The Question
How long did it take to find your gown? How many did you try on before you found it? Any suggestions for brides still searching for their gown?
The Answers
I tried on a ton of dresses (as I’m sure most people have!) and ended up buying mine at a designer’s sample sale in LA. Since the dresses were samples, they were much less expensive than a full price gown, so I ended up with two dresses - one for the ceremony and one for the reception. Crazy, I know, but because of the good deal, the dresses (with alterations) cost the same as my budget for one dress.
— Julia Moran
I found my dress in a few weeks. I went to all the usual places: a sample sale, multiple bridal boutiques, and David’s. The prices were all over the place ($300-$5,000). I wanted to spend less than $1,000 on the dress, hopefully including alterations. I found that sample sale prices are still too high—-50% off isn’t that impressive when the dress is originally $6,000! David’s Bridal is priced very well, but it is hit or miss as far as finding a style that works for you. My last stop was a consignment store, and I ended up buying a dress the same night. From the beginning, I had hoped to find my dress at a consignment store… bring new life to a dress, reduce my financial contribution to this crazy industry, and not buy from a megastore (and instead a small, local business) using new materials/cheap labor when there are so many beautiful dresses already out there. (Yes, the hippie comes out…) Anyway, I lucked out. My dress was never even worn. It is a designer couture that arrived AFTER the wedding it was suppose to appear in! Terrible for that bride; wonderful for this one. The dress cost the original bride $2,000. It cost me $600 and will be $750 after tax and alterations.
— Christine
I actually ordered mine on line from ChineseTailor.com. I’m half Chinese so it was important to me to wear a traditional dress. I ordered a red one with an embroidered phoenix for the reception and a white one for the ceremony. I spent $300-$400 and while I did need to do some alterations, it kept us way under budget and I have two beautiful dresses.
— Patty McGuire
My biggest advice is to not look in the mirror as you try on your dress, wait until it is on you and then look in the mirror! No one looks good getting into a dress…it is so ackward! Even if that means turning away from the mirror..do it! The your first reaction is a true reaction to the dress!
— Jenny Voight
