One Appointment, One Wedding Dress Bought!

So that wasn't to hard.., I had originally wanted a sparkly, beaded wedding dress, and I thought I'd end up with a prom dress as I had set a rather tight budget.  I really don't like the idea of spending hundred if not thousands on a dress I'll wear once!

So after suggesting to H2B that I might wear a coloured dress as most prom dresses aren't ivory or white he wasn't to keen, that is when I gave up on sparkles and went for a vintage dress.

I Google, I tweeted, I search and search... Etsy, eBay and all the other places I thought I could find vintage.  All I really came across was replica vintage wedding dresses, then I found Vintage Lane Bridal in Bolton, which I was going to visit later in the year as I live in London.

One night on twitter I saw a post by Brides magazine suggestion vintage brides to check out House of Vintage in Shorditch London... boom!

I booked my appointment for this Saturday just gone, Nov 22nd, my 'Maids' and myself picked 8-10 dresses and started the process of elimination.

Whilst trying the dresses on we were talking to the shop owner Marcia and she put one of our dresses to the end, to try on last.  As she had decided which she mentioned later sound like what I had originally wanted when describing how we came about to want a vintage dress.

I put this little number on and wow, there and then both the 'Maids', myself and Marcia thought it was a winner.  I'd also picked one other I was keen on from our selection.  We stood and eyed them both up and had a chat about HopFest15.

I was hesitant to buy it there and then, it was a lot of money to spend, having not seen any other dresses... but I thought if I don't buy it now someone else will, and to be honest I really hated the process of trying all these dresses on and once bought I can tick that off my list!  So 30-45 mins into our appointment I had bought my wedding dress :-)

Both Vintage Lane and House of Vintage Brides have all sorts of dress and pics do not do them justice.  If you are a bride on a budget, love vintage styling or just want something more unique do check them out.

Prices range from £200 - 1000.  Mine was a total of £650, which for an almost fulled beaded dress quite the bargain.

* one thing to be aware: vintage dresses my have some damage from the age... mine is missing a few beads on the very bottom.  Which you can't see when on and if I wanted I could have fixed.

Stowe School Wedding

This weekend must have been the busiest weekend for weddings, I knew of 5 happening!

We attend a work colleagues at Stowe School, Buckinghamshire.  Oh my, what a venue!!  Since we aren't close family we were invited to the evening reception and to make a day of it we visited the National Trust grounds, catching a glimpse of the new Bride and Groom taking photos.

Luckily one of our group went to Stowe for school and we go a discount on tickets, either way though it is worth a day trip.  What a beautiful setting!  Words can not describe.

Now back to the wedding.  They were married in the main hall, over looking the grounds.  When we arrived they were just taking to the dance floor for their first dance :-)  We also got to take part in catching the bouquet (or 2) and I missed both times!

The evening was a great mix of dancing to classic 80s, drinks (free bar) on the steps and then a magical fireworks display before a coach took all the guest back to the local DoubleTree Hilton where we all seemed to be staying.  A few more drinks and a late night Domino's were had before hitting the sack by 3 am.

2015 Wedding Dress Trends

So I have been looking about and looks like we have seven trends for 2015... one of which I love and have been pinning all year unknowingly and two of which I think aren't really trends! Check out Brides.com for more detail.

* Off the shoulder
* Tulle skirts aka Olivia Palermo
* Capes
* Collars
* 30s Glam

* Colour and Beach chic are the other's I seen that I am not sold on massively.

Off The Shoulder

Reem Acra

Marchesa

       

Tulle Skirts - check out my pinterest page

Brides.com 

Capes

www.weddinous.com

Alberta Ferretti

Collar

mingleandspread.com

30s Glam

Jenny Packham

 

Theia White

Other and Colour

Houghton Bride

Theia

                                                   www.silkblooms.co.uk                                                  

High Street Wedding Dresses April 2014

Topshop's latest arrivals could fall into the wedding dresses bracket!  But benefit from being cheap and available... plus some wedding accessories you might want last minute :-)

**LACE BUSTIER MAXI DRESS BY RARE £65

**OYSTER PINK METALLIC SPILT MAXI DRESS BY RARE £49

**POLY JUMPSUIT BY TFNC £55

TALLULAH ESPADRILLES £16

GLORY HIGH SHOES £58

MEL POP SPECIAL BOW SHOES £35

MEL LOVE CITY SANDALS £24

PROM SPARKLE STONE TIARA £20

FLORAL LACE DUSTER JACKET £55

H&M does Wedding Dresses?

H&M are offering a wedding dress for only £59.99 following after many other High Street stores, who have understood that many Brides to Be don't want to spending hundreds if not thousands on a wedding dress.  With Weddings these days costing more and more, why not save yourself a few pounds on the dress, you will only be wearing it once after all...

I am a big fan of High Street or cheap wedding dress alternatives, this one isn't necessarily my taste but still what a bargain!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2575464/The-60-wedding-dress-H-M-unveils-debut-gown-new-bridal-range.html

Oscar dresses wedding worthy!

So 2014 Oscars happened last night, March 2nd!  What an exciting evening, well done to Matthew McConaughey, sad time for Leonardo DiCaprio :-(

Here are my top picks from the best dress that are wedding worthy...

Lupita Nyong in Prada (Won Supporting Actress) www.uknewsday.com 

Kate Hudson in Versace www.bohomoth.com

Naomi Watts www.fabsugar.com

Kristen Bell www.handbag.com

Sally Hawkins in Valentino 

Cate Blanchett in Armarni (Won Best Actress) perezhilton.com 

Also loved Julia Roberts dress... only maybe in more of a peach colour!  

Check out more here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2571620/Kelly-Osbourne-Giuliana-Rancic-Ireland-Baldwins-spirits-not-dampened-arrive-wet-carpet-drizzly-Oscars-fairytale-gowns.html

ASOS - Latest High Street 'Wedding Dresses'

Looks like ASOS have had a new drop of some lovely 'weddingy' or second dresses - wear them for the ceremony or in the evening!

Virgos Lounge Roanna Cami Midi Dress in All Over Embellishment £150

Virgos Lounge Raina Maxi Dress with Embellished Shoulder £95

Virgos Lounge Georgia Cami Maxi Dress in All Over Embellishment £200

Needle & Thread Secret Garden Maxi Dress £275

Little Mistress Maxi Dress with Sequin Bodice £75

Little White Lies Midi Dress With Embroidery Lace Insert £185

Needle & Thread Lace Midi Dress £175

Frock and Frill Embellished Lace Skater Dress £115

Needle & Thread Geo Era Midi Dress £200

Solace London Curtis Midi Dress with Strappy Back £85

ASOS Amazing Embellished Smock Dress £150

ASOS All Over Sequin Bodycon Dress £55

Lydia Bright Skater Dress With Crossover Neck And Pleated Skirt £85

Tempest Lucy Dress In Sequin £125

Solace London Ritts Dress with Low Back £65

Needle & Thread Ornate Prom Dress £150