The High-Street Bride’s Guide: How to Plan Your Perfect Wedding On A Budget. Samantha Birch

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СКАЧАТЬ want trad bridal labels for a fuller gown, but if elegantly understated is the name of the game, Monsoon has got to be a front-runner. Numbers-wise, think around £129 to £399 – but they have been known to do designs for as little as £85.

       Phase Eight

      On the whole another member of the sheaths and empires brigade, there’s the odd slightly fuller or shorter skirt here – but the thing you’ll get from Phase Eight is that little bit of extra embellishment. Tapework, lace and beading have all featured in their collections, and prices have ranged from about £130 to £750.

       T.K. Maxx

      There’s been a lot of furore about T.K. Maxx launching a bridalwear department – mostly because in true T.K. style they’re not creating their own dresses, they’re flogging designer ones on the cheap. To be clear, we’re not talking Marc Jacobs or Vivienne Westwood here – the gowns are by a select few names with RRPs up to about the £2,545 bracket, and Maxx pricetags often between around £119.99 and £699.99.

      In our price range, think dresses of the fuller, flouncier kind, with skirts running the gamut from ballgown to mermaid and A-line. They’ve also stocked the occasional dramatic twist in ruffled red, as well as slighter cuts with lacy sleeves and elaborate embellishment.

      The labels? Look up Annais Bridal, Christian Wu, Dere Kiang, Donna Lee Designs, Hollywood Dreams, House of Wu, Jacquelin Exclusive, Sue Wong and Tracy Connop and you’ll get the idea.

      Best for: Mini-budget brides. In traditional wedding world, £500 is considered inexpensive for a bridal gown. In the real world, it’s four or five times more than many of us have ever spent on a dress. Happily though, high-street bridalwear often comes in at under £300, with many shorter styles available for less than half that. And let’s not forget: if you’ve got your eye on something more expensive, it can be worth hanging on for the frequent sales on some brands.

       Bride or Bridesmaid?

      Remember those gorgeous bridesmaid dresses you saw in that wedding magazine that turned out to be way over budget? I bet they’re not more than you’ve pencilled in for your gown, are they? The thing with maids’ dresses is that they are occasionwear – they’re made with luxury and elegance in mind – but since very few people would pay more than a few hundred pounds per bridesmaid, they’re rarely out of the realms of your bridal budget.

      I’m not even suggesting you go for an offbeat colour if that’s not your thing – there are lots of brands that offer their bridesmaid dresses in cream or white. And if you were looking for a simple, cute style anyway, why not save the pennies – after all, it’s not like your guests will be any the wiser.

      Here are a few fave bridesmaid brands whose gowns would make for some seriously chic brides – and since most styles are priced at around £100 to £200, they’ll be pretty damn smug too…

       Dessy

      Simple elegance is what it’s all about at Dessy: swingy chiffon column dresses that wouldn’t look out of place on a far-flung beach, and slinky, sophisticated satin and charmeuse for understated glamour.

      If you’ve got an unusual cut in mind – off-the-shoulder, cowl back or asymmetric neckline, for instance – there’s a good chance you’ll find it here, and the same goes for hard-to-get colours. Most gowns are available in ivory or white but if you’re feeling crazy, some styles even come in polka dots and prints – and you can order ‘extra length’ versions if you’re a taller Mrs-to-be.

       Impression

      Sheer overlays, ruffled necklines and hankie hems make Impression’s bridesmaid range one to watch if you dare to be different on your big day. Many of their looks have a laidback prom or party feel, so if you’re the type of bride who’s known for bucking trends, partying ’til dawn and doing things your own way, this multi-tonal lot – most gowns are available in white – could be the collection for you.

       Kelsey Rose

      I admit it: I’ve had a thing for Kelsey Rose maids dresses for a while now. In fact, if you ask me, they’re pretty much the height of bridesmaid chic. They’re mostly modern, fitted and – dare I say it – even cool, with a few cute retro-inspired shorter skirts in the mix too. They’re a smart bet for a range of necklines – strapless, one-shoulder, halter – and where ruffles do appear they’re minimalist and finished with contemporary finesse. To top it all off, dresses come in an insane amount of colours, with most styles available in white, ivory and champagne for more trad brides.

       Love By Enzoani

      Enzoani regularly rock the bridesmaid world with their off-the-wall collections – we’re talking that fierce embellished, coat-cut gown in magenta and their feather-light, breeze-catching daydream in lilac. If you’re after a statement look like no other, this is the label for you – just bear in mind that for the most part you’ll have to sacrifice shade for style: dresses often come in pastels and scene-stealing black, but I wouldn’t set your heart on hard-to-come-by white.

       Mori Lee

      Their straight-up Bridesmaids collection is usually wall-to-wall floor-length satin and chiffon in sheaths, empires and columns. Most looks come in classic bridal colours and necklines go from romantic sweethearts to off-one-shoulders and halters – in short: floaty beach bride or city sophisticate.

      Then there’s the Affairs collection. Styles are normally shorter, lacier and on the whole go for a lot more of a ‘fun and flirty’ vibe, though you can also find versions of some of the Bridesmaids dresses here with hiked hemlines.

      The Angelina Faccenda Bridesmaids collection is generally more like the first than the second – expect city-slicker classics along with a few pre-knee cuts, and more chances taken on the detailing side.

      In all the Mori Lee collections though, be aware that the few taffeta dresses rarely come in whites, creams or ivories like the chiffon and satin do – instead, be prepared to compromise with something subtle like a gorgeously glowy champagne.

      Best for: Barely-there-budget brides. If you haven’t got time to wait for the sales on the high street and your numbers won’t stretch much beyond £100 to £200, downsize your skirt and your outlay – then put your actual bridesmaids in a prettily styled, more low-key jersey number.

       Surprisingly Doable Designer

      Before I start on this one, let me say that these are not the only designer dresses I’ve got for you – there are lots of other options in a more strictly bridal style in the upcoming section – but I thought it was worth noting that if you’re up for a not-so formal, unconventional get-together, there are both glam and laidback designer looks that are out there for less than you think.

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