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Wedding Dress Budget: Tips on How to Afford Your Dream Dress

DressesTips and Trends | January 6, 2021
Bride Wearing Lace Keyhole Back Wedding Dress Called Hope by Rebecca Ingram with Text Overlay

While Pinning and daydreaming about the perfect dress can be super exciting and loads of fun, it’s important to know how much you can realistically spend on your wedding dress before going to your local boutique. Although setting a wedding dress budget might seem tricky, understanding how much you can afford to spend on your wedding gown makes the dress shopping experience a lot easier! So, keep scrolling to see our wedding dress budget breakdown, as well as tips on how to afford your dream wedding dress. Enjoy!

First things first: Think about your overall wedding budget.

  • Outdoor Tables with Pink Table Cloths at Wedding Reception
  • Swanky Modern Fireplace at Outdoor Reception

Before you decide how much to spend on your dream wedding gown, you’ll need to first figure out how much you can spend on your entire wedding. We cover more of this in our wedding budget breakdown, but here are the basics:

  • 50 Percent: Venue Catering and Rental Costs
  • 12 Percent: Photography and Videography
  • 10 Percent: Wedding Dress, Accessories, Hair, and Makeup
  • 8 Percent: Décor
  • 7 Percent: Entertainment
  • 4 Percent: Wedding Planner
  • 3 Percent: Wedding Stationary and Invites
  • 3 Percent: Wedding Bands
  • 2 Percent: Other Miscellaneous Costs
  • 1 Percent: Goodies for Guests
  • Real Bride with Groom Wearing Fresh Clean Wedding Outfits
    Fernanda by Maggie Sottero

Basically, you’ll need to allocate about 10% of your total wedding budget to your wedding dress, alterations, and accessories.

Next, do your research.

You’ve probably wondered how much the average wedding dress costs, but have you ever wondered how much a Maggie Sottero wedding dress costs? You’d be surprised at how affordable our designer wedding dresses are! See the price ranges below for our three designer brands.

  • Rebecca Ingram wedding dresses range from $800-$1300. This is our line of classic, flirty, and elegantly tailored bridal dresses at affordable prices. These wedding dresses would work with a $8,000-$12,000 wedding.
  • Model Wearing Strapless Floral Mermaid Wedding Dress Called Hattie by Rebecca Ingram
    Hattie by Rebecca Ingram
  • Curvy Model Wearing Plus Size Princess Wedding Gown Called Mila by Rebecca Ingram
    Mila by Rebecca Ingram
  • Maggie Sottero wedding dresses range from $1200-$2400. This is our core line of romantic bridal gowns for a timeless yet personalized aesthetic. These wedding gowns would be perfect for brides with a $12,000-$20,000 wedding budget!
  • Curvy Model Wearing Strapless Lace Plus Size Fit-and-Flare Wedding Dress Called Clarette Anne by Maggie Sottero
  • Model Wearing Princess Sequin Ball Gown Wedding Dress Called Tavi Made by Maggie Sottero
  • Sottero and Midgley wedding dress prices range from $1400-$4000. These couture wedding gowns are designed for glamour, sophistication, and a one-of-a-kind statement. These luxurious wedding dresses are perfect for the bride with a wedding budget of $20,000+.
  • Model Wearing Geometric Sparkle Ball Gown Wedding Dress Called Thatched by Sottero and Midgley
    Thatcher by Sottero and Midgley
  • Curvy Model Wearing Plus Size Cold Shoulder Sleeve Wedding Dress Called Bracken Made by Sottero and Midgley
    Bracken Lynette by Sottero and Midgley

What goes into the cost of a wedding dress?

There are several factors that go into the cost of a wedding dress, and here are just a few:

  • The Fabric: Silk, embroidered lace, tulle, and extra layers are some of the reasons wedding dresses can be more expensive. To cut costs, opt for a simple fabrication in crepe, satin, or chiffon. To learn more about wedding dress fabrics, check out our All-in-One Wedding Dress Fabric Guide.
  • Bride Wearing Lace Sheath Wedding Dress Called Hope by Rebecca Ingram
    Hope by Rebecca Ingram
  • The Embellishments: Beading, sequins, Swarovski crystals, and lace appliques are a few of the embellishments that make a wedding dress more expensive. A tip: if you’re after a glamorous look and have a modest budget, choose a simple wedding dress. Then, have your seamstress add embellishments, or up the “wow” factor with accessories like dangling earrings or a bling necklace.
  • Real Bride Getting Dressed for Her Wedding and Wearing Maggie Sottero Wedding Dress Deirdre
    Deirdre by Maggie Sottero
  • Groom Hugging Bride and Holding Up Bouquet While Bride WEars Maggie Sottero Lace Wedding Dress Called Deirdre
    Deirdre by Maggie Sottero
  • The Accessories: If you think your bridal look is all about the dress, think again! Your accessories play a huge part in bringing your overall wedding vibe together. Make sure you budget for things like jewelry, shoes, and a veil or headpiece because these extra items can range from $150 to $400.

Remember to factor in the cost of alterations.

Whether you’re ordering a wedding dress straight from a designer or purchasing something off the rack at a sample sale, keep in mind that alterations are almost always necessary and will most likely have an additional fee.

  • Bride Trying on Wedding Dress at Boutique and Wearing Clamps for Alterations
    Althea by Maggie Sottero

Some bridal boutiques offer in-house alterations, while others ask that you find a seamstress on your own. In general, expect to spend at least $100-$300 on wedding dress alterations (and even more if you’re planning to add sleeves, change the neckline, etc.). So, don’t forget to factor this cost into your total wedding dress budget!

Ways to save while wedding dress shopping:

Your wedding dress should make you feel like a superstar without spurning your revised-and-ratified wedding budget. So, if you’re wondering how to cut down on your wedding dress budget while still being able to afford the wedding gown of your dreams, scroll on! Here are a few budgeting tips that apply ever-so-nicely to any price range.

Invest in a wedding dress that (almost) fits to begin with.

Save big on alterations by choosing a wedding dress that already “almost” fits. We say “almost” because nearly all wedding dresses need to be altered to fit each bride’s unique (and totally gorgeous!) figure.

  • Bride Trying on Veil with Wedding Dress by Maggie Sottero
    Brandy by Rebecca Ingram

One way around this is to opt for a corset-style bridal gown that hugs your natural figure or features built-in shapewear to flatter your curves. This will help you avoid making extensive alterations or undergarment purchases in the future.

Buy a floor sample wedding dress.

If you want to save some serious cash while still having the real bridal boutique experience, consider buying a sample wedding dress off the floor instead of ordering a new wedding gown. Depending on how long the wedding dress has been on the floor and the condition it’s in, you might be able to snag a great price! Just inspect it carefully before purchasing it to make sure there aren’t any tears or potentially permanent stains.

  • Bridal Stylist Browsing Row of Wedding Dresses at a Local Boutique
  • Bridal Stylist Pulling Wedding Dresses Off the Rack for Bride to Try On

Also, make sure to get on the mailing list for your favorite local bridal shops so you can stay in the know about upcoming sample sales to score the best deals on designer sample dresses.

Contrast your accessories with your wedding dress.

If you’re going with an elaborate bridal gown, keep your accessories low-key. If you choose a more simple wedding dress, however, use the extra space in your budget to glam it up with anything from belts to bold necklaces to fabulous flower crowns.

  • Groom with Real Bride Wearing Big Flower Crown at Festival Wedding
    Kathleen by Maggie Sottero

Well, there you have it! Keep in mind that these wedding dress budget tips are just that—tips! If you’ve decided that your dream gown is a non-negotiable, see what other things you can sacrifice so you can splurge on this purchase. (By the way, we wholeheartedly support this decision!)

Visit our blog post 10 Maggie Sottero Wedding Dresses Under $1000 to see designer bridal gowns that won’t break your budget. Then head on over to 5 Tips for Setting and Sticking to Your Wedding Budget for tips and tricks on how to cut corners and save money so you can splurge on the most important things (like your dream gown) for your special day.

And don’t forget to read up on: How to Manage Your Finances as Newlyweds!

And for advice on how to know if your wedding dress is “the one,” check out these tips from real brides! Happy dress shopping!

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