We’ve been busy with making decisions about our wedding! We clarified what our wedding is going to look like and that alone took a big mental weight off for me.
I wrote about it in this post, but in a nutshell we decided to elope with only our immediate family and then split up celebrations afterwards into a dinner for our family (who are all local) and another occasion with our closest friends. I like this because it hopefully will make arrangements less stressful and we’ll get more quality time with the different groups of people.
We found an elopement venue we are excited about and they’re available for the date of what will be our 5th anniversary, and that’s really made it feel like things are coming together!
With the “vision” more in focus I decided to take advantage of the Black Friday sales to try on some dresses. I really hate Black Friday, and how it’s a thing in the UK now (it didn’t used to be a thing! I remember learning about it from watching an episode of Chuck!) but for once I thought I’d try to take advantage of it.
I ordered eight in the end.. two big fancy ones from Monsoon that were very expensive, but I wanted to try out of curiosity, and then all the rest were Coast dresses from Debenhams with one from Hope & Ivy.
Since this is my personal blog and definitely not a wedding blog, I am sharing this a list purely for my personal posterity! I’ll tell you what they are but no links! This is just how these dresses felt on my own body, which is increasingly pear shaped and not the easiest to shop for!
1. Is the Rose Organza Bridal Dress from Monsoon, which is £750 at full price but had 30% off when I ordered it. There was something about the neckline I liked on the model. I ordered it in size 8 (a size smaller) because it looks in the picture like the top is probably generous and I have almost a flat chest. The size 8 was still huge on me, it was about an inch too big on my waist (which isn’t size 8 these days!) so I don’t know what’s going on with the sizing. It went back into the bag (no small feat, the Monsoon ones are both poofy and came on a hanger in a plastic bag, inside a bridal bag, inside another plastic bag).
2. Is the Embroidered Mesh Bow Detail Wedding Dress by Coast. It was about £115 in the sale, not sure what it normally sells for because Debenhams always seems to be having a sale. I liked this dress, it flattered my small chest and I liked the drama of the trailing ribbons at the back but it was more of a dress for a winter wedding and wasn’t my vibe.
3. Is the Sheer Sequin Cape Back Bridal Dress also by Coast. It’s basically a sheath dress so I knew this wouldn’t suit me but I wanted to try a fully sequinned dress with a cape! In the sale it was only £75. I did like the back with the cape, but it definitely didn’t feel like me and it wasn’t flattering!
4. Is the Ditsy Floral Angel Sleeve Embroidered Mesh Wedding Dress, another one by Coast. This was a quick no! The neckline is very matronly and the cut reminded me of medical scrubs!
5. Is the Lulu by Hope & Ivy. £98 in their sale. I did really like this dress, loved the cut and detail of the neckline and the bow on the back, but it wasn’t my style and it was tight across the thighs which was hard to walk in and I knew I’d feel very uncomfortable after eating a meal in it! It also was a bit baggy for my small boobs and would have needed altering.
6. Lucy Embroidered Floral Bridal Dress by Monsoon, which was the same price as the Rose (£562 with the 30% off). I got it in size 10 and it fit well except for being too big for my chest, as expected (always!). This is a gorgeous dress but it’s a lot of dress! I felt pretty in it but it also annoyed me, the massive skirt is hard to move about with and would be ridiculous to sit and eat a meal (I don’t know how people do that!). It’s also a lot of money for something I’d wear for half a day! But in another universe where I did want a big traditional wedding this would be the dress. The embroidery detail on it is gorgeous.
7. Is the Halterneck Pearl Embellishment Georgette Wedding Dress is another by Coast, and about £120 in the sale. I had a good feeling about this when I ordered it because I like the neckline of the top, one of my favourite tops has this cut, and I did initially love it when I tried it on because I was dazzled by the beading. I love the pearl beads in this medieval style (?) pattern. However I was glad I did try a selection on for my fiancé because he made me look at it again, and I took some photos of myself, and he was right the skirt wasn’t it! That beading though… I’m keeping a photo for potential future inspiration!
8. The winner is the Boho Long Sleeve Embroidered Maxi Wedding Dress by Coast! £115 in the sale, and ticked all the boxes. I felt amazing in it, it’s very comfortable (and should stay comfortable if my weight changes between now and June!), love the embroidered flowers and I think I could get away with re-wearing it! The neckline is but low felt secure, I didn’t feel like I was going to flash anyone. When I looked at the photos I took it was the clear winner, and I didn’t want to take it off!
Now I just need to find some shoes, maybe a necklace and figure out hair. I think I could make myself a headpiece to go with this dress, so that’s now a project to investigate in the back of my mind.
Honestly having venue and dress sorted (and a place for our honeymoon booked) feels like a big weight off! My main remaining worry is finding an elopement photographer, that’ll be the next item to check off the list.
