4. Avoid Expensive Designer Gowns
Another huge factor in determining how much a wedding dress costs is the designer who made it. It’s no surprise that big fashion designers come with a higher price tag than those that are smaller or less well-known. These dresses are usually made with high-end materials and will carry the power of the designer’s name behind them—like Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta, Dolce & Gabbana, and more.
Designer wedding gowns can range anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000. The higher end of this spectrum typically includes customized wedding dresses, which are gowns made specifically for you. If you have a specific bridal style in mind for your wedding day, you may choose to personalize and customize a dress. However, it’s important to remember that personalized gowns are far more expensive than those that aren’t, with the price only increasing as you incorporate more custom features.
If your heart is set on wearing a designer gown on your wedding day, consider looking at trunk shows or sample sales that may sell these dresses for far less than the normal retail price.
5. Keep Alterations to a Minimum
Some wedding dress alterations are unavoidable. You should plan to pay for alterations when setting your initial wedding dress budget since you’ll likely need at least something adjusted for the dress to fit perfectly.
More labor-intensive alterations, like changing a neckline, adding breast cups, or adding beading, will cost more money. For this reason, try avoiding major alterations by finding a dress you love as-is. Even if minor adjustments are needed, such as a seam alteration, you can still avoid spending as much as $500 to $1,000 on large gown changes.
6. Wear Fewer Accessories
Accessories are a fun way to jazz up your wedding day look, but too many can quickly become a budget issue. The price of your veil, shoes, and jewelry should all be considered in your dress budget to avoid going overboard. If you’re looking to splurge a little more on your dress, try reducing the price of your accessories by opting for less expensive shoes or forgoing the veil altogether.
How to Budget for a Wedding Dress
With such a large range in pricing, it may be challenging to predict how much to budget for your wedding dress in 2023. It may even seem silly to spend a lot of money on an item you’re only planning on wearing once. However, most people don’t get to have a do-over wedding, so you’ll want to make the event as spectacular and special as possible.
When you’re sitting down to figure out how much you can spend on your dress, consider its pricing as part of your wedding budget as a whole. You may already have a maximum price point you’re looking to stay under while you plan for your special day. Adjusting your spending on items like floral arrangements, food, music, venue, or something else can allow you to splurge a little more on your dress.
At Savvy Bridal, we work with brides-to-be every day to find the perfect wedding gown for their special day! With dresses starting at $1,200, we have several options to choose from to fit any budget. Schedule your appointment today at our Kansas City or St. Louis locations!
