Top 10 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding Dress

Let's be honest, planning a wedding can get expensive - FAST. And although your wedding dress is one of the most important pieces to consider when creating a budget, shopping for it does not have to break the bank.

If you are a stressed out bride, wondering how to afford the wedding dress of your dreams, then this blog post is for you. Today we are going to cover our top 10 ways to save money on your wedding dress. These tips and tricks will help you stay within budget, without having to sacrifice style. Because you should be able to walk down the aisle in the wedding dress of your dreams, without accumulating massive amounts of debt. So if you are ready to save some money on your dream wedding dress, then follow along below with our top 10 tips!

01. Begin Shopping Early

When you first get engaged, it might feel like you have forever until your actual wedding day. But as you start planning, you will find that time begins to fly by. One of the best ways to ensure that you are not overpaying for your wedding dress is to begin your search early. Give yourself plenty of time to narrow down your options, and find your dream dress for the best price. Shopping early also ensures that you have plenty of time for alterations - which will eliminate any rush fees.

02. Plan Out Your Looks

When you start planing your wedding, it is so exciting and it is easy to start buying #allofthethings. But this can get out of hand really quick. So to avoid overspending, take some time to first plan out your bridal looks. From your wedding dress to all of those pre-wedding events. Create a Pinterest board and start saving things you love. Narrow down your style options. And create a list of must-have items, and things you think you can go without. Taking the time to plan in advance, will help you to purchase with intention, which will help you save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in the long run!

03. Embrace Bridal Separates for Your Pre-Wedding Looks

Modern day wedding celebrations extend far beyond just your wedding day. You may have an engagement party, bridal shower, bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner, post wedding brunch - and the list goes on and on. And when most brides set their initial bridal budget, it is easy to forget about all of these extra events - and the outfits you will need for each of them. To ensure that you are not taking away vital funds from your wedding dress budget, embrace the use of bridal separate for all of your pre-wedding looks. Get a few keys pieces that you can mix and match for all of your wedding events. And with bridal separates on the rise in popularity, this is easier than ever before. Plus, bridal separates can become staples in your wardrobe long after your wedding day, making them even more of a economic choice!

04. Shop Pre-Loved Wedding Dresses

Shopping pre-loved is an obvious way to help you save money when shopping for your wedding dress. And online market places like Still White, are making it easier than ever before to find shop pre-loved wedding dresses online! But there are some other added benefits. First off, shopping pre-loved is a more environmental choice. It is no secret how wasteful the fashion industry is. And one-time use fashion like wedding dresses are only inflating the problem. When you buy a used wedding dress, you are lessening your impact on the environment, and that creates some pretty big ripple effects. But on top of that, shopping pre-loved allows you to get a wedding dress that may otherwise be outside of your budget. The lower prices of pre-loved bridal gowns means designer fashion, that may otherwise be out of reach, may suddenly fall well into your price range.

05. Simplify Your Look

If you are looking to cut costs for your wedding, then consider simplifying your look. Less-is-more bridal looks are so on trend right now, and it is easy to see why. Simplifying your wedding look will obviously help you save money, but it also encourages you to create a more intentional, timeless look. Decide which pieces are must-haves, and what you can go without. Maybe you want to opt out of wearing a veil, and instead go with a trending bridal headband. Consider just a few key accessories, and ditch the rest.

06. Shop Your Current Closet

One thing that brides tend to forget, is how many amazing pieces or accessories that they already have in their closet. Consider "shopping" your current closet for jewelry, pre-wedding looks, footwear and so much more. Bridal marketing may make you feel like everything has to be new when it comes to your wedding. But that just isn't true. You already have amazing pieces in your own closet, that you can incorporate into all of your bridal looks.

07. Purchase With intention

If you are going to be purchasing new pieces for your wedding day, do so with intention. Make sure to purchase high quality pieces that you will wear again and again after your wedding day. Opt for nude strappy sandals that you will wear over and over again, instead of white. Purchase quality jewelry that is classic. When you are more intentional with your purchases, you will end up saving money in the long run.

08. Consider Re-Sale Value

When you are looking for ways to save money when shopping for a wedding dress, make sure to consider resale value. With websites like Still White, finding your wedding dress a new home is safer and easier than ever before! Consider whether a dress is classic or on trend enough to resell after your wedding. If it is, you can take that resale value into consideration when setting your budget.

09. Something Borrowed (or rented)

If you are following wedding day traditions, then you will need something borrowed for your big day. Take this concept a bit further. What else can you borrow from friends or family members? This is especially great to consider for pieces that you will not be wearing again after your wedding day. Take a veil for instance. A veil is definitely a one-time-use bridal piece that can run a rather high ticket price. So ask your girlfriends who have gotten married recently whether you can borrow theirs. And you can also look into rental programs which are gaining more traction in the fashion scene.

10. Embrace Family Heirlooms

Once you get engaged you will have grandmothers, aunts and mothers showering you in family heirlooms to wear and use on your wedding day. And let's be honest, not all heirlooms are created equal. But consider each item you are offered with care. How can you re-purpose pieces in ways that will work with your desired style? Embracing family heirlooms allows you to massively save on your bridal look, and the joy you will give to those who gift them to you is priceless!