Save on Wedding Attire: The Bride

Whether you dream of something rustic and lacy or smooth and chic wedding gowns can be a costly investment. But have no fear, there is hope for finding a fabulous gown at a reasonable price!

Option 1: Buy a Pre-Owned Gown

Opting for a pre-owned wedding dress is a GREAT way to cut down on your bridal attire costs. Not only can you save over 50%, but you will also be making an eco-friendly choice that the environment will thank you for. Your options for where to look are truly endless! I would suggest starting with some of the more established and tailored websites below like Pre-OwnedWeddingDresses.com, Once Wed, Nearly Newlywed, Bravo Bride, and Still White. Each of these sites are specially curated for weddings, so they are likely going to be a bit easier to navigate and not as overwhelming when it comes to the number of choices available.

I believe the experience of getting to try on wedding dresses with your loved ones and friends is such a fun, once-in-a-lifetime experience, so don't feel like you have to miss out even if you are buying pre-owned. Take a look at some designers or styles that you like from one of the sites below, go into the store to try some on, and then take your notes from the try-on experience and lock in your perfect combination.

If none of these wedding websites works for you, you can also try a less specialized option such as Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace, or OfferUp.

And if you want to be sure it will fit, go even more local and hit up a Thrift Shop (I often see 2-3 Wedding Dresses at Goodwill for $100 or less).

Finally, if you go with a pre-owned dress, you can choose to "pass it forward" by selling your dress at an even lower cost. You get some of your investment back + Another bride gets a fabulous gown at a great price + Mother Nature is singing your praises = WIN, WIN, WIN!

Note: Be careful when using any of these sites and make sure you read the fine print to find out what alterations may have been made (some are easy to reverse or change and others are not). And it should go without saying, but as with all things online, be sure to use good judgement and proper payment channels to ensure a successful and safe buying experience!

Option 2: Rent a Gown

If a pre-owned wedding dress doesn't suit your fancy, but you still want an affordable (earth-friendly) option, try renting! Not only do you relieve yourself of the hassle of figuring out what to do with your gown after the big day, but you may also find that renting can give you more custom, personalized options than buying pre-owned.

Check out Rent the Runway, Poshare, and Dare & Dazzle to begin your search. And don't forget to look for small businesses in your home town or city that rent out wedding gowns too!

Option 3: Buy a Sample Gown

Okay, so you go try on wedding dresses "just for fun" and find your DREAM GOWN, but it is wayyyy out of your budget.

Number 1: Take a breath..don't get depressed yet, but keep your expectations realistic.

Number 2: If it is too far out of your price range, you may want to take a look at pre-owned (see Option 1), but if it's more like several hundred dollars out of your range, you can ask the bridal salon if they would be willing to sell you the sample. The sample dress is literally the one you are wearing as you try them on. So generally they are perhaps a smidge dirty, may have a few small tears, and could have stretched out a bit depending on how long the gown has been on the rack. There are a lot of variables that may sway the salon one way or another (which are usually out of your control), so ask nicely, but don't be too sad if they say no...it just wasn't meant to be and there is an even better gown coming your way!

Final Tips for Saving on your Wedding Attire

Always Size-Up: If you are between two sizes when you get measured for a gown, always size-up. It is much easier (and thus cheaper) for a tailor to take away fabric than add fabric.
Negotiate: Weddings are one of those things in life that are (generally) negotiable. If you can, try to negotiate on your gown. Whether it is the price of the gown, additional accessories like a belt or veil, or perhaps in-house alterations, you can always try to negotiate. (This tip often works better with small, local stores than large nationwide retailers [*cough* David's Bridal *cough*] because they often have more autonomy over their merchandise and labor.)
Be smart about the material you select: One part of the Bride's wedding attire cost that is often over-looked are the alterations. They can add up so quickly and sometimes cost you as much as the gown itself. To avoid any crazy alteration pricing faux-pas, select a simple material that is easy to alter. Materials like lace (or anything with an intricate pattern) is harder (and more expensive) to alter due to the delicacy and need to make the pattern "match" where the alterations occur. Furthermore, sheer fabrics like silk or satin can be costly as the tailor will have to hand-stitch in order to avoid any noticeable seams. (If you are unsure what fabric you are trying on and what the alterations may look like, just ask the Bridal Salon. They should be able to give you a ballpark estimate.)

Go with a short dress: A knee or calf-length dress will save you money because there is generally less material required and also because you will not need to add a bustle, which is an expensive alteration.
Do something non-traditional: Just like anything in a budget wedding, the more creative you can get, the more money you can save. Do you have a mother or grandmother with a dress that you could alter and wear for your wedding? Would you be open to a dress that isn't white? Could you rock a custom pant-suit? Would you be okay with looking at close alternatives (Yes, I am giving you permission to go look at Prom Dresses for your wedding...just make sure you keep it classy ;) and of course still true to your style). Let your creative muscles shine and you will not be lead astray!

...And now, my final piece of advice...

Find something that makes you feel

FABULOUS, CONFIDENT, SEXY, & AMAZING