Wedding Dress Shopping-- where to go?

AmberMarieTX

So, I am going to start my hunt soon. My budget is not extremely high for a wedding gown. I'm thinking 800 MAX after all alterations and probably including shoes.

I am not opposed to David's and I will be going there, but where else should I go for budget friendly boutiques? I plan on going with my mom, and I don't want to feel "out of our league." I am not opposed to driving anywhere in the DFW.

If it matters, I love the look of lace and vintage, as well as modern styles.

swilson7921

You should definitely check online if you like vintage stuff. People on etsy.com make custom dresses as well as bluevelvetvintage.com - They both have amazing stuff at very reasonable prices!

Keep your eye out for trunk shows, too! You can get some good deals when they come around.

Good Luck!

AmberMarieTX

by the way... what's with these replica dress websites with super cheap deals? I googled the dress and style I love to see if I can find a price online for it, and it came up to buyer100.com which had the dress at insanely cheap.. I'm assuming too good to be true is the case here? I don't want my dress to look like a Halloween costume, but I'm also hoping to save for a dress I will wear on one day.

CJandML

I would suggest Anonymously Yours. They have a large selection of dresses that are past season or previously worn. They don't have that many in the larger sizes, but if you are an 8, 10, 12 they have a good starting amount. They don't allow pictures and have a super fast method of putting you in a dress. I liked Laura the best out of all the girls who worked their.

Denton Bridal Co. is a good store to go too. They have a large amount of dresses and if you purchase your gown from them you get 10% if you have your bridesmaid get their dresses from their.

Bliss bridal might still be having their sample sale. They are a little out of your budget, but I don't know how much their are discounted though it might bring them to in your budget.

Are you interested in renting your gown?

CJandML

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AmberMarieTX

I love love some of those cute vintage dresses on Etsy...

But maybe I should clarify that the most vintage I can imagine myself going is something like this:
http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv56/wedo2009/SM-224-1.jpg?t=1256974300
or
http://www.milanoo.com/upen/v/200903/Sash-V-neck-Satin-Lace-Wedding-Dress-6125-1.jpg without the belt.

but, I am also totally in love with this dress, but I wish it had atleast one strap
-1&src=-1&keep=-1" rel="nofollow">http://www.theknot.com/wedding-dress/essense-of-australia/D1118?ctx=-1:-1-1&src=-1&keep=-1

AmberMarieTX

CJandML- I got a msg from ringonthefinger (user not recognized) but not you. Did you email me?

About renting- I am a sentamentalist, so I am definitely planning on keeping my dress. But I'm not opposed to buying used... but my awkward body would probably make it not worth it. I am 5'10" in flats, shaped like a... weird pear. lol

Thanks for the info, ladies, keep them coming.

NMac2010

Try Lewisville Bridal Boutique.

Sometimes they have really good sales, and you can find things off the rack upstairs that are on sale within your price range. Just stay open though, as far as what you're looking for. Generally speaking, it will be hard to find something with nice lace under $800. Lace tends to be more on the expensive side.

GL!

Donnaaries

Circle Park Bridal in Addison.  Their off the rack selection is mostly under $800.

bsn1752

buyer100.com .... its a scam.... google it!

Your best bet is to buy from an actual store or somewhere here in the US.  netbride.com is a great place to shop once you have tried the actual dress on.

With that said, I bought my dress at Emma's Bridal Boutique in Red Oak for $590.  You can get within your budget anywhere (almost)... you just have to tell them that your budget is firm. HTH!

MissesKB

Shop around. Shop around. Shop around. Don't let your budget restrict you to discount stores. David's would be the LAST place I would go. No offense to anyone that went there, but their prices are too much for the quality. Anyway find 1 or 2 dresses that you love, and shop around for the best prices. Pearls' Place in Louisiana, and Jay's Bridal in Florida take online orders. They are usually a lot cheaper than local places and will ship the dresses. RK bridal in NYC does the same thing. Local shops will deter you from online ordering. TOO many brides have had success with this method and I don't see a problem with it. I got my dress from Georgio's in Waco. Their regular price was $600 cheaper than Lewisville Bridal's regular price. Good Luck!! 

AmberMarieTX

So basically I need to write down all the brands and model numbers of the dresses I like and then call around and google to find the best deals?

Is it awkward to ask for the style numbers of dresses I like when I'm in a store? Like to be visibly writing them down.. I mean I have always been a bargain hunter, so I guess I will just have to do it and not worry about what they think.. surely they would understand deep down.

bsn1752

YES!  Go somewhere - try them on... get your favs and tell them thank you.  Shop around!!! There is no shame in that!  It's EXACTLY what I did and I ended up getting the dress for almost half of the original cost!

MarieSD

I didn't get the style number of the dress I liked when I first tried it on, but I searched the designer's website until I found a picture of the right dress. So even if you don't get the style number - if you have the designer's name, you can probably find it later.

(For the record, I called the shop, months after I'd tried it on, and they refused to give me the style number over the phone...I would have to come into the store, which is several states away from TX. Ridiculous.)

I drove to Denton Bridal Co and Lewisville Bridal Boutique to try and find the dress to try it on again. Loved Bridal Co - it seemed like ALL the dresses were in my budget (which is $500) and there was a huge area with dresses more like $99-$200. They didn't have my dress to try on.

When I went to Bridal Boutique next, it was like a whole different world - nearly all the dresses I saw were in the thousands of dollars. I didn't see any in my budget. Even the dress I wanted was priced $300 higher than the designer's suggested retail. Pretty shop, but it wasn't for me.

I still want to try the dress on, but I'm planning to go back to Bridal Co to order it, unless someone else can somehow beat their price.

I also checked bravobride.com, oncewed.com, recycledbride.com, and ebay and found the dress (some new with tags) on each of those sites. Still have them bookmarked in case I decide to go that route instead.

ewinkler1977

I would check out Circle Park Bridal. They had dresses for under $800.

MarieSD

Oh, and I'm planning to have some kind of straps added to my (strapless) dress after I buy it. I've asked every shop I've visited and they've all said yes, it's definitely doable, they can recommend someone who will do a good job, and a lot of brides have straps added to strapless dresses. So that's something, if you find a dress you really like but want straps.

MLandCJ

This is CJandML. I made a new name because for some reason I had two different names showing up. One on the boards and one for private messages. Strange.

That was me that sent the link, I will just use this name from now on.

tam427

I have found lots of stores that carry lower cost designers like Madeleine Gardner (Mori Lee) who runs between $500-$800, I've heard Lulu's in Dallas and Bridal Co. in Denton are good, and I would also check A Bridal Closet in Willow Bend Mall, it's the outlet for Stardust/Lulu's. I'm doing research as well so I can go shopping soon!

brhinkle

Be CAREFUL with mori lee, i ordered my dress from them at bridal co. in denton and it was supposed to come to me by 06-10-10( the promised very latest)... and now theyre saying that they will not sell too many mori lees becuase of the awful shipment times...36 weeks?! dont get me wrong i love my dress but i wish i would have know they were notorious for being turtles...

MarieSD

Wow, thanks for the heads up, brhinkle. The dress I want is a Mori Lee and I was planning to order it from Bridal Co.

Edited months later in case anyone finds this thread later: I went to Circle Park Bridal and purchased the Mori Lee dress I'd wanted for a great price. They told me it might take 4 months, but some were coming in way earlier than that - and my dress ended up coming in less than TWO WEEKS after I ordered it.

Apparently there was a problem with Mori Lee dresses earlier this spring/summer - I have a friend whose Mori Lee came in only a few days before her June wedding and like the earlier poster, that was at Bridal Co - but I don't think it's still a problem. Or at least it's not a problem for every store, every dress, every time.

I was almost scared off from buying a Mori Lee because of the possible shipping delays - just wanted to make an update that it worked out fine for me.

BanannaP

I know Alfred Angelo is another chain that a lot of people turn their noses up at, but I had a great experience there. They have dresses in a wide range of prices, and I feel like it's a good compromise between David's Bridal and the more expensive boutiques. I went to the one in Frisco, and they were very sweet, and my sister said they were really nice to her when she went to order her bridesmaid's dress last week.

That being said, I went to buy my veil at Circle Park Bridal a couple weeks ago, and their salon is beautiful. I really wanted to shop there, but I can't fit in sample sizes

tam427

Yes, thanks brhinkle!  I'll be sure to ask the shipment time before I place an order. That is just ridiculous. I would expect 4-5 months, but 9??

stupid&lucky

My daughter is getting married 10-10-10, her dress is similar to your 2nd link AND we are selling her dress after the wedding.  It is a David's Bridal style VW9768, we love it and she was also looking for something on the vintage side.

http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Lace-Cap-sleeve-Trumpet-with-Keyhole-Back-and-Sash-VW9768

She is 5' 7" so the height is about right, and we felt the dress was very flattering.  It is a 14 and is more true to size than the majority of the other gowns she tried.  Before this one was purchased, she was able to try on a 12 at David's Bridal in Lewisville and still managed to get it zipped and all (she checked around and the only 14 she could find was in Houston, so we tried the 12)  If you are interested in considering/seeing it, let me know.  

Regardless, good luck with your hunt.

dannag75

Circle Park would be my top choice
Terry Costa also has some good deals well within your price range!

Also, Alfred Angelo will be having a sale in the next couple of days!

good luck

cc1019

I went to Terry Costa and they have a wide range of types of dresses and prices.  They are also very accomodating and NOT pushy.  They let you try as many dresses as you like with no time limits.  After trying on tons of dresses at MANY stores, I went back to Terry Costa and found my dream dress.  Good Luck!