Dresses on the Cheap
The first line of thinking for a bargain bride is to find a dress you could borrow from a friend who is the same size. My aunt wore my mother’s wedding dress a year after my mom was married. Was she scarred for life? Hardly. Each of their personal styles were so different no one noticed it was the same dress. The accessories and bridal party style gave the dress an entirely different look.
Or maybe your mom is hoping you’ll wear her wedding gown—if it’s anywhere near your size, don’t write it off. Take it to a seamstress who can suggest some alterations to make it fit your personality or feel like a more modern dress (with your mother’s permission, of course).
Visit local consignment shops to find used wedding dresses. You can find new and used gowns online at sites like: craigslist.org, eBay.com, www.nearlynewbridal.com and a broker site called www.usedweddingdresses.com.
You can expect to get at least 25 percent off the retail price for a wedding gown by shopping eBay—many times even more. A couple in my church found her dream dress online for just $50 from an online wedding dress store. She ordered two different sizes and returned the one that didn’t fit. The dress didn’t even require any alterations. Be careful when shopping online, though, and make sure the vendor is upfront about return policies. Always buy from the same country you live in.
The non-wedding-dress-dress is becoming increasingly popular for modern brides who prefer simple and elegant styles. Basically any light-colored dress can become your wedding gown—from a simple sheath dress or A-line cut. Consider buying a bridesmaid dress or look through the formal dresses on sale after prom or holiday season. These are also great places to find dresses for your maids. Consider buying something you could potentially wear again.
—Excerpted from Cheap Ways to Tie the Knot