Cheap wedding dresses
Your wedding dress is one of the most important aspects of
your wedding, but you don’t want it to be one of the most
costly. A savvy bride can save a lot of money on a dress and
still look like a princess.
The first thing you should do is start looking for a dress
as soon as you can, like right after you get engaged. It
might take awhile to find the perfect dress at a reasonable
price. The next thing is to do a lot of research and compare
prices. Do not buy the first dress at the first place you
found it. Comparison shop and you can probably find the same
dress or one very similar cheaper somewhere else. You can
even use a discount bridal service if you know the designer
and style number of the gown you want. A discount bridal
service will search for the cheapest price on the gown you
want. You can usually save between 10 and 30% off the retail
price of the gown. You can also find out when bridal shops
are having trunk shows, a specific designer will have
dresses available at discount prices. Be sure to check your
area for bridal outlets too.
The best time to shop at bridal stores is between January
and March. Last years dresses are in clearance. The stores
are trying to get rid of them to make room for the new
season’s dresses. Another option is buying a display dress
or buying off the rack. These dresses can save you hundreds
of dollars off regular retail prices. You can also check to
see if a store has any discontinued dresses at low prices.
If you are not concerned about wearing a used dress you
could borrow a dress from a friend or family member. Wearing
an heirloom dress from your mother or grandmother can add a
sentimental touch to your wedding. Check your area for
consignment stores and resale shops. Many carry wedding
dresses. Some have never been worn, they were purchased and
then the wedding might have been called off. Some resale
stores get brand new dresses that were discontinued or have
slight defects, like a small rip or tear or maybe a small
stain somewhere. Some thrift stores also receive new
clothing. I have found many wedding dresses at Goodwill with
the price tags still attached.
Many online retailers offer great deals on wedding dresses.
Amazon and eBay both have wedding dresses. I found the dress
of my dreams on eBay for $99.00 brand new. A similar dress I
had been pining for was over $1000 in the bridal stores.
Shopping online is a great way to compare prices and styles.
I still recommend going to stores and trying on dresses
though. A style that looks great on a model might not look
great on you, or you might not like how it feels. I saw a
dress in a bridal magazine that I just adored. When I tried
it on, it looked horrible on me and it was very
uncomfortable and itchy. Trying on dresses will also give
you a feel for what size you will wear. Just because you
wear a size 8 in normal clothes does not mean a size 8
wedding dress will fit. Plus all designers’ sizes vary.
Other options for cheap wedding dresses include shopping for
a dress not labeled as a wedding dress. At homecoming and
prom times (usually September and October for homecoming and
April and May for prom) you can find semi formal to formal
dresses in white or ivory that would work great as a wedding
dress at half the cost. Hit the clearance racks right after
homecoming and prom season and you can find them even
cheaper. If you are having a casual wedding any nice dress
will do. You can find semi formal dresses at many department
stores for under $100. Some are very nice. It all depends on
your taste and what you are looking for. If you are having a
beach wedding or outdoor summer wedding a thin, filmy white
or ivory sundress would be perfect and a very low cost
option.
Having a dress made for you is another option if you know
someone that can do it or if you have a great seamstress in
the family. Just make sure they have experience sewing
wedding dresses. Fabric for a wedding dress can be a lot
different and harder to sew than regular fabric, especially
if you are adding beads or other fancy accessories. You
don’t want to spend a fortune on a seamstress or fabric. I
have seen a few women try that route and ending up spending
more than if they had just bought a dress from a store.
Just remember to start shopping early, do your homework and
always comparison shop. Don’t be afraid to ask for deals or
discounts either. Try to be flexible and open minded and you
can find the dress of your dreams at a price you can afford.