Would You Use Any of These Tactics to Save on a Wedding Dress?

by POPSUGAR Smart Living 52

Wedding gowns come in countless styles and fabrics, and boy do they run the gamut in price points. Most costs associated with weddings are bumped up just because the word wedding is attached, and gowns generally aren't excluded from that expensive reality. There are some alternatives when purchasing a bridal gown to call your own, and you couldn't help but save money by opting for one of them. From gowns on eBay to nonbridal dresses and renting, there are plenty of options for a bride on a budget — which of these tactics would you use?

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52 Comments

cdelaney 4 years

I originally wanted a non-bridal dress, but eventually decided on a classic, strapless champagne A-line with a taupe sash. I found my dress stuffed in the farthest corner at a bridal boutique in Santa Barbara. It just so happened that it was a bridesmaid dress. It was such a steal--only $200 with alterations included! Part of the decision was out of preference, the other part was for financial reasons. It was a beautiful dress and I received many compliments. I am still receiving compliments and our wedding was last September!

stilletojunkie 4 years

I would definitely be up for trying Filene's "running of the brides"! It sounds like a ton of fun, and if your lucky, a great way to find a pricey dress way cheap! If not, I would try Saks Fifth Ave, if you open a credit card the day you buy your dress you'll save 10%~

gemsera 4 years

Sorry, but no skimping on the cost of a dress for me!!! I'll be buying a designer gown thank you (hopefully not at full retail, but DEFINITELY brand new)...

ohkate 4 years

I actually bought my wedding dress from the 50% off sales rack from BCBG and got matching BCBG shoes from DSW. My dress was almost the least expensive thing out of everything else for our modest wedding. Best purchase EVER!

MrsSchell508 4 years

I just got married three months ago but I bought my dress a year before the wedding. I got married outside so I knew I wanted something simple. I found a really nice dress at David's Bridal for $400. Just A line strapless, no train. Then about three months before my wedding I saw that David's Bridal had added some simple, inexpensive dresses to it's collection and I could have gotten something quite similar for about half the price :(Also, Target has a good selection through Isaac Mizrahi. They are only available online I think, but are classic designs and only $100-250.

gdomdo01 4 years

i'd do any of these, although i'm only 21 and don't see myself getting married for at least seven or eight years.i'm the youngest of four girls, and my oldest sister's elaborate celebration made me realize the simpler, the better. i'd love to wear my sister's vera wang dress. it's the most beautiful thing i've ever seen. however, considering i'm probably 25 pounds heavier, and 3 inches taller, i'd probably need to get my stomach stapled, and few ribs removed first.

akrsouth 4 years

Mine was an "Almost" worn dress from Ebay.

nv27 4 years

Thanks Captious, I'll check it out.

Captious 4 years

I want to wear green if I ever get married. So a not bridal dress is almost a given. @nv27 EBAY.

I would only consider wearing a dress not tagged as bridal. . . but since we're on the topic I have a debutante gown (which is exactly the same as a bridal gown) that I wore once and now I cant figure out what to do with it. I wouldnt mind giving it away except that I dont know anybody else thats a size 2 AND it was like $1500 bucks. Any suggestions on how I can pass it on to someone else and perhaps get a few of those dollars back?

cancankant 4 years

When I got married, I wore a dress that was not a bridal dress. I wore a casual dress for the actual wedding and then a pretty renaissance/goth type dress for the reception. It suited me well and I did resell it after wearing a few more times for other events (*gasp*). I actually would still have it, but I lost a lot of weight and it no longer fit me.

loveyoulots 4 years

I've been engaged for a week so I'm ready to comment. I wouldn't mind a once worn dress on e-bay because there's no attachment like using a dress from a friend where you see pic of some1 else in "your" dress. I plan on making mine with help of course to keep down costs and to have what I want it to lok like. Renting is a great option, but not for me because I want to keep mine forever.

dkaufmann125 4 years

then again I really don't want to get married.

prolly something not necesarily "bridal" I don't care anyway I would wear something hot for pictures and elope anyway maybe I would one day tell people I was married....nah, I'd keep it a secret.

greatscott200 4 years

Ibought a dress off of EBay for $100 dollars. The pictures must have been poorly lit, because you could see right through it. I would say no to ebay, but yes to buying a once worn. I ended up buying a new dress. But now it's just in a box in my closet. So Sad, it's so pretty to be boxed up.

OceanPark 4 years

I bought my wedding dress through Brides Against Breast Cancer, and it was a wonderful experience. This is a group that collects used dresses from brides, as well as samples from very well-known designers, and hosts dress sales around the country. Funds from the dress sales go to fighting breast cancer. The atmosphere at these sales is so great - lots of volunteers, mostly other brides who wore BABC dresses to their own weddings. I found my dream dress, got a good deal - and best of all, had the great feeling of knowing that the money was going to a good cause. I would encourage anyone considering non-traditional dress buying to go this route.

lizkiernan 5 years

I bought a dress that I knew I could wear again to formal occasions (not anyone else's wedding of course!), as well as buying one that wasn't marked 'bridal'. Actually, I went to two stores, one bridal one not, and the alterations were an extra couple hundred at the bridal store!

hottinpink9021 5 years

I wouldn't mind wearing a once worn dress, as long as it is in tip top condition. I wouldn't want to rent one because I would like to keep it forever! :)

kia 5 years

I bought a non-traditional bridal dress from ebay. $60 and I loved it.

mayara 5 years

I made my dress. And because I didn't go with true white, nor with a pattern specifically "bridal" in nature, I've gotten more use out of the dress as well. Less than $100 in pattern and materials, made mostly the week of the wedding, and I've worn it for at least 8 hours since the wedding.

oliveoyle625 5 years

I would just rent, but I got lucky and just went ahead and bought mine when my sister bought hers and we happened to come across a huge anniversary sale on top of the discounts at the retailer, so we both ended up with beautiful gowns!

vtskillz 5 years

i'm not planning a wedding (yet!) but would definitely consider sites like preownedweddingdresses.com or bridepower.com...pre-owned sells a mix of sample, once-worn, and brand new dresses while i'm pretty sure bridepower sells sample dresses that it gets from bridal salons. i don't think i'd wear a once-worn dress, but from looking you can save a TON buying from women who bought 3 dresses, canceled their weddings (yipes), etc.

Would You Use Any of These Tactics to Save on a Wedding Dress?

June 6, 2008

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52 Comments