Buying a Discounted Wedding Dress
Brides’ jaws everywhere drop when they see the price tag of most wedding gowns. Whatever your budget may be, wouldn’t you love to buy a wedding dress for a fraction of the cost? With an open mind, and a few tips from us, you can be on your way to the wedding dress of your dreams, without fighting through a stampede at an annual sale. In this article we give you some tips to buying a discounted wedding dress.
First things first, set a budget and stick to it. This will keep you from spending more money than your willing to, even if you find a dress you love. Your budget is important for every piece of your wedding, especially your dress. Many retailers will try to upsell you on a more expensive dress, but stand strong!
Also, check out mass retailers. J. Crew started selling wedding dresses and it seems that a lot of others fell in line, too. Look for retailers, such as BCBG, Ann Taylor, and Anthropologie for great deals on beautiful wedding gowns. Also, if you’re wedding is a bit less traditional than most, consider buying a non-traditional wedding dress too. White and ivory dresses that aren’t necessarily “wedding dresses” because they are short or less formal are usually more affordable.
There are tons of other buying options as well. Consider buying a slightly used dress. Chances are that the previous owner only wore it for a maximum of 6 hours, just like you will be. There are several sites which connect you directly to the seller of a dress you are interested in. This can be a great thing because you can negotiate the price with them. However, since you are dealing with a seller and not a website or store, it can be a bit dangerous due to peoples’ unpredictability. Renting a dress is another great option. Just like your groom and groomsmen will rent their tuxedos, you can rent a wedding dress! Sites such as renttherunway.com make it easy for brides to find their perfect gown, wear it on their big day, and then send it back in a pre-paid envelope, sans dry cleaning. Their wide variety of dresses and accessories are beautiful and affordable on any budget.
No matter what decision you make, there are a few cardinal rules for every bride to follow when buying her dress. Try on some dresses in store then shop around online. You’ll be surprised at what you can find. If you’re going to save money on a wedding dress, but it is not exactly the perfect fit for you, spend some of your savings on good tailoring. It can make all the difference. Above all, don’t forget to negotiate! Even stores will sometimes be willing to work with you on the price of a dress that you love.
A great way to get a discounted wedding dress is to WIN a FREE wedding dress! You could win a wedding dress at one our Long Island Bridal Shows. There is always at least one FREE wedding dress given to a very lucky bride provided by one of Long Island’s Leading Wedding Stores, The Wedding Center.