As you start going wedding dress shopping you being to realize that wedding dresses are not cheap. This is why I am sharing ultimate ways to save money on your wedding dress because any savings are great. Here are my top money-saving tips and secrets to get your dream dress on a budget.
Wear Your Mom’s Wedding Dress
This may be a tradition in your family to have the honour to wear your mom or grandmother’s dress and to later be able to pass down their dress to your daughter. If the dress is your style then this is the perfect way for you to save money. All you may have to pay for is the alterations and accessories.
Upcycle Mom’s Dress
What if you love the idea of wearing your mom or grandmother’s dress but realize it is not the dress of your dreams. It is completely understandable! You may not like their style of dress or want something that is more you. You have the option of simply using the fabric of the dress and creating your dream dress with it. Of course, make sure that you have permission to do so and the find a seamstress who could make your dream dress possible.
Rent a Wedding Dress
Many brides these days are deciding to rent their wedding dress. After all, it is a huge purchase for a one-day event. There are sites where you can rent a wedding dress. Rent the Runway is a great company to consider. Save your money and the environment! This is for brides who know that this a big day but do not want to spend the huge amount for a new dress.
Wedding Dress With Sustainable Fabrics
Your fabric choice can play a role in how much you spend on the dress. Aim to find a designer that works with and uses sustainable fabrics such as organic cotton, silk, and hemp. You can find sustainable wedding dresses from H&M and Reformation. Both companies use recycled or sustainable fabrics in the clothing they make. Therefore, you get a brand-new, one of a kind, cost-effective and eco-friendly wedding dress.
Related: Green wedding eco-friendly wedding dress
Avoid Alternations
To really save money on your dress, you should avoid alternations altogether. All the extra touches, adjustments to bust and waist all add up. Before you know it you are spending an extra $300-400 on alterations. Instead, search for dresses that have a corset back. It is ever so easy to tie it up so that it adjusts to your body instead of making the alterations for the zipper to be able to zip up.
Trunk Shows
Another way to save your money is to go to a bridal trunk show. It is a great way to seek out your dream designers and snag a discount if you place an order at the show. You would be surprised by the number of deals you can get there for your dress as well as your accessories. It is also the best way to get local vendors and bridal stores in one place. If you are in Canada you may want to check out Canada’s Bridal Show or if you are living in the states The Knot has the great list here.
Preowned Wedding Dress
For full savings on your dress, look for preowned dresses. It is different from rented dress because you own compared to having to return it. You are getting gorgeous wedding dresses at a lower price. I recommend checking out companies such as Still White, Oncewed and Preowned Wedding Dresses are great options.
Final Thoughts
You can still have the wedding dress of your dreams without completely breaking the bank. As shown above, you have many options out there from wearing your mother’s dress, getting a rented or preowned dress. Regardless of how you get your wedding dress, it will still be a token of the best day of your life.
Related: Best sites to Sell Wedding Dresses
*This post contains non-affiliate links. Opinions are 100% my own. For more information, see my disclosures page.*
[…] – can sometimes wind up accounting for the bulk of your wedding budget! Fortunately, ways to save money on your wedding dress can actually be quite interesting, and won’t stop you from looking absolutely gorgeous. For instance, you can choose to rent a […]