Looking for a Dress on a Budget?

My friend Jenipher and I were recently looking at wedding dresses online. We're both on an ok budget but we both have high expectations for what we want out of our dress. We know that it's something you only wear once, but at the same time, we want to look drop dead gorgeous that day too. Plus, if we can find a dress that thrills us for less than our budgets, we'll be even happier!

So she started showing me some Maggie Sottero gowns she had found on Maggie's website. Surprisingly I found many of them that I liked too. Her gowns are elegant and ornate, something a step up from your typical David's Bridal dress (where many of us often go when we're on a tight budget for our wedding gowns--and I'm not dissing it I promise. ..they have some great styles too), and I was really impressed by her huge selection of designs. Then I did some google searching. Of course they never list prices on the website, so I found answers through an open forum. According to most people, her dresses cost on average, $500-$1500. This was perfect! And when I found out her dresses are featured at a boutique near me it was even better. Finding a designer who meets your needs, but stays in your budget, is always important.

If you still want something grand (say that designer dress which normally costs up to $15,000) on a budget (and yes that may mean you're asking for a lot) there are other options than breaking the bank. Once Wed has a section of their website devoted strictly to selling used gowns. If you're ok with wearing a dress someone else only wore once (or in some cases never wore at all), then this may be the option for you. You can find a gorgeous Vera Wang for $1390 or an Amsale for $1500 or a Melissa Sweet for $1800 right now on the first two pages. Their are cheaper gowns on the site too. Dresses are searchable by designer, size, and condition. I just found some for as low as $400 and they're not bad dresses! I personally don't know that I'd be comfortable in someone else's wedding dress (but I'm thinking about it since I found one I love in my budget range), but if you are, then I say go for it! You could end up getting a really good deal on something you ordinarily couldn't afford. **And if you're trying to recoup money after your wedding, you can also sell your dress on Once Wed and make a portion or all of that money back (even better, Once Wed charges you nothing to list it)!

Finally, looking into a custom designed dress is another option. Portland local, Sarah Seven, has a shop on Etsy (search vendors and "Sarahseven") and also a website. Her designs are very ethereal and goddess-like. I'm looking into having her do my reception dress (which will only cost between $350-$500) but she also does longer, more intricate gowns for a higher price. Either way, you may end up spending far less on a gown designed just for you, rather than spending a lot for a gown made for anyone. So included in saving money, you get a personal heirloom, something that fits you perfectly, and something no one else has. Other custom dress designers are out there too, so keep your eyes peeled.