A Wedding Dress for Less

Hi Wedding Watchers! So glad you’re tuning in! I just got a question from one of my clients and decided to write on it. OK, the wedding gown.  It’s one of, if not the most important part of the wedding.  Each bride’s journey to find her wedding dress is unique.  You first select the silhouette, then the fabric, neckline, designer etc. Then you move on to assembling who will go with you; is it an entourage or just specific important people?  If you are to ask my opinion, be selective when choosing.  Too many opinions are not the best thing during this time. Brides usually hang on to others opinions. Once you’ve gotten that down, you’re ready to go to the shop and try on all the dresses that meet your needs.  You find one that you LOVE and it’s $7000.  So now you’re in a bit of a bind because you didn’t budget that much for your dress.  Can you take a guess at what question my client asked?  If not, she asked, “is it ok to buy a used dress”.  The answer is ABSOLUTELY.  There is no rule that says that you must buy a brand new wedding dress.  Although the experience of going to the shop is great and memorable and probably something every new bride wants to experience, buying something used can be just as much of an experience.  Every bride has a budget; some limitless, some large, average and small.  A brand new wedding dress or custom dress is amazing, but what if your budget is a more on the average/small end like my client?  She doesn’t want to spend a lot on her dress.  That’s ok.  Here are a few ideas for the bride that wants an inexpensive wedding dress.

Inexpensive Wedding Dress Ideas

1. Boutiques or David’s Bridal.  Yes, I know.  Those words may be confusing, especially because I’m talking about finding an inexpensive wedding dress.  But I’m still going to encourage them.  I had a client who not only got the dress of her dreams, but she also got it for only $800! It was originally $2000 and her dress budget was $5000.  So I’d say she saved quite a bit!  Boutiques, as well as David’s bridal, have tons of sale and clearance wedding gowns. Boutiques also have sample sales- I LOVE sample sales; a great opportunity to get a beautiful dress.  David’s Bridal also offers brand new dresses for reasonable prices. You can go there, get the experience with your special group of people, get a brand new dress and get it within your budget.  Win-Win.  Some great boutiques/shops that my clients love are,  The Bridal Manor, Lillie Couture, BHLDN, Lovely Bride, Bridal Garden and Country Way Bridal.

Limor Rosen Gown from Lovely BridePhoto taken by: Matt Granger

Ashley & Justin Gown from Bridal Manor Photo taken by: Abhi Sarkar

Lillie Couture custom Gown Photo taken by: Yael Pachino

2. Once Wed. A friend of mine got her dress from here and she looked amazing (hey Jen)!  She was looking for a designer look for less!  She got a gorgeous Maggie Sottero gown that worked with her budget.  No one knew unless she told them.  What she did do however is go get fitted at a bridal shop before she shopped.  Good to know. Thanks Jen!

3. Some may find this a stretch, but it has been done before.  Try a thrift or consignment shop.  Now, this is certainly not for everyone.  But I have had 2… count them…2 brides ( so yes, it’s a thing), who had very beautiful small weddings and chose to get their inexpensive wedding dress at a consignment shop.  They not only looked gorgeous, but it was so very perfect for their weddings.

Tulle Ball Gown from thrift shop Photo taken by: Brae Howard

4. Rent your Dress.  This is for a special type of bride.  Most brides want to keep their dress, maybe pass it down to a daughter or niece.  Something significant.  Renting a wedding gown is for that particular type of bride who doesn’t want the hassle of preserving a dress that’ll probably never be worn again, or they don’t need an extra piece of clothing taking up space in their closet.  I get it.  For those type of brides, renting a wedding dress is the route they should probably consider.  In my opinion, this is a bit risky, only because wedding gowns generally need alterations.  Depending on where you rent,  the alterations are either minimal (on the reverse side) or none at all.  Something to think about before making that decision.  On the upside, if you are renting, you usually are allowed to borrow 2-3 dresses for a small fee to ensure you are getting the perfect dress and fit!  One of our favorite sites to rent from is Borrowing Magnolia.

Things to Keep in Mind

These are only a few ways that you can get around that $7000-10,000 wedding dress, if it really isn’t in your budget.  When you are buying an inexpensive wedding dress, keep a few things in mind.

1. Pictures are worth a thousand words.  Look for an inexpensive wedding dress where the seller actually has the dress on vs. pics they’ve used from the site.  Don’t be afraid to ask for more pics as well.

2. Use a reputable website.  Remember, reputable sites will work with payment methods that protect both parties.

3. Be sure you have the option to return the wedding dress if needed.  Stay away from “no returns” and know where your wedding dress is being shipped from.

Do I discourage custom or brand new, absolutely not, but for that bride who doesn’t want to spend a ton and is looking for an inexpensive wedding dress, you have options.  It’s ok to buy something pre-owned and make it your own.  It’s not something to be ashamed about at all.

So to my client, YES it’s ok.  You are going to look so very beautiful in whatever you choose! 2019 here we come!!