Weddings are major milestone life events. For your special day, you want everything to be perfect, without becoming financially excruciating. Check out these 7 Easy Ways to Save Money on Wedding Dresses and keep the cash outlay in check.
1. Go In With a Preset Budget
Know before you go shopping how much that you are prepared to spend on your wedding dress. Write the number down on a small piece of paper and carry it with you while on the dress hunt. This note will be a great visual reminder of your price ceiling.
Whatever you do, steer clear of trying on dresses outside of your price range. Just say no unless you want to face heartache when your budget forces you to walk away from the dress of your dreams or you find yourself in debt because you gave in to temptation.
2. Don’t Get Hung Up on Name Brands
When it comes to wedding dresses, so many beautiful ones are available by lesser known designers. The important things when selecting a dress are how it looks and feels on you, the quality of the materials, and whether it meets your budget constraints. The name on the tag on the inside of the dress really does not matter compared to the other items just mentioned.
3. Check Both Local Boutiques and Regional and National Chains To Compare Pricing.
It is easy to assume that a local boutique might have higher pricing than a chain store, but that may not necessarily be so. A local boutique may have greater latitude to negotiate price with you than a chain.
Also, be sure to check the internet for competitive pricing information when you find a dress that you like. You can use this information when bargaining.
Don’t forget to consider the price of a veil, belt, or any other accessories when you are looking to strike a deal. Sometimes bundling the items together for one purchase may save you money.
4. Pay A Visit To A Few Consignment Stores.
Since wedding dresses are something that most people only wear once, you may be pleasantly surprised at the selection, quality, and condition of dresses that are available through these stores. Especially pay attention to stores dedicated largely to formal apparel such as ball gowns, prom, and wedding dresses.
You will have more specialty type consignment stores to chose from in larger cities. A quick web search can help you find some good prospects within easy driving distance.
5. Keep On The Look Out For Sample and Semi-Annual Sales.
Wedding dress retailers periodically discount the sample dresses that are tried on by customers in the store. You may have to make some repairs to this type of purchase so I advise exploring sample sale dresses in person.
Also, retailers will usually hold big sales several times a year to move merchandise off the floor to make way for new designs. Do some research to learn about sales that are ongoing or upcoming.
6. Find A Dress That Does Not Require Major Alterations.
Got your heart set on a dress that will have to be practically reconstructed to fit you? Be prepared to whip out the cash, because alterations can add up in a hurry. Most dresses will require some alteration, but keep it to a minimum.
7. If You Are Okay With Some Risk, Consider Buying a Used Dress Online.
Unlike trying on a used dress in a consignment store, you will not be able to try on the dress that you are buying online. Only seek to buy used dresses online through highly rated, well-run marketplaces.
Know all return and customer service policies before putting down any money on a dress. Do some Google searches and look at ratings from the BBB and customers to determine sites that have stellar ratings/high customer satisfaction.
Now that you know 7 Easy Ways to Save Money on Wedding Dresses, it is time to get shopping for the BIG Day.
For more Money Savings Wedding Tips:
Wedding Registry: What To Put On And Not!
12 Ways Not To Save Money On Wedding!
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