Budget Wedding Dress frustrations

mandi195 · January 2013

I'm in search of a wedding gown that is under $1000, preferably closer to $500. Does anyone know of any national shops/chains other than David's Bridal that would offer something in this price range?

ohmrs2014 · January 2013

Alfred Angelo has some dresses in the price range.

Maggie0829 · January 2013

You could go to local bridal salons and let them know what your budget is. You may be surprised as to how many dresses they have available. A lot of times you can get a very nice sample dress from a great designer at a sale price.

You can also take a peek at pre owned dress websites. Search by price and see what comes up. You can then try those dresses on in salons to see if you like the look and fit and then purchase it through the website.

mandi195 · January 2013

thanks for the information, ladies. I'm so stressed about this, since my budget had to be drastically cut due to medial issues. Fingers crossed I find something perfect that I can afford!

Marti66 · January 2013

If you find something contact Pearlsplace.com or Netbride they both sell for great prices and you will save there.

AdeleDazeem · January 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_budget-wedding-dress-frustrations?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:15Discussion:07342a0b-adff-4713-a764-c09b1852154bPost:7aacc6c8-b020-48a4-82e1-237307c8bbbf">Budget Wedding Dress frustrations</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm in search of a wedding gown that is under $1000, preferably closer to $500. Does anyone know of any national shops/chains other than David's Bridal that would offer something in this price range?
Posted by mandi195[/QUOTE]

Most bridal shops will have dresses in that range. I went to several boutique stores around Philadelphia. I said the max budget was $1000. I was shown many many MANY dresses.

My gown (you can see in my married bio) was $800 from Casablanca. Beautiful, perfect, and everything in between. Don't limit yourself to David's Bridal - there is so much more out there!

BostonGIrl4732 · January 2013

My dress was under $1000 and it was a Mori Lee dress.

Grozikn · January 2013

I went to a local boutique that was closing and got an Oleg Cassini ballgown for $150... just look for bargains, you will find one.

QueerFemme · January 2013

Mori Lee, Casablanca and Alfred Angelo all have dresses under $1000.00. I tried a few on that were in the $700.00 range. If you go to their websites, and look for salons in your area that carry those designers, you should be able to find plenty of dresses in your price range.

I tried to go to salons that carried at least 2 of the designers I was looking at, so I would have more choices.

itzMS · January 2013

I see you're from WI?

I heard about this event on the radio...great cause, and it looks like some great gowns at bargain prices. I'd suggest you give it a shot at the very least since it's a free event...

http://www.marriedinmilwaukee.com/brides-against-breast-cancer

MoonlightSilver · January 2013

Ask the salons about sample dresses. My dress was over $1000 if I bought a new one, but they sold me the sample for less than that.

firsttimersluck · January 2013

Outlets. I got my gown from an outlet (basically a sample sale) for well under 1g and the gown was originally about 2g. HUGE price cut and it was in perfect condition

Pookieson · January 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_budget-wedding-dress-frustrations?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:15Discussion:07342a0b-adff-4713-a764-c09b1852154bPost:1561535e-1428-4eec-aaa2-dc805aa57dc3">Re: Budget Wedding Dress frustrations</a>:
[QUOTE]I was adverse to David's because of all the bad stuff you hear, but honestly, they have a lot of really nice dresses at good prices. I tried on dresses at two different David's and had a great experience at both. Their dresses are good, just stay away from their alterations.
Posted by Liatris2010[/QUOTE]

All of this. I had a great experience at David's Bridal, but I am getting my alterations done elsewhere.

mandi195 · January 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_budget-wedding-dress-frustrations?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:15Discussion:07342a0b-adff-4713-a764-c09b1852154bPost:74937cbd-02f8-41a6-bc5a-bfa47a5f05a0">Re: Budget Wedding Dress frustrations</a>:
[QUOTE]I see you're from WI? I heard about this event on the radio...great cause, and it looks like some great gowns at bargain prices. I'd suggest you give it a shot at the very least since it's a free event... <a href="http://www.marriedinmilwaukee.com/brides-against-breast-cancer" rel="nofollow">http://www.marriedinmilwaukee.com/brides-against-breast-cancer</a>
Posted by itzMS[/QUOTE]

Awesome suggestion. I've already registered and printed my"tickets".

Everyone else, thank you for the suggestions and ideas. I guess I didn't realize there were so many dresses in my budget... maybe the fact that so many I've looked at are out of my budget is due to what appears to expensive taste (I didn't realize I had expensive taste!)
Thanks again!

loca4pook · January 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_budget-wedding-dress-frustrations?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:15Discussion:07342a0b-adff-4713-a764-c09b1852154bPost:7aacc6c8-b020-48a4-82e1-237307c8bbbf">Budget Wedding Dress frustrations</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm in search of a wedding gown that is under $1000, preferably closer to $500. Does anyone know of any national shops/chains other than David's Bridal that would offer something in this price range?
Posted by mandi195[/QUOTE]

My casablanca was under 1000

QueerFemme · January 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_budget-wedding-dress-frustrations?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:15Discussion:07342a0b-adff-4713-a764-c09b1852154bPost:375215a7-15bd-4f38-ae4a-df180ce56d52">Re: Budget Wedding Dress frustrations</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Budget Wedding Dress frustrations : Awesome suggestion. I've already registered and printed my"tickets". Everyone else, thank you for the suggestions and ideas. I guess I didn't realize there were so many dresses in my budget... maybe the fact that so many I've looked at are out of my budget is due to what appears to expensive taste (I didn't realize I had expensive taste!) Thanks again!
Posted by mandi195[/QUOTE]

I had the same problem. I did find though, that many of the lower priced designers usually have a gown very similar in style or cut as a more expensive designer. So, if you fall in love with something that is $1800.00, cruise the designers I mentioned. They will almost always have something similar. Maybe not exact embellishments or train or something, but pretty close.

I saw a dress on say yes to the dress a few days ago that was $2800.00. It looked almost identical to my Mori Lee, which was under $1100.00 after tax.

thejucheidea · January 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_budget-wedding-dress-frustrations?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:15Discussion:07342a0b-adff-4713-a764-c09b1852154bPost:74937cbd-02f8-41a6-bc5a-bfa47a5f05a0">Re: Budget Wedding Dress frustrations</a>:
[QUOTE]I see you're from WI? I heard about this event on the radio...great cause, and it looks like some great gowns at bargain prices. I'd suggest you give it a shot at the very least since it's a free event... <a href="http://www.marriedinmilwaukee.com/brides-against-breast-cancer" rel="nofollow">http://www.marriedinmilwaukee.com/brides-against-breast-cancer</a>
Posted by itzMS[/QUOTE]
That's where I got my wedding dress. It was $200.

BelleBride13 · January 2013

I second the consignment shop suggestion. I bought my $2,000 dress for $500 (brand new with tags). There were lots of styles to pick from, not just the traditional dresses. Also, look into Brides Against Breast Cancer. I wanted to buy my dress from them, but there wasn't a sale near me and I fell in love with a dress.