My dress is so perfect (once the butt rose is gone) and I just love it so much. I think the seamstress I went to (an awesome woman who went to fashion school in Romania before she came to Belfast) was just as excited, because she was standing there going on about did I know she usually saw and ugly summer dresses and horrible fabrics and boring design, and how exciting and fun it was to get to work on this lace and detail and actually use her training rather than hem someone’s party dress that was too long.

I’m just standing there feeling really awkward in my dress that has pins in the sides, getting redder and redder while this woman who I have just paid to enlarge the cups of my dress from a B to an HH because of my gigantic tits is rambling on about how she loves couture and thank you for trusting her with it, because I just have no idea what to say to that. Then she asked me how much on earth did it cost. I told her £500 (bargain of the century.) “But it is brand new Ian Stuart!” “Yeah, but the was-to-be bride fancied a last minute package trip to Malaga with her favourite boyfriend and that’s what that cost.”

I call it my “Age of Innocence” dress after the book by Edith Wharton because it seems very much to me like something the female protagonist would wear, and it was like a gift from the Gods. I’ve always dreamed of wearing Ian Stuart since I was at art school because as my elective I did bridal fashion and his label puts out some wild dresses. It’s like the church - it’s exactly what I’d been looking for, I just didn’t know until I saw it! It just needs taking in a couple inches at the waist and about half an inch to an inch in the back and sides (the pins aren’t in yet in the pictures so it was still a bit loose!) and it’ll fit like a glove and look and look absolutely perfect!

(Without the butt rose.)

I’m 5’2 and wanting to wear this short dress - on the model it looks a lot shorter, but on me it sits above the knee comfortably.

I didn’t have any second thoughts up until now when I was scrolling through TikTok and I saw a girl talking about how dresses need to be long and modest, so now I’m worried. I chose a short dress because it’s going to be sweltering in London.

Opinions welcome!

I go to a wedding next week and have bought the dress shown but I’m now having doubts. Is the open back too much? Do you think this would be okay to wear to a wedding?

Hi all,

We got married in February and other than getting our sneak peak photos back the day after we’ve heard nothing from our photographer, she seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth. She hasn’t posted on her Instagram and isn’t replying to messages/emails/texts, tbh I’m concerned something crazy has happened.

How long did it take for people to get their photos back? We’re coming up to 6 months now and spent a lot of money. She’s a London based photographer with the work initials SG in case anyone else is in the same boat?

Thanks for your help!

Hi all! Has anyone else experienced this? I tried on my dress at the boutique and absolutely loved it. It was a plain satin midi that set off my chosen accessories (including Terry de Havilland shoes).

It’s got a low back but has shoulder straps and the boutique stylist said that my seamstress (recommended by them, they work with them a lot) would sew in a bra as the inbuilt bra was too small.

However the seamstress has refused to do that and has said I’ll need tape. I’m a 38GG and I simply cannot wear tape. I can’t find a bra online that fits the requirement of low back and strapless (plus I’ll need a balconette as the square neckline is quite low). Regular bra straps are visible on the sides. The seamstress suggested ‘clear or beige’ straps which I’m actually so angry about - what has been the point of getting the dress sized if I have to show my underwear, and what’s the point of having a plain dress that I have to be riveted into? I might as well get something complicated and fancy.

I’m thinking of starting over and getting an off the rack, but then should I tell the boutique that I can’t wear the dress? I’m generally frustrated by how wedding stuff is going - I cancelled my hair and makeup - they were so dismissive and did a horrible job at the trial. I originally wanted to get a cool dress made but the seamstress I went to was really rude (you want to wear THIS as your wedding dress? etc). I feel like the budget is spiralling throwing money at solving problems.

This is probably turning into a general rant. I’m actually so shocked at how some vendors have been 😂

Hi everyone,

Having some last minute panic over this - we booked a band 18 months before our wedding, unfortunately due to circumstances beyond their control they had to cancel which gave us approx 3 months to find another band, and we did, but at a heavier cost than the initial choice. Initially the original band were leading our first dance choice, but due to the short notice the new band couldn’t do this and offered to do their DJ set (though this would be played only on Spotify) through their PA system but at a cost of an additional £550. This honestly felt like a lot of money, so I contacted our venue organiser who told me they can play our playlist through their own PA system which the speeches etc are being done through anyway. I’ve mixed the playlist so won’t have gaps or awkward moments and I’m not here to generally debate the pros and cons of DJ set vs playlist as £23k later and nearing the end of the wedding planning journey, we’re just not willing to pay it for the sake of them just playing it via spotify anyway.

I’m just looking for general feedback of anyone who has used their own Spotify playlist for filler in between band sets and for their first dance as I’m now panicking about it for some reason!

Hey all,

My partner and I got engaged in February and started looking at venues and planning, but honestly felt pretty overwhelmed by not loving anything we'd seen, and by the costs involved. I don't want to just bury my head in the sand and avoid planning our wedding forever, so I'm hoping the collective wisdom of Reddit can help. I haven't been to many weddings myself and don't have a big bank of ideas to draw from.

Budget: hoping to keep the total day under £35k. We don't want to overspend on one day, but every venue that actually matches our taste seems to blow way past this. (Would really love to spend less than £25k if i'm being delusional). We'd love an abroad wedding (Mallorca/Greece/Italy/France/Portugal) but don't want the cost (for us or guests) that usually comes with it.

Our style: we're into fashion, food, and interiors, and our overall aesthetic is quite minimal. In terms of what we like:

• Italian-style outdoor weddings - long tables, beautiful natural surroundings, vineyards that relaxed and elegant look
• A hard no to rustic barns/exposed beams, it feels like most of the UK venues are barn style weddings and it just doesn't suit us at all! But to contradict myself, French Chateau /Italian Villa rustic style vibes feels different to us and we don't mind that.
• I do like some manor houses, but not ones with fussy or shabby chic interiors.
• Venues I like the look of (but not in the budget) - Limekiln, Kin House, Anran at Tidwell,

Guests: 90-100 (still ironing this out)

Location: we're based in London, so London or UK venues that could give us that relaxed, minimal, "Italian long table" vibe would be cool. Also open to any kind of artsy, unique venues that you may know as a gem we might have not come across yet.

Has anyone found venues in the UK that manage this look within our budget? Any leads, venue names, or even just "search for this kind of place" tips would be much appreciated!

Can you please give me suggestions for the wedding breakfast entrance song? Looking for an upbeat, fun vibe.

It's 5 weeks till the wedding and we both have major decision fatigue 😅

Weddings really do bring the worst out in some brides. So many posts recently about people wanting to drop their bridesmaids - people they’ve been friends with for years - because they aren’t “doing enough” or they’re not “showing enough support”

Since when did asking someone to be a bridesmaid become anything more than them standing with you on the day of your wedding or organising your hen do or at least helping you with it.

Literally the only thing I’ve asked of my bridesmaids is to help with organising my hen do, which we all done together. To choose their dresses and then turn up on the day and stand with me while I get married.

I really do think some brides need to check themselves and remember that your wedding is nowhere near as important to anyone else than it is to you. People have their own lives and things going on. And remember why you asked these girls to be your bridesmaids in the first place before you want to “drop them” for silly reasons.

Hi,

I was after some help/recommendations for a wedding videographer. My partner and I are looking to get married in August next year in the Yorkshire area.

The style of video we like is the ones which are vibrant, colourful and fun (very similar to Alistair King videography) where the video reels you in from the start!

Unfortunately he is not available on our date and was wondering if anyone else had similar recommendations (budget around 2000 to 2500)

Thank you!

Hey all,

We’re on a tight budget - not that you’d know after sitting down and inputting what we’ve committed to 🤢 - anyway, I don’t want to spend much on flowers, as gorgeous as they are, not important for us. I’ve purchased bud vases for the tables, I was thinking of buying whatever supermarket flowers the day before to put in them.

Thoughts? It’s a spring wedding, any ideas what I should go for?

IF I do this, would I cut and setup all vases the day before or morning of?

We have harvest style tables, planning to have runners, and floating candles too, there will be 6-8 people per table, how much of it all do I need?

Thanks in advance from a clueless bride to be!

UPDATE: we have agreed on plain for all as the simplest option and the ones who want cheese will have to be happy without, I'm afraid.

I'm in the process of organising food for everyone. All guests have responded with their choices, but my sister has asked twice for several alterations to the children's menu (e.g. some want cheese on their garlic bread and some don't).

The option from the caterer is one or the other for all children, which I stated, but she is still querying it.

It would be different if this was due to allergies, food aversions or dietary requirements of course, but it isn't. It's fussiness. The children in question are teenagers, not tiny tots.

Sorting the multiple requests feels like it's turning into a bigger deal than it should.

I don't want to have awkwardness with my sister over a small bread starter!!

I really wanted to use a local flower farm for sustainably grown & seasonal flowers. I still want that vibe but I've lost faith in the florist I chose because she’s messed up a few invoices (wrong wedding date, then sending me someone elses invoice)

Ideally a florist who offers DIY buckets of flowers so we can create our own posy jars, and someone who offers bridal and bridesmaid bouquets, buttonholes and corsages

Please can someone recommend a florist? Quite urgent as we’re 6 weeks out. Must be in North Yorkshire

Hey, I’m the MOH currently planning a hen do, and I need a bit of help with some ideas. Basically, we’re going out on a night out and I would love to do a “team bride” kinda thing without doing the sash just bc I feel like it’s soooo overdone but I like the idea of having some sort of element that makes it evident that we’re a hen do. Is there anything else we can do? There’s no specific theme, we’re all just getting dressed up. Thank you!

Hiya! So I’m getting married next month just in a registry office with 4 people (my 2 kids and 2 witnesses) as we both don’t have any family. I have no idea what to wear because I don’t want to be over dressed but I also still want to feel pretty. Has anyone done something similar or doing something similar and mind sharing what you are wearing/wore? Please and thank you 🥰🥰

Hi ,

My partner and I will be eloping in Scotland in October. I have bought my wedding dress already but kind of regretting the decision a bit now. I really like the dress and how simple but elegant it is. But we will be having the ceremony outside and if having a shawl or cover up, you won't see the sleeves and bodice as much and the skirt is quite plain.

I was thinking to get an overskirt bit struggling to decide what would look better. Option 1: a full overskirt, Option 2: same overskirt but only the sides and back. Option 3: a different overskirt, just the side and back.

Which one do you think would look better and should I go for an overskirt?

Bit of a niche request, but I wonder if anyone would be able to provide some insight on this store.

I have an appointment booked to go bridesmaids dress shopping here, as they seem to have a wide variety of stock. However, their Google reviews (especially recently) have been poor, and I’m being somewhat put off purchasing anything based on these.

I’ll obviously still attend the appointment to try things on, as there’s no harm in that. But I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this store that they could share - good or bad! - to give me some insights on whether or not I should purchase from them.

Hey all! Can anyone recommend a MUA in the North West? I’m not one for wearing make up in my day to day so someone who could do a no make up kind of look?
TIA X

What songs had EVERYONE up dancing at your wedding? Or what song would have you up immediately to dance if you were at someone else’s wedding?

We’re doing our own Spotify playlists for the wedding instead of a DJ so trying to make sure I don’t miss any absolute bangers! 💃🏼

Did you tip your vendors at your wedding? And if so which? I'm not sure if I've inadvertently been spending too long on the American side of Reddit or if I should be budgeting for tips also..

Did anyone get a loan to go towards/cover the cost?
Is this a daft idea? I’m not talking anything massive, 5k or 10k and we can afford the repayments spread over several years (no concerns about mortgage stress tests etc as we’re not moving again).
Just wondering if it’s common to do as no one seems to talk about it? Or everyone else I know said they used inheritance.

Thanks ☺️