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Hello- First time posting here....
How much did you all spend on your dress? Or what is your budget for your dress? I have been shopping for dresses twice, and between the two trips only found one dress so far that I really love. The problem is- it costs about $850... which is almost double the budget I had set aside for a dress (but includes all alterations and a veil). I feel like I should try round 3 of dress shopping and hope that I find a cheaper alternative, but on the other hand- I really love this dress!
Any advice?
I spent $1299 Australian on my dress - it doesn't need any alterations to it, so thats final cost. I had a higher budget, but i didn't like any of the "wedding-y" dresses i tried on so i went for a gorgeous cream designer gown. Keep in mind though, that dress prices in Australia are beyond ridiculous. I tried on a couple of Amsale dresses that were both above $8000 (those i liked ;)
so pretty! With alterations, etc, I was hoping to spend MAX $1,500. But... then I fell in love with the $2,500 dress... Don't even know where to go now... Hopefully I will win the lottery! But my best friend bought a $99 dress (without knowing the price until she went to pay for it)... and she felt great and looked great- so I guess it it all relative!
Check out sites like oncewed.com and the WeddingBee Classifieds section; maybe you will find this dream dress on there. You can find a really good deal on brand new or lightly used dresses from brides who are either trying to make some money or who have changed their minds. I have a friend who got a brand new Paloma Blanca gown for $400 when it was over $1000 originally. Happy hunting!!
Brand new J Crew Dress, $350 from Oncewed.com; $160 on alterations and $70 for professional steaming.
My budget was about 600-700 dollars, and I ended up finding one for about $500 (not including alterations, but the 600-700 wasn't including them either). I think that there are sooo many dresses out there, that once you find things that you really love (fabric, cut, style, etc), you can start searching out some cheaper alternatives. I do say though, $850 to include the veil and alterations isn't all that bad, considering a lot of veils run around $75-200 from what I've seen, and alterations can be anywhere from $100 on up.
P.S. Welcome to the WB!
My initial budget was $3000 but I ended up getting my dress for $1386
I spent about $3000 on my dress, including alterations. However, it was a sample dress--it retails for about $4450. $850 including alterations AND a veil seems like a good price to me!
hrmmmm i spent 780 on my dress and my alterations should be around 200... then i still need a veil... which i hope is not more than 150.
i budgeted 1000 dollars for my dress so im going to come in over that once all is said and done... and that not even including the headband i spent 80 dollars on, or shoes, or undergarments, or jewelry :(
i think you should keep shopping :) your dress is relatively simple so there are prolly lots of dresses that look very similar. if you dont find anything you could always go back and order it. is buying the sample an option? those are usually wayyyyyy cheaper. heres mine!
and heres a link to some dresses very similar... the first one is eden bridals... i think they start around 500 dollars so that might be more in your budget :) and the rest have prices
http://www.edenbridals.com/2359-p-1601.html
http://preownedweddingdresses.com/dresses/20711/Mori-Lee-2515-Size-6.html
http://preownedweddingdresses.com/dresses/18650/David-s-Bridal-2037-Size-8.html
1379_l.jpg (54 KB, 31 downloads) 1 year old
My budget was $1000 including alterations and other extras. I ordered my dress today for $760 including a free hair piece and shoes! I also won my veil at another store and my friend's mom is a seamstress who is doing my alterations as a gift!!
I wanted to spend less than 500, but spent 1100 instead. I bought Alfred Angelo's Belle at the trunk show. My alterations will be about $130, and I'm going to DIY my veil for about $20.
If I can convince my guy that we CAN do a civil ceremony, I'll try to find a cheap white dress/skirt. If not, my mom's paying, and she doesn't really have a budget, but the dress we agreed on is $500, plus a $50 bolero. Hemming only needed.
My budget was 1000$, but I spent $1600... but I am really happy about my gown :)
I spent about $850 on my dress and my original budget was $1500 but I ended up spending about $400 on alterations, $100 on cleaning the day before the wedding, $40 on a veil and $60 on shoes so grand total of almost $1500 for my whole wedding outfit! (Not including jewelry and underwear)
I didn't want to spend more than $1000, but I went over by $50. The dress itself was $800 brand new from preownedweddingdresses.com (retails for over $2000 in bridal salons) and $250 for alterations.
My mom was very generous to purchase my dress and veil. She gave me a budget of $4000 for the dress. My Victoria Nicole dress was priced at $4070. I'm not sure how much my veil and alterations cost.
$700. No alterations. Done :)
By the way, the dress you posted is gorgeous, but there are similar styles out there. I second a PP suggestion to look for a used version, but good old David's Bridal has a lot of styles that are inexpensive as well.
I spent 1249 on my dress plus alterations.
maggiesottero-fiorellagown.jpg (36.5 KB, 34 downloads) 1 year old 
I was going to cap my budget pretty low, but then I went to a bridal store one day just to putz around and look, and the fabrics didn't feel right on my skin. I felt itchy in the dress I tried on and just pulled out to look at, so I might raise the budget to get more fabric choices.
$1,200 for the dress, chiffon shawl, flesh toned underwear, and a silk flower for my hair. No need for alterations.
My budget was $1,000 up to $1,200, I bought a dress for $1,500 NOT including alterations or accessories! Oops!
My initial budget was under $1000. I ended up spending about $1600 without alterations or a veil... lol Oh well... I love it! And at least the veil I'm looking at it only about $50. ;)
And welcome to weddingbee!
After looking at this thread, I think I'm in the minority, but I didn't really have a budget for my dress, as long as it fit into the loose budget my parents had set for the wedding. I ended up with a Vera Wang gown. I'm tall and needed to purchase extra length, and I bought a sash with it. With taxes and everything the total was just over $6000, which was less than I thought I'd spend, especially for Vera Wang.
I spent 1250.00 on mine which doesnt include the 25.00 bustle and 40.00 steaming of dress and veil. (my veil was another 30.00).
Sounds like you are getting a good deal!
dress.jpg (87.6 KB, 35 downloads) 1 year old 
I'm paying $1000, including all materials and alterations, to a friend who is designing and making my dress.
I think your budget is doable! Your dress choice looks gorgeous in a simple and classic way so that usually makes it a little easier to work within a budget. :)
I was hoping to stay under $1000 for dress/alterations/veil. I spent $940 on the gown and will need it taken in a little (should be less than $100). I might borrow a friend's veil... I don't really care about the veil b/c i'm only wearing it for the ceremony. :) here's my dress...
dress1.jpg (383.4 KB, 31 downloads) 1 year old 
I spent about $1200 on the dress and $350 for alterations.
I found the dress thaat I wanted at a boutique, but kept searching online. i found my love on Craigslist, of all places, for a third of the price at the shop. I ended up paying $300 for it. It was only worn once, in a Fashion Show.
Before I got engaged I had never set foot in a bridal shop or watched "Say Yes to the Dress." I had NO IDEA how much gowns typically cost. Imagine the sticker shock I got! I tried on dresses ranging from $399-$1200 at David's Bridal, and even those prices made me sick to my stomach. Luckily I found my dress online at the David's Bridal $99 gown sale. Only alterations needed were to put in 5 bustle points, which came to $45. Homemade veil, jewelry, and shoe clip on plain white satin shoes, and I'm all set! The budget is safe for my other splurges...
my budget is $600...I've seen some cute dresses online at David's Bridal & JCrew, and I'll go with one of those (probably more in the $400 range). I don't want to spend a lot on a dress I'll be wearing for 1-day.
Welcome! You can totally find a dress for your budget. There's a small shop near me that doesn't carry a large stock of dresses, but can order dresses from a range of designers at a HUGE discount because they don't have to overhead of running a major boutique. Check your area to see if there are any stores around like that.
My dress was $1650 before tax and alterations. I'll be just over $2000 after taxes, alterations, and a veil. My budget was actually $4000 so I did a good job in shopping around and finding something more reasonable.
With the right amount of time and effort you can find a gown for any price range. My girlfriend just found a dress that was the last one in stock, was being discontinued, and fit her luckily! She only paid $85 for a dress that was originally $950!!
$230 (NWT from ebay) plus $50 in alterations. It's absolutely gorgeous!
I spent about $650 on the dress so far...it was a discontinued style that my mom and I happened to find at the botique, so we got a great deal---only catch is that is only came in a size 6, which I fit into (with mimimally crushed ribs!). Still need to get underthings and alterations though.
I just paid $500 for my Mori Lee gown. I was surpised how cheap it was because I didn't think I'd get that price anywhere but David's so I was so happy. The bridal shop I bought from charges a flat $189 for alterations, cleaning, pressings, etc.
my dress was about $460..but that was only b/c i had gotten a 15% military discount.
My plan was to stay under 1000 and the cost of my dress plus alterations is about 850
I think my top was $30 and the skirt was maybe $50? So $80 total in US$. It was a white top with a black belt and a white skirt with black print at the bottom. I bought the pieces in the US at Ann Taylor Loft! Wasn't even meant for my wedding day as I had worn them in the summer. It just happened to be my favorite outfit in my closet at the time DH said "Let's just do this now"! lol!
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