A Budget Bride’s Search for the Perfect Bridesmaid’s Dress

A Budget Bride’s Search for the Perfect Bridesmaid’s Dress

April 7th, 2010 @ 10:36 am by Mrs. Dolphin
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When I first started looking for bridesmaid’s dresses I knew one thing: I didn’t want to get them at David’s Bridal.

I know this is silly. David’s Bridal has about a bazillion dresses in hundreds of colors. I just felt that purchasing from David’s Bridal would be like buying from ’The Man’—a company built around playing on the emotions of brides and gorging the pockets of their bridesmaids (but what bridal store doesn’t do this?). Plus, purchasing bridesmaid’s dresses from a huge bridal warehouse didn’t really jive with me (and I thought their dresses were low quality for the price). Yes, I was crazy.

I was obsessed with finding a dress under $100 and one that my gals could wear again. I began my search online at Macy’s, Dillards, and Nordstrom. I thought it would be easy to find a light blue dress for our little garden wedding… but GEEZ I couldn’t find any dress remotely near the color I was looking for (or in the price range I was looking for).

While on one of my (many) trips to Solutions Bridal in Gainesville, I came across a beautiful Watters bridesmaid dress. But, once again, the price was a shocker coming in at about $204.

J.Crew makes a similar dress priced at $180. I was left disheartened by how much I loved both dresses and that I was extremely uncomfortable asking my bridesmaids to pay so much. Seminole Bridesmaid saved the day and found a ’knock off’ of both dresses as an ’online exclusive’ at David’s Bridal. And the price? $120. I was SOLD! Plus I found a discount code which took $20 off each dress (put in 0029RWD1 at checkout), putting them right into the price range I was looking for. Hooray!!!

Now for a comparison between these three gorgeous (and garden style) dresses:

From Left to Right: Watters $204; J Crew $180; David’s Bridal $120 ($100 with coupon)

Here’s a picture of the J.Crew dress in action:

source Once Wed

Here is a picture of the dress (David’s Bridal #83362) in ‘real life’. The picture came out a little more turquoise then it really is.

I have to say I was a little skeptical about the David’s Bridal version but was pleasantly surprised when the dresses came in. They were even more beautifully crafted then I expected (and I got them within 3 days of ordering). All of my bridesmaids love them. I certainly give David’s Bridal brownie points on this one. I won’t be so quick to judge in the future after seeing the beauty this company has produced.

Did you check out David’s Bridal for your BM dresses? How did it go?

Tags: bridesmaid-dress, gainesville |

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36 Responses to “A Budget Bride’s Search for the Perfect Bridesmaid’s Dress”

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Member

DianaLynn (message) 197 posts, Blushing bee

I’ve had the same aversion to David’s Bridal, but with a similar budget and my bridesmaids scattered across the country it seems like the best way to go, especially if they want to go see and try it on in person. Love the dress by the way! I am looking for something very similar.

4/7/10 @ 10:40 am (reply)

Member

Ms. Library (message) 1,251 posts, Bumble bee

Where did you get the discount code? I am looking to buy a dress online from them too! And I love those dresses!

4/7/10 @ 10:40 am (reply)

Member

CinnamonStick (message) 160 posts, Blushing bee

I gave my BM’s a color swatch and told them the dress had to be knee length… and told them to each go forth and find the perfect dress for them… I had envisioned them going to department stores and buying sundresses from whatever department store they wanted- but they all ended up at David’s Bridal! I was a little surprised, but they (and I!) love the dresses, so all is good

4/7/10 @ 10:42 am (reply)

Member

shantastic (message) 122 posts, Blushing bee

I did almost the same as CinnamonStick… but sent the girls TO David’s Bridal with a color choice and knee-length as the only requirement. And then they got to choose. I, too, am happy with the product from David’s Bridal (and knowing that all of their dresses will match exactly in color). And if you buy your wedding dress there (as I did…I’m THAT girl) everyone gets $20 off!

4/7/10 @ 10:48 am (reply)

Member

hotchildinthecity (message) 3,776 posts, Honey bee

Yep, I went with David’s too. They get a bad rap, but it was going to work out best for my BMs in terms of price and ease of trying on/buying. They are scattered all across the tri-state area and DB was easiest.

I just told them watermelon and cocktail length and everyone picked their own. It worked out great. Also, the watermelon color is way nicer in person than online IMO.

4/7/10 @ 10:49 am (reply)

Member

summerhill (message) 163 posts, Blushing bee

I think I’m the exception here, but I went to David’s really *wanting* to like their dresses… and then was a bit disappointed with their quality. We ended up going to Alfred Angelo instead and I felt that their quality was much better and many of their styles were more flattering on my girls. And with a $20 coupon from their website, the dresses were only $109! I like AA’s color selection better too.

4/7/10 @ 10:55 am (reply)

Member

pvaulter718 (message) 2,116 posts, Buzzing bee

I went with David’s and the dress I had chosen for my girls actually ended up being on clearance and was only $89 after I bought my dress there too! I had tried other avenues (dozens of them) but needing dresses in size 4, 10, 12, and 22 I was striking out all over the place!

4/7/10 @ 11:01 am (reply)

Bee

Miss Snow (message) 916 posts, Busy bee

All my ladies (thus far) have purchased their dresses from DB. I like that hey have all sizes and a wide selection where everyone can try on practically every style…

After experiencing the “just hold it up to you” wedding dress shopping experience b/c I couldn’t fit into samples, I’m all for stores that carry actual dresses for all!

4/7/10 @ 11:17 am (reply)

Member

alivoo01 (message) 2,625 posts, Sugar bee

I’m going to check out David’s Bridal since they have the perfect shade of green I’m looking for, but we’ll see if we walk out with anything! Yay for an awesome deal and quality products!

4/7/10 @ 11:18 am (reply)

10.

Member

sapphirebride (message) 1,750 posts, Buzzing bee

I get what you’re saying about “the Man” but I guess I feel that when it comes to the wedding industry, all of these companies are pretty huge money makers…I don’t think I’d ethically feel better with Watters or J.Crew over David’s Bridal unless the quality was really poor.

But I think overall saving your BMs money is going to make you their hero and they’ll care about that more than anything else as long as they look good at the end of the day. Good work in finding your dream dresses!

4/7/10 @ 11:33 am (reply)

11.

Member

farmersdaughter (message) 1,675 posts, Bumble bee

I felt the same way about DB, but found that despite my high standards for quality, my bridesmaids cared a whole lot more about having a low-cost dress (totally understandable.) I was really happy with how ours turned out, and a couple of my girls even were able to hit an AMAZING clearance sale on one of the designs and got their dresses for $40! Its also such a good option if they all live in different places.

4/7/10 @ 11:44 am (reply)

12.

Member

clane616 (message) 674 posts, Busy bee

I was anit-David’s Bridal at first because I heard the quality wasn’t that great, but I wound up buying my wedding dress there and my MOH dress to wear to my sister’s wedding and am very happy with both. They are budget friendly and at the end of the day that’s a big plus!

4/7/10 @ 11:44 am (reply)

13.

Member

BrianneG (message) 940 posts, Busy bee

We went the Ann Taylor route instead. They often have 40% off days and two bridesmaids scored dresses that way. The third hasn’t even started looking for her dress yet (two months and counting) but she’s completely planned my shower and is helping me in numerous other ways so I can’t be upset. I don’t mind if her dress is different because I just want little black dresses.

4/7/10 @ 11:47 am (reply)

14.

Member

Aug2010bride (message) 52 posts, Worker bee

i have the same idea regarding David’s Bridal. I had horrible experience when I went there to look at dresses, how much more looking for 3 dresses? I checked out Nordstroms, Dillards, & Macy’s as well without much luck. This weekend, my MOH (sister) is going to try going to the fashion district in LA to see if she has better lucking scoring bridesmaid dresses for cheap. I wish I could come with her but I’m out of state. I hope she finds something good.

4/7/10 @ 11:55 am (reply)

15.

Bee

Miss Jellyfish (message) 1,450 posts, Bumble bee

I went to DB after already ordering my Belsoie by Jasmine gowns. I thought a lot of the dresses there were poor quality, but I did find a few that I liked. In particular, a short chiffon number. By that point however, I was set on long, and I didn’t like the colors it came in (only 20 colors). Glad it worked out for you! That’s a very cute dress.

4/7/10 @ 12:04 pm (reply)

16.

Bee

Miss Taco (message) 950 posts, Busy bee

I went, but their “burgundy” was way more of a cranberry. And something about the place just stresses me out!

4/7/10 @ 12:22 pm (reply)

17.

Member

futuremrse (message) 444 posts, Helper bee

I’m a little anti-DB also. Got my bridesmaid dresses at Nordstrom, totally lucked out. I will, however, HAVE TO go to DB for my dress, since the price is so right. I am soooo dreading it!

4/7/10 @ 12:28 pm (reply)

18.

Bee

Miss Trail Mix (message) 6,329 posts, Bee Keeper

Haha, I’m kind of anti-DB too and I don’t even really know why!

4/7/10 @ 12:51 pm (reply)

19.

Bee

Miss Turtle (message) 782 posts, Busy bee

I’ve actually never been inside a David’s Bridal, but I totally love that the dress you chose looks exactly like the Watters and J.Crew ones! Such a deal!

4/7/10 @ 1:03 pm (reply)

20.