One of the most expensive days of your life could very well be your wedding day. If you aren’t careful, the cost can add up fast. When you consider flowers, food, venue, and the dress, it all starts to become overwhelming.
It’s possible to have an inexpensive wedding, though. My own wedding celebrations, which included two receptions, on opposite sides of the United States, cost less than $5,000 total (my family’s end of it was about $3,000). We did a lot of it ourselves, and my wedding gown was actually made by my mother, so it cost much less than it could have.
Saving money on your wedding gown can be one way to cut costs. You can find a number of fabulous wedding gowns at very reasonable prices:
Buy Used
Wedding gowns aren’t normally worn a lot. As a result, finding a used wedding gown can be one way to save money. Look online at sites like eBay and Craigslist, as well as sites like Once Wed and Recycled Bride. All of these sites provide you access to beautiful wedding gowns at a fraction of the price you would pay for new. If a designer wedding gown is part of your dream wedding, you can save as much as 50% off the price of a new dress. Most used dresses are in good shape, and if it doesn’t fit quite right, you can have it altered.
Rent a Wedding Dress
Instead of buying, consider renting your wedding gown. There are shops that rent out formal wear, including dresses that work well as wedding gowns. In many cases, the shop will alter the dress to fit you properly, making it easy to make one stop for your needs. You pay even less to rent a wedding gown than to buy used in many cases, and you can take the dress back — and not have to worry about it again.
Make Your Own
This is the route that I went. My mom is a talented seamstress, and I had a hard time finding what I wanted. Instead, we looked through dozens of sewing patterns, and I chose one that I liked. With my mom making my dress, we saved hundreds of dollars over buying a new dress. Plus, it fit just right, since it was made just for me. If you want something unique, you can make your own wedding dress, and save money at the same time.
Use a “Regular” Dress
Instead of getting a dress labeled as a “wedding gown”, consider wearing a “regular” dress. For those who are interested in simplicity, there is no reason to get a “special” dress for the big day. You don’t even need to wear white, if you don’t want to. Consider using a beautiful dress that doesn’t come with the “wedding” label. You might be surprised at how much affixing the wedding adjective to a dress can increase its price. Looking for an alternative can save you money, and still leave you able to express your personality with what you wear.
Image source: Wonderlane via Wikimedia Commons
I used a “regular” dress and have no regrets. It was a simple drop waisted off white dress that cost $20 at K-Mart and I wore it to work for years afterwards. My only regret is that I didn’t purchase a suit as I could still be wearing it to this day