How to find your dream wedding dress for under $200.00

Mori Lee

Weddings are very expensive events. Current polls show that the average wedding runs most Americans around $20,000!
Most American brides will shell out between $3,000 and $12,000 dollars just on the wedding dress! Now imagine what would happen to your wedding budget if you were to slash the price of your dream dress to UNDER $200! That's right... TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS OR LESS.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• You'll need to know what kind of dress you are looking for, at least a vague description.
• Access to the internet.

1. Disney dream dress

   First thing's first, find that dress, sister!
   Leaf through the bridal magazines (you don't have to purchase a single one). Search online for more pictures of dresses. Take as much time as you can afford to with this step. Search ask.com or google.com for wedding dresses, bridal dresses, or wedding couture (means custom designer, hand made, or custom made). Study up on the styles and cuts (A-line, empress-waist, sweetheart neckline, etc) online or view my article "How to understand and use wedding dress terms".

2. Jon's Couture

   Make sure you love the dress you've picked out.
   This means you need to try one on that has the same characteristics. For example, if the dress you love is the one pictured to the left (which was my dream gown), go to David's bridal or another local big name bridal shop in your area with your maid of honor (or mother, or anyone who will be honest and helpful).
   For this dress, I would tell them I am looking for a sweetheart neckline, strapless, satin or silk (no tulle), and has a Basque waist, but an A-line shape (please refer to my other dress articles if you'd like help on these).
   Try on the gown, take pictures if they'll let you. Move in it, slouch in it, squiggle and squirm in it. If you realize that you dislike the waistline, rater have straps, or wish you had a mermaid skirt, let them know. Play dress up all day until you have found the dress type that looks wonderful on you. Remember, you care for the cut, fit, material, and general appearance. This dress doesn't have to be the perfect one. You have already picked out the beauty that you wanted in step one.

3. Now that you know what your dream dress is, it's time to find it cheap. I have three resources that I have researched, have friends that used, or have used myself. They are eBay seller blue catalog (http://stores.ebay.com/Blue-Catalog), eBay seller April Bridal (http://stores.ebay.com/April-Bridal), or my personal favorite, 1Koo (www.1koo.com).
   Okay, now don't panic. Yes, these are all online sellers, and yes, two are sellers from eBay. Deep breath... it is okay.
   Blue catalog has been in business on eBay for 3 years, April Bridal has been there for 4 years, and 1Koo was there for 5 years, while using their website alongside it.
   All three of these makers have wonderful prices, but as I said, I am partial to 1Koo as I can say that I personally have researched them EXTENSIVELY, speaking to people that have ordered their wedding dresses and bridesmaids dresses from them. After all of my research, I ordered my own wedding dress from them. I was absolutely not disappointed in the least.

4. My dream dress by 1Koo

   Okay, so let's recap.
   1. You found the world's most beautiful dress.
   2. You tried on a dress that had similar features (cut, material, color) and determined that you indeed loved that dress.
   3. You then went to Blue Catalog, April Bridal, or 1 Koo.
   4. Now what?
   Now you have 2 choices. First, you can contact one of the three companies mentioned with the pictures of the dress you want, and any changes you would like on your dress, and have them create that lovely for you. This will run you between $100 to $200, sometimes more depending on the material and extensiveness of the dress.
   Your other option, and the one that I would recommend, is to search their sites for a similar dress.
   Many times, if the dress you want is a designer name, they have something quite similar, if not exact. In my case (the picture in step two is what I wanted, the dress pictured to the left is what I got from 1Koo), there was very minor differences. The dress from 1Koo has a scalloped waistline rather than straight lines. The running embellishments on the front are designed a little different, and the color is white in the original (though I wanted Ivory). As it turns out the differences did not matter a lick to me. I loved what they had. The only change I made to my dress was that I wanted a lace up back rather than a zipper. I preferred this because if the dress was either a bit too big or small, the lacing could be tightened or loosened to accommodate.

5. Me in my dress from 1Koo

   Okay, brass tacks here. My dream dress was on special at a local bridal shoppe here in Tampa Florida when I picked it out. It was all satin, felt like a cloud on my skin, and flattered my figure perfectly. It was unlined, but otherwise I loved it. I was quoted $3,500 dollars for it. As far as wedding dressed USUALLY go, that's not too bad. But we know better... don't we?
   The dress that I got from 1Koo is 89.99 as pictured and before shipping. I had some other work done to it and had it shipped to my home. The ending cost of that dress? $154.99 with shipping and all. It fit me perfectly, was fully lined (this is a big deal, many dresses are not!), was pure satin, and was of the highest workmanship!
   Total saved = $3,345.01! That in itself could pay for the honeymoon!

   ***UPDATED*** The picture you see to the left is me in my $89 Satin Dress

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that you'll need a couple of months from the moment you order the dress to the time it will be ready. Start EARLY.

• When you get measured for your dress, it is very, VERY important that you are wearing the corset you plan on wearing on your wedding day, the shoes (or at least the right height), and any other undergarments. This will allow for a more exact fitting.

• Be as creative as you want here. If you see a dress that has the perfect skirt but you prefer a different top, let them know! 1Koo will make your dress any way you want it. Just be sure you are extremely detailed if you do this.

• Try on your dress the second it comes in. You may have to have it taken in or let out (just as you might have to a dress you purchased locally).

• There are many message boards and chat areas that have topics and threads about these three dress-makers, and more. Please feel free to do your own digging before you decide.

• When you're done with your wedding, why not donate your dress to a good cause? Your dress can be donated (for a tax write off, I might add) to Making Memories as a "Bride against Breast Cancer" donation at www.makingmemories.org.

• I recommended these three companies because I have done much research into their business and have found either absolutely positive feedback, or if there was an issue, the company rectified it right away. However, I have only dealt with 1Koo personally, and can only vouch for my experience with them.