While wedding dress shopping is typically the most exciting part for brides while wedding planning, it can also bring some stress! Particularly when you are trying to figure out how much you’re willing to spend on a dress. There are a lot of things to keep in mind, so we are here to help you with it!
Our Tips for Setting Your Wedding Dress Budget
Here are some things to keep in mind as you are trying to figure out your wedding dress budget!
Consider your overall wedding budget
Before you can determine how much you are willing to spend on a wedding dress, you will want to figure out your overall wedding dress budget. Typically, 10 percent of your overall wedding budget will go toward attire. This includes both the bride and groom’s attire, accessories, and alterations.
So, for example, let’s say that your total wedding budget is $50,000. That would give you $5,000 toward attire!
Of course, this is just a guideline. You can dedicate as much as you want to your attire budget! Besides, your dress/attire might be more important to you than anything else. If that’s the case, you can dedicate more of your budget to attire, and take away some money in another area, such as florals or videography.
Do your research
Research, research, and research some more before you start shopping! While pinning and scrolling through wedding dress is so much fun, it doesn’t realistically give you an idea of what styles you can afford with your budget.
We recommend researching the local bridal shops in your area. From there, take a peek at their website and social media to see if it looks like they carry dresses that you can picture yourself wearing! Finally, reach out to them (or check their website) to find out the range of prices that they carry.
This will keep you from going to an appointment at a salon that 1) doesn’t carry dresses that fit what you’re looking for and 2) only carry gowns that are outside of your price range! Nothing is worse than showing up to your appointment and experiencing sticker shock. OR, finding out that they only have 1 or 2 dresses that are within your budget, but those don’t fit what you’re looking for.
Factor in alterations
Don’t forget about alterations! No matter what, you most likely will need alterations, even if it’s just a simple hem. This goes for both gowns that you order through a designer and sample dresses that you buy off the rack at the shop.
Alterations should be factored into your budget, because they typically will run you at least a few hundred dollars. Of course, the more complicated your alterations, the more expensive they will be. If you have customizations that you’re looking to get done, like adding or removing sleeves or changing lace, then you will be spending more.
Some bridal shops offer alterations in-house, while others require to find one on your own. Here at K&B, we give you a list of recommended seamstresses that have gone through a vetting process to be on our list. You can use one of them, or you can find someone on your own! We find that this is the best way for you to find someone who is conveniently located near you and who fits your needs and budget.
Find bridal sales in your area
One way to save money on your wedding dress is to research the sales that your local bridal shops have coming up. This could include trunk shows, sample sales, spotlight events, and tester events. Typically, these events will offer a discount on those gowns — especially sample sales! Sample sales occur when a bridal shop wants to make room for new inventory in their shop. They sell their “samples,” or ready-to-wear gowns, right off the rack for you to bring home with you that day — usually at a steep discount!
Speaking of this… our Black Friday Bridal Sale here at K&B Bridals is coming up quickly! This year, it will be at BOTH locations — Bel Air and Hagerstown.
During this sale, all in-stock bridal gowns will be up to 75% off when you take your gown home with you that day. Plus, you get to work with a personal bridal stylist who will know exactly which gowns will be perfect for you. Shopping our Black Friday event still gives you the amazing K&B appointment experience that all of our brides receive!
Appointments are required for this event. Book yours TODAY by visiting kandbbridals.com/appointments (Bel Air) or www.kandbhagerstown.com/appointments (Hagerstown)!
Featured Image Photo by Jackie Steele