Off the Peg Wedding Dresses in Bedfordshire: How They Work and What You'll Pay

An off-the-peg wedding dress is simply one that is already made. You choose it from the rail, in the size it was made, instead of ordering it from the designer and waiting. At Our Ivory Outlet in Bedfordshire, designer gowns start at £300, a long way under the £1,532 the average UK wedding dress costs.

Ordering a new gown takes at least six months, so if your date is closer than that, or your budget wants a little breathing room, the rail is a lovely place to start.

Why brides choose off-the-peg wedding dresses

Less waiting, a kinder price and the chance to see the exact dress you will wear.

The appeal is mostly time and money. A gown ordered from scratch has to be made, and Bridebook suggests allowing at least six months from order to arrival. Off the rail, there is nothing to wait for. The price is kinder too: Arista from Locket by Watters was £1,950 and is now £1,000.

There is also something to be said for seeing the real thing. You can feel the weight of the skirt, watch the beading catch the light and see how the bodice sits before you say yes, rather than judging a gown from a sketch. We have written more on the benefits of off-the-peg wedding dresses if you would like the longer case for it.

Off-the-peg wedding dress styles at Our Ivory Outlet

From ballgowns to lace A-lines, a look at what is on our rails now, with the size each one comes in.

Here are a few of the gowns in the outlet at the moment. Stock moves quickly, so the outlet page always has the up-to-date picture.

Off-the-peg ballgowns

If you want a moment, Stella York SY8133 delivers one. It is a strapless ballgown with a cat-eye neckline and a corset-style bodice with exposed boning, and layers of shimmering tulle fall from the basque waist. It is £1,000, down from £1,599, in a UK 16.

Arista from Locket by Watters is the softer option: a strapless tulle ballgown scattered with dimensional beading that catches the light, with removable sleeves. It is £1,000, down from £1,950, in a UK 10.

Off-the-peg fit-and-flare and mermaid dresses

Stella York SY8163 is all about shape. The strapless, corset-inspired bodice is worked with shimmering lace scrolls and exposed boning, and it narrows to a sleek basque waist before the skirt flares. It is £950, down from £1,500, in a UK 14.

For something sleeker, Nesrine from Sottero & Midgley is a modern asymmetrical mermaid in satin, at £845 against £1,695.

Off-the-peg lace and off-the-shoulder dresses

Lace is well represented. White Studio WS209 is a lace A-line with a soft V-neck and off-the-shoulder illusion detailing. It is £650, down from £900, in a UK 18. WS124 from White Studio London also, delightfully boho, with slender spaghetti straps and a side split. It is £600, down from £875, in a UK 16.

Stella York SY8215 is the most playful of them all: printed organza with subtle blue floral prints, an off-the-shoulder sweetheart neckline, a basque waist and a high leg slit. It is £900, down from £1,500, in a UK 22.

Off the peg, sample sale, or made to order?

What each route means for your timeline, your size and your budget.

Off-the-peg and sample sale usually mean the same thing: a gown that already exists in the boutique, sold in the size it was made. Made to order is the other route, where the dress is ordered from the designer in your measurements. It gives you more say over the fit, but it means a longer wait and usually a deposit up front.

The trade-off is fit. A made-to-order gown is cut for you, while an off-the-peg dress is the size it is, and a seamstress does the rest.

How to choose an off-the-peg wedding dress

Check the size, the fit and the finish before you fall for the dress.

Start with the size. Every gown in the outlet comes in the single size shown on its listing, so that is where to look first. A good bridal seamstress can usually take a gown in by around two sizes, but letting out is more limited, so the closer a dress sits to your shape, the easier it is to alter.

Then ask the practical questions. Does the boutique arrange alterations, and what does the price include? And when you try a dress on, wear the shoes you plan to be married in so you can see the length and how it moves when you sit down and turn.

How much do off-the-peg wedding dresses cost in the UK?

Typical prices, what moves them and what to add for alterations.

Bridebook puts the average UK wedding dress at £1,532, and off-the-peg dresses from sample sales and outlets at roughly £100 to £700. Our Ivory Outlet sits a little higher because these are current designer gowns. Prices run from £300 to £1,000.

Allow for alterations on top. Bridebook suggests setting aside £200 to £500.

Browse Our Ivory Outlet

Designer gowns from Sottero & Midgley, Stella York, Adore by Justin Alexander, Locket by Watters, White Studio London and more.

Our Ivory Outlet sits on the top floor of the Brides & Bustles boutique in Bedfordshire. Filter the online rail by silhouette, fabric and detail, then book an appointment to try on the gowns that caught your eye.

If you would like to see the designers in their full collections, you will find Sottero & Midgley, Stella York, Adore by Justin Alexander, Locket by Watters and White Studio London on their own pages, alongside our full wedding dress collection.

FAQ

What is an off-the-peg wedding dress?

It is a ready-made wedding dress that you buy from the boutique rail rather than ordering from the designer. It is sold in the size it was made, so there is no wait for it to be made.

Where can I find off-the-peg wedding dresses near me in Bedfordshire?

Our Ivory Outlet on the top floor of Brides & Bustles stocks designer off-the-peg gowns. You can browse the rail online, then book an appointment online or by phone.

Do off-the-peg wedding dresses need alterations?

Usually, a little. A seamstress can generally take a gown in by around two sizes, and Bridebook suggests budgeting £200 to £500 for alterations.

Book your appointment at Our Ivory Outlet

Book online whenever it suits you, or call 01582 883773, and come and try on the gowns you have been eyeing up. Book your appointment online and find the one that feels like yours.