Where should I go to get a reasonably priced wedding dress??

rachealmezzic

Hi Friends:

I recently moved to DC from New Orleans. I am on the hunt for a wedding dress. I have gone to a few places in DC, but they are all way out of my budget. I am hoping its becuase i have only looked in the city. Do you guys recomend someplace maybe in maryland or virginia that i can go? Even DC, but i just find it hard to believe i will find a dress below $2000 in the city. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

LindsMullinix

Definitely venture outside of the city and that will help - check out TLC bridal in Frederick MD, I have heard tons of great things about them and I think all of their dresses are under 2k - they have lots of Maggie Sottero gowns there.  Also Potomac Bridals in Hagerstown, MD was my best expeirence  by far (although I didnt actually go to TLC to compare the two - my schedule never worked with their availability) At potomac bridals I NEVER felt rushed, or pushed, they were SO helpful and their prices are never marked up (most are under 2k as well)...I found a dress I loved at Hannalores in Alexandria for $2850, at Potomac Bridals the same dress was $2299 - the MSRP - just to give you an idea. 

rachealmezzic

Wow! thank you so much!! i will definately check these places out!!

emisi

I went to Distinctive Designs Bridal in Rockville.  I got a Pronovias there for $1500, and they even were able to get it rush shipped without any extra cost!  Highly recommended.

fchan1

I went to Chevy Chase Bridal and ended up buying my dress there during a Two by Rosa Clara trunk show. My dress was originally $1800 but with the trunk show discount, I got 10% off. Including a flat DC tax of $80 (the shop is technically in DC but right near Bethesda, MD) and shipping, the whole thing ended up being just over $1900. The salon is really pretty and brand new and the manager is wonderful!
I also recommend Maria's Bridal in Fairfax - they carry a large selection dresses in all price points. White Swan Bridal in Vienna is also recommended since their boutique is a good size and they carry a wide selection as well. The only thing with White Swan is that the owner can be a little abrasive but she really does know her stuff.
There's also Priscilla of Boston in Tysons Corner - I think there's a sale going on right now actually. Their dresses are generally more expensive, but with the sale discount, I'm sure that some of their Vineyard line dresses can fall under $2K.
Good luck and have fun shopping! 

katemvirginia

TLC Bridal in Frederick MD is AMAZING & so reasonable. They do not pressure you & treat you so well. Penny was my dressing room attendant & the owner Terry is so sweet as well! I got my dress in one month after I ordred it! LOL

rmichalak

Obviously, David's Bridal will have those prices. A friend got her's at Jeanette's Bridal in Manassas, VA

Good luck!

doingathing

I Do I Do in Gaithersburg. They sell both new and consignment dresses, and many of their new dresses are inexpensive brands (as far as weddings go). I bought a Joli Bridal gown there for $600, and they also carry Anjolique, Alfred Angelo, and a few others.

rachealmezzic

Thank you so much!!!! This advice is great! i will be checking all of these places out!!

razdazzle

The dress I ended up purchasing at Terri Lynn Bridal in Bethesdal was just under 2K - and someone recently asked if it was Vera Wang (showed a pic to a hair stylist) - it looks more expensive that it was I guess.

Most of the dresses *if not all* that I tried on at Distinctive Bridal in Rockville were under 2K, my advice would be to make a weekday evening appointment if you go here.  They can get pretty crowded on the weekends.

Some of the lines in Priscilla of Boston are under or at 2K - Vineyard, Jewel, Reverie.

Good luck and happy shopping!

MHeming

My dress is an Alfred Angelo dress and was only $600.  I got it at a store in PA, but they are opening an Alfred Angelo store in Springfield.  The store opens on Saturday.

White Swan in Vienna is great, too.  All my bridesmaids got their dresses there.  The owner is a bit abrasive, but she knows her stuff. 

rachealmezzic

thanks so much!!!

JMU_Bride09

Moni's Bridal Boutique in Manassas....I know you can get dresses for $1000 or less

LiaDee

It's a bit of a drive from DC, but I loved the selection at Leesburg Bridal in Leesburg, VA. I thought the ladies were very helpful too! In my opinion, they just had a wider array of different/unique dresses! 

I did a lot of online research first and found out where the designer I really liked (Maggie Sotterro) was sold in the area!

Good luck!!!!

littleyello

After visiting literally more than a dozen stores here, I ended up ordering a dress I tried on at a store. BUT I ordered from RK Bridal Online. They are a mega store in NY. They will beat any price you're quoted and they don't charge for shipping.  Many of the South Florida knotties have ordered from there for their gowns and BM dresses and had great reviews.

2dBride

It's a bit of a trek, but NotFroofy and I had a wonderful experience at La Bella Bridal Boutique in Occoquan, VA.

 

When we made our appointment the owner, Ellalyne Brayman, asked us about our preferences and sizes, so she could have some items picked out for us before we even arrived.   When we arrived, we were the only people in the store, and Ellalyne gave us her full attention. She listened carefully to our preferences, and had an eye for what would look good on us, so we weren't trying on a bunch of impossible gowns. LaBella has consignment gowns as well as new ones, which helped keep the price down. (And she didn't try to push us toward more expensive ones than we could afford.) Throughout the visit, she was warm and gracious.  And unlike some salons, she worked to find something that would look good with our figures, instead of suggesting that we were the "wrong" size or shape.

 

Both of us found "the dress" there. In each case, it was a dress that we never would have given a second glance to on the rack. However, Ellalyne picked it out, and it turned out to be perfect, with clean, elegant lines that covered our problem figure areas and enhanced our good areas.

rachealmezzic

Thanks ladies!!! This is great info! i feel confident in my search with all this info!!!

jemily2010

I got mine at Jeanette's Bridal in Manassas -- a very unassuming place in a strip mall off the main road, but a lovely selection, very accommodating staff, and nice mirrors for comparison!! 

I came in without an appointment (figured on a weekeday afternoon, I could!  Um, nope!). They said they were booked all afternoon, but I could look around.  When they saw me eyeing the dress that would ultimately be "it," the woman who was working the phones actually offered to assist me so I could try it on.  Then she let me try on a few others as comparisons, never rushed me.  It was great.

Great experience there and affordable -- I got a great discount on my dress because it was a sample.  I don't know if that's always the case there, but worth a look.

joannalovesreggie

This may be totally different from what you are envisioning, but I did the Running of the Brides last year at Filene's Basement in Mazza Gallerie and I found the perfect dress for $250!!!   This year it is on Friday, July 30.  I went with my Mom and 3 bridesmaids.  We got there around 6:30 AM and the line was already long, so the earlier you get there the better.  It's an adventure but it's well worth it for both the experience and the deals!  I personally didn't need any alterations so it really was well worth it for me, but at those prices if you have to get it altered it doesn't hurt so much.
Here's a link: http://filenes.weddingwire.com/

keri_hurst

I am origionally from Los Angeles and I live in DC now.  I went dress shopping in LA with friends and family.  As you can imagine, the prices were astronomical.  I found the dress that I loved in LA and went on a MASSIVE internet hunt!  I eventually found the dress online at a bridal salon in Colorado.  I felt comfortabel with the purchase because I had tried it on (in LA) and I researched the bridal store on the BBB website.  I STRONGLY suggest this for your dress and bridesmaids dressses!!  I just googled the name and style of the dress.  BUT beware, if a price is too good to be true it probably is, I saw a lot of "reproductions".  I also got my invitations from a website from a store in Michigan.  USE THE INTERNET!!!  Just be sure to do your research!!!

rachealmezzic

Thanks guys! These ideas are great. I am def. doing the running of the brides so thanks for the suggestion! and got it. If i find a dress do my research on the internet first! thanks so much!

bebe876

TLC is absolutely wonderful... The ladies are great... I had a good experience at Potomac Bridals as well.  I do I do wedding gowns.. I would not recommend them to anyone. They are rude, they do not let you take pictures and they give you a 6 dress limit.. I dont like to feel like Im being rushed. I had a list of 8 dresses from their website and they only had 1. Then they placed me in a gown that I really liked than refused to give me the style number.. I just didnt have a good feeling when I left there.

hellofromdc

If you have patience, time and flexibility, try craigslist if you're on the market for a used dress. There are a lot of wedding dresses listed - most used, a few un-used.  

aghouston86

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_november-2011-weddings_e-pics-pip?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:651Discussion:534f46eb-d841-4fc5-a005-6aea190317a4Post:f1443409-4767-49d8-a44f-20786357e59a">Re: AW E-Pics!! PIP</a>:
[QUOTE]Yay! I love the brick wall one!
Posted by NatesGirl16[/QUOTE]
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