How representative of the average NJ bride's gown budget is Say Yes to the Dress?

AJuliaNJ · November 2012

I was planning to spend around $3000 and thought that was a lot until I started watching this show. It seems that every time a bride walks in with a budget like this, they have very little to show and she ends up with a much more expensive dress. Are most people spending over $3000 on a dress or does the show just feature a higher income bracket to make it more interesting?

kap05 · November 2012

$3000 is plenty for a dress and I think you will have no problem finding beautiful gowns for that much.

garbasaurus · November 2012

Most stores will have tons to show you with that kind of budget. Just don't go there! hehe

HobokensFury · November 2012

It's a tv show. They want you to think you have to spend big bucks on a dress. I've been to 10 weddings in the past 2 years including my own and not one bride spent close to 3k on a dress. Don't let the tv poison your brain.

[Deleted User] · November 2012

You will be fine with $3000. I spent under $1500 including alterations and accessories, and I had plenty of options to choose from at most stores. Don't let the TV fool you.

Danes983 · November 2012

I went to Kleinfelds with a 2500 budget and didnt feel they had a lot to show me. And what they did was very plain. I didnt want a lot of beads but something. I ended up finding plenty of places with lots to show me for way less than my budget. So lots of options.

SewInLoveWithDMB · November 2012

I dunno, dresses are expensive.

It depends on what you are looking for in a dress:

Fabric - silk or polyester? Lots of high end lace, or not. Hand beading? I've tried on dresses that were about $600 and then tried on $8000+. A lace up back gown is a giveaway for a less expensive dress since it does not need to fit in as many places - as in, you lace it tighter or looser where necessary; the designer does not need to make it a "perfect fit." I've attended weddings where they brides wear Monique Lhuillier or Badgley Mischka, and then others with dresses from David's Bridal. All looked pretty. It really depends on what you like most. I work in the fashion field so this stuff is important to me, but others might not be able to tell the difference. And it isn't the price of the dress that really stands out, but how flattering the style is on each girl.

From what I have tried on and seen, the lower ends are David's Bridal, Maggie Sottero, Alvina Valenta. Mid range is Christos and Pronovias.. Higher is Rivini , Claire Pettibone and Jenny Packham, and highest is Monique Lhuillier, Vera Wang, Peter Langner.

For $1000, in my opinion, the dress options were very blah - and that surprised me. However, David's Bridal has some really impressive, flattering gowns at the lower range of the price spectrum. They have interesting silhouettes that are not just white strapless dresses, but the quality of lace and fabric is not as high as high end designers (duh). But, they are really quite beautiful gowns.

For $3000, there should be a decent selection. Try trunk shows or sample sales as well. My only advice would for a higher price to make sure that the dress you choose has some sort of "wow" factor that really makes it stand out above and beyond a less expensive dress - other wise, why bother?

JoeAnne2013 · November 2012

You will have no trouble finding a gown in your price range. I alotted $2,000.00 for a gown and came in under that.

My gown was originally marked at $2,432.00, thankfully to a trunk sale I was able to get it at $1,832.00 (My gown is Demetrios Ultra Sophisticates Style 1434 purchased from the salon in Macys located in Menlo Park Mall, I highly recommend them, the customer service has been phenomenal).

Anyway, there are TONS of amazing gowns out there within your price range. Try designers such as Maggie Sottero, Demetrios and Mori Lee, the bulk of their gowns should definitely be in your price range.

Normally I wouldn't suggest Davids Bridal because I hated their customer service, but I do have to say, they have super affordable gowns that are very pretty, especially their designer lines. Alfred Angelo was another chain that has some pretty gowns at great prices.

Good luck and enjoy gown hunting!

xxstardust · November 2012

Know that prices are often moreso store dependent, not necessarily line dependent. Some lines are of course more expensive than others, but Kleinfields has a higher markup then any other store I can think of in the NYC area - which is likely pricier than many other US locations to begin with. Full disclosure: my mom is in customer service and my uncle is also involved in a formal company. I won't say who she works for, but Kleinfeld's carries dresses from the company. Kleinfeld's sells their dresses at a higher pricepoint than other stores in the area. Their markup is crazy. Don't let the Kleinfelds/SYTTD budget get you totally discouraged - you can get something beautiful with $3000.

ANON920 · November 2012

delete

tropicalpalmleaf · November 2012

My dress after alterations is 2000 and it is the first dress I ever fell in love with - Maggie Sottero Bernadette. To me, this dress looks like it is worth so much more.

AJuliaNJ · November 2012

Thanks! Where is a good place near Bergen County to shop for gowns?

blueikaos · November 2012

I just paid $199 for mine brand new! I absoultely fell in love with it!

How representative of the average NJ bride's gown budget is Say Yes to the Dress?

Re: How representative of the average NJ bride's gown budget is Say Yes to the Dress?

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