Collecting the Dress

Unique bridal style doesn't always have to come from an expensive bridal boutique. Designer dresses, although beautiful, can be costly and may cause you more stress than happiness during the planning of your wedding. You may be in a position where you have limited amounts of time to even order a dress, let alone attend multiple fittings, or better yet, you’re paying for your wedding and don’t feel comfortable spending copious amounts on one dress you’ll only wear once. This post is for those brides who don’t want to sacrifice their bridal style or originality, because time and money aren’t on their side. Before I landed on the idea of designing my own dress, I did some web surfing for potential online retailers where I could purchase my dress for a much lower cost. I found some great alternatives in some unexpected areas, so I wanted to share those sites with the modern, money saving bride, and show that style doesn’t come from the dress, it comes from you.

Asos

Asos is typically my go to site to find the latest trends at good prices, but they have a pretty extensive dress collection and have even created a bridal suite including affordable wedding gowns and bridesmaids dresses. I wouldn’t just stop at the bridal suite. What I do is select dresses then sort by color and that gives more options. Also, Asos has several options for sizing. They have a Main, Tall, Petite, Plus, and Maternity branded sizes, so there is something for everyone.

Revolve

This has been my go to site for occasion dresses, especially when I’m attending weddings. I always find these amazing white dresses, but can’t buy them, because of the cardinal rule; a wedding guest should never wear white unless otherwise stated.  They have options for every style and I always find something in my price point, especially with their sale items. Although slightly more expensive than the other sites on this list, when compared to designer wedding dress prices, you’ll still be saving a ton and not foregoing any style.

Reformation

This site is for the less is more bride. They have great options for both bridal and bridesmaid looks. I just love their simple, yet stylish silhouettes and if you’re looking for something classic with a bit of a twist, using natural materials, this is it.

Mod Cloth

A friend of mine recommended this site to me a while back to find unique occasion wear, and I consistently return to see what new pieces they have. The prices are great and they have a vintage flair that I love. They also added a wedding dress section, but I would search the whole site.

Lulus

I’ve been pursuing this hidden gem for almost a decade now. I usually look for cute trousers and shoes on the site, but in the last 3 years, they’ve started adding more formal wear and a ton of bridal looks

I hope this helps spark some inspiration on where you might be able to find THE dress for much less without compromising your vision. If you like a particular designer look or style, do your research- there are plenty of options out there for the cost conscious bride. People in the industry will tell you opposite, but you can find quality pieces for less if you know where to look. Happy perusing!