Your wedding dress is one of the most important aspects to your wedding day. But it can be tricky to figure out how much money you’re going to spend on your dress!
If you watch “Say Yes to the Dress,” then you might have the impression that wedding dresses cost $10,000+ dollars. While that’s not usually the case, dresses can get expensive! Today, we’re going to help you figure out how to figure out your wedding dress budget.
WEDDING DRESS BUDGET: OUR TIPS & TRICKS
Here are some of our tips for figuring out your budget and sticking to it!
Figure out your total wedding budget
Before you can figure out how much you’re willing to spend on a wedding dress, it’s important to have your overall wedding budget figured out.
We suggest creating a spreadsheet to keep track of your budget. You will have to figure out how much of your budget is going toward:
- Venue
- Food & Beverage
- Attire & Accessories
- Decor/Rentals
- Florals
- Photography
- Videography
- & More!
Click here for a free download of a wedding budget spreadsheet!
How much should your dress budget be?
Once you have your overall wedding budget figured out, you will need to figure out your dress budget. Typically, between 5 and 10 percent of your overall wedding budget will go toward attire. Attire typically includes both spouse’s attire and accessories, so keep that in mind! How much you put toward each aspect will be completely up to you.
For example, maybe your wedding dress is one of the most important aspects of the wedding day to you. If this is the case, then you will want to put more of your wedding budget toward the dress. Keep in mind that this could mean that you’ll need to cut your budget in other areas — maybe florals or videography.
Do your research
While scrolling through Pinterest and Instagram is a great way to get an idea of the styles that you like, it won’t really help you when you’re trying to figure out your dress budget!
When you are considering bridal shops to book an appointment at, figure out what price range of dresses they have. You can check their website and social media, but some shops do not show all (or any!) of their pricing online. It may be best to call individual salons to ask about their price range, and to find out if they have what you want in your price range.
When it comes down to it, you don’t want to end up trying on dresses that are above what you’re willing to pay. Could you imagine falling in love with a dress and not being able to buy it?! That would be the worst feeling. We want to help you avoid that!
Factor all costs
Keep in mind that there are additional costs when it comes to your dress and wedding attire. Alterations are almost always needed and will always be an additional cost. The price will vary depending on what you need to have done, but will typically run you a few hundred dollars.
You will also need to keep accessories in mind. This could be your shoes, jewelry, hair pieces, a veil, and more. And all of that adds up! So, if you didn’t factor those separately into your budget, you will need to remember to factor them into your dress budget. So, if you were originally planning to spend $2,000 on a dress, you might have to cut that down to $1,500 when you factor in all of your accessories.
Tips for staying on budget
If you are struggling to stay within your budget, there are a few tips that we have for you!
First, look into trunk shows and special sale events at various bridal shops. This can save you some money on your dress! Trunk shows are typically showcasing newer collections, so it is a great opportunity to get a new dress at a slight discount. If you are willing to purchase a sample gown from a bridal shop, you might be able to find one at a steep discount!
Next, if you are on a very tight budget — absolutely do not try on any dresses that are outside of that range. Like we said before, we would hate for you to fall in love with a dress that you can’t say “yes” to!
If you are a bride who is looking for a ready-to-wear gown at a great value, then our Black Friday Bridal Sale might be perfect for you! This year’s sale is going to be November 19-28, 2021. We will be offering our ready-to-wear gowns at steep discounts — they will be up to 80% off!
To book an appointment, click the link below or give our shop a call at 301-665-1070. We’d love to help you find your dream dress at your dream price!