NEW YORK — Brides-to-be who don’t have the funds, or the stomach, to spend thousands of dollars on a dress they’ll wear only once don’t have to pass up Italian silk for plain polyester.
If you’re willing to sift through lots of frocks and forgo the champagne treatment a bridal boutique often
provides, you can find a gorgeous gown for much less than the $1,505 the average bride spends.
Here are six tips for scoring Madison Avenue glamour on a real-life budget.
hit sample sales.
At the sales where designers unload excess merchandise to make room for next season’s garments, you’ll find gowns discounted up to 75 percent. Email your favorite designers and bridal salons to ask about planned events, says Heather Levine of TheKnot.com.
Just be prepared to dig through racks of less-than-perfect merchandise: Many of the dresses are floor models with sweat stains, ripped trains or other damage.
buy off the rack.
Skip couture and buy ready-made from retailers like J. Crew, Ann Taylor, Nordstrom and White House Black Market, which have expanded their wedding collections. They offer high-quality dresses for one-tenth the price. Nordstrom.com offers two dozen wedding dresses under $400.
embrace secondhand.
Brides have found unusual vintage gowns at consignment stores for generations. Now you can find once-worn dresses online at sites like PreownedWeddingDresses.com, OnceWed.com and RecycledBride.com or on general resale pages of Craigslist or eBay. Request a certificate of authenticity or a copy of the original receipt to ensure it’s the real deal.
relive prom.
Brides complain that vendors automatically jack up prices when they hear the word “wedding.” So consider a snow-white dress intended for another occasion. Early spring is a good time to shop the prom section at department stores and discounters.
rent your dream.
RenttheRunway.com28596BC028596CD028421008 lets you wear a designer dress for 90 percent less than it would cost to own. You enter the date of your wedding and your two closest dress sizes. The garments are sent out for a one-day fitting. You send them back, and the one you pick lands on your doorstep days before the event.
get it custom made.
If you feel you really must have a dream dress that’s outside your price range, considering having a replica made of a less- expensive fabric and without some of the detailing, such as lace or beading. The best way to find a talented dressmaker in your area is to inquire at a high-end fabric store.
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