Wedding dress cost

Cackle6 · April 2011

Ok, so I'm watching Say Yes to the Dress (and yes, I may be KUI just a little bit) and it got me curious as to what a IRL bride acutally pays for her wedding dress. So if you feel comfortable sharing, how much did you pay for your dress (or how much you plan on paying for your dress)? And what was the deciding factor in your purchase (IE, if it was over your budget, what about the dress made you go for it despite being over budget?).

I can not wait to go dress shopping. I've *almost* gone with another TK friend of mine who is in the exact same postion as I am, but we take turns talking eachother down, heh.

LaRositaMonita · April 2011

Mine cost almost exactly a grand, but with alterations and the veil we went a little over. I was very intent of staying within budget and we hit it on te nose - I wanted to spend right around $1000, especially because this was the one and only thing that my mom paid for.

drink227 · April 2011

Same as LRM, but my alterations weren't too much because a family friend did them. Veil and Slip I got on ebay.

Cackle6 · April 2011

Oh, I wasn't even thinking about the veil and alterations (shows how not close to getting married I am, heh). So let's just go with the dress itself.

LaRositaMonita · April 2011

Would it also be helpful to specify where we got the dress/what the designer was? FWIW, mine was a Casablanca (style 1900) purchased at Jefre Bridal in Greenbook, NJ.

Cackle6 · April 2011

Well, I was just going for cost in general, but if where you bought it would automatically make it a little more than normal, then yeah, maybe. But I really don't know since I have not been dress shopping yet (not for want of going! but I've been a good NEY girl and not gone dress shopping yet, even though it is a *when* and not *if* at this point, heh)

I was just more curious than anything, after watching some of these girls on SYTTD

Beagle211 · April 2011

My dress was ~$650. No alterations needed, just a bustle. The veil was $125.

My grandfather offered to buy my dress, as he bought my other cousin's wedding dresses. He gave me a budget of $800.

LaRositaMonita · April 2011

In my honest opinion, that show totally overblows and gives people a warped snse of what wedding dresses cost. The friend whose wedding I'm in was talking about this with me last summer, because his fiancee wanted to make an appt. at Kleinfeld's and asked me what I spent on my dress. She was shocked that I had "only" dropped a grand, because she was budgeting about $3,500 and assumed that what she saw on TV was the norm. Granted, she just bought a POB dress that is GORGEOUS and fits midway between my cost and her original budget, but I think that show definitely makes it seem like anything that isn't at least $3000 is cheap.

RecoveringActor · April 2011

I spent JUST under $1000. The dress was $995, but the Bridal & Tuxedo Shoppe takes $100 off if you pick your dress your first day looking... which I did... so it was $895. And I'm not paying for alterations because my FMIL is doing them. Also, I'm not having a veil because I don't like them on me.

Cackle6 · April 2011

Yeah, I also think they def blow up the cost of dresses on that show, but I do know a few friends who have been in the $6000-$8000 range and that just blows my mind! So I figured I would ask real life brides.

My brother's FI got a Maggie Sottero (which I LOVE) for $2000, which my dad thought was so much to spend on a dress, heh. Although I think if they weren't getting married in Ireland my dad wouldn't think that was that much, lol. Although I think it's a lot. But the dress was ridiculously gorgous on her, and her parents are loaded, so 2K was actually a lot less than I thought she would spend.

I'm sorry, I'm ranting. It's Friday night and I've had just a little bit of whipped cream vodka.

Cackle6 · April 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_pennsylvania-philadelphia_wedding-dress-cost?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:105Discussion:0966987e-7cdb-42ad-b520-9cba79a8b251Post:101bc64e-07c8-40bb-a5d8-786df90263ac">Re: Wedding dress cost</a>:
[QUOTE] Also, I'm not having a veil because I don't like them on me.
Posted by RecoveringActor[/QUOTE]

<div>And I thought I was the only one who didn't want a veil. Heh. I also don't want a train, which seems to make me the odd ball out.</div>

RecoveringActor · April 2011

OH MY GOD THEY GOT MARRIED IN IRELAND? jellus. I want to go back there YESTERDAY. I miss it so much. A year ago two weeks from now... I was on a plane.

Cackle6 · April 2011

Heh, they are getting married in Ireland in June, and SO and I are going. When I first starting posting you gave me a bunch of recommendations that I have saved in my "things to do in Ireland" document. There were lots of new people when I started posting though, so it's all good. :-P

paprika28 · April 2011

I paid $500 for mine. Bridal & Tuxedo shoppe- off the rack. Maggie Sottero. What what....

I'm not wearing a veil. I look like a bee catcher.

Cackle6 · April 2011

Oooh Pap, I'm super jealous! I

Maggie dresses!

brizzie918 · April 2011

Brides By Demetrios
regular price= $4000
my sample sale price= $499.

AMAZING!

[Deleted User] · April 2011

I paid $1000 for a POB sample, I got the entire bodice replaced and straps added, plus the bustle will be about $650.

The dress was originally $6000.

I wanted a silk dress, I really don't like the look of polyester. So I was willing to go with a sample to get a silk dress.

Bean32 · April 2011

Mine was $2500 as a sample (originally close to $7000). I'm a little on the high side compared to everyone else so far, but my budget was $3000 and with alterations and a veil, I'm still under that.

jelybeancg · April 2011

I started out thinking $1,500 but once I tried on a few gowns I really liked for $700-$800 I knew I could bring the budget down. The one I really like and will most likely get is $999. And, RA, Bridal & Tuxedo Shoppe did not offer me $100 off to buy on the first day. Boo.

My mom is buying it for me and I feel really bad making her spend $1,000. I don't know how those girls on tv make their parents spend so much.

dibsontop · April 2011

I paid $750 for my Casablanca. Then another $100 to take the bust in and put in the bustle. I think my veil was about $50 off of Etsy.

CaitC21 · April 2011

My budget is about a grand...
Dont want to spend much more than that

ysl1983 · April 2011

I purchased dresses for under $1500 total and plan to wear two of them - one a Priscilla of Boston sample sale orig over $3k which i got for $600 and the reception dress a sue wong feather dress orig $600 that I got for a little under $300 at bloomies. I'm expecting alterations to be about $150 based on what my friend paid (she also had a Lot of beading and I'm taking it to the same seamstress.) I had a budget of $2k for my complete attire incl shoes and veil and I think I'll meet it. I also hope to sell the other dresses to make my money back.

[Deleted User] · April 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_pennsylvania-philadelphia_wedding-dress-cost?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:105Discussion:0966987e-7cdb-42ad-b520-9cba79a8b251Post:2aad43e3-1afd-402c-b645-869904488800">Re: Wedding dress cost</a>:
[QUOTE]Mine was $2500 as a sample (originally close to $7000). I'm a little on the high side compared to everyone else so far, but my budget was $3000 and with alterations and a veil, I'm still under that.
Posted by Bean32[/QUOTE]

<div>I thought replacing my bodice was going to be way more! I was shocked! </div><div>I forgot I bought a sash as well, not sure how much that is going to be...</div>

ButtonsPepper · April 2011

My dress was 1007 at the salon in NYC, I saw the same dress in Delaware months afterwards, for 850 and there would have been no tax, oops?

Casablanca 1914. Veil was custom made because the one I liked was 900 dollars, so I spent 150 on my veil (more then I wanted to) and alteration were about 200, but the whole dress had to be reconstructed because it was so massive.

miguelhilary2010 · April 2011

My dress was $765 (very simple), the runner up was $1500 (lace).

Amerbutt81 · April 2011

My dress was $800 and I think with alterations it was about a grand. My veil was $30 because I bought it off Ooodsie.

I think spending over a grand for a dress is in. san. ity. It's one day. Even when I wear this dress fro the TTD, I'll have gotten $500 out each time I wore it. I've NEVER bought any article of clothing for $500. As much as I love me some Randy from SYTTD, it's not the most important thing I"ll ever wear-- that's my wedding band (which cost $150).

bballgirl8789 · April 2011

My dress was $665, but that was adding the extra hem, which added 4 inches. Without adding the hem, my dress was just at my ankles. Then with my veil, shoes and undergarments and then when I get my alterations done we'll prob be around $1,000

CMP82 · April 2011

I got my dress at good ol' David's Bridal, and I couldn't be more thrilled with it. It was $499, but I got $50 off due to a special promotion. The matching veil was just under $200, but I found it on CL for $50. In comparison to my dress, my shoes were pricey at $250. However, they are a very pale gold leather so I might be able to rewear them in the future.

When you are buying a cheaper dress, if you go for something that is plain and without a lot of cheesy ornamentation, you can end up with a budget friendly dress that looks anything but cheap.

PS - my wedding has only 70 guests, so I would have felt silly wearing a $2k dress for such a small crowd.

novaofsweden · April 2011

I found my dress in NY. It's a San Patrick and cost me a little over $2000. I was aiming not to spend more than $1500 but this dress was perfect. I think my alterations is about $350.

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