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Dress Deals?

k@tk@t member
First Comment
in Connecticut
Hi Knotties -
I've poured through the archives, looking at all of the suggestions for dress shops, but wanted to ask a more specific question.

My fiancee and I are paying for everything ourselves, which means my dress budget is only $500.  I'm fine with consignment (or even DB), but wanted to see if there were other suggestions.  My mom is coming in from the Midwest to go dress shopping with me this weekend, and I'm planning on going to Mariellas and Love Me Two Times - where else might we look for inexpensive dresses?

Thanks in advance for your advice!
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Re: Dress Deals?

  • estegemanestegeman member
    Third Anniversary 100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Sometimes stores have designer samples that they sell around $500.  White Dress By The Shore in Clinton, CT has quite a few samples that start at $500.  It's worth a shot to browse through what they have.  Usually a sample size is an 8-12. 

    Good Luck! 
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  • daniellelmilczakdaniellelmilczak member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    If you're willing to go for a  little drive, there's the Bridal Barn in Greenfield, MA I think. They had a bunch of stuff "as is" and in a range of sizes. Lots of pretty things as I glanced through. Are you also going to go to Mariella's Attic? The woman there was very nice. Also, my coworker got a brand new dress for like $500 from the Niantic Bridal Mall down in Niantic.
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  • SuMmErKuTiESuMmErKuTiE member
    2500 Comments Fourth Anniversary 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    I got my dress at a Trunk Show for the designer that I liked. My dress was a Maggie Sottero and I got it for $615. If I were you, I'd call around to the different shops and see if they're having any trunk shows in the near future or if they have any designer samples they are willing to part with for a discount.

    Be careful with David's Bridal.. their dresses are cheap, but their alterations prices can be outrageous.
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  • Lauren1333Lauren1333
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011

    i agree with calling around for trunk shows.  good luck!

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  • MaryKatie3MaryKatie3
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    If you are a size 10 or smaller you can usually buy the sample from the store.  I went to Ragtime Boutique in watertown and the sample fit perfectly so she let me buy it for half price! It was over $500 but I am sure you can get some others!

    Also etsy.com has some good ones!
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  • mwitter80mwitter80
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    The Bridal Mall in Niantic, CT has a ton of stuff in that range.  They are also having a blowout sale on the 24th. 
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  • starrbuk13starrbuk13 member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_connecticut_dress-deals?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:65Discussion:05afad3a-35fb-49ef-882b-0f8213e2da31Post:304c5ee3-3dd9-49de-b0ec-8da21a3dc81d">Re: Dress Deals?</a>:
    [QUOTE]The Bridal Mall in Niantic, CT has a ton of stuff in that range.  They are also having a blowout sale on the 24th. 
    Posted by mwitter80[/QUOTE]

    <div>ditto.  i got my dress during one of their blowout sales for $250.  they have dresses in all sizes, but mostly sizes 8-12 i think (but remember that's like sizes 4-10 in real life).  all the dresses are samples and you cannot order a dress or even see their normal stock during a blowout sale.  Oct 24th is the next one.</div><div>
    </div><div><a href="http://www.bridalmallbride.com/index2.php">http://www.bridalmallbride.com/index2.php</a></div><div>
    </div><div>also, another knottie got ordered hers from Pearl's Place.  she found a dress up here that she loved, but ordered it through them for much much less (like 60% off i think).  if she doesn't respond, you should page her...it was akulaji.  the website is <a href="http://www.pearlsplace.com/">http://www.pearlsplace.com/</a> </div>
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  • wrdgirlwrdgirl member
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_connecticut_dress-deals?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:65Discussion:05afad3a-35fb-49ef-882b-0f8213e2da31Post:304c5ee3-3dd9-49de-b0ec-8da21a3dc81d">Re: Dress Deals?</a>:
    [QUOTE]The Bridal Mall in Niantic, CT has a ton of stuff in that range.  They are also having a blowout sale on the 24th. 
    Posted by mwitter80[/QUOTE]

    Ditto as well!  I had a budget and didn't want to pay over $400 for my dress and thanks to a fellow Knottie I decided to visit their sample sale.  I ended up deciding between 2 sample dresses: one is about $250 and the other about $350.  I ended up with the $350 one.

    I am petite and normally wear size 2 or 4 and they had it in my size.  Just a small reminder though, make sure everything is somewhat intact.  Because it's a sample it will have defects.  Some of my dress' embellishments are falling off so I am need to bring it to a tailor of some sort to get them fixed but otherwise I love what I got for the price I got :)

    And yes also try the online wedding dress sites (netbride.com, pearl's place etc) if you know what you want after trying some dresses on.  A couple of dresses I liked I was able to get 200 to 300 dollars less than what the stores are charging me.  However, I didn't go with them because they were still over my budget.

    Oh also look for out of season dresses if you can or used dresses if you don't have a problem with that.

    Good luck!
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  • Vikki2payVikki2pay member
    Sixth Anniversary 1000 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    Also try looking on the Trash to Treasure board on the nest, people put dresses up all the time.

    http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/5440370/ShowForum.aspx

    Or if you want to be brave you can always try ebay, just stay away from the companies in china, they do mostly knock offs.  The dress in my siggy I bought on ebay for $50, so it's worth checking out.
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  • KellyJayDKellyJayD
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I got my dress at the running of the brides it was a fun experience. I got my dress for less than $300!
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  • akulajiakulaji
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_connecticut_dress-deals?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:65Discussion:05afad3a-35fb-49ef-882b-0f8213e2da31Post:3af8bb24-dfee-4fa5-bcd0-5fde960d0582">Re: Dress Deals?</a>:
    [QUOTE]also, another knottie got ordered hers from Pearl's Place.  she found a dress up here that she loved, but ordered it through them for much much less (like 60% off i think).  if she doesn't respond, you should page her...it was akulaji.  the website is  <a href="http://www.pearlsplace.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.pearlsplace.com/</a>  
    Posted by starrbuk13[/QUOTE]
    That's me!  Yes, I found a Watters dress that Julie Allen Bridal wanted to charge me $1000 for.. (I had a bad experience there, so I didn't want to buy the dress from them... long story)  I called Pearl's Place and they quoted me just under $400.  With shipping I think it came to $416.  I also ordered my BM dresses there... great service and very fast shipping.  My dress came in in 2 1/2 months.  They estimated 3.  The BM dresses came in early too.  They will give you a quote over the phone if you provide them with the designer and style #.
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  • abm10387abm10387
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Brides to Be in Glastonbury is a consignment shop that has a 15% off coupon right now. I just got my dress there. The women there are so nice and helpful. I got a Maggie Sottero dress for $700. You buy right off the rack, so it has to be in your size and they get it cleaned for you for free. They also have a woman who does alterations and beadwork. I highly recommend them. It turns out that the dress I bought is brand new! It was from a bride who bought herself 3 dresses and couldn't choose.
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  • abm10387abm10387
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Print the coupon off before you go! They only advertise this online!!!
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  • maxxwedmaxxwed member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Go to Love Me Two Times in Taftville!!! They have a huge selection and great prices.  They are also coming to the CT Bridal Event next month, and will have a special $99 section. My planner recommends them.
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  • LaurenDarlingLaurenDarling member
    Eighth Anniversary 100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I saw on Facebook Julie Allen's is having a huge sample sale on the 24th, dresses starting at $99
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  • k@tk@t member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Thanks everyone!

    I actually found my dress at - at all places - David's Bridal!  I started out the shopping at Brides To Be, a wedding and formal consignment shop in Glastonbury.  The manager, Becca, was amazing - very helpful, and we ended up purchasing my mother's dress there.  I also went to the Bridal Mall in Niantic - although they seem to have a pretty good selection, there wasn't anything I liked in my size (and it's all off-the-rack now), and the salesperson I was working with was nice enough, but not incredibly helpful.

    I went to the DB in Manchester, and had Sam as a sales consultant.  She actually pulled the dress I chose, something I wouldn't have picked myself but looked fabulous on.  It fits perfectly off the rack (no paying for alterations!), and it's within my price range ($499 on sale for $450), and since we're getting the BM dresses from David's as well, I was excited about the $20 off we'll get for each of those.

    Again, thanks so much to everyone for your suggestions!
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