Need help sourcing wedding dress!

clumsyklutz · 05-03-2014 12:36PM #1

Hi all,

Asking a lot here, but after weeks of trawling through website after website, I finally came accross this beautiful dress that just screams me! (http://davidtuteraformoncheri.com/wedding-dresses/114294/) The only problem is that from looking online I can only find a handful of stockists in Ireland, and only find the price online in dollars ($1,123!!!).

Obviously this is way out of my price range, but would love to know if anybody on the off chance knew someone who had one for sale or any reliable websites or bridal stores that stock this type of dress?

Typer Monkey · 05-03-2014 02:10PM

That link is showing an error. Can you try posting again?

$1000 is about €700 which is on the lower scale of prices for wedding dresses. Have you had a look at barnardos? They do second hand and donated stock. There are 2nd hand dress websites aswell

clumsyklutz · 05-03-2014 03:30PM

(http://davidtuteraformoncheri.com/wedding-dresses/114294/?fc)

Sorry, hopefully the above link works, if not google David Tutera Elsie dress and it should come up!

Unfortunately my budget doesn't even stretch as far as 700

. I wish it did! As this really is the type of dress I've been looking for. Time to start talking very very sweetly to both sets of parents :P

I might ring Barnardos and ask them if they have any of his dresses in stock. Thanks for the idea.

Dolbert · 05-03-2014 03:55PM

Kitty and Dulcie are very reasonable. This one isn't too far off. Hope you find something!

clumsyklutz · 05-03-2014 03:57PM

Dolbert wrote: »

Kitty and Dulcie are very reasonable. This one isn't too far off. Hope you find something!

Thanks a lot for that! That's much more my price range, and the dress is really nice

foggy · 05-03-2014 04:06PM

I would suggest having a look in Dirty Fabulous in Dublin. They have some lovely dresses, quite similar to that one as well.

http://www.dirtyfabulous.com/

I got my dress in there and it's very reasonable.

I would also recommend Oxfam on Georges Street. They have a great selection of dresses and it's constantly changing. I tried lots of dresses on and they were mostly in great conditions ( a few were a bit grubby but probably from being tried on rather than much real damage).

http://www.oxfamireland.org/bridal

biddywiddy · 05-03-2014 07:54PM

Nothing to add except OMG that dress is gorgeous OP!

Gatica · 06-03-2014 09:48AM

That dress is very much in the style of what I went for. I wonder if you found a full length dress that you liked and were able to just trim the length?

Dolbert · 06-03-2014 11:26AM

David's Bridal have some lovely high-low ones too

http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_High-Low-Off-the-Shoulder-Satin-Ball-Gown-CKP558_Bridal-Gowns-Shop-By-Silhouette-Short

http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Tulle-Over-Chiffon-High-Low-Dress-with-Bow-Accent-WG3619_Bridal-Gowns-Shop-By-Silhouette-Short

stargazer 68 · 06-03-2014 11:48AM

OP there is a group on facebook wedding things for sale, swap or free. Some great ideas and stuff for sale including wedding dresses. Could be worth a look

clumsyklutz · 07-03-2014 10:43AM

Foggy thanks for the advice, will check them out!

BiddyWiddy as soon as I saw it, I squealed a little, much to the annoyance of other Dublin Bus passengers!

Gatica, that's actually not a bad idea! I'll definitely keep that in mind.

Dolbert, that first dress is beautiful!

Thanks for the tip Dovies!

Gatica · 07-03-2014 10:50AM

I previously posted link to http://www.kittyanddulcie.com/cheap-wedding-dresses.html on another thread and was going to recommend you check them out, but noticed Dolbert already recommended them!

They really do have fab selection, these are my favourite in the same style:
http://www.kittyanddulcie.com/i-got-you-babe-cheap-wedding-dress.php
http://www.kittyanddulcie.com/madame-minnie-cheap-wedding-dress.php
http://www.kittyanddulcie.com/baroness-pearl-cheap-wedding-dress.php
http://www.kittyanddulcie.com/cockney-rebel-cheap-wedding-dress.php

clumsyklutz · 07-03-2014 01:33PM

Gatica, the third dress is just fab! You have very similar tastes to me so!

rainbow kirby · 08-03-2014 01:20AM

Gatica wrote: »

I previously posted link to http://www.kittyanddulcie.com/cheap-wedding-dresses.html on another thread and was going to recommend you check them out, but noticed Dolbert already recommended them!

They really do have fab selection, these are my favourite in the same style:
http://www.kittyanddulcie.com/i-got-you-babe-cheap-wedding-dress.php
http://www.kittyanddulcie.com/madame-minnie-cheap-wedding-dress.php
http://www.kittyanddulcie.com/baroness-pearl-cheap-wedding-dress.php
http://www.kittyanddulcie.com/cockney-rebel-cheap-wedding-dress.php

Absolutely love the first 2 - I'm around 99% set on a short dress, so they're kinda on my list...

Gatica · 08-03-2014 01:53PM

I had a tea length dress and I am delighted I went for it. Would I have loved the feel of the Disney princess huge ball-gown? Yes. However, it would have been impractical and a little childish for me as that would've been the main reason I'd have loved it. I felt very grown-up, stylish and classy in the 50's style dress. It was so easy to dance in, it never got in the way and the full skirt showed off all the layers when swinging and have fab photos of that now.
Two of my friends that got married in mermaid style dresses with small trains, said if they would change one thing about their dress, they'd have chopped off their trains and shortened it so they could easily dance in it without shoes.

rainbow kirby · 08-03-2014 01:58PM

I just never liked long dresses on me - I hate how having material trailing on the ground feels and I'm a bit of a klutz so liable to trip on it. A tea or knee-length dress also gives me the option of wearing some really interesting shoes with my dress

Gatica · 08-03-2014 02:08PM

Absolutely! I got colourful suede shoes and a floral shoe clip on Etsy. They looked fab and worth every penny. Highly recommend:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChloeANDMaddie?ref=l2-shopheader-name

dowhatyoulove · 08-03-2014 02:16PM

They are fabulous..

Dolbert · 09-03-2014 03:17AM

I can't believe I forgot to mention where I got my own dress, Honeypie Boutique

They do tea and full length versions of each dress and are made to measure. I'd highly recommend them.

Gatica · 09-03-2014 05:14PM

OMG, I wish I'd seen these sites before I had bought my dress! It cost way more but I couldn't find the Audrey Hepburn style that I wanted anywhere. It's one she wore in Funny Face, weird film but the dress in it was amazing. They have two very similar:
http://www.honeypieboutique.co.uk/ourshop/prod_651118-Sophia.html
http://www.honeypieboutique.co.uk/ourshop/prod_651001-Audrey.html

clumsyklutz · 10-03-2014 10:57AM

Wow Gatica thank you so much for all of your help, I'm loving each dress link you put up! I really know what you mean, the princess dresses look so good in theory, but for me the elegance of a 1950's style dress will never look out of place in photographs. That and as you said, you need something you can move in, not something you struggle to even sit down in!

clumsyklutz · 10-03-2014 10:58AM

Thanks Dolbert, they have some really amazing dresses on there!

rainbow kirby · 10-03-2014 11:02AM

Dolbert wrote: »

I can't believe I forgot to mention where I got my own dress, Honeypie Boutique They do tea and full length versions of each dress and are made to measure. I'd highly recommend them.

I'm seriously considering getting something from them when it gets to time to order. Made to order really suits me because I've got slightly weird proportions. Possibly a royal blue petticoat and sash with it too and a blue dress for my bridesmaids.

Dolbert · 10-03-2014 11:57AM

rainbow kirby wrote: »

I'm seriously considering getting something from them when it gets to time to order. Made to order really suits me because I've got slightly weird proportions. Possibly a royal blue petticoat and sash with it too and a blue dress for my bridesmaids.

It'd be fab on you! I paid £30 extra for a chiffon overlay, you can also get lace or polka dots

The delivery guideline is 10-12 weeks and I got mine 12 weeks later on the button, no alterations needed. All made in the US/UK as far as I know. It's a stark contrast to a dress I had ordered from China and, while the quality was okay, the measurements were all over the place. It ended up in the charity shop.

garglegar · 10-03-2014 02:53PM

I went for a high low dress too. The first reem acra one on the link below.

I couldn't find any to even try on in Ireland and some of the women in bridal shops laughed at me when I asked about cutting up dresses. So I went to Reem Acra trunk show in London just to make sure the style suited me. The dress was £10,000!!!! So I got a copy of it made from a chinese website www.bridaldreamdress.com for €350. I was so scared it wouldn't work out but the dress is fab. They did a great job. I'ts just in the tailors now getting taken in. So if you can't find the dress you want you do have the option to get them to make a copy and the great thing is you can tailor it to exactly the way you want it.

clumsyklutz · 10-03-2014 03:20PM

garglegar wrote: »

I went for a high low dress too. The first reem acra one on the link below.

I couldn't find any to even try on in Ireland and some of the women in bridal shops laughed at me when I asked about cutting up dresses. So I went to Reem Acra trunk show in London just to make sure the style suited me. The dress was £10,000!!!! So I got a copy of it made from a chinese website www.bridaldreamdress.com for €350. I was so scared it wouldn't work out but the dress is fab. They did a great job. I'ts just in the tailors now getting taken in. So if you can't find the dress you want you do have the option to get them to make a copy and the great thing is you can tailor it to exactly the way you want it.

Wow that dress is fab! Thanks for the tip, I never thought of that as I'd heard a few horror stories! Just got the price on the dress that I wanted and it's €1,300.00

way out of my price range. I'll definitely have a look into this. Thanks. Just a quick question though, did you get caught with customs charges etc?

garglegar · 10-03-2014 03:47PM

I did a lot of research and Fiona, the contact from the website was really helpful and always gets back to you within 24 hours, the dress is not the quality of the original but that is not surprising considering the price tag! However it is good quality and looks just like the original. You need to be very specific when ordering so you get exactly what you want, I must have sent ten e-mails!! I also got them to send me swatches of all the fabric they were using ( you get this refunded if you purchase a dress), that way I chose the colour for the bodice and the lace overlay and the soft tulle that i wanted. Even with all that I was still frantic when it arrived in a tiny package, (it was vacuum packed) but I'm delighted with it can't wait to try it on when its altered!!

As for the customs, bridal dream dress mark it as valued €40 so you shouldn't get charged, but typical for me, mine got inspected and I had to show proof of purchase and show how I paid for it to customs so I ended up paying an extra €60, but even with that it was still a bargain!

clumsyklutz · 10-03-2014 04:37PM

Oh that doesn't sound too bad at all! I might just e-mail her and see what kind of price she can do for the dress and materials

.

That'd be my luck too, but €60.00 doesn't sound at all bad, compared to 10,000! I'm so jealous though your dress is just fab and a breath of fresh air from the norm

!

garglegar · 10-03-2014 04:51PM

Thanks!! ALso check out light in the box, i got my bridesmaids dresses there for €25 each!! I couldn't believe the quality was excellent!! and they are just the 1950s tea length style that I wanted. They do wedding dresses too so you might find something there.

clumsyklutz · 11-03-2014 11:15AM

garglegar wrote: »

Thanks!! ALso check out light in the box, i got my bridesmaids dresses there for €25 each!! I couldn't believe the quality was excellent!! and they are just the 1950s tea length style that I wanted. They do wedding dresses too so you might find something there.

Wow that's unbelievable! I will definitely have a look there as both my bridesmaids are quite petite so I would be going for tea length so as not to swamp them! Great, I was dreading what they would cost too, so that's a lot off my mind!

rainbow kirby · 11-03-2014 11:18AM

I'd be thinking of tea length for my bridesmaids too - only issue being that I have two vastly different body types represented in my potential bridesmaids! My little sister is 5'3" and a size 18, the others are all 5'7"-5'9" and a size 8-10. I think something that nips in and creates shape could look good on all of them.

Need help sourcing wedding dress!

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