Being a Bride, or Her Mother, on a Budget

Within minutes after accepting the proposal, the bride probably starts dreaming about her gown. It’s one item on the wedding price list that can make or break the budget, but there simply is no reason to spend thousands of dollars on a dress you wear only once.

Some of the following sources for bridal attire also carry gowns suitable for proms.

For high-end wedding gowns, those you drool over in the bridal magazines, check out Damone’s in downtown Los Angeles, where you buy right off the rack at 50% off retail. The size range is limited to 8 and 10, but with savings like these, one can afford a few alterations.

This is also a great spot for the mother of the bride, with designers such as Victor Costa, Oleg Cassini and many other fine lines (and all current) at 30% to 40% off retail. This is a membership club, but if you mention this column, they’ll let you in for a courtesy visit. Should you make a purchase, Damone’s will give you a lifetime membership.

Damone’s, 1349 S. Los Angeles St., Los Angeles, (213) 747-0355. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.

If it’s the Jessica McClintock Old World look you want, Sutter Place in Huntington Beach is a good place to start. This is the outlet store for this label, as well as for Robert McClintock and Gunne Sax.

You’ll find more of the Gunne Sax label at La Petite Factorie, its San Bernardino County outlet store, in Montclair. Both of these are also good spots for getting that important prom dress. At either of these stores, you’ll find a solid selection at 35% to 60% off retail.

Sutter Place, 18577 Main St., Huntington Beach, (714) 848-8280. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. La Petite Factorie, 5458 Moreno Ave., Montclair, (714) 982-1866. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Another terrific spot for saving money on the gown is Brides International. Gowns here are priced from $100 to $600 and run from the informal ankle-length gown to the traditional gown with a train.

There are three locations: 9826 W. Pico Blvd., West Los Angeles, (213) 552-3237, open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays and noon to 9 p.m. Mondays; 13273 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, (818) 990-0145, noon to 9 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays, and in San Gabriel, where they go by the name Hacienda Brides, 205 W. Las Tunas Drive, (818) 282-7293, open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.

All the above have only new and first-quality gowns. If you’re really on a budget, consider the fact that a wedding gown is worn only once, and many brides today turn their dress in to a consignment store after the big day. This is one way to get a $1,200 gown for maybe $400.

Deja Vu Bridal Boutique has a good inventory of wedding gowns that have been turned in or, in some instances (and we’d rather not know the sad stories behind these), Deja Vu has a few never-worn gowns.

Deja Vu is in Venice and is by appointment only. Call (213) 821-8460.

Galaxy of Gowns in Simi Valley started out as a consignment operation but has expanded considerably. Many new gowns are mixed in with ones worn only once and are from bridal shops that have liquidated their inventory or from manufacturers who sell their closeouts to owner Dreama Elliott. Galaxy of Gowns is also a source for prom or pageant gowns as well as dresses for the mother of the bride.

Galaxy of Gowns, 1542 Los Angeles Ave., and 2292 Tapo St., both in Simi Valley, (805) 526-4696. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Geri Cook’s Bargains column runs every Thursday in Valley View. Questions about shopping may be sent to her, in care of Valley View, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. Letters will not be answered individually, but topics of general interest will be discussed in future columns.