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Hi friends…we are still friends, right? I’m sorry I made you wait but I had good reason! I really feel like these ones are a total steal. Oh, and if you missed part 1, check it out for more great ideas! Without further ado…
Want this gorgeous Monique? Read on ladies…
Go pre-loved. Sites like Recycled Bride and Preowned Wedding Dresses are great resources. Can you imagine paying a fraction of the cost of a designer gown… we’re talking at least half off for a Vera (hello lover), Monique or Amsale. Oh? I have your attention now? I see. Here’s an idea of the process that was given to me by Tracy of Recycled Bride, it’s kinda brilliant:
Total cost for a $2,800 Priscilla of Boston designer couture gown? Anyone have a guess? This Froggie did the math – $950! Now THAT’S a deal! There are plenty more to choose from, so if this is the option that sounds best to you – get a move on!
(source)
Buy from a past season. This is probably my favorite option because it’s one that most people don’t know about and salespeople don’t talk about. It also may have something to do with the fact that this is the route I took.
To go about getting your dress this way, I would suggest researching past collections by designers you love and see if there are any that catch your eye. Collections are introduced twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. For example, if you decided to shop for your dress in the summer of 2009, you would probably get a good deal on a dress from a collection that debuted in spring 2008 (if they have anything from fall 2007, wow – major deal). These are the dresses that will most likely be on their way out very soon to make room for the new collections. You will have the most luck going about this by visiting a major department store such as Saks or NM. Aaaand, if you target your visit around a trunk show… even more discounts! Another little secret: these bigger stores can also run gift card events – if you purchase merchandise over a certain amount and either open a company credit card (10% off first purchase – ching, additional $$ off!) or put it on your existing company credit card, you can get a gift card up to almost $500 sometimes. That can easily pay for alterations and possibly even a veil or other accessories.
Quick review of money savers (and speaking from experience, it’s possible to do all of this – I did):
Hopefully this gives all you budget-conscious brides some good ideas and if you have any other tips, definitely leave them below—we’re all in this together ladies, spread the love. 
I recently found a site called unique vintage with a huge variety of dresses while looking for a vintage style dress for our city hall ceremony. They range from under $100 to a couple thousand. But there’s a lot of variety. I’m absolutely in love with this dress. http://bit.ly/cqNlDi And had I found it before I bought my other wedding dress, it would have been for both ceremonies (and would have been cheaper than my david’s bridal dress).
Hmm..I love the pre-owned sites. I do have to say, I don’t think that Priscilla is much of a deal though. I would spend the extra $400 to get it new and then list it higher. Or I would try to bargain with the seller because knocking $800 off a used dress isn’t that great.
Savvy! These are def. things I wasn’t aware of when I first started dress shopping. If I could do it all over again I’d probably go high-end and pre-loved 
I bought my dress at Kleinfeld’s sample sale in New York City. My dress original price tag was $8500 and I scored it for $1450. Yes- $1450. I had to buy it on the spot, as is, and I did. It was 7 sizes too big, but the my savings was more thna worth it. On top of it, my alterations were under $400 (which is fab in CT). So, my $2000 budget for a dress worked. Good luck ladies!
I love all these tips - I’m sure they will help a lot of brides out there!
netbride.com sells new wedding dresses from top designers at a discounted price as well. I found them AFTER I bought my dress. It was a price difference of $600. How my heart breaks…
I love Preownedweddingdress.com. If I wanted a couture dress I would have definitely bought it there instead of new.
I bought my brand new Matthew Christopher dress at preownedweddingdress.com and it was a great experience. $3200 vs $1785 (with shipping) for a dress new with tags
This info was extremely helpful! Thank you! I had never heard of recycledbride.com or thought of looking at previous seasons. This is good advice that will save brides money, woo hoo!
These are some great tips! I’m passing them on to my engaged friends for sure.
thanks for these tips! i didn’t realize that previous seasons were discounted as well. very good to know!
Don’t be afraid to compare prices at other non-franchise salons, as well. I fell in love with a dress only to make a phone call and find out that it was $400 cheaper at a salon two hours away. I used the designer’s website to find out what other shops in my area carried the same line of dresses, and then called and asked each shop what their price for the dress was. (You’ll need to know the dress name or style number to be sure you’re comparing apples to apples.) I asked the store offering the dress for less to send me proof via email, and then took this to the original store for leverage. They didn’t match the price dollar for dollar, but they did reduce it significantly and made it worth my time to order it through them. And if you’re reading this and thinking that you have to be aggressive to pull something like this off - trust me, you don’t! I’m the opposite of pushy, but do believe in being a good consumer.
I definitely went with an older style and snagged a sample. I highly recommend this route, even though it does come with some extra steps! (cleaning, alterations, etc.), but if you get a good deal, it’ll be half the cost.
Has anyone bought from one of those websites?? i check them out often, but i’m a little hesitant…
A new cute web site thats real simple to use. http://yesbride.com/ All you need to register is a username and email address. It’s all free too. No fees or anything. You don’t even need to register if you want to contact a seller. Find dresses and accessories at huge discounts.
I just stumbled onto this post, and I realize this would be an outdated comment. However…
By couture, you mean handmade, yes? In fact, the term couture is very egregiously abused by the bridal industry. True couture garments use highly expensive, often custom, dyed and redyed or in some way manipulated, fabric that may run to hundreds of dollars a yard. I believe every stitch is hand-sewn (apart from the rare occasions when machines are used for added strength), and embroidered, beaded or otherwise embellished by hand. Each gown is exquisitely finished and the interior must look as flawless as the exterior. These take hundreds or even thousands of hours, and hence cost tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on the complexity of the garment and the repute of the house.
Wedding gown makers cannot afford the expense of such craftsmanship. These gowns are machine-sewn and hence lack the inconspicuous stitches, control over garment construction and perfect fit that haute couture offers. Some such brands even tack on the title of couture to their name when in reality they send measurements off to a factory or even a third-world country where the dresses are made.
Of course, I’m not denying that some of these gowns could be handmade or well and even lovingly made. Basically, what I’m saying is be very careful about your money and how you spend it. Think about what you’re getting for the extra cost you are paying, and consider what you may or may not be getting in return.
If your budget can expand that far, you may even want to consider an actual couture garment. These are offered not just in Paris, but also in NY or Milan. Basically, anyone who makes top-quality, hand-sewn garments merits the title of couture. Gowns from smaller, newer houses can be got for as little as $20 000. If you are considering something that’s approaching $10 000 anyway, this would be an idea you might like to think about as items like these are not just investments but also art.
I went the pre-owned route myself–for any ladies in Ontario, theres a great store in Newmarket called Gown Go Round. Anyways, because its an actual store, you get to try on the dresses and check out the condition etc. I got mine from there, from a bride who ended up going for a fancier version of the same style, so mine never got worn. Its my dream dress BECAUSE its not covered in beading, and I’ve still got to pay alterations, but $600 for a new dress……I’m still high from that experience, and it was a few months ago!!
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Mrs. Frog, Phoenix, AZ/Chelan, WA Age and Occupation: 29, Public Relations Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Online Sales Engagement Date: February 8, 2009 Wedding Date: July 2010 Venue: Amy's Manor About Me: I'm an opinionated Midwestern girl now living in the Valley of the Sun marrying a laid back Northwestern guy. I'm equal parts sass, silly and sweet. I'm fiercely loyal with a strong devotion to my family and friends. I have a not-so-secret obsession with apple juice, a new obsession with DIY projects and I love a really good cheese plate...with lots of wine. After 7 blissful years of dating, I'm having the time of my life planning the destination wedding of my dreams to my Mr. Frog-turned-Prince Charming.
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