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When I started dress shopping I set my budget at $800 and quickly realized there was no way with the type of dress I wanted (formal with a train) and alterations I was ever going to stay in that budget.
I tried working things around a bit with the budget to make more room, but then I couldn't find the right dress. I ended up going with seamstress who is custom-making a dress for me with parts of three different dresses....and I'm only spending $500 on the whole thing!
Were you way over or under you dress budget? How much did you spend? (dress and alterations)
ornament.jpg (30.8 KB, 101 downloads) 1 year old 
My dress budegt was $600 (for everything- shoes, veil, alterations, bra- EVERYTHING).
My dress was $300
shoe $22
bra $73
veil $0 (didn't get one)
alterations $150
So, I spent $545 overall :)
While my mother's gift to me is to pay for my wedding gown, I've never wanted to go over $800. I could care less about the designer, just as long as it looks good on me! I spent $350 on my Prom dress and always regretted it. I don't want the same thing to happen for my wedding gown!
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My wedding dress being more expensive then I had planned and it was $1,300 (but I absolutely love my dress!). However, for the rest of my items I possibly using my mother's veil so that saves money, and I already have my under garments. Alterations were included when I purchased the dress so that is also saving money too!
Dress: $300, marked down from $4500
Alterations: $600
Cleaning & Preservation: $700
Goal Dress Budget: Under $1000
Actual Cost: $1015...So close! (but I got a great deal on a veil so it's all good)
Mine was $300 (originally $650). It was being discontinued and was off the rack (although didn't appear to have been tried on since there was another in the same size that was used and abused) and I had a coupon I had picked up at a bridal show.
Alterations were about $75 or $100 (can't remember exactly)
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My wedding budget for the dress is $1,000 and budget for alteration is $300. It ended up being about $1,100. Alteration costs about $330.
Oui- fell in love... with a $3,000 dress... But my mom is paying for it. She saw the other dresses that were more in my budget- but I couldn't take my mind off of the more pricey one. So she basically said that was her gift to me.
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I am in the middle of looking for the dress! What a good idea Latte to take the best of several different gowns and making one unique gown for a great price with a seamstress!
As far as designers go, I am going to go and hunt down a store that sells Martina Liana (or is that liana martina? lol!) and Anjolique. I think they run about 1,500 or so? My budget right now is about 1200. Little wiggle room but not much.
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My dress and veil cost about $2,000. Since my dress is classic and plain, Mikaella 1351, I decided to jazz it up a bit and got a platinum colored sash to go around the waste. It's totally jewled and be-dazzled and definitely quenches my thirst for something shiny on my big day! I'm a street size 2/4 and am worried about the cost of alterations, as I ordered a size 8 dress and am pretty short (5'3). I know, I know, you always have to order up sizes when getting dresses, but I'm still worried since the dress was a little pricey for my budget!
I bought my $650 Davids Bridal dress from Ebay for $220 including shipping :)
ali-o - so jealous.
budget was $800, spent $1000.
alterations: $300...pending
My dress was $800 before alterations...
I'm getting my chapel lenght veil for $60 through Occansey
We are doing a very small, and simple wedding so I had a very LOW budget for my dress (esp. since I am paying for everything)
I was able to find my dress second hand...
dress & slip = 140
corset, bridal sash and veil = 180
shoes = 9.75
i came right in at what i thought.
my dress was $1400 but i talked them down to $1100. my alterations were $300 so it was a wash.
Here is my breakdown:
Dress: $500
Slip: Not necessary $0
Alterations: $0 (IT FITS PERFECTLY!!!)
Headpiece/Veil: Still trying to decide on one.
My budget was $1000. My dress cost $1050. A lovely Weddingbee reader alerted me to a coupon and saved me $100, and some sweet-talking brought me down another $50. Plus, there is no sales tax in Oregon. Dress price $900 out the door... with $100 left over for DIY supplies :D
I expected to pay $500-700.
My dress was $650. Alterations will be around $100-150.
Corset was $48. Veil, shoes & underskirt are all borrowed!
Still need to find jewelry!
With alterations (including the row of buttons I just, er, have to have), mine will be about $3,000, which was the budged I had to work with. I was hoping to save part of it, but I fell in love with my dress.
My dress was about $3000 and I NEVER thought I would spend that much. I thought no more that $1000 for sure. But when I tried it on I teared up, my mom teared up, the bridal consultant teared up... my mom just said "well, I guess this is it!"and said we had to get it. I'm trying to save money in other spots to make up for it by making my own jewelry and doing several DIY projects.
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alowehe - I am totally in the same boat. My dress was $2450 and I NEVER thought in a million years that I would spend that much. But it was the very first dress that I tried on with my mother and we BOTH TEARED UP, and just knew that was the one. Don't worry other bees - I tried on another! It was perfect and I absolutely LOVE it! I could just envision my entire wedding day from the moment I slipped my dress on. My veil was $250 and I added a blusher, so tack on another $150. I am lucky though, since my parents basically picked up the tab (except the blusher add-on). I'm dreading the alterations bill though, I won't lie. My FH and I are trying to save money in other spots (just like alowehe again!).
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$445 for the dress which came with a slip, veil/tiara, garter, and dress bag! It also fits so perfectly that I will only need to spend about $35 for a bustle. WOOT!
I got two dresses totaling under $200 from eBay. We had a really low budget for our outdoor park island ceremony so I wasn't about to spent tons on a dress. I spent around $70 for two pairs of shoes, of which I only wore one of them. But when I look back now I wish I had gotten a dress that I loved instead of one that I liked that cost less. I did love my reception dress so that kind of made up for it.
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My dress was $650 (maggie sottero "colby")
Veil was $20 (I made it)
Alterations: Free one of my bm's is a seamstress and that was her wedding gift to me, and I did my own bustle.
No bra, no stalkings, all jewelry was given to me by my fmil and my fh
I made my own swarovoski hair pins which cost me nothing because they were made with supplies laying around my house.
My dress was $750
I found shoes I love for $65, and veil for $60. Luckily because of my heigth I shouldnt have to get it hemmed, but I will be getting cups sewn into the dress and most likely getting the waist taken in.
$175 for new dress, veil and underskirt =) paid less than 1/4 of retail price
what I did was I tried on multiple dresses and wrote down the numbers and size of the ones I liked...then i stalked e-bay...found a few that was reasonable for the dresses, but then saw a posting for dress, veil and underskirt at buy it now for $250, I didn't buy it, waited emailed the seller...she reposted 3 times, no takers... so after multiple emails she set the buy it now fee the 3rd time for $175 including shipping!! Score!
Alterations was free, I dragged the dress across the country over xmas-new year vacation while visiting future inlaws and FMIL had her seamstress altered it, just needed to have it hemmed since I'm short. FMIL will put bustle on day of wedding.
Dress -- which one (ha, I might have purchased more than 1)?!
I expect to come in under $500 for the dress with alterations, but I splurged on Haute Bride earrings and lariat, a birdcage veil by Twig & Honey, and Salvadore Feraggamo shoes. So I spent more on accessories than on the dress :)
Ouch, reading this post makes me have slight buyer's remorse. I spent $2860 on mine, and alterations will be at least $300. I don't know how much veils cost yet, but I expect to spend another $500 on all my other accessories (shoes, jewelry, undergarments, etc.)
@Kara- I was surprised at what good prices everyone has found too! But each of us splurged on something different, so while I refuse to have buyer's remorse, I definitely spent a ton on our photographer... It all evens out I suppose ;)
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My dress was $2300. I haven't gotten any alterations yet, but it's good to see the price range. I wasn't planning on spending that much at all, but I love my dress (Bellissima Couture Oriana) and I figure that it's the most important day of my life, so why not splurge!
Oh, and I also spent $500 on a reception dress from David's Bridal!!
Budget = $3,500
Cost of the Dress = $4,500+tax = $4,900
Actual cost (bought dress as sample) = $2,500 + $300 for cleaning = $2,800
I guess in the end I was under budget :-) and got a dress that I love.
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Budget: $2500
Dress: Sample from Ana Hernandez, (on Newbury St in Boston): $1920 (plus MA's "luxury tax": $98.50)
Alterations: Included for hem and replacement of zipper and buttons b/c it was a sample; not included--building up the bodice b/c it was a tad low-cut for my taste: $50
Shoes: Nina satin D'Orsay pumps from Macy's: $79
Bra, slip: Not necessary
Panties: 2 for $5 Intamissi lace thongs at Victoria's Sectret's Semi-Annual Sale!
Veil: Not wearing
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It would have been cool to see this with a poll! Anyway, after reading all your posts, it makes the price of my dress hurt even more. It was a gift for my grandma, but I SOOO regret paying that much for it because I didn't love it. I think my family did a lot more than I did so it's what talked me into it...it was a custom Anne Barge so it ended up being over 5K...yikes! 
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