Choosing a wedding dress can be one of the highlights in wedding planning for brides-to-be. But for brides on a budget, the process can be daunting: wedding dresses can be extremely expensive. This guide on how to save money on a wedding dress offers brides tips on how to find a wedding dress for less.

The price you pay for a wedding dress should depend on how much money you have to spend. Couples choose to marry under all kinds of financial circumstances and with different financial goals in mind. Fortunately, there are suitable wedding dresses available for any budget. Follow these tips to save money on your wedding dress.

1. Know Your Budget:
   • Look at your wedding budget, and set aside 10% for your wedding dress and accessories. If your budget is $1000, you spend $100 — no ifs, ands or buts.
   • Of course, if your budget is that small, you could request that, in lieu of chintzy lingerie at your bridal shower, your friends donate $20 to the overall price of your wedding dress. This could easily provide a few hundred extra much-needed shopping dollars.
2. Resist the Temptation to Overspend:
   • Get informed and get excited about saving money on your wedding:
   1. Don't equate your worth with the price tag on your dress.
   2. Remember that you're only wearing this dress once, so don't even try on expensive designer dresses. You might find yourself pining for something you can't afford.
   3. Benefit your household by making smart financial planning decisions.
      • Read about the consequences of overspending on your wedding and feel good about being a sensible bride.
   4. Salespeople will try to upsell you. Recognize that salespeople are out to make money. They intimidate a lot of people, so be on your guard.
   5. Think about what you could put that money toward: a cozy couch; a down payment on a house; car payments for 6 months; your honeymoon.
3. Focus on the Cut:
   • Fancy lacework or beading can be expensive. It's the shape of the dress that flatters, not the ornamentation.
4. Hire a Seamstress:
   • If you find a to-die-for style on a dress you can't afford, hire a seamstress to recreate the dress in a cheaper fabric. It's important to hire the right seamstress.
5. Buy Off-Season Dresses from a Sample Sale:
   • Call local bridal shops and designer boutiques to ask when they have sample sales. If sample sales are happening in your area, read these shopping tips before you go.
6. Shop Online:
   • You can save by comparing prices and shopping online at websites like Jaysbridal.net and House of Brides, where you can look through a variety of wedding dresses, from simple summer dresses to couture styles, in an affordable price range.
7. Buy from a Bridal Chain Store:
   • Shopping at a chain store like David's Bridal, which has over 280 locations, is an option for women who want plenty of affordable options and don't want to spend a lot of time shopping and waiting for alterations.
8. Buy a Used Dress:
   • Because so many brides overspend on their dresses — and only wise up about money when their wedded bliss is interrupted by a pile of bills — there are many used dresses out there to choose from. In fact, buying used dresses is becoming quite a trend.
   1. Visit local consignment shops.
   2. Search online at sites like:
      • Ebay
      • Craigslist
      • Preownedweddingdresses.com
      • SellYourWeddingDress.com
9. Rent a Dress:
   • If saving money is a bigger priority than preserving your wedding gown, ask local boutiques if they offer this money-saving option.
10. Borrow a Dress:
    • If a close friend or family member doesn't mind, borrow her wedding dress. Not only does borrowing a dress allow you to save money, but incorporating an heirloom in your wedding, especially if it's a close family member's dress, can add meaning to your ceremony.
    1. She must be within two dress sizes of you.
    2. Hire a seamstress to alter the dress to suit your personal style.