maternity dress for family wedding--I'm getting depressed

I posted a while back questioning if I should have a maternity dress or a regular one for my brother-in-law's wedding next month.  I decided to wait and see, and I'm struggling now.  My clothes are getting tight and I'm in that stage where I'm still in regular clothes, but pulling out some of the maternity tops and such.  The wedding is the last week in June, so I suspect I'll be able to wear maternity, but it's still a little hard to say.  I'll be about 20 weeks at the wedding date, and it's my second pregnancy.

It doesn't help that this is my first wedding outside of the States, so I'm not totally sure how I want to look.  Here's the guidelines my brother-in-law gave me:

Regarding the wedding , to give you an idea for the dress code I am in uniform in the morning but wearing a suit ( no tie ) in the evening . Sarah is keeping to the wedding dress for both . So for you ladies , whatever you would wear to a country wedding and something less formal and comfortable for the evening .

I'm struggling to find things I like--even shopping online.  I'm fairly conservative and don't wear sleeveless or really short dresses.  I'm happy with knee-length or below, but since I'm 5'11" regular dresses are often fairly short on me and don't quite work.  The wedding will be in Italy though, so I want something summery enough to not leave me melting.  It also doesn't help that I'm a size 18 in the UK, so I'm right on that verge where shops don't like me.

Does anyone have ideas of places I can look?

Have you looked at Next? They tend to have some nice, conservative dresses and also have a maternity range if you think that's necessary. Their sizes generally run up to 22.
http://www.next.co.uk/

I'd recommend opting for a dress with an empire waist so that you don't have to worry too much about whether or not you need something in the maternity range. But I've never been pregnant, so take that advice with a grain of salt. 

I'm not sure of your taste but I really love the maternity dresses from ASOS.  They have good prices and a variety of simple or elegent choices.  They have some that are made out of stretchy type material (stretched cotton, lycra, etc), which means they would be fitted (not sure how you feel about that but it's great for when you are at the "in between sizes" size).  

Jojomamanbebe.co.uk has 'Occasion Wear' that is lovely and is size 18. Usually I find voucher codes online for a discount. I bought an interview suit from them and was more than pleasantly surprised.

Maybe a maxi dress?  Would be nice and cool, they tend to be empire-waisted, and are roomy so you wouldn't need a maternity per se.  Plus they are in style at the minute so should be easy to find.  And wouldn't be too short obviously!

Maybe a maxi dress?  Would be nice and cool, they tend to be empire-waisted, and are roomy so you wouldn't need a maternity per se.  Plus they are in style at the minute so should be easy to find.  And wouldn't be too short obviously!

I was thinking a maxi dress too. Since you don't do sleeveless you could do a light wrap or cardi to go with it. You can find ones with sleeves though!

That gives me a couple ideas.  I hadn't thought of a maxi dress.  I'm wondering how this one would fit in real life.  It just goes up to a 16, but I can wear 16 in some shops.  It also has a tie waist, so I'm assuming there must be some give to it.  It might be fun for a summer night event.  Do you think the waist might have a little give?  I've not worn ASOS stuff or maxi dresses before.

http://www.asos.com/Oasis/Oasis-Butterfly-Trim-Maxi-Dress/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1041774&cid=9759&sh=0&pge=5&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Multi

I would absolutely love this dress--it seemed perfect, but when I put it on, it was just made for someone much shorter than I am.  It just showed a bunch of my thighs when I sit down, which I don't like.  I loved it standing and love the colours.  I'm still in mourning over this one.

http://www.mothercare.com/M2b-Floral-Dress/dp/B0031KF4SY/sr=1-1/qid=1275323619/ref=sr_1_1/280-1663028-2279210?_encoding=UTF8&m=A2LBKNDJ2KZUGQ&n=42793041&mcb=core

This wasn't bad either: http://www.picchumaternity.com/uk/acatalog/maternity_shift_dress.html

My head is starting to spin.  I've been looking at dresses all day!

I had a wedding to attend a few months ago when I was about 20 some weeks pregnant also.  I looked at Laura Ashley, Next, etc etc and in the end- got a lovely dress from ASDA.  I would never have thought to even look there, but my friend pointed it out and it was perfect.  The skirt is cut on the bias and very flattering.  It was bright red, and I had a Laura Ashley cardi, red and white polka dot to wear over, so the attention was away from the bump.  All I did was buy this dress one size bigger than I normally wear and had to slightly take it in under the arms so that it fit better.  However, with the cardi I could have gotten away with leaving it as it was. 

I LOVE the purple dress! It makes me wish I was pregnant so I could buy it!!! 

Just a heads up on the Oasis butterfly maxi dress. My friend was looking for one for her sister and all of the Oasis shops here were sold out. It seems to be a hot item, so online might be your best bet for that one if it's still available.

OOOOO....I LOVE LOVE LOVE that purple shift dress! 

Another vote for the purple one-- it is gorgeous!

That gives me a couple ideas.  I hadn't thought of a maxi dress.  I'm wondering how this one would fit in real life.  It just goes up to a 16, but I can wear 16 in some shops.  It also has a tie waist, so I'm assuming there must be some give to it.  It might be fun for a summer night event.  Do you think the waist might have a little give?  I've not worn ASOS stuff or maxi dresses before.

http://www.asos.com/Oasis/Oasis-Butterfly-Trim-Maxi-Dress/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1041774&cid=9759&sh=0&pge=5&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Multi

I would absolutely love this dress--it seemed perfect, but when I put it on, it was just made for someone much shorter than I am.  It just showed a bunch of my thighs when I sit down, which I don't like.  I loved it standing and love the colours.  I'm still in mourning over this one.

http://www.mothercare.com/M2b-Floral-Dress/dp/B0031KF4SY/sr=1-1/qid=1275323619/ref=sr_1_1/280-1663028-2279210?_encoding=UTF8&m=A2LBKNDJ2KZUGQ&n=42793041&mcb=core

This wasn't bad either: http://www.picchumaternity.com/uk/acatalog/maternity_shift_dress.html

My head is starting to spin.  I've been looking at dresses all day!

LOVE the last one you posted - the purple satiny one. Very elegant. 

That gives me a couple ideas.  I hadn't thought of a maxi dress.  I'm wondering how this one would fit in real life.  It just goes up to a 16, but I can wear 16 in some shops.  It also has a tie waist, so I'm assuming there must be some give to it.  It might be fun for a summer night event.  Do you think the waist might have a little give?  I've not worn ASOS stuff or maxi dresses before.

http://www.asos.com/Oasis/Oasis-Butterfly-Trim-Maxi-Dress/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1041774&cid=9759&sh=0&pge=5&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Multi

I would absolutely love this dress--it seemed perfect, but when I put it on, it was just made for someone much shorter than I am.  It just showed a bunch of my thighs when I sit down, which I don't like.  I loved it standing and love the colours.  I'm still in mourning over this one.

http://www.mothercare.com/M2b-Floral-Dress/dp/B0031KF4SY/sr=1-1/qid=1275323619/ref=sr_1_1/280-1663028-2279210?_encoding=UTF8&m=A2LBKNDJ2KZUGQ&n=42793041&mcb=core

This wasn't bad either: http://www.picchumaternity.com/uk/acatalog/maternity_shift_dress.html

My head is starting to spin.  I've been looking at dresses all day!

I think the purple one is very pretty.    I was looking on that same website an I saw a different maternity dress an it is half the price of the pretty purple one not sure if money is an issue or not just trying to helpful is all.      I posted the link below.

http://www.picchumaternity.com/uk/acatalog/empire_line_maternity_dress.html#aJS24

I think the purple one is very pretty.    I was looking on that same website an I saw a different maternity dress an it is half the price of the pretty purple one not sure if money is an issue or not just trying to helpful is all.      I posted the link below.

http://www.picchumaternity.com/uk/acatalog/empire_line_maternity_dress.html#aJS24

Oh that one is nice, too, and offers a bit more coverage, so it might be a good choice. I'd be careful with choosing a long dress with sleeves, like that first maxi dress you posted the link for. Somehow, and this is just my opinion, too much fabric can look frumpy and make women look a bit less formal on an ocassion like a wedding. I really think a long dress like that looks better without sleeves. But if you find one you like, I think a shoulder wrap might cover the upper arms a bit better without looking like too much.

Another vote for the purple shift dress.  Very chic.

Or what about this one?  Simple, easy to accessorize.  http://www.mothercare.com/M2b-Maxi-Dress/dp/B00319UUJS/sr=1-21/qid=1275379956/ref=sr_1_21/277-9198946-9499069?_encoding=UTF8&m=A2LBKNDJ2KZUGQ&n=42793041&mcb=core