Wedding tips for those on a budget (From Hereford Times)

Wedding tips for those on a budget

3:21pm Tuesday 16th June 2009

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I’M not even going to bother dressing this month’s dilemma up (ha ha), I’m just going to say this: when it comes to bridesmaids’ outfits don’t assume that making them yourself is simple - in fact, assume it is stupidly complicated.

There are only so many patterns companies in existence do you know that? Vogue and New Look and the like. And there are only so many fabric shops around with a limited range of designs in stock, do you know that? And not one of them, repeat none, have any dress patterns with plain, basic, three quarter length sleeves, do you know that? And I’m just about on the verge of having a nervous breakdown over these bloomin’ dresses do you know that? Well, I expect you do now.

Last weekend my mum, the other half and myself made the long trip to John Lewis at Cribs Causeway, near Bristol, on the assumption that a branch that size (it’s like shopping in an american mall) must have a decent range of patterns and a sizeable range of fabrics to match. A one stop shop, a safe bet, the one we’ve been waiting to fall back on. Well it wasn’t very supportive as it goes, and in the end all we came away with one miserable design that we’re going to have to try and fashion some sleeves for ourselves (yeh, I know - good luck with that one). Honestly, I am so, so, soooooo disappointed by the whole thing, I really thought there would be more out there to be creative with. We haven’t given up yet, of course, and are now planning to visit with a great aunt who used to be a seamstress and who hopefully can create some for us. Then we are planning a fabric shopping trip to City Road in Cardiff, which a number of people locally have suggested, so for anyone thinking of doing the same thing this could be a good shout. The main underlying thing of it all is that I wanted to end up with something a little bit different, a little bit country (not in a Garth Brooks, sparkly rhinestone kind of way, more in a rustic sense) just something simple really - is that too much to ask? It certainly seems that way. Chiffon, faffy sleeves, big skirts, yes - simple ballerina style dresses with basic sleeves, no.

What I would say for John Lewis, BHS, Marks and Spencers, Debenhams et al is that, should your dresses already be sorted (a girl can dream), they all have their own mini-bridal departments where accessories for bridesmaids (shoes, tiaras etc) are a snip compared to those in specialist shops. Plus, the larger ones also carry ranges of wedding stationery, rose petals and other helpful bits that are good quality and also more purse friendly. The other thing I discovered when I was down there was that decent-sized branches of Monsoon also carry wedding dresses and bridesmaids’ dresses. I tried on a lovely grecian style gown there that honestly I would have been tempted by had I not already set my sights on having my dress made, and it was only £200! Another must for any bride on a budget.

I’m also still live band-less by the way - the other must-do thing on my list to have done by the end of the summer - so I’m feeling pretty flat and pretty uninspired this month.

At least all the family politics have died down. I got an apology from the powers that be and also did a fair bit of grovelling myself having been racked with guilt at blowing up so spectacularly. And while we were in Cribs Causeway, we went to the M&S to look at suits, ties and men's wedding stuff in general and you know what? Pretty impressive stuff. So there were some resolutions made there too. Don’t panic Childs, just don’t panic...

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