Do you want to learn how to save on a wedding dress? Weddings are usually a once-in-a-lifetime event. We will naturally wish to wear a beautiful wedding dress on our special day, but the finest wedding dresses are rather expensive.
With designer dresses ranging from $1500 to $5000, wedding gowns can easily deplete your wedding budget.
Some of the ways to save on a wedding dress are by renting it, using a dress that has a simple style and design, shopping at trunk shows, and so on.
Read on to learn more about how to save on a wedding dress.
Read about how to save on wedding food.
What are the strategies to save on a wedding dress?
There are several ways to save on a wedding dress. Here are some strategies to guide you:
Save money on a wedding dress with trunk shows and sample sales.
Shopping in trunk shows and sample sales for your wedding dress are affordable alternatives to consider Many wedding dress designers hold annual or biannual sample sales exhibitions, allowing you to have access to high-quality gowns at reduced prices.
The price of sample dresses can be reduced by 50% or more, but you may have to work hard for one.
Make sure to keep an eye out for sample sales, wholesale shops, and even resell sites, where you might be able to get the dress of your dreams for half the price.
Contrary to what people always think, the dresses are rarely ruined, though they do occasionally suffer from easily repairable faults. All sample sales are final, which means no refunds, so carefully check the dress you want to buy for flaws before purchasing.
Use a family heirloom to save for a wedding dress
Another way to save money on a wedding dress is to use a dress worn by the older members of the family. Wearing a dress that belonged to your grandmother or mother has significant sentimental importance. You can get a seamstress to modify the outfit to fit your own style.
Customizing a pre-owned gown will undoubtedly be less expensive than purchasing a brand-new dress. The money saved can be used for other financial goals.
Purchase a used wedding dress
Buying a used wedding dress will help you save money. Many brides are eager to part with their wedding gown after the event at a fraction of the original price.
This is because most brides wear their dresses only once, and the dresses are often left in like-new condition. Even with these facts, they are significantly less expensive than buying a new bridal dress.
Buying a preowned bridal dress can save you a lot of money. It is better to take advantage of this strategy to get yourself a designer dress at a cheaper price and enjoy the savings.
Websites such as Nearly Newlywed, Stillwhite and even Facebook Marketplace are excellent locations to start your search for a pre-owned wedding dress since they let you filter results by size, style, and location.
Just make sure to ask for detailed images and thoroughly inspect the outfit before purchasing!
Read more on how to save on wedding photography.
Purchase an off-the-rack wedding dress.
Buying a ready-to-wear dress is a terrific way to save on a bridal dress. The wedding dress may require some adjustments, but the cost of an off-the-rack dress will be significantly lower than the one specially measured and made for you.
Furthermore, you’ll be astonished at how many gowns fit you perfectly while also being really convenient. This can also save time because it does not require months of design and fitting.
Visit thrift and vintage stores.
Shopping for your wedding dress at vintage stores can help you save money. Vintage shops are fantastic places to locate lovely dresses in a wide range of designs.
If you’re lucky, you might discover something extremely beautiful and unique, and you’ll probably save a lot of money. Many are discounted at 50% or more
You may have to do more searching and digging to uncover that unique design, but it will be worth it
When searching, evaluate the dresses for signs of wear and tear and consider any potential adjustments you might want to make before purchasing.
Rent a wedding dress to save money
If you don’t have a strong attachment to your wedding gown, renting it will help you save. You may rent a designer dress for just a percentage of the actual price. As many businesses provide this alternative, it is now very popular.
If you’re excited to wear a stunning, flowing dress but can’t stretch your budget enough to meet the cost, renting can get you into that ideal bridal gown.
It may appear unusual, but this ensures that you do not have a dress hanging in your wardrobe that you will never wear again.
Some dress stores and Rent the Runway provide a variety of stylish dresses. You can also ask around to see whether local businesses are agreeable to this arrangement.
Select a wedding dress with a minimalist style.
Another fantastic way to save on a bridal dress is to purchase one with minimal style and design. Wedding dresses are expensive due to the high-quality fabrics and the professionalism required to make them.
For example, bridal dresses with many intricate designs and costly fabrics are often more expensive than simpler styles. So it is better to consider a simpler-designed wedding dress at a lower price. This will help you save more on your wedding dress.
The less intricate the design, the less work is involved, which in turn keeps expenses low. You can buy a simple dress and have it customized to your personality and liking.
Hire an upcoming local seamstress.
To save on a wedding dress, hiring a seamstress can be more cost-effective at times, especially if she has less experience. Of course, a seamstress with decades of skill will create a stunning dress, but it will be expensive.
Using a less-experienced and local seamstress will result in a lovely tailored garment at a lower cost. Furthermore, if they are locally made, you will save money on shipping and travel expenses.
Start looking for your wedding gown early.
It’s best to start shopping as soon as possible, especially since it may take several appointments to find your ideal gown. To save on your bridal dress, plan to purchase it at least nine months in advance.
Different designers have different processing times, and this is a reasonable time frame to ensure that you have the option of whatever gown you like without having to pay rush costs for getting the dress in or rush fees for adjustments after your gown comes.
Starting early also means you won’t be under as much pressure to make an impulse purchase and regret it later. Also, you can keep track of discounts and special offers at local wedding salons as they become available.
Visit ordinary clothing stores
You can save on your wedding dress by visiting the normal boutique within the locality. Sometimes your ideal wedding gown can be discovered right around the corner at a small boutique or department store.
A basic, white floor-length dress can provide something unique and casual while costing significantly less than a typical wedding gown with a fancy label.
And because these merchants frequently offer specials and discounts, you’ll most certainly have the opportunity to save even more money on the bridal dress.
So try to avoid those expensive bridal salons and instead buy at your favorite clothing retailers. You might uncover something fantastic that suits your style while saving some money
Purchase a bridesmaid outfit to save on a wedding dress
Purchasing a bridesmaid outfit instead can help you save on a wedding dress. White and ivory bridesmaid dresses are substantially less expensive than bridal gowns.
As counter-intuitive as it may appear, many designers will produce bridesmaid gowns in ivory and white tones, and they are substantially cheaper for practically the same style. Purchasing it can save you more money.
Final thought
Now that you know how to save money on a wedding dress, it is important to remember that a wedding dress is usually worn once during the event. And you do not need to break the bank to buy one.
Using some of the tips above, you will find yourself getting a beautiful designer dress that is within your budget, which will also make you look stunning on your dream day.
Learn more about savings for wedding events by reading how to save for a wedding in a year.