STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

My wedding dress budget was $500-ish for dress alone, not including alterations/undergarments.  I ended up paying $500 for a $3,000 dress at a consignment place purely by fluke, however!  From what I saw, there are some beautiful options out there for less than $1,500 that have nice detailing and fabric.  Some brands in particular seem to strive for that combination.  Try to keep an open mind when you're trying stuff on, and try on at as many places as you possibly can.  I even made a second try-on round and went back again to the same places once they got the dresses in for the new season!  If you find a particular dress that you love, you can also try looking for it online for cheaper.

You're going to have to look at pictures of yourself in this dress for the rest of your life, so even though you won't wear it again it will definitely be seen again and again.  Are there any other places in your budget you could trim to give yourself more room for the dress?

I was amazed at how cheap looking some of the expensive dresses were too. I wanted to spend under $1000 and found it nearly impossible. I even went to Neimans and tried on formal gowns, but there are few options in white.

Have you looked at Thread designs? They make mostly bridesmaid dresses, but offer a lot of them in white fabrics.

I wish the JCrew wedding gowns were around when i got married, because they are totally my style and under $1500.

I ended up spending $2000, and was going to split the cost with my parents. In the end, my mom paid for the whole thing, and I was so grateful.

my dress cost $300, but cost $300 for alterations, so $600 total.

I recommend establishing your maximum dollar amount (mine was about $1500 two years ago) and be open and willing to spend anything underneath that figure - no matter how low. As you can see from many of these replies, alterations and accessory pricing can add a big chunk.

Be as open-minded as you possibly can. Express your wishes but try dresses on just for the hell of it.

I can't tell you how many times I told salespeople that I did not want a strapless dress. But, because I lack assertiveness, I agreed to try some on after a while. They kept bringing them to me! A strapless is the dress that looked the best on me. I was sure that it wouldn't!

After trying on dresses to pacify the super fun sales associate, the process became fun. I just let him hand me anything he wanted. He was happy because I was open and just along for the ride. When else do you get the chance to try on this many expensive dresses? I just went with the flow; and the flow was fun.

My Alfred Sung dress retailed for $1200, but I bought the sample at a sale (started on December 26th) for $440! This ridiculous price allowed me the luxury of getting the veil I wanted ($200) and shoes (I think around $100). In the beginning, I scoffed at the low price; but then I got over it.

I didn't have a firm budget in mind, but found one I really loved - and I looked at a LOT - off the rack at David's Bridal. It was $600 and it fit so perfectly that the only alteration I had to have was the bustle-y thing in the back, which cost $25. My mom had offered to pay $500 of the cost of my gown, so overall it was just $125, which certainly eased our budget for other things. I don't think it's necessary to spend four figures on a dress for just one day...at least, I personally wouldn't have.

Wow! Suasoria! Where is this outlet place? I'm in O.C. but I am willing to make trips out to L.A. to find a good bargain! I know what you mean about the cheapness and not wanting to ake a bunch of people with you.

I'm really late to this post.  That said, I would focus on which dresses photograph best.  I ended up getting my dress as a sample, which saved, but I think I would have paid full price because I just adored it!  As Elle said above, you're going to be looking at it in a lot of different pictures for the rest of your life.  Happy dress hunting!  I'm sure it will turn out gorgeous!