searching for my vintage dress!

Hello,

I dont know how helpful im going to be at 4.30am but here are some links....

http://vintagedresses.co.uk/wedding.html

http://www.thevintageweddingdresscompany.com/ These are beautiful. Unsure of prices but you could maybe chose a style & have one made like it.

http://www.evangeline-rose.co.uk/beverly.htm

Try Bay of E - these are some lovely vintage lace styles.. Item number **** & ****

Not sure if that helps xx

Have you though about having one made for you in the style you want?

I second the http://www.thevintageweddingdresscompany.com/ . My friend used them and their service was fabulous and the dresses are just amazing and truly unique.

Thankyou so much, there are some absolutely gorgeous dresses on those sites!! My only issue is, i live in East Anglia (Norfolk/Suffolk) and can't easily get to their shops to try them on before I buy. And I feel you just can't tell by looking at a photo of a perfectly proportional slim model in them...

I would love to get one made, but I cant find any of the styles sold around here so can't try any on to see which style suits me. Eek!

Do you think i'm being too cautious? Maybe I should just go for it...

Thanks x

Hi Carribee,

Is it possible to take a day trip to London from where you live? If so, I'd suggest that if you can't find anywhere in East Anglia that suits, maybe you set aside a whole day and just blitz a couple of the London shops suggested. You can probably pack 3 into one day (that's what I did). It might be a bit overwhelming, but take a friend/relative with you and make sure that you make detailed notes (if you can't take pictures). It will help hone what styles you like and suit you and if you go to a dressmaker, you will have a clearer brief to give her based on trying the different styles.

Alternatively, if you can't get down to the big smoke, go to a couple of local bridal shops - often some of the modern styles have vintage twists, and you'll be able to see which bits you like and which bits you don't!

You definitely should try a couple of styles before ordering/seeing the dressmaker, as often styles that you think look perfect in the pics may not actually suit you, or ones you might not even consider trying might actually be fabulous on you. The dress I've ended up with, my Chief Dress Advisor forced me to try on because I wasn't really keen when I saw it on the hanger....

I hope this helps!

This may sound crazy, but as I was off work ill before my wedding and the only place I could track down my dress was in Cardiff, whilst I live in in the midlands, so the lady at the shop had it couriered to me, and I bought it outright. It was luck more than anything but it was perfect. I took a huge risk but I feel in love with my dress on the website & everything else I saw just didn't match up to it, so I took the risk. Perhaps you could contact the shop directly, its always worth asking, perhaps they may be willing to courier one to you to try if for example you put down a refundable deposit as a surety. I have no idea if they would do that, but the shop I got mine from in Cardiff did, and mine was an expensive dress. The lady took my measurements over the phone and my friend helped me measure & then lady had it sent via courier. It was because I had been ill for a long while, so I may be wrong here, but always worth asking.

You could also look at the site and decide which look you are going for and the source a dressmaker in your area to make one similar? That may be an easier option for you. Collect some pictures and think about the style you want & maybe get some recommendations for a good dressmaker who can make one for you. That may be a more viable option. x

I forgot to mention this place: http://www.circabrides.com/ They make vintage-inspired dresses which are all pretty lovely.

Thankyou all!! Brilliant advice, much appreciated!

I think i'll try to take a trip into London over Easter and see what I can find (although i've no idea where to look!). I think it would be nice to have the experience of trying on a load of dresses too, after all i'm only going to get married once, and I may as well embrace all the experiences I can! Perhaps I might find my perfect dress turns out to be something completely different from what I imagine now, because of trying on a wide range and seeing what suits me!

The recommendation of any affordable and/or vintage-y bridal shops in London would be greatly appreciated! (Or of course if anyone thinks of any nearer to where I call home!)

Thanks again! x

You could try these:

https://lovemydress.typepad.com/blog/original-vintage-bridal-wear/

http://www.lovemissdaisy.com/vintage-wedding-dresses/cat_7.html

Have you tried https://www.unique-vintage.com/

They have some gorgeous Bridal stuff!!! They're american based though!!

Lxx

Hi Carribee,

Once you've found a few shops that you like, remember to book appointments quite far in advance - Saturday appointments at shops, especially those in London, get booked up several weeks ahead of the date you want to go shopping and Easter will be a prime shopping time for brides!

Hope this helps.

You might want to have a look at this site too -

https://gothicweddingdresses.webs.com/newslinks.htm

There are some lovely vintage styles. Not only that, but (although they are solely internet based) they're based in Norfolk, I think.