Your Cart is Empty
speak to a preservation specialist. call 800-830-4665
speak to a preservation specialist. call 800-830-4665
It is common knowledge among brides that wedding gowns are pricey. Aside from the venue preparations and other needed things to be done, looking for a wedding dress is one of the most stressful things to do when planning a wedding. From picking a design to fitting numerous dresses, choosing a wedding dress is a lot of hard work, and of course, the most important thing to consider is the price.
Wedding dresses hold a special place in every bride’s heart as it serves as a memoir on that magical day she said “I do” to the man of her dreams. The average cost of a wedding dress is $1,631 including alterations while other designs can reach up to $4,000. Brides tend to wonder why are wedding gowns so expensive when they only have to wear it once in their lifetime. To ease your mind, we put a breakdown of everything that goes into a wedding gown and see what makes it so expensive and special.
Wedding dresses are designed and tailored to look elegant and classy that is why designers use expensive fabrics like silk, charmeuse, and laces that add to the cost of your gown. Cheaper fabrics can be used as an alternative but the quality and feels will not be the same. The fabric used in your gown makes a whole difference in its overall look. Even those wedding dresses with simple designs, expensive fabrics are used to make it look elegant and outstanding among the rest.
Designer dresses are significantly more expensive than normal ones because these are specially made by well-known designers. You also get to decide what goes where based on your preference. Designer dresses are also limited edition designs that only you can have, that is why it costs a lot. Another thing that made designer dresses so expensive is because you have more flexibility in trying styles on in your own time anywhere you want.
Aside from expensive fabrics, what makes wedding gowns look stunning and elegant are the embellishments that are used to put details in your dress. Beadings, hand-placed lace, and floating appliques are few of the most used adornment that can add up to the cost of a wedding gown. The more intricate the designs and fabric, the more the higher the cost of the gown. Also, embellishments are added manually to the gown that adds a lot of work to finish the details.
Other details that add to the cost of the gown are the constructions, intricate beadworks, and artistic curves with flattering styles that makes the gown more attractive and stunning. Since brides cannot wear dark-colored gowns, designers make sure that the details of the dress can be clearly seen even from afar which needs additional beading work and costs.
Whether you had your gown made to order or bought it in a wedding shop, you will generally need a series of alterations until you are satisfied with it. Unless your gown is custom made to perfection which rarely happens, you will result in some alterations one way or another that costs $75-$250. However, if you want to make big changes to your dress such as changing designs, adding a bustle or a sleeve, expect to pay upwards $500 since there will be a lot of work to do to makes the changes that you want.
There are months considered by wedding planners and coordinators as the peak season for brides to get married. During this time, wedding gowns are typically more expensive because of the high demand, that is why if you are planning to get married in spring or fall, you will most likely get an expensive gown. Some retailers, boutiques, and designers have sales to clear gowns from their previous collections during summer and winter. So if you want to get a stunning gown at a cheaper price, you can shop during these times to save big.
While this is not a part of your on-the-day overall look, preserving and cleaning your dress is something that adds cost to your wedding gown. Most brides have their gowns cleaned right after their wedding and get it preserved right away as well. Whether you are planning to sell your wedding dress or to donate it, you would want to get it professionally cleaned and preserve first before doing so and that will incur you another expense to account for.
Wedding gowns are not expensive for no reason. Since it plays a big role in the bride’s most magical day, it is important to achieve an elegant look and make the bride shines among others. From the design to the details, everything is well-curated to make sure that the bride looks the prettiest while walking down the aisle and saying “I do” in front of her loved ones and family.
While wedding gowns are relatively expensive, there are ways on how you can save while looking for your preferred dress. Go online and look for seasonal sample sales, or rent a designer gown which is way cheaper than buying one. Whether you choose to buy a simple gown and make alterations to add glam on it, or you decide to borrow from your friends, your perfect wedding dress is never out of reach.
Find more ways to save on your wedding dress if you do not want to spend more on it. Remember to stay within your budget while looking for a gown so you won’t have to adjust your budget for other important things for your wedding.
