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Ebay. You can set up searches and Ebay will email all the auctions matching your criteria. My 6k bress was purchased for $300.
Well they do have sample sales...dont know if that's what you're looking for.
Often they'll have some kind of thing where they'll throw in something extra (veil or alterations). Or you can even negotiate for that.
Your by far best bet is a department store like Saks. If you open an account you get Saks points, sometimes a percentage off coupon, and they do often have the ability to throw in extras (like alterations and steaming). I almost bought my dress at a trunk show there (I decided on a different dress altogether), but I was almost getting dizzy by all the things she was telling me she could add for me.
Whoa! Sorry. Meant to type "Pearl's Place." You order by phone, after checking to see if they carry the style you're interested in by email. Mama Bruschetta ordered her dress this way, and wedding gowns are also available. Let me know if you have quesitons or would like more info!
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http://www.bridepower.com/gown-locator.aspx
They have a Gown Locater service where for $40 they will search among their bridal network to find THE dress. Or you can use the Gown Notifier where they will email/call you should they get a specific gown (you enter) in their inventory.
I just entered my credentials! We'll see! :)
Er. I think I put too many links and my post isn't showing up. :(
Preownedweddingdresses, oncewed, bravobride, bridetobrideboutique, encorebridal, savethedress, woreitonce, encorebridal, bridepower (retail outlet in MA).
Just enter those on your address bar with www. blank .com
Or you can go the custom route...
I've been stalking all of those and eBay. Found 1 or two of the dresses I liked in my size but I don't LOVE a dress yet enough to open up negotiations.
Good Luck!
You wont find better deals than you find on the internet. Try Ebay, Amazon, and Overstock. Also Nordstroms and JCrew are great. Be sure to get on their email list and you'll get insider coupon codes and a heads up on sales. If you don't mind being a dresses second owner look at the weddingbee classifieds and the preowned wedding dress sites. I got my $700 dress for $200 cause I bought it off another bride.
Found mine on Craigslist.com ...brand new! ...a retailer was going out of business and selling their entire stock for under $600 each. It helps if you're in a big market...like Los Angeles/New York/Chicago, etc.
Ooh! carpepm, great tip!
I just searched for Jim Hjelm on Craigslist and there was one nearby! Not my style though or size. But great tip!!
Do you have a Filene's Basement nearby? A lot of the stores do an annual bridal dress event -- they buy a whole skidload of designer dresses from different shops and manufacturers and sell them dirt cheap. They are priced $249, $499 and $699.
I was planning to go to a Filene's event but ended up finding my dress elsewhere before it happened. At any rate, I know you need to go in with a "strategy" -- the whole idea is that you run in and grab as many dresses as possible off the racks, then "barter" with other brides to get the one you want! Take as many friends as you can get to go with you and wear something that will allow you to strip and change into a dress right there (like a sports bra and shorts). The Filene's Web site has a lot more tips on it. Check out this link:
http://www.filenesbasement.com/bridal/
It's not for the faint of heart but I know some people have had success and found absolutely stunning gowns for dirt cheap. Also, one of my friends (who definitely COULD NOT have handled the madness) stopped by after the initial craziness was over and found plenty of gowns back on the racks again, but without the crowds. I know some of the stores get stripped clean early but that's not the case everywhere. Also, I think they only carry the gowns themselves for one day only.
Good luck!
My dress was a sample that had been discontinued. I can't even find pictures of it on the internet. I did find a bride's blog who thoroughly described HER dress, also saying she couldn't find any photos online....I sent her the one photo I had taken of mine on the hanger and it's the same dress. :-) I paid $500 for a 100% silk dress that was exactly what I was looking for. Luckily, the sample was my size too, so alterations will be minimal, and paid for by the store. Woohoo.
Brides Against Breast Cancer! I got a $3,300 dress for $600!! It is a traveling charity gown sale, so you have to check the website frequently to see when they'll be in your area, but it is totally worth it (tax write-off, anyone?).
SAMPLE SALES!!!
Also, drive up to LA and visit LA Dream Bridal. Its like an ongoing sample sale store. I wish I would have looked here before driving all the way to Santa Barbara. Sign up on theknot.com and you will get alerts of local sample sales.
Oh wow, these are great tips! Thanks so much!
To give you some background...I went dress shopping this weekend and pretty much fell head-over-heels for a Henry Roth dress that is a teensy bit out of my budget. They only sell to one store on the west coast so I'm looking around to see if there's another, slightly cheaper way to obtain it! Plus this is really helpful for anyone else who is in the same boat!
I've actually been looking around David's Bridal. Most of their dresses are more affordable than the ones I've tried on in the boutiques. I do know they feel different when I try them on but I think it just may be in my mind.
Another preowned website that is new...thegreenhangershop.com It has wedding gowns, bridesmaids dresses, and some accessories.
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Does anyone have any tips on how to purchase a designer dress for a cheaper price than the full retail? It doesn't seem like bridal boutiques are very likely to have regular sales...