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Sarah
Devoted November 2021

Anyone else spending $500 or less on your dress?

Sarah, on September 4, 2019 at 6:52 PM

Posted in Wedding Attire 97

I'm trying to spend $800 total on my wedding outfit. I want to save budget for shoes, accessories, and alterations, so I feel like I should be looking for a dress that's $500 or less. Has anyone found a dress in that price range or is that way too little??
I'm trying to spend $800 total on my wedding outfit. I want to save budget for shoes, accessories, and alterations, so I feel like I should be looking for a dress that's $500 or less. Has anyone found a dress in that price range or is that way too little??

97 Comments

  • Katherine
    Dedicated February 2020
    Katherine ·
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    Found my dress at DB though not actually IN STORE mind you. It’s a discontinued style (even though some years after its release and a few months after I bought it it continues to be offered online) that was marked down from $1,958 to just under $500 before taxes.

    I tried on ..or attempted to try on (as my consultant kept bringing me dresses for slender silhouette framed women that wouldn’t go beyond my hips) about 3-5 dresses. Most I had to turn down because again, they either didn’t get passed my hips or I looked at the price tag and saw my consultant seemed to have me confused with another bride with $500-$1,000 more budget room. And about 50lbs less bride to fit.

    By the end of it though my mother asked the desk clerk if they had a way to get this one specific dress I adored online but that they didn’t have in-house anymore. After much fumbling with their website we had it ordered! Their stock told them they didn’t have it at all, the website said they did. They literally called their warehouse and they said it’s there ¯\_(?)_/¯

    Ended up paying the full discounted price for it then and there without trying it on, and took a gamble it was THE ONE. It was. I was discouraged the first few times I wore it cuz I never saw myself in a “normal” colored dress in my head. Ivory being “normal” to me. But after one trip to an independent alterations seamstress, I wanted to cry. With just better hand strength than my mother can deliver with her disability, I was zipped up! And thank god because we were discussing shortening the skirt (because that was looking to add $1,000 right there alone) and a corset backing. But the only things needed were a few pearl beading to be reinforced and a new hook clasp for the zipper and some steaming to get rid of the wrinkles.

    So all in all $500(+tax) + $81.91(!!) for alterations. I’d say yes it’s more than realistic! You just gotta keep your eyes peeled for more than what’s on the rack! Because of these savings I can splurge a lil with my veil and shoes (which I also found on sale). And I’m not really accounting for jewelry since technically its all pearls that I bought for my mother years ago and she’s letting me “borrow” them Smiley laugh
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  • Ivy ORP
    VIP October 2019
    Ivy ORP ·
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    That's the dress I almost bought until I found my "The One". It is beautiful!

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  • MrsV1027
    Master October 2018
    MrsV1027 ·
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    Mine was $499 before taxes. With the bag and tiara it was like $600. I spent $50 on my shoes and $50 on my veil and my MIL gifted me the belt so I spent less than $800. I didn't need any alterations though so that really helped.

    It can be done but the selection is definitely smaller.

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  • SraDeCarrillo
    Super August 2019
    SraDeCarrillo ·
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    Thank you. It was actually my second dress. I had dress regret with my first one which was a dress I got at a sample sale. I read all of the reviews for Asa bridal and took the risk and I’m glad I did.

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  • A
    Expert January 2020
    Abby ·
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    This is mine it was $152! Look on FB market, or ShowPo! You can def get one for under $500-$800

    Anyone else spending $500 or less on your dress? 1
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  • Danielle
    Expert March 2019
    Danielle ·
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    I got mine for $315 from Azazie. Used their custom sizing, and if I hadn't wanted to cut off the train, would have needed almost no alterations.

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  • Sherry
    Master September 2019
    Sherry ·
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    Me! I have two dresses, a wedding dress and reception dress and spent $120 for both in total. Both brand new. Wedding dress was from Davids Bridal for $99 and my reception dress is from Ross for $20Smiley laugh

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  • M
    Expert September 2020
    Marcia ·
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    My dress was $94 and my shoes were $29. It’s my second wedding and we are doing it very casually.
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  • Ivy ORP
    VIP October 2019
    Ivy ORP ·
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    I think I have some of those reviews memorized. LOL I'm so glad it worked out for you.

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  • Krista
    Dedicated April 2020
    Krista ·
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    Just make sure you can return it! The biggest thing that sold me on my dress was how light it was! I felt so free like I could move without being weighed down, and you can’t always tell that by a picture! Happy shoppingSmiley smile
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  • Callie
    Just Said Yes June 2021
    Callie ·
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    Hey!

    I just purchased my wedding dress for $400 at a&be bridal shop in Portland, although they have shops all over the place. I bought it off the rack for their sample sale. I would highly encourage you to look for sample sales and trunk shows to get the discounts, but make sure that you give your dress a thorough examination before you purchase it. They can sell you a damaged dress and if you buy a dress during a sample sale, its generally a final sale type of deal.

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  • jfschaefer
    Just Said Yes October 2020
    jfschaefer ·
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    I ordered mine from LuLus.com. Originally $90, but I got it on sale for $45!! After shipping it was still only $50.

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  • Jillian
    Dedicated October 2021
    Jillian ·
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    Yes exactly but i can deter myself from this dress🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ totally obsessed with it💙💙💙
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  • Sharyl
    Dedicated October 2022
    Sharyl ·
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    I was able to find my dress at a random bridal store by my house for for $499 (original was $1600) and also got a cathedral veil for $120 (original $500) so I was able to spend under my budget of $800. This is excluding alterations but I won’t need to do much for alterations either so I’ll probably spend $1000 total, maybe less.
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  • Sherrie
    Expert August 2019
    Sherrie ·
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    Mine was $250 WITH alterations fitted to my exact size and it took a total of 30 days from ordering to arrival at my dior wedding ready! Free shipping too! The bustle was my only added expense beyond the $250 because I had it done at a local shop near me. Check out SuLi store on AliExpress! They were phenominal. Excellent communication.

    Anyone else spending $500 or less on your dress? 2

    Anyone else spending $500 or less on your dress? 3
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  • Sinéad
    WeddingWire Administrator January 2025
    Sinéad ·
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    I love your dress so much, it looked amazing on you!

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  • Diana
    VIP December 2019
    Diana ·
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    I’ve gotten mine at David’s Bridal as well and it was under $500!! They have some really beautiful gowns!!
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  • Ali
    Just Said Yes November 2020
    Ali ·
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    Try Cocomelody they have amazing dresses in your range
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  • J
    Savvy December 2019
    Jill ·
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    My dress, Maid of Honor, Jr Bridesmaids, & Best LadyAnyone else spending $500 or less on your dress? 4

    My dress was $200 but it's not a typical wedding dress.


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  • Jo
    Savvy September 2019
    Jo ·
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    It's possible! I bought mine online from Pre-owned Wedding Dresses (but it was new) for $250, my veil I bought for $20 and my shoes $15
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