shops for non traditional wedding dress

wexpat girl

Hi,
Getting married in 5 months :eek: and haveb't started to look at dresses. Have a new ish baby so been waiting til NY but now want to do research into where to begin to look. Will be verytime poor with a small babba and toddler and limited childminding - mainly my sister, who I'd kinda like to come sometimes for advice. So was hoping to set aside a day or 2 in January to get going.

Want off the rails if possible. Would like a three quarter length if possible, definitely not a traditional gown but something simple yet classy. I'm 40+ so not too much fuss.

Colour not set in my mind but if not a white-ish, then perhaps a very pale/ pastelle like a blush colour.

If anyone has seen anything that might be of interest to me, please share. I've no idea where to begin but know where I definitely WON't be going as such. Thanks.

fits

Look at the ghost dye to order dresses. I found them nice. There was a shop in Kildare village but I’m not sure if it’s still there.

aidom

I got my dress from Vintage bride in Clontarf. They stock Joanne Fleming dresses. There are some gorgeous three quarter lengths. I got a duck egg blue and I was able to pick my own colour.

Google Joanne Fleming and Annie Dress to see some of the dresses' she's designed.

Some other places I found similar were dirty fabulous on Wicklow Street in Dublin and Folkster in Kilkenny. Both had unusual options.

jellybear

Monsoon also do beautiful dresses.

alpha2

+1 for Dirty Fabulous. Loads and loads of beautiful colours and styles.

Hey! I said hey!

I got mine online from Lindy Bop. I think it was the Ophelia. Less than €40 in a really pale gold/dark ivory colour

wexpat girl

Do any of these sell from the rails? Reckon time running past!

Psychologeeee

I got a fab dress from The Pretty Dress Company (Ivory “Hepburn” one). Delivery was within about 3 weeks for them to make one up for me. Fabric was also much better quality (and less see through!) than what I had seen in shops. It’s a lovely, heavy, crepe.

mcgiggles

wexpat girl wrote:

Do any of these sell from the rails? Reckon time running past!

Lindybop has pretty fast delivery! I've gotten dresses from them before! My BM dresses are from there!

rainbow kirby

I wore a Vivien of Holloway dress for mine - tea-length 50s style dress with a full skirt and a petticoat underneath. My bridesmaids wore the same style of dress but in navy, with red shoes and gold accessories.

wexpat girl

Folkster have a no kids policy!! I've a 3 month old baby who Will have to take her as no childcare midvweek and lots of Saturday s gone already. Are all shops like that? I'm veering towards forgetting bridal shops altogether and looking for a normal dress that might pass...

annoyedgal

Memories bridal boutique parliament street. All off the rails, dresses that have been worn, cleaned and being sold on for 50 per cent less. Amazing selection and lots of different lengths, styles and designers. Also v helpful staff, found my dress here as did my friend. Really recommend them. Have a fb page. Good luck with search!

sanna

annoyedgal wrote:

Memories bridal boutique parliament street. All off the rails, dresses that have been worn, cleaned and being sold on for 50 per cent less. Amazing selection and lots of different lengths, styles and designers. Also v helpful staff, found my dress here as did my friend. Really recommend them. Have a fb page. Good luck with search!

Memories have now moved to Lucan, but details are on their facebook page. Found my dress here too, very helpful

Augustduck

Hi, online at Phase eight or needle and thread or Asos have great options

ChewChew

I got my dress, a 50's style tea length online on ASOS and it was fab!

wexpat girl

Thanks all.

wexpat girl

Seriously. I have n't a clue and it's many yrs since my friends/ sister got married. I#m 40+.

So how much can I expect to pay for a wedding dress?? I've booked 2 apts but have no idea whether the dresses are going to be affordable or not! I can't bring myself to ask the shop lady. I'm also interested in the 2nd hand ones in Memories as was suggested by another reader.

I don't want to be browsing the most expensive dress shops in the country! I hoped there might be a sniff of prices online but no.

Or do I go in and they ask what's my budget?? I don't really know!! My mam wants to help with the cost of it but I don't want her to spend a fortune either!

borderlinemeath

wexpat girl wrote: »

Seriously. I have n't a clue and it's many yrs since my friends/ sister got married. I#m 40+.

So how much can I expect to pay for a wedding dress?? I've booked 2 apts but have no idea whether the dresses are going to be affordable or not! I can't bring myself to ask the shop lady. I'm also interested in the 2nd hand ones in Memories as was suggested by another reader.

I don't want to be browsing the most expensive dress shops in the country! I hoped there might be a sniff of prices online but no.

Or do I go in and they ask what's my budget?? I don't really know!! My mam wants to help with the cost of it but I don't want her to spend a fortune either!

Some of the nicest brides I've seen are off the peg or mix and match separates. Can you take an afternoon off and head into Dublin City Centre or up to Dundrum and check out some formal dresses or separates in the likes of House of Fraser or Debenhams?

Something like this?

https://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/women/phase-eight-chelsie-bridal-dress/d764114.pd#249435993

or this?
https://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/women/adrianna-papell-short-sleeve-sequin-evening-dress/d835604.pd#278425373

or this:
https://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/women/issa-luna-ruched-maxi-dress/d792783.pd#267962215

or this:
https://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/women/phase-eight-ellie-mae-dress/d817030.pd#257720912

Or Debenams wedding dresses
http://www.debenhams.ie/women/dresses/wedding

At least if you get a few hours to try on styles you'll have an idea what suits. I love the idea of a 3/4 length tea dress but I've tried on enough to know the style doesn't really suit me, sleeves on dress on me just look wrong for some reason!

missmatty

Another vote for Memories here, I got mine there three months before the wedding. But definitely check out the likes of Monsoon, Debenhams and online also. Dirty Fabulous is lovely too.

They normally would ask what the range of your budget is, yes.