Dress Buying Facts

Choosing and buying your wedding dress is one of the most important activities that any bride-to-be must do before the big day. The right wedding dress is critical to the success of the wedding; as a bride, you will want to feel comfortable and beautiful, look stunning for your photos, yet also be able to break it down on the dance floor! There is a lot to think about when buying your dress, and you should always take time to consider a few key points when choosing your perfect wedding gown.

First, think honestly and realistically about your budget. Designer-made gowns cost from $1,500 to over $5,000 dollars, and alterations can cost another $200. Dresses bought “off-the-rack” can start as low as $100, and it is possible (though sometimes time-consuming) to find some real steals.

When thinking about your dress budget, take into account how much money you have for the wedding in general, and then how much of that money should be reserved for your dress. Knowing a rough amount that you will spend will help you narrow down your choices in the dressing room!

Additionally, have a clear idea of the theme and level of formality of your wedding. Are you planning a beachside ceremony or a classic church wedding? Is it a black-tie affair, or will your guests be dressed more casually? If you are going to be throwing a more casual wedding, you will not want to be wearing a Cinderalla-esque ball gown!

After you know how formal you want your gown, start doing some serious research into the type of wedding gowns that you love. Buy wedding magazines, look in old family albums, and, if you find one particular designer that you adore, take the time to visit some of their trunk shows. A trunk show will showcase one specific designer’s dresses, and can be very useful if you want to get a first-hand view of what the designer has created for the most recent fashion season.

After you have done your research, it’s time to hit the stores! Before you go, know a few tricks of the dress-shopping trade. Take a pair of shoes with you that have the same size heel that you plan to wear on your wedding day. This will allow you to get an idea of what the dress will actually look like on you.

Moreover, bring a trusted friend along, one who will be supportive, but, most importantly, give you very honest feedback. You do not want to bring someone who is afraid to tell you the truth, or you could end up buying a dress that is completely wrong for what you want.

When you do find the perfect dress finally, do not buy it immediately. Go home and see if you can find the dress on line used. Buying it used will save you a bundle of money. Come to our site and see if it's on here or use one of the search functions on our dress pages to find it. Wedding dresses are worn one night, and many of the used dresses are like brand new. You can then use the money you save on the dress to help make that honeymoon a little more special.