Everyone seems to want a couture or designer dress for their wedding, but are they really worth the cost?
If you are planning your wedding one of the very first things you’re going to do is start shopping for your wedding dress. The wedding gown is something that most women dream about from the time they are young girls. Look at any bride magazine and you’ll see that many of the styles shown are by prominent designers. Everyone seems to want a couture or designer dress for her wedding, but are they really worth the cost? Designer wedding dresses can be many thousands of dollars and may actually turn out to be one of the biggest expenses of the entire wedding.
Before you begin shopping for a wedding gown it is a good idea to determine your wedding budget. You’ll want to try to stay within the allotted amount for wedding attire. Remember that there are many other areas of the wedding that will require a large amount of your budget and you certainly don’t want to use up all your funds on a dress. Instead, decide on the price range you can afford and then try to be creative when shopping for the perfect wedding gown.
There are a few ways to reduce the price that you pay for your designer wedding dress:
• Look for sample sales. Designers often put their dresses on sale at the end of the season.
• Have a dress made to look like a designer style. Bring a photo of your favourite designer dress to a reputable local dressmaker to have the style replicated. You will find that you can often get a very close look-alike for less than half the price of the original.
• Make a notebook of wedding dress styles that you like the best. Then, bring this notebook with you when shopping for a dress. You’ll often be able to find a similar dress with a much lower price tag.
• Designer dresses often have special details that other dresses don’t have. However, keep in mind that imported handmade lace and other fabrics often don’t look any different than the less expensive versions.
• Consider renting your wedding dress. Some popular companies now offer designer dresses, including wedding dresses, for rental. This will save you a bundle while giving you the dress you love.
• Shop online and at local consignment shops to find designer wedding dresses at a discount.