Many a newly engaged woman pins her hopes on being a princess bride. The one pea under the proverbial mattress in this charming tale, however, is that the bride’s budget oftentimes leans more toward the pauper side than that of royalty.
Yet, the resourceful bride has many options at her fingertips to walk down the aisle as a princess in her own right — and at an everyday price.
First of all, many gown manufacturers are well aware that the average bride spends $700 to $800 on her gown, and they cater to her, offering high-end fashions at affordable prices.
“Be open-minded and think outside the box,” said Michael Shettel, lead designer for Alfred Angelo, which offers dresses on average at $599. “Don’t be afraid to try on something less expensive. It’s really about finding the right dress for your pocketbook and your vision. Your exit should be as dramatic as your entry.”
Jessica McClintock said today’s bride is more savvy about prices.
“She is a modern woman who will not be fooled by overly inflated prices,” she said. “She wants design, workmanship, quality and value. . . . She wants modern designs that not only make her look beautiful on her very special day, but also allow her to enjoy all the festivities of that day without worrying about her dress.”
A less-expensive simple gown could also be the ultimate choice of the bride who decides she’s not comfortable with or doesn’t look good in over-the-top or detailed bridal styles — or who wants to put the emphasis or money into an over-the-top veil, jewelry or shoes. Or, of the practical bride who wants to blow her budget instead on the reception’s entertainment or food — or on furnishings for her new home.
The Galina line at David’s Bridal, with price points from $299 to $599, offers glamorous, sexy gowns that instill a sense of red-carpet confidence.
“Galina line is for the educated, savvy, well-traveled woman who has a sense of style,” said Kimberly Minor, vice president of the bridal division at David’s Bridal, with stores nationwide.
Designers said the difference between a $500 gown and a $5,000 one is
that in the $500 dress, the fabric is less expensive, the ornamentation is
lighter and the pattern is less intricate.
According to McClintock, the fall-winter fashion season for bridal gowns is awash with warm spicy tones. Cinnamon, chocolate, cayenne and paprika are being used as accent colors on white and ivory gowns.
“These colors are warming up fashion recipes for fall,” she said.
Icy blues and gorgeous pinks continue their reign on the color palette as well, Minor added.
“Color is very important,” she said. “We are seeing all-over color, with blues, gold, pinks and champagne, and we are also seeing black and white and red as an accent color. Color makes the wedding gown very individual, and it ties in nicely with the entire wedding party look.”
McClintock said that materials in her gowns are a rich blend of such fashion-forward fabrics as charmeuse, crepe satin and tissue tulle and the more traditional fabrics, including duchess satin, silk and pebble georgette.
Fabric favorites at Alfred Angelo, Shettel said, are luster satin, chiffon and re-embroidered lace on net, which is chosen for its lightness.
“We make dresses for a lot of people and a lot of different looks, and a multitude of sizes,” Shettel said. “The styles range from glamorous and slinky in charmeuse or chiffon (and sometimes decorated with tulle or lace) to the big, frothy tulle gowns with brilliant beading. We also feature such new fabrics as charmeuse, either slinky or vintage-inspired, and crinkled organza and metallic organza, which adds some texture.”
The wedding experts agreed that the shorter wedding dresses, either cocktail, ballerina or tea-length, are a wonderful way to get a high-quality gown at affordable prices since less material is required.
Then, there is a bride who “wants a more hip, urban feel to her dress,” McClintock said. “Plus, with all the fabulous shoes that are available, the bride wants a very new contemporary look — something that will show off her great legs.”
“We also noticed that many brides want to forgo the large home wedding for the smaller more intimate destination wedding in romantic places around the world,” McClintock said. “This led me to design gowns that not only were romantic and contemporary, but also gowns that could be easily packed and travel well.”
At Alfred Angelo, the strapless gown is No. 1, according to Shettel, followed by halter-style gowns and off-the-shoulder dresses.
Designer wedding gowns often take six months to make after the fitting, so the less expensive gowns often offer less lead time.
At David’s Bridal, most gowns can be bought off-the-rack.
“The stock is constantly being replenished,” said Minor, adding that every size is offered and alterations can be done the same day at the store.
DaVinci offers a guaranteed one-week delivery on all its wedding gowns , said Steve Yeh, vice president of the bridal company based in Houston.
“Some styles you can purchase off the rack and other styles for destination weddings — where they might need it faster than usual — we can deliver in two weeks,” Shettel at Alfred Angelo said. “Traditionally, the gowns arrive in 10 to 12 weeks.”
Alternative shopping
Keep this in mind: Inexpensive gown hunting takes some imagination and footwork. And, it might involve shopping in places other than bridal shops such as department stores, Internet auction sites or classified ads.
J. Crew, for example, launched a bridal gown line last year and the dresses can cost less than $600. There’s the $260 Sophia long silk dress that comes in ivory as well as black and navy. And, the ivory Vivian strapless dress — a duchess satin A-line — costs $550.
Department stores often offer prom dresses that could be used as wedding gowns. And, used gowns can be found at thrift stores, on websites and in newpapers ads.
“I think everybody shops differently. The best advice I can give brides is to shop around for style and for price,” Shettel said. “They have to go outside preconceived notions. Bring along a friend, and try on different gowns. Try on expensive dresses and try on less expensive gowns. It is one of the purchases that when it’s the right gown, you know it’s the right gown.”
If you’re looking for the steal of the century, there are ways to find a fabulous yet inexpensive gown, according to the experts. Here are some suggestions:
Consider heirloom gowns. Altering a wedding dress worn by a sister, aunt, mother or even grandmother can be an economical and an alternative to buying one new. Plus, it has a sewn-in sentimental factor.
Shop the discount outlets. Buying an off-the-rack gown can save you as much as or more than 50% off the cost of a gown. There are a number of national and regional discount bridal outlets that offer the same gowns at significant discounts. They also sometimes have rack dresses by size, past-season dresses and discontinued items or irregulars.
Check out the end-of-season sales. If you find a gown you love, ask the sales clerk to keep you posted when and if the price will go down. Be patient, and keep in touch with the store.
Consider buying a sample gown. Most dress manufacturers make sample dresses that eventually will have to be retired for fresh gowns. A trip to the dry cleaner may be all that’s needed to restore a gown to its original glory.
Check out the department store racks. There are some stunning white evening dresses that can be found on the racks in major department stores. Don’t get hung up on the bridal label; the important thing is that a gown looks bridal.
