Internet's first get-out-of-debt community - 116,000 members

Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 12:18 am

Hundreds of sleepless hours, thousands and thousands of dollars and millions of tears go into making a wedding successful, but with every minute detail playing a vital role in a wedding, shopping a wedding gown remains the most mind boggling job of the whole show! A wedding gown is an important purchase as it is an emotional one…that’s probably the reason you spend hundreds and thousands of dollars on it and still feel “what a bargain I’ve made!”

The average bride spends a cool $2500 on her wedding dress but by the time you have included all of the essential accessories, you can plan on spending about $4,000. Hmmmm quite a fortune!!!! I agree that on the D day girls would love to look their best. But it's still only one day. Although a part of you would love to traipse around in Monique Lhuillier, but at your heart you know that if you use the money for the down payment on your house it will make you even happier-- so save your money!

Given below are some of the suggestions that will save you million bucks on your wedding gown but the good news is you will still look the best!

Wedding dress sale: Once a year, several stores have an annual wedding dress sale. This is a one time opportunity for the brides-to-be to buy those dresses that they see in bridal magazines and that too at an affordable price!

Online auction: There are many online stores for buying wedding dresses like ebay and craiglist.org. This is a great way to find a designer dress at a bargain price. Just be sure to get a photo of the dress from every angle and a full disclosure of any damage (preferably in writing) prior to making the purchase.

Thrift stores: You can find affordable wedding gowns here. When I say affordable I do not mean cheaply made. In many cases you will find a real gem. While shopping at thrift stores you will find some garments that may be in need of some repair. But do not worry these repairs are minor ones and can be taken care by dry cleaner or a tailor. If you're purchasing a pre owned wedding gown from a thrift shop, then glance through the garment thoroughly and if you discover any damage then check whether it can be easily repaired or not.

Consignment shops: Consignment shopping for wedding gowns won’t bust your wedding budget. Since most consignment shops won't accept any merchandise unless it's in absolutely pristine condition, you're sure to find –your dream dress out here. The best part about making a purchase from a consignment shop is that you're not paying designer prices but still you are managing a wedding gown that has a designer label. Since the consignment shop has to give a part of their profit to the original owner, you will be having a tough time in making a bargain. In most cases it is seen that the consumers pay the price that is marked, but if you have good skills in haggling then you can surely give a chance.

Borrow a Dress: Do not cringe at this thought. Remember that you will be wearing wedding gown for a single day, so what’s the harm in borrowing it? I know this isn't always easy to do, but if you are on a budget and want to trim down the expenses then I must say borrowing is a viable option. So, if you have a family member or friend who is close to your size and who flaunted an elegant and stylish gown on her wedding then you are lucky! Ask that concerned person and if she is willing then try on the dress. Wedding gowns usually can be altered up to 2 sizes in either direction.

Bridesmaid gowns: Bridesmaid gowns are considerably affordable than the wedding gowns. Find a color in ivory white or cream (or red or may be blue if you are a bit adventurous). If you feel that the dress isn't quite fancy enough, then no worries….you can make it more stylish by adding an intricate veil and other accessories.

Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 2:25 pm

Thrift stores are definitely a good way to go - I can't tell you how many absolutely beautiful gowns I've seen at our local Goodwill store.

Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 4:41 pm

I got a $3000 wedding dress for $500...we went to a bridal faire and watched one of the fashion shows.

The next day we went to one of the stores that had dresses featured in the show and to our surprise the dresses that were worn in the fashion show on the models were on sale on major reduction because they were "used".

Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 10:52 pm

@ Suebeehoney and volleyballmom

I have seen to be brides spending so much on their wedding gowns, personally i feel its of no use. Because its only for a day and its absolutely foolish to spend thousands of dollars into it.

I got a $3000 wedding dress for $500 >>>>> Wow volley you really got a good deal out of it Smile