Splurge on my wedding dress

If you love a dress, i would say just see if you can lower the budget in another category and make up for the difference.

I never set a budget but I spent 1250 on mine and although I'm absolutely in love with it, I could've looked longer for something a little cheaper.

I say if you can find a way to spurge without taking away from other parts of your wedding that are important go for it! I went a bit over for my dress, and I didn't regret it because that was the one I loved!

I budgeted $2,000 and bought my dress at a semi-annual clearance for $912. I also has $200 budgeted for veil and spent only $75.

We set our budget really high in most areas just because we wanted to avoid sticker shock when talking to vendors.

I payed $75 for a secondhand dress. I think splurging is a bad idea unless you can afford it without taking away from more important parts as Laura mentioned.

The wedding dress I wanted would have been over budget by $2000! I was able to buy the sample and only went $500 over. I was ok with going over because it included my alterations and bustle

I ideally wanted to stick around $1k-$1,100. Ended up spending $1,900 plus $480 in alterations, but it's worth way more (they knocked a grand off because I bought it off a mannequin). I spent more than I intended but I could afford it...I just didn't want to spend that much. But hey, I love it so the deal is done now lol

My budget was $1,000 then it went up to $1500. With tax my dress was $1700. Alterations are another $926. I'm 6 weeks out and my new motto is F it, the budget is long gone. Cannot believe I'm spending $2700 on a dress to wear for 12 hours, but it is what it is.

I definitely blew my dress budget.

I went in not wanting to pay more than $1500 and will end up spending around $3000 when it's all said and done, including customization and alterations.

Part of is mad at myself for splurging that much because now we can't fit in a photobooth and other fun extras like that. On the flip side, though, this is my dream dress and it took me four months of searching to find it. I didn't think I was going to be so picky, but I was. At the end of the day, in thrilled with the dress I have and the boutique I bought it from, so it's worth it to me.

I went way over my budget, but it wasn't a "hard" budget. I am still in love with my dress. It is the nicest thing I will ever wear. I am ok with that.

If you're willing to dip into the sample and second-hand market, it is incredibly easy to stay within a budget. Some of the second-hand dresses are actually new, from brides who had dress regrets or weddings that never happened.

After browsing a lot of used dress listings, I got the sense that many brides blew their budget on a "dream dress" and when the wedding is over, the dress is of no use anymore and they are now desperate to recovery whatever they can. Personally I do no want to find myself in that situation.

The regular bridal attire market is also competitive enough that there are stunning dresses at every price point.

My budget was $1500 but with alterations and everything it's coming to well over 2k I never really took those into consideration with the budget.

My budget was 2k and I found my dream dress for 1500. Before I found my dream dress I thought I would be right at my budget or just over. I fully believe you can find your dream dress in or below budget and I don't think your dress is worth going into debt for, but that's just me.

I went in with a $3k budget and fell in love with a dress for $1100 plus alterations.

I too wanted to stay under $1000 but ended up being at $1550 after tax because I added an over skirt and belt.

My parents paid for my dress and my mom gave me a strict $1k budget before alterations. I was $50 under budget. I would not recommend going over, work on your will power. I did not try on anything over $1k because I knew I would fall in love and not be able to get it.

Yep I didn't want to go over $1k but my dress was $1,300 plus a $300 belt to be made into straps as I didn't want a strapless dress. Also factor in the alterations, at least another $300. My mom and FMIL were kind enough to pitch in some $ for the extra $600 over budget. Dress might not have been too much over, but keep in mind everything else and it adds up. So, what I'm trying to say is try not to fall in love with an over budget dress. But if it's the dress, what can you do??

My budget was about $1200 and I spent $1800 and I do not regret it! I feel so beautiful and confident in it! I cannot wait for my FH to see it!

Our budget (my mom paid for mine) was about 1500. We spent 1700 after tax but before alterations. I was absolutely in love with the dress, and my mom cried so she was sold. My dress was actually a brand new sample, so it had never been tried on. I got the 35% off sample price for a dress that was practically brand new. Shopping sample/ trunk sales can be a huge budget saver. My dress would've been about $2500 and totally out of reach.

I didn't want to go over $1000 but in the shop my mom spoke up and said she was paying so make it $2000... I really didn't want to go that high but my perfect dress was $1995