wedding dress

ciki

Hi just wondering I am at the moment in search of my wedding dress for next summer, have gone to some bridal shops and quiet frankly think the prices are crazy can anyone suggest any alternative to spending 1000 euro plus plus plus on a dress that is worn once.

ElleEm

Have you looked at second hand dresses, sample dresses, dresses off the internet or non- bridal dresses?

kaki

Or contact a local dressmaker/designer, they will work with your budget within reason.

Also Monsoon's bridal section has some lovely pieces in and around 200€.

Bobsammy

Or you could try online - the only thing is you're taking a risk not being able to see it! Keep an eye out for sample sales - I got mine in a sale reduced from €2600 to €199!! Couldn't believe my luck because there is absolutely no way I would have spent anything close to that!
Fits almost perfectly, just needs to be taken in a little before the big day!

Dolbert

I know a few women who got wonderful dresses in the Oxfam and Barnardos Bridal rooms. Most of the dresses are new and would be between €50 - 400. Definitely worth a look!

lily09

Mine was a Trudy lee dress cost 350 as a sample and 600 new. Delighted with it. Don't think the brand are that expensive. Have given it to barnardos now so someone else might get to look as amazing as I did:-) :-) (joke) seriously though bit of styling etc and every bridelooks beautiful no matter how much dress cost.

TAPA2012

Also SVP have a bridal shop. http://svp.ie/Contact-Us/Dublin/News/Latest-News/Vincent-s-Bridal---Special-Occasions-Service-to-op.aspx

southsiderosie

I bought a Tadashi Shoji dress from a department store for $315. It is not technically a 'wedding dress', but it was long and ivory (and comfortable!).

tatli_lokma

There will be sales in the New Year around Feb/March and you can pick up bargains. I got mine for €600, which was reduced A LOT!!! I hadn't even planned on spending that much, but you know yourself, when you try on 'the one' it's hard to remember your budget!

The Bridal Outlet in Baldoyle regularly have special offers and they will also have a sale in Feb or so. My friend got her dress for less than €400 (not sure if it was €350 or €375?? ) and that wasn't even in their official 'sale'.

Sample dresses and previous season are also good for a bargain.

SoonToBeMrsD

Does anyone have a recommendation for a good dressmaker in Dublin that can make a dress from pictures. I'm hoping it is a cheaper way of getting the perfect dress.

coolmoose

My fiancee got a dress made online from pictures she sent to the dressmaker, and turned out to be very very reasonable, and a fantastically made dress (according to her, I haven't seen it... ) PM me if you want more info.

Gordonia

Have you tried Done Deal? LOADS of gorgeous (once worn) wedding dresses...starting at 50 quid by the looks of it!!

http://www.donedeal.ie/find/bride/for-sale/Ireland/wedding%20dresses

abrr1000

I'm in the same boat as you at the moment - have been shopping around for dresses in bridal boutiques and the dresses I tried on have been between 1.3 - 3.7k.
I have a budget of 1k for my outfit (not because I don't have more to spend - I could spend 5k if I really wanted to, but it is madness for a dress for 1 day!)

There was a piece on Expose about this shop recently www.smartbrides.ie - they sell samples which are in immaculate condition.
I wouldn't buy any of the samples that I've tried on though - they have been in tatters and really dirty.
Barnardos are meant to be great if you don't mind wearing a second hand dress
So if you want a new rather than tried on dress these are the options I found:
Coast - not every dress is available, also Debenhams have a selection of bridal coast dresses exclusive to them and you can see them in Debenhams department stores - not online.
TK-Maxx - only available online for delivery in UK but you could use a post forwarding service if you really wanted to
Monsoon - but I find their selection of dresses very limited
lightinthebox.com - chinese dress site but gets great reviews - this is probably the route I'm taking
missesdressy.com - american site and they don't ship all brands of dresses but there are some bargains there too

Best advice I got was to decide a budget and stick to it, and when you find the dress stop looking at other dresses.
Good luck

Dolbert

^Barnardos dresses are actually all brand new and donated by shops

pwurple

I got my dress second hand on ebay. I had found a dress I loved, but the price was crazy. Someone was selling it on ebay... For 350 euro. I bid and got it. 2 months after my wedding I put it back up on ebay, and it sold for 385.

I should say though, i also bought a tadashi dress, a short fun one, for dancing later. I still have that, and have worn it with a coloured belt a few times since.

Lorilee

Has anyone used Helene Bridal? Are the dresses as good as they look online? They seem to be right on my budget

Realtine

Lorilee wrote: »

Has anyone used Helene Bridal? Are the dresses as good as they look online? They seem to be right on my budget

I'm all for going down the route of online buying but a quick Google search on Helene Bridal would put me off buying from this particular site - they have amassed many bad reviews all over the place. But I haven't used them myself, sorry, probably not much help.:rolleyes:

Lorilee

Thanks Realtine

Before I dismiss them though, does anyone else have any experience of Helene Bridal?