I've had a tough time searching for that perfect gown. I was wondering if you ladies can share where you got your wedding gown (especially if you were able to find one for less than $1000).
I am a two dress bride so I know how it feels to be unsure if you have the right gown. My second dress purchase was a Maggie Sottero and I absolutely love it. It was around $600, which pleasantly surprised me and I think all of her gowns are resonably priced.
Most of their dresses are under $1000. Also, look for bridesmaids dresses in white or ivory. You're sure to spend half as much as you would if it said "wedding dress" on the tag, but still get a nice dress.
You could also try ebay. You can find great deals if you just know where to look.
I had mine custom made. You might want to call a couple dressmakers and chat about your budget. My guy, Kiko Rodriguez, has dresses he's made anywhere from less than $500 to, well, way more than my dress for sure. ;) Many custom designers (especially here in SEA) can work within any budget.
Mine was a Mon Cheri, and it was $895. Other designers under $1000 are Jasmine, Casablanca, Mary's P.C., and Alfred Angelo. You should just go to www.houseofbrides.com and browse to get an idea of price range. I've heard bad things about actually ordering from them, but it can't hurt to get an idea of how much things cost online.
I got a Jasmine dress for about $700 (I think the total after ordering custom length and tax was about $850). I purchased from Amanda's Bridal Boutique in Redmond (close by Redmond Town Center)http://www.amandasbridalboutique.com/
I also tried lots of dresses at I Do Bridal in Wallingford that were around $1,000 http://www.idobridal.com/ .
There were a few right around $1,000 at La Belle Reve in Bellevue too (but most were over $1,000) http://www.labellereve.com/
I Do Bridal in wallingford- Huge selection of sub-1k dresses. the lady that helped me was super fun and friendly. I ended up choosing a dress I tried on here, but ordered it online since it was about $200 less, and it arrived in just 2 months.
Belltown Bride- High-end designer dresses. Most are over 1k, but some are in the 700-800 range
Cynderellie's Closet in Edmonds- similar stock to I Do Bridal, but lower prices
Or the next time you're back in CA, you could check out Jeremy's in SF. My friend got her Vera Wang gown there for $300 =)
I don't have any Seattle leads, but I've really been digging WToo gowns when I see them in magazines and online. They're the lower-priced cousin of Watters & Watters gowns, and all of them (as far as I can tell) are under $1000. I'm planning to try some on soon, I'll let you know if they're as great in person!
I second I Do Bridal and Cynderellie's Closet, most of the ones I looked at were under $1,000. At Cynderellie's you can take pictures and they are only open for appointment on Sunday's so you get the whole place to yourself! I'm choosing between 2 Casablanca's that are under $1K and will be even less expensive by ordering online(check Netbride.com, Pearl's Place, RK Bridal, Chrissy O's, Lee Phillip).
triciaj and h0neym0nkey - I'm intrigued by the custom gowns (Wai-Ching and Kiko). I checked out their website and they look amazing! So do you mean, I can bring in a dress I like of another designer and they might be able to make it for me at a lesser cost? That would be sooo cool!
audie74 - oh how I miss Jeremy's! I used to frequent it often when I was in school at Berkeley!
Does anyone know of a bridal shop that carries Pronovias gowns other than La Belle Elaine's? Their gowns are a bit over my budget, but there's one I just love and contemplating getting it on bridalgown.net.
That's basically what I did. I brought in, like, 30 (!!!) pictures of different dresses that I liked, and Kiko pulled together elements from each one to make my dress. I'm sure he can make most dress you want. Plus, he was just a total dream to work with. :)
Also, you might try Champagne Taste in Kirkland - a consignment store specializing in bridal gowns. They have some beautiful things, including veils, shoes and handbags, bm dresses and mob dresses.
I won my gown on ebay for $275. You can also keep an eye on Craig's List gown sales (not the individual ones unless you know what you're looking for), but the everything must go ones.
Chrissy (from wai-ching) will really work with you to customize a dress, but I would suggest using her if you really like the style of dresses that she has on her site. I'm having her make my dress and I love it! I don't think she would be the best to just copy a dress from somewhere else (not that there's anything wrong with that!) because she has such a unique style. The great thing about the price of her dresses too is that they're made to fit you, so you won't have to pay any extra for alterations on top of the price of the dress.
I am using Trish Jens (PA Jens Custom Sewing) to make my dress. I gave her a budget of $1200 and she said that was very generous. So I bet she could make you a custom dress for less than $1000. I've been really impressed with Trish's skills so far!
key when shopping: don't even LET the girl helping you show you dresses out of your price range. Make it very very clear to her you are on a budget and you will be able to find the perfect dress...
Some girls only want designer dresses...but mine from Davids Bridal...on sale for $599 looks like a $5000 designer dress. The beading is beautiful and no one believes how inexpensive it is! :)
Hi there!
I've had a tough time searching for that perfect gown. I was wondering if you ladies can share where you got your wedding gown (especially if you were able to find one for less than $1000).
Thanks!!
posted by citkat20 6 posts 5 months agoI am a two dress bride so I know how it feels to be unsure if you have the right gown. My second dress purchase was a Maggie Sottero and I absolutely love it. It was around $600, which pleasantly surprised me and I think all of her gowns are resonably priced.
Good Luck!
http://www.maggiesottero.com/
posted by jane32 6 posts 5 months agoHave you tried davids bridal?
http://www.davidsbridal.com
Most of their dresses are under $1000. Also, look for bridesmaids dresses in white or ivory. You're sure to spend half as much as you would if it said "wedding dress" on the tag, but still get a nice dress.
You could also try ebay. You can find great deals if you just know where to look.
posted by MissCamera 75 posts 5 months agoI had mine custom made. You might want to call a couple dressmakers and chat about your budget. My guy, Kiko Rodriguez, has dresses he's made anywhere from less than $500 to, well, way more than my dress for sure. ;) Many custom designers (especially here in SEA) can work within any budget.
posted by triciaj 134 posts 5 months agoMine was a Mon Cheri, and it was $895. Other designers under $1000 are Jasmine, Casablanca, Mary's P.C., and Alfred Angelo. You should just go to www.houseofbrides.com and browse to get an idea of price range. I've heard bad things about actually ordering from them, but it can't hurt to get an idea of how much things cost online.
posted by tanya2s 276 posts 5 months agoI got a Jasmine dress for about $700 (I think the total after ordering custom length and tax was about $850). I purchased from Amanda's Bridal Boutique in Redmond (close by Redmond Town Center)http://www.amandasbridalboutique.com/
I also tried lots of dresses at I Do Bridal in Wallingford that were around $1,000 http://www.idobridal.com/ .
There were a few right around $1,000 at La Belle Reve in Bellevue too (but most were over $1,000) http://www.labellereve.com/
GOOD LUCK!
posted by indecisivebride 80 posts 5 months agohey there =)
I went to:
I Do Bridal in wallingford- Huge selection of sub-1k dresses. the lady that helped me was super fun and friendly. I ended up choosing a dress I tried on here, but ordered it online since it was about $200 less, and it arrived in just 2 months.
Belltown Bride- High-end designer dresses. Most are over 1k, but some are in the 700-800 range
Cynderellie's Closet in Edmonds- similar stock to I Do Bridal, but lower prices
Or the next time you're back in CA, you could check out Jeremy's in SF. My friend got her Vera Wang gown there for $300 =)
posted by audie74 16 posts 5 months agoI love mine! It is the Maggie Sottero "colby" and it was $650!
http://calioc.blogspot.com/2008/06/stealth-settings.html
posted by caliocteach 716 posts 5 months agoI don't have any Seattle leads, but I've really been digging WToo gowns when I see them in magazines and online. They're the lower-priced cousin of Watters & Watters gowns, and all of them (as far as I can tell) are under $1000. I'm planning to try some on soon, I'll let you know if they're as great in person!
posted by MelissaB 67 posts 5 months agoi'm wearing Watters 1048B
http://watters.com/product.php?coll=brides&showid=668
it was $1200 at the bridal store and $800 including shipping from netbride. it arrived in 2-3 weeks, in perfect condition!
posted by vee 172 posts 5 months agoYou can get a custom gown from Chrissy Wai-Ching in your budget (probably). Her studio is downtown
http://www.wai-ching.com/
posted by h0neym0nkey 7 posts 5 months agoalso check out bridesmaids dresses, a lot of them come in white and ivory and are pretty enough for a less formal wedding
posted by TallBride 574 posts 5 months agoI second I Do Bridal and Cynderellie's Closet, most of the ones I looked at were under $1,000. At Cynderellie's you can take pictures and they are only open for appointment on Sunday's so you get the whole place to yourself! I'm choosing between 2 Casablanca's that are under $1K and will be even less expensive by ordering online(check Netbride.com, Pearl's Place, RK Bridal, Chrissy O's, Lee Phillip).
posted by Jen4637 117 posts 5 months agoWow! Thank you for so many wonderful suggestions!
triciaj and h0neym0nkey - I'm intrigued by the custom gowns (Wai-Ching and Kiko). I checked out their website and they look amazing! So do you mean, I can bring in a dress I like of another designer and they might be able to make it for me at a lesser cost? That would be sooo cool!
audie74 - oh how I miss Jeremy's! I used to frequent it often when I was in school at Berkeley!
Does anyone know of a bridal shop that carries Pronovias gowns other than La Belle Elaine's? Their gowns are a bit over my budget, but there's one I just love and contemplating getting it on bridalgown.net.
posted by citkat20 6 posts 5 months agoThat's basically what I did. I brought in, like, 30 (!!!) pictures of different dresses that I liked, and Kiko pulled together elements from each one to make my dress. I'm sure he can make most dress you want. Plus, he was just a total dream to work with. :)
posted by triciaj 134 posts 5 months agoAlso, you might try Champagne Taste in Kirkland - a consignment store specializing in bridal gowns. They have some beautiful things, including veils, shoes and handbags, bm dresses and mob dresses.
posted by Weddingmuse 62 posts 5 months agoI won my gown on ebay for $275. You can also keep an eye on Craig's List gown sales (not the individual ones unless you know what you're looking for), but the everything must go ones.
posted by Angel 629 posts 5 months agoChrissy (from wai-ching) will really work with you to customize a dress, but I would suggest using her if you really like the style of dresses that she has on her site. I'm having her make my dress and I love it! I don't think she would be the best to just copy a dress from somewhere else (not that there's anything wrong with that!) because she has such a unique style. The great thing about the price of her dresses too is that they're made to fit you, so you won't have to pay any extra for alterations on top of the price of the dress.
posted by seattlegeek 2 posts 5 months agoI am using Trish Jens (PA Jens Custom Sewing) to make my dress. I gave her a budget of $1200 and she said that was very generous. So I bet she could make you a custom dress for less than $1000. I've been really impressed with Trish's skills so far!
posted by frogs129 7 posts 5 months agokey when shopping: don't even LET the girl helping you show you dresses out of your price range. Make it very very clear to her you are on a budget and you will be able to find the perfect dress...
Some girls only want designer dresses...but mine from Davids Bridal...on sale for $599 looks like a $5000 designer dress. The beading is beautiful and no one believes how inexpensive it is! :)
Good luck!
posted by lharbin85 9 posts 5 months ago