Buying a wedding dress - UK designer, hire, or second hand

Shop online for your wedding dress - UK - USA

Buying the wedding dress is one of the most exciting parts of planning a wedding for every bride-to-be. Many brides automatically choose expensive bridal salons and pick from a range of designer dresses. If your budget allows, choosing a designer dress means that the widest choice of styles is open to you and you can expect the salon staff to help you pick the wedding dress of your dreams — and treat you like a princess throughout the process of fittings and alterations!

However, if you are working to a tighter budget, there are a number of ways you can get the perfect wedding dress without breaking the bank - such as hiring a dress, or purchasing one second hand. You may be able to get a dress by your favourite designer at slashed prices by going to a UK sample sale…but be quick as these only happen once or twice a year. Alternatively, huge discounts are possible at bridal warehouses or mail order discounters.

Ensure you know exactly what you are looking for — the style number and measurements — as you may not be able to try the wedding dress on. Check the dress very carefully for any imperfections before you purchase, and also bear in mind that you may need to pay for alterations. brides on a budget can also consider buying a dress from private sales of used gowns on websites like ebay. You can pick up a real bargain — some designer gowns are on sale for less than 20% of the original price. However, before you purchase make sure you know the price for delivery or whether you live close enough to collect your dress.

Many brides opt for a more intimate and personal touch by getting a seamstress or tailor to make a bespoke gown. This may sound expensive, but it is often much cheaper than buying from a bridal salon and you can be sure that you will be getting exactly what you want. It’s a good idea to collect pictures from bridal magazines, as these will help you describe to the seamstress exactly what you are looking for. You may also like to think about what material you would like your dress to be made from….silk, satin or perhaps lace? Remember that your choice of material will affect the cost of the dress.

Finally, why not consider borrowing a gown? Many friends are only too happy to lend their wedding dress — and it can be the ‘something borrowed’ that every bride needs! Make sure that your friend is happy for you to make alterations before irreversible changes are made. If not, you can always personalise the look by adding different accessories.

© The Pink Fridge Online Magazine 2008 - Wedding Dresses