Average wedding gown budget/price?

LaurenS3112 · March 2010

So I was watching 'Say yes to the dress' yesterday and was amazed by the budget the women had for just their dress. Im talking their dress costs more then my entire wedding will cost. So much for a bad economy. So I am just wondering what the average bride spends on her dress. Mine was under $1,000 and I love it and I am glad I did not spend over $1,000 on it.

kd.joseph · March 2010

Cant get polls at work. I went in thinking $600 was the most I'd spend. I ended up spending $970 for my dress, after bra,slip and alterations I spent a total of about $1220.

jlpenland · March 2010

I spent $1100 after taxes my budget was $1200 but I was trying to stay under. I wanted to go to Kleinfelds and I live in NYC but it was out of budget- most dresses starting at $1500 and up. I love watching that show but realistically for brides on a budget it's not realistic to think that they are most brides. I would say a lot of brides I have talked to have spent between $800-$1200 on a dress.

You can find beautiful dresses for that. Even cheaper if you try trunk sales.

This is just advice I have received along the way

Tisha. · March 2010

I'm having mine made and it will be just over $1,000. Like, $1,100 or something. That's my biggest splurg in the wedding.

shauni27 · March 2010

before alterations mine was a total of about $1000 but it was on sale.

Amy_Justin · March 2010

I spent 1150 on my dress (not including alterations).

doubleH2010 · March 2010

I went in saying I didn't want to spend more than $1K on my entire outfit. I budgeted $750 for the dress. I found the dress I wanted and it was $925. I shopped around and found a bridal salon having a 20% off everything bridal sale. I ended up getting my dress, veil, and headpiece for $1040 after taxes. Alterations were another $100.

missrekaeagle · March 2010

I budgeted $1000 for my dress, but the one I fell in love with happened to be discontinued so I got it for half price at $350! It was so exciting!

jenn.daniel · March 2010

I budgetted $700. I only spent $321 including tax, plus $35 for a crinny, so I guess it's really $356. I budgetted another $150 for alterations - I'm not sure exactly how much they'll be.

noodle_oo · March 2010

I budgeted $800 for the dress, and almost fell in love with one that was $950. But I came to my senses, realized I would only be wearing it for 1 day, so it wasn't worth going over budget. The dress was $799 (phew!), Maggie Sottero Coco. None of my friends have spent more than about $800, many got theirs at DB for like $300 - $500.

That show is the exception, I think, not the norm.

LaurenS3112 · March 2010

doubleH thats a good price for alterations, Ithat is another thing I was worried about. I am hoping my dress wion't need to be altered very much. When I was measured I was only about 1 1/2 inches smaller then one of the measurements for my size. I wasn't lucky enough to find a trunk sale, but they were running a special where you got the veil and headpiece included.

LaurenS3112 · March 2010

Well I knew the show was a little outrageous, but I was just wondering what the average dress budget was. I have also noticed that a lot of the wedding websites including the knot go a little crazy in the expectation department.

Just Jen · March 2010

I voted "over $2,000," but that's with alterations. Without, I'm one category down.

fallbride1109 · March 2010

I went in thinking I'd spend around $1200 (only because I had already picked the dress online that I thought I wanted) but ended up with a $1700 dress that I got for $1500. Veil was $160 (discounted) and alterations $125.

I LOVE SYTTD! But yeah, some of the budgets are pretty crazy.

caseyandlizzie · March 2010

I budgeted $600, I ended up paying $800 but they are custom hemming it for me and it is a corset back, so hopefully I won't need to spend anything more for alterations besides a bustle.

JenPhil6212 · March 2010

$307... $200 worth of alterations. I watch that too and I am amazed!!!! I can't believe spending that much money on a dress. You should have seen the episode of the bride that flew there in her private jet. No limit on price. Took up 5.5 hours of trying on dresses... WTF?! Spoiled woman.. oh and only dated him for 3 weeks!!!

amylydia23 · March 2010

I budgeted $2,000 for my dress and actually spent $1,200 (w/o alterations). The dress was $1,800 but I bought the sample because it was brand new to the store and it fit me perfectly so there was no point in ordering the same size as the sample. I saved money too. I spent about $50 on a champagne sash and $400 on a beautiful brooche.

Fystybride · March 2010

I wanted an expensive gown, and fell in love with an all silk beauty....found it on ebay, a pristine store sample with tags still attached. Priced $1500.00 on the tag, I paid $250.00 including shipping and then paid another $230.00 for alterations (I had some custom type stuff done to 'make it mine' that I didn't necessarily have to do). You do have to be careful shopping on ebay, there are a lot of scammers out there and a lot of bad sellers- but there are also some that are great, with tons of good feedback and are very trustworthy. True, I didn't get to try my gown on ahead of time....but I did go to a shop and decide what style I wanted, and went from there. I knew what complimented my body and what color I wanted. I think a lot of people get too wrapped up in it and overthink the whole experience- which robs them of a lot of the joy involved in the whole wedding planning. Have fun and be happy!

vgmartinez · March 2010

I only planned on spending about $600. I did find a Da Vinci for $500 that was beatiful but wasn't what I was envisioning. It turned out that the dress I was envisioning looked great on me and I fell in love and it was about double my budget.

lisam1217 · March 2010

My limit was 1,000 but I found a great dress for 700.

squirrelly29 · March 2010

I spent about 6K on mine with alterations...I love it, it was worth every penny!

nicolepmarinelli · March 2010

I originally bought a simple yet beautiful dress from David's Bridal for about $100 after taxes. I was happy with my decision and how it was such a steal, but being the indecisive woman I am I started thinking I wanted something more "princess" and eye catching. I found another dress I loved for $250 and plan on using that one for the ceremony and the simpler dress for the reception. So all in all, two dresses for $350, and I'm excited about them.

[Deleted User] · March 2010

I spent $900 for my dress, alterations, and bustier. I think I got a bargain! I love my dress and I wouldn't change a thing about it. I went in thinking I wouldn't spend a cent over $500 (well my mom was buying it, so she went in thinking that as well) but when I tried on my dress we both knew it was the one. It was on sale and I got it for $703 taxes included. My alterations were $195, which was pricey for the stuff I had done, but whatever. I only had it shortened a bit, a bustle put in, and they are making the top lay flatter on me. Other than the length it fit perfectly.

aprovencher21 · March 2010

Hmmmmm my dress budget is about 5K.....shoes, veil and custom jewelry budget is about 2k-3K

I haven't started shopping yet but I cannot wait!!

meredithl618 · March 2010

My goal was to spend $1500-2500 and we ended up getting my $2800 dress on sale for $2200! My veil was $300 and alterations were about $100.

cdomanta · March 2010

I spent $1200 on my dress, with alterations and accessories it's about $1600. I didn't have a budget for my dress but I knew that I wasn't going to spend nowhere near $2000 JUST on the dress. Luckily the one I fell in love with was not expensive. I'm so happy with my choice and grateful to be able to afford a dress that costs more than anything I own!

shaylg · March 2010

My parents gave me a budget of 1000-1800, but somehow this beautiful dress got thrown into the mess and my mom, myself and support crew decided it was "the" dress, only to later learn of it's 3300 price tag. I love it though, and couldn't be happier. But seriously, kudos to everyone who got theirs for under 1000!

caitm730 · March 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_average-wedding-gown-budgetprice?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:15Discussion:aa2a73f4-6b06-48ec-a2b6-bdb5091ca442Post:9dfaf7df-f343-46d0-831e-a5914b3614e1">Re: Average wedding gown budget/price?</a>:
[QUOTE]DancinPrinzess, my dad is the same way. "you spent over $300 on a dress?!" He might have been kidding, but I wasn't sure. Mom was impressed though.
Posted by jenn.daniel[/QUOTE]

My dad will sit there and watch Say Yes to the Dress with me and literally laugh out loud when people state their budgets. He thinks that Donald Trump is the kind of person who spends $5000 on a wedding dress, not all these "normal" people on the show.

However, spending $1000 for a new set of "special" tires on his Corvette is fine... :)

ocprincess · March 2010

I spent 600 something on the dress, and then another 600 in alts.

Karen's MOH · March 2010

Mine was originally about $1750 but I got 10% because I bought it the first time I went into the store. I set my budget at $2000 and tried on tons under that, though at Priscilla of Boston there was basically nothing less than that. I'm estimating the alterations to be no more than $250, and just need to buy shoes.

rlynn007 · March 2010

I got my dress for $400 and then another $400 for the veil, tiara, crinoline, bra, and alterations...The dress was originally $800, but it was discontinued so I got it got a good price!

Average wedding gown budget/price?

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