Ask Britta – Wedding Wisdom

How much should I spend on a Dress?

If you’re like us, the nanosecond after you got engaged, you bought up every bride magazine you could find. And if you’re like us, you found the perfect gown in Bride Vogue, only to realize it cost more than a small house. While haute couture can be inspiring, the price is more likely to inspire a heart attack than anything else. Like everything else in the wedding industry, the sky is the limit for upper end wedding gown prices (and I hear they’re working on a way to get around that.) So unless you are a celebrity or heiress (or getting married to one), here are some good dress budget guidelines to keep in mind.

The average wedding dress costs $800. That’s a figure to start with, though chances are, you’re anything but average.  If you live for fashion, you probably want to consider a designer gown. In that case, be prepared to pay $1,500 to $5,000 for the gown of your dreams. If you have more time than money, a good way to score discount designer wares is to shop at a wedding gown outlet, warehouse, or sample sale. These places sell a variety of labels, samples, and discontinued designs at lower cost. You may have to dig, but you should be able to find a few diamonds in the rough. These places sell off the rack, so if you need alterations, you’ll have to find a seamstress you trust after you’ve purchased the gown. Some national bridal chains will also sell off the rack at a discount, which works if you’re a standard size and don’t mind wearing a sample.

On the other hand, if your idea of an expensive purchase is $100 Doc Martens, you can score a nice dress for way less than $800. There are tons of cute white dresses out there, they’re just not called wedding dresses. Try the formal wear section of your department store, or any cute boutique where you like the look. You can try wedding stores, though just ask to look the bridemaid gowns instead of wedding dresses. And trust us, no one can tell that your satin halter sheath wasn’t meant for the main event. If you’re a vintage diva, second hand stores are a great way to find a great one-of-a-kind dress, whether it’s 20s flapper or 60s mod. (Or you can surf the internet for ‘pre-loved gowns.’  Just remember when it’s two weeks before your wedding, your dress hasn’t shown up, and you’re out $400, that some things are better bought in person and where you know who you’re handing your money to.) If you’re not wedded to the idea of a white gown or a really traditional look, finding a great formal dress for less will be easier.

But if you’ve always done things by the book, a general rule of thumb is that the dress should cost no more than 10% of the total reception cost. So if your reception is going to cost 10 grand, you should look for a dress under or around $1,000. There are several different types of stores to shop at, each with their own pluses and drawbacks. At the higher end, try couture shops or independent gown shops. These places are full service, offering custom fitted gowns and in-house alterations. They also sell matching accessories for your gown. They’re not cheap, and you need to plan ahead, but if you want all the bells and whistles, they’re the way to go. Next, there are national bridal chains like David’s Bridal and large department stores. These stores have less of a selection (national chains generally only carry their own label), but they’re cheaper than couture gowns, and you can buy off the rack. While the level of service may be lower, many of these stores also have in house alterations, or can point you to an experienced seamstress. And finally, as we mentioned above, for truly discount services try bridal outlet stores or secondhand shops. You’re pretty much on your own there, but you can find a great dress for a fraction of the retail price.