How to find a low-cost wedding dress
You've dreamed about your wedding day and a beautiful white dress ever since you were a little girl, and now that you're engaged and it's finally time to pick out that gown, reality has set in. Maybe your dream dress costs $3,000 more than you can afford, but that does not necessarily mean that the perfect wedding gown is out of reach. There are many creative ways to find a wedding dress for less, and if you find a deal on your gown, that's more money to put toward other wedding expenses. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Research the styles and designers in bridal magazines and cut out pictures of dresses you like or visit websites like The Knot, Wedding Channel or Brides.com to search through their photo galleries of bridal gowns. Save the photo even if a gown is out of your price range, so you can look for a similar style in a lower price range or find the dress at a discount.
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Visit designer bridal boutiques during the winter and summer when sample sales happen and save up to 80 percent, according to The Knot. Shop once-a-year sales at stores like Filene's Basement for deep discounts on bridal gowns; be prepared for large crowds and fierce competition to snag dresses. Have the dress cleaned, since many brides have likely tried on a sample dress.
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Select a bridesmaid dress, prom or formal dress in white to save hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a gown. Brides.com recommends adding fancy accessories like a brooch or wrap to dress up a more basic white gown.
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Opt to wear a family or friend's wedding gown so that the only cost to you is for alterations to make the dress perfectly yours. Search consignment shops, thrift shops and auction sites like eBay for gently used gowns at a reasonable price. Research the brand and the original price of the gown, and get a return policy in writing.
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Tips & Warnings
If you take a larger size than 8 -- the typical sample size -- a sample sale may not work for you. Have the dress taken in if you are smaller, but remember to account for alteration costs.
Avoid shopping for your wedding dress from discount dress websites; if the site goes out of business you will be out of luck, money and a dress.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
