Ronald Joyce Chelsea (from 2009 Collection)

    + What colour your wedding dress is? Ivory

    + What size your dress is (8 - xs, 10/12 - s, 14/16 - m, 18/20 - l)? 18

    + If you are having bridesmaids how many you are having? Flowergirls? No Flowergirls, but 3 adult bridesmaids

    + What is the budget for your bridesmaid / flowergirl dresses? None - they are buying their own

    + what colour your bridesmaids dresses are? Hunter Green and Ivory trim - Alexia Couture 872 -£175 each plus alterations

    http://www.alexiadesigns.com/Bridesmaids/Alexia-Couture/-Band,Pleated,Strapless-Style-872/

    The only bad experience I'd say I had, and one thing that annoyed me:

    The fact that they were trying to convince me in the shop that this dress or that dress looked better and i should have what i really like for my wedding day ignoring completely that I will have looked a prat in said dresses - they weren't suitable for my 5'1", 13st frame! Yes, you can have what you dream of but also you must be realistic and have sense - you don't want people sniggering behind your back at the wedding going "OMG, did she even look in the mirror??" I bought my beloved dress and I am happy - makes me look slimmer and feels divine!

    • Reply

You voted for . Add a comment 👇

×


Related articles

Premium members

  • Q
    Qa Test I got married in August - 2022 North Yorkshire

General groups

Hitched article topics

Contest icon

Win £3,000 for your wedding

Join Hitched Rewards, where you can win £3,000 simply by planning your wedding with us. Start collecting entries, it's easy and free!

Enter now