The High-Street Bride’s Guide: How to Plan Your Perfect Wedding On A Budget. Samantha Birch
need-to-knows at the time of writing: delivery is available next-day, same-day and even on Saturdays; you can pre-book your delivery date in advance; minor spills and damage are covered; returns are free; they do the dry cleaning; they send you a free back-up size with your hire; and they offer a handy try-on service so you can test the fit of up to three dresses for £21.90.
I’d recommend calling up one of their style advisors before you book anything though – when it’s your wedding, I can’t help feeling it’s best to confirm the availability of your date and size with a human being, rather than an online calendar.
Best for: Designer divas. Who cares if you don’t get to keep the dress? There’s no room in your cluttered loft anyway. My only hint: brides outside average sizes may struggle – there are gowns in sixes and 18s, but your choice will be more limited than your eights to 12s.
Couture
In bridal circles, this tends to mean going to one of the big-name couturiers and spending thousands of pounds having your dress designed and crafted to your exact spec. What I’m suggesting is a less intensive – and expensive – experience that’s perfect if you’ve got a dream dress in your head that doesn’t seem to be on the hangers.
I’ll be honest: this option is going to take a lot of legwork. You’ll have to Google/Yell.com/Thomson Local dressmakers or seamstresses in your local area, check their reviews online and call them up for prices. Numbers are likely to vary, but in general are cheaper for – you guessed it – shorter, simpler styles.
Your best bet is to ask around among friends and relatives – maybe even put up a post on Facebook or hit Twitter. You’ll be surprised how many people have taken a prom dress to a tailor in the past or even know someone who makes clothes for a living. For me, working with someone who’s been recommended by a pal you know and trust has got to be a better bet than hoping the reviews you read on that random website weren’t just written by the shop itself.
Once you get down there, get to know your seamstress before you book anything. Ask to see samples of their previous work, or items they’re working on now, and touch the fabric so you can see that it’s of a suitable quality.
Then sit down and discuss their process – are they a one-man band expecting you to supply the silk, or a boutique ordering their fabric in at a range of prices? Make sure you get a written quote before they get started too – or you could end up having all the fun of bringing in cowboys to redo your kitchen and watching the price go up and up and up…
Best for: Brides of all shapes and sizes. Petite brides, in particular, might have trouble finding a style in your standard sizes, but as long as you’re careful about the dressmaker you choose, this option could land you with a luxe, perfectly fitted look.
Charity and Vintage
More and more often, charity and vintage shops are taking on second-hand wedding dresses and selling them off at reasonable prices. If you’re not worried that your dress has been worn once before and you want to make every penny you’re spending on your big day count, helping out an independent vintage shop owner or the beneficiaries of a registered charity is the way forward.
Oxfam is really making a name for itself in the inboxes of wedding writers – and even if you can’t pop into your local branch, their online shop is full to bursting. As you’d expect, there tends to be more in sizes 10 to 14 than any others, but new brides are giving over their gowns for a good cause every day, so it’s worth checking back regularly.
To give you an idea, the most expensive dress I’ve seen them offer was a beaded, halterneck Johanna Hehir for £800, but really the majority of gowns have tended to go for less than £350. It’s the place to go if you’re after individual style sans the couturier too – with old-school looks from the Forties to the Seventies and unbranded pink and lacy confections, there’s little chance of you getting copycatted by the time you walk down the aisle.
Best for: One-off brides. If today’s gowns aren’t making the right style statement, why not rifle through your local treasure trove and come out with something uniquely you?
Chapter 4
Truss up your man without emptying his wallet
He might not make a big deal about what he wears normally – he might even be found lounging around in yesterday’s joggers more often than not – but whether he says so or keeps it under his hat, there’s a good chance your man wants to look just as ooh-la-la as you do on your big day. And even if he doesn’t, I’d say the odds are you want him to – but in a hassle-free, less-than-expensive way? You’ve come to the right place.
Before You Start
Whoever you’re trussing him up for, the same as with your dress, there are rules that can keep his costs down.
First up: two-piece versus three-piece. No prizes for guessing which of these costs less. So consider carefully before opting for a waistcoat that he’ll only go and peel off at the reception anyway. If you really love the idea of a bit of extra colour, think along the lines of a more elaborately patterned shirt. Voilà! A dashing look that does less damage off the bat.
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