For the bride, choosing the right wedding dress is the most
important thing about her wedding. Some surveys indicated that the average
bride in the U.S. spends over $2,500 on her gown. I don't know about you, but
I'd rather put that money toward a sweet honeymoon. By following these simple
tips, you can save money on your wedding dress.
Shop last year's collections
Gasp! No, it's not sacrilegious to buy a dress that came out
a year ago. Right now, you can find significant discounts on wedding gowns from
the Spring/Summer 2010 collections. In order to make space for new inventory,
bridal shops, department stores and online retailers mark down last year's
designs once the new gowns come in.
Head to consignment shops
Consignment shops and thrift stores often have both new and
used wedding dresses at reasonable prices. When a wedding is cancelled, the
bride usually can't return her dress, so she is willing to part with it at a
reduced cost just to get rid of it as quickly as possible.
Check out Craiglist and eBay
Many brides with canceled weddings put their gowns on
Craigslist.org or eBay.com. It might take some time to find your size, but this
is a fantastic way to find your dream dress at a discount.
Rent your gown
If you are dead set on a gorgeous wedding gown that is out of
your budget, rent it! Formal wear shops often rent wedding dresses at a
fraction of the sales price. Who cares if it's rented — you are probably going
to just pack it away in a box in the attic anyway.
Save on accessories
Don't buy your shoes, veil and headpiece at the bridal shop.
You can find plain white satin shoes at a traditional shoe store...or don't
even wear white shoes, just put on your favorite pair of heels. Affordable
veils, headpieces and other bridal accessories can be found at online shops.
You can also make your own — pick up a DIY kit at a craft store or sewing shop.
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