We all hope and dream that our wedding day is going to be the best day of our lives, but for that dream to become a reality, a lot of time, planning, and money has to be invested.
The average wedding in the UK in 2020 costs around £16,000, so it is normal for brides and grooms to be thinking of ways of cutting costs and consider budget-friendly wedding alternatives.
The cost of a wedding can soon start to add up when you consider all the different expenses. From wedding venue hire to the cost of the bridal party attire, costs can soon get out of hand and you will find yourself going over budget.
Because of this, we have put together some budget-friendly options that will help you and your bridal party to look amazing, while still leaving you with some money to spend on your honeymoon.
Shop Online
Long gone are the days of only being able to find the perfect wedding and bridesmaid dresses in your local bridal store. You can now find a range of different dresses in various styles online and at affordable prices.
Many online fashion retailers, such as ASOS now have a bridal range featured on their websites that offer stylish pieces at a budget-friendly price.
It can be difficult to know what sort of wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses you want for your big day. So, we recommend that you start by looking for style and inspiration without considering price tags, and then look online for cheaper alternatives.
Don’t Forget the High Street
While shopping online is a great way to find the perfect dresses for yourself and your bridal party, you may prefer to view the dresses in person before buying them. So, we would recommend that you take a trip down to your local high street and see everything that your high street stores have to offer.
Many people forget about high street fashion retailers when looking for budget friendly bridal clothing, but this guide to finding the best budget wedding dresses by the ultimate big day planners For Better For Worse is full of top tips.
They can help you find the perfect venue, suppliers, and provide all the inspiration you need for the wedding day of your dreams.
Shop Second Hand
As a bride you will only wear your wedding dress once, so it can often seem a waste of money to spend premium money on an item of clothing you will wear for only a few hours. Therefore, many money savvy brides are now shopping second hand when buying their wedding dresses.
This allows them to get a gown which is just as perfect and flawless (as it has only been worn once before!), and at 50 percent of the cost.
You can also find wedding and bridesmaid dresses at online second-hand sites such as Depop and Gumtree, and also in second-hand stores and charity shops. You may be surprised at how much of a good deal you will find with pre-loved bridal attire.
Upcycle Old Dresses
If you have any family or friends that have recently got married, then you may be able to borrow a dress from them completely free of charge. Not only is this a great opportunity to save money, but repurposing a pre-loved dress is also a way to bring a touch of sentimentalism to your big day.
While wedding dresses are hugely sentimental to brides, your family or friends may be more than happy to provide you with your ‘something borrowed’ to bring you luck on your wedding day. You may even find that your mum’s style of wedding dress has recently come back into fashion!
Be Honest About Your Budget
When it comes to planning weddings, and providing your bridal party with all of the clothes and accessories they need, you can feel pressured to get expensive dresses for everyone. However, this is not always possible depending on the budget you have to work with.
Therefore, we recommend that you are upfront and honest with your bridesmaids about how much you can afford to spend on their dresses. Remember that your wedding day isn’t about how much money you spend but is about the love you share between you and your partner.
Check Samples
Most bridal shops and boutiques have sample gowns for brides-to-be and their bridesmaids to try out when shopping for the perfect dress.
However, as the bridal trends are always changing, the sample gowns often get sold off at a discount price to make room for the latest arrivals. So, it may be worth popping into your local wedding boutique and asking them if they have a sale coming up soon. Just remember that you likely will be charged extra for alterations.
Finding the perfect dresses for yourself and your bridal party can be pretty overwhelming, but by shopping around and making the most of some of these budget-friendly options, you can have everything you dreamed of without the expensive price tag!
Happy Shopping!
Be sure to Follow MyStyleSpot on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date on all things Shopping!