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How to Find a Wedding Dress on a Budget

Find the Perfect Gown for a Bargain

You're engaged and planning a wedding, but you have a fairly strict budget. You want to look beautiful, but you don't think you can afford the price of a designer gown. So what can you do? There are so many affordable options for wedding gowns, but where to begin? We've outlined a few in this article--perhaps one of them will be the right choice for you.

Vintage Gowns

If you have a penchant for history, you may prefer to wear a vintage gown rather than a new one. Certainly it's a wonderful option to wear the gown your grandmother or mother did and, of course, you can make note of this fact in your wedding program. If there's no family dress, you could instead purchase a used vintage gown. Many bridal shops have access to vintage gowns that tend to be less costly than new designer labels. You can also purchase vintage gowns online; read on for further details.

Sales

Another way to save on a gown is to hit the sales. Quality bridal houses hold sales at least once per year to get rid of their sample gowns. These gowns have been tried on by numerous customers and may require cleaning or other touch ups, but you will be getting a designer gown at a fraction of the cost. If you live near a major city, check into when the sales are held. Even if you don't, check with local bridal shops. They all have to get rid of their stock from time to time to make room for new models.

Buy Online

Shopper beware is the rule of the online world. Be extra-careful if you are buying a wedding gown online, especially a used gown. Make sure the seller offers a guarantee on the gown and that it can be returned if it's not to your liking. If you are shopping for a vintage gown, insist that the seller provide detailed photos of the dress so you can look for any tears, stains or other defects. Another important point is to avoid using a debit card because you can't withhold payment or challenge a charge when the money is deducted immediately from your bank account, in most cases. Consider using a credit card instead.
One way to get the gown of your choice and still save money is to buy online. Online retailers sell wedding gowns at one-third to one-half of the price at retail stores. The only drawback is that you don't get to put it on before you buy it--but there is one way to handle this dilemma. You can pay a visit to a local bridal shop, try on various gowns, see which one works for you the best and then search for it online. Of course this option is much less personal than buying from a bridal shop, where you will be fitted and refitted for your wedding day. However, you can find a tailor to do the same thing to your online purchase and save money in the process too.

Make It Yourself

Why not? This is a terrific option if you or a relative or friend are handy with a sewing machine. The gown will cost a fraction of one bought in a bridal shop and can be made to fit you exactly. You can pick out your materials to ensure you get top-notch quality. All of the large pattern-makers have patterns for wedding gowns. You can buy a pattern online or in a fabric store. Select one that's not too complicated if your sewing skills are somewhat limited. If you want to save further, pick a gown that's a sheath. Wedding gown materials can be expensive so a dress that doesn't have lots of skirt will be less costly than one that does. And avoid buying materials online--you want to feel them to see if they are exactly what you want. The color is another key factor, and there are a host of different shades of white (computer images will not always properly convey the color, either). A good idea is to pick one that flatters your skin color.

When all is said and done and you arrive at the ceremony looking ravishing, let's face it, no one is going to wonder how much your wedding gown cost--you'll be so stunning and full of love, you'll shine in anything.