Did anyone here buy a high street dress?

I very nearly bought a dress from the Monsoon outlet store in Cheshire Oaks Shopping Park, and I think it was only something like £100! They do some really nice ones in there- casual floaty numbers and also the lacy more traditional ones that people go for.

BHS do some quite nice ones- different lengths and things like that.

Yes. Monsoon had one I loved in the season before me but by the time I was dress shopping they didn't sell it anymore and I couldn't find one anywhere. In the end my dress was from *cough* Primark.

Wow! Was it a traditional looking dress? Would you object to a flash InkedDoll?

Soon-To-Be-Riley, I didn't know Monsoon had outlets. Definitely worth investigation.

I'm also going to try a couple in BHS. They're quite simple but I'm not bad with a sewing machine and if one complimented my figure I'd happily jazz it up, or buy a belt/bolero.

I had my dress from House of Fraser, but fancied loads in Coast, Monsoon etc.

Here's mine - £140.

I had a look in Monsoon and BHS and although the dresses were nice I think Debenhams have a better choice of different styles and materials. Debenhams also have Phase Eight. Unfortunately for me I still couldn't afford any of them so turned to eBay and got mine for £16!

SIL to be's friend is a manager at John Lewis London so will get me a cheeky discount if I go for Phase Eight. The upside with Phase Eight is they are the kind of dresses I could dye a pastel blue or grey and wear again at a black tie do!

View quoted message

Not at all. And no, it wasn't! Here it is (I hate my face in this pic, but there we are):

I think ASOS has a new collection of wedding dresses and bridal accessories.

Lovely InkedDoll! We actually looked at Gretna Green at one point

My dress for next year is from Monsoon and I love it. Being a bit older (40) I couldn’t really picture myself in a traditional gown, and didn’t want to spend thousands. Its tea length which I love. As a surprise I have also got a different dress for the evening, which I got in the Needle and Thread sale, this one is more glamourous. I love them both, spent about £500 between them and can’t wait to wear them.

If you're aiming for an informal, fun wedding, don't feel limited to traditional bridal collections. A lot of brides find beautiful options in occasionwear ranges from stores such as Monsoon, Phase Eight, Coast, or even department stores, especially if you're open to softer silhouettes instead of full bridal gowns.

Another option is looking at modern matching sets or separates if you want something a little different. The Platinum Link has a pastel distressed set that could work well for certain low-key celebrations or pre-wedding events, and you can visit here , if you're exploring less traditional styles alongside dresses.

It might also be worth checking resale sites for designer dresses from previous seasons. You can sometimes find Jenny Packham or other higher-end brands at a fraction of the original price, which gives you a few more choices without stretching the budget.