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30 Times Brides Found Their Wedding Dresses Without Breaking The Bank And Proved How Good They Look By Posting These Pics
One of the biggest dreams that many women have is to get married in a beautiful dress, but finding a man to walk down the aisle with will only get them halfway. The next part is actually buying the dress, and they can be really expensive. In fact, the average wedding dress cost in the United States is $1,000. Not everyone can or wants to spend that much money on it. So they improvise. And to great success.
There's a subreddit called r/Weddingsunder10k and it's perfect for those who are planning their big day on a budget. Brides and grooms are sharing all kinds of tips and tricks that saved them a dollar or two. Or a couple of hundred! Some of the most popular posts are women sharing pictures of their stunning dresses, revealing they didn't have to spend a fortune on them. Clearly, more expensive doesn't always mean prettier.
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#1
$30 Salvation Army Find! Fits Like A Glove, Already Altered To A 32” Rib Cage And Has The Breast Pads And Perfect Length. Either The Previous Bride Was My Exact Size Or This Was Made For Me Oh, And Pockets!!
Gabby M 5 years ago
LMAO @ all the women (so far) comment on the pockets. POCKETS!!!!! Women need pockets TOO!!!
Rosemarie, the writer behind the blog Busy Budgeter, said the dress was the only thing she didn't want to compromise when she was planning her wedding. "I really wanted an amazing wedding dress," she wrote. "But where can you find an any dress for the $200 I had budgeted, much less an amazing one? I went to Bridal Shops and tried on an array of dresses. They were beautiful, stunning, elegant, and they were also between $700-$1,500, way over my budget."
RELATED:
#2
Dress Was $170 On Etsy, Cape Veil Was $170 On Etsy, Alterations Were $170! Very Excited For Our Small Airbnb Wedding (Hopefully It Won't Get Cancelled)
Aleksandra 5 years ago
omg it's so great! I want mine to have embroidered flowers too, hope I will find not expensive one too
Rosemarie tried to shop online, but was worried. "It never looks as good on you as it does on the model. I looked for an alternative evening gown that I could wear as a wedding dress, but had no luck."
"So my mom, my 10 year old future step daughter and I drive to the location, which is open Saturdays from 10 am-12 pm. St Anthonys bridal is located in Maryland, and we find the place with no problem at all (thanks to GPS!) located inside an establishment called Dogtopia."
As they walk inside, they immediately see dresses everywhere – hanging on racks sorted by sizes. "The woman at the front desk tells us that all dresses in the store are on sale for $150 plus when you purchase a dress you also receive a free veil. She gives us some direction as to the dressing area locations, and which type of dresses can be found in which areas and sends us into the adjoining rooms. The only request? If the dress is not for you- hang it up and return it to the rack that you found it on. Not a problem."
#3
My $368 Wedding Dress From Etsy Came In Today And It Looks Exactly Like It Does In The Pictures!! (More Info In Comments)
yes. 5 years ago
ikr but im too thrilled about the line of beads on the back
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Alexis Garrett 5 years ago
I love this even more Day wear usually starts at around $20,000, though it does depend on the brand [Chanel Haute Couture usually cost between $40,000-80,000], while bridal can easily cost $100,000-150,00, depending on the embroideries.
So they find Rosemarie's size and hit the dressing rooms with 2 dresses. 10 dresses later, the bride-to-be looked in the mirror and there it was, the dress! "It wasn’t until after I left that I noticed the designer name on the tags that were still flawlessly attached. So naturally I googled it."
It was a Demetrios designer dress. The online retail of these dresses are about $3,000.
So what did Rosemarie had to suggest to others who find themselves in the need of a budget wedding dress? "Try heading over to Google, and typing in their state and “non profit wedding dress” to see if they have a similar store close to them."
#4
Thought I Found My Dress Months Ago.. Then This One Came In The Mail. Finally, At 4’11 I Feel Bridal And Grown Up Lol. Price: $82
WillemPenn 5 years ago
It has a great silhouette! The high waistline, and the cut and drape of the cape make her look taller than 4'11". Also a good choice to wear her hair up to keep that upward movement and height.
Catlady6000 5 years ago
She doesn't even need a veil with this maybe a delicate flowered headband at most. Her hair is even perfect, and this is just the try on
Laura Jones 5 years ago
That is gorgeous plain and simple but stunning at the same time plus its how a wedding dress should be; modest and demure
#5
My $70 Wedding Dress! (Thrift Shop Score)
#6
I Went To Try On Dresses At A Boutique That Was Way Over My Price Range, When I Got There And Said My Absolute Maximum Budget Was $600, The Stylist Said That The Dresses On The Floor Start Around $1000, But She Was So Nice And Found Me A Beautiful Discontinued Dress In The Basement For 400$!
averageperson 5 years ago
Most salespeople would've tried to convince u to spend more money. This lady is so sweet.
JuJu 5 years ago
Ever heard of alterations? You are like a pissy evil cloud on a sunny day O_o
Load More Replies... #7
My Vintage 1950s Wedding Dress (Purchased From Etsy For $170 Total) Arrived Today! Nothing Extra Was Added For All This Amazing Skirt Volume
Darlene Draper 5 years ago
On the show The Closer the character Brenda wears a beautiful 1950's wedding gown that had belonged to her mom. The lady that did all the costumes for that show found it on eBay for a steal. And it fit the actress perfectly.
Allison Woodfill 5 years ago
I love lace on a wedding dress and this covers all bases. It's gorgeous.
#8
Found Dream Dress For $200
#9
Purchased My Dress From Salvation Army For $20 And It Turned Out Beautiful In The Pictures. Also Homemade Bouquet For About $3.
Anima Singh Charan 5 years ago
Lovely bouquet! It complements the cream tone of the dress too.
#10
I Found My Reception Dress For $25 At Goodwill
Vicki Meza 1 year ago
Why would you say that, 😕 you must live a sad life.
Load More Replies... #11
Got This Beautiful Dress For My Halloween Wedding Handmade On Etsy For $311 With Rush Shipping Included.
Cordi Schmidt 5 years ago
If it cost only $311 it either is certainly not handmade or the seamstresses are extremely underpaid. Basic medieval fantasy dress made out of linen fabric takes me roughly 100 hours to machine-sew (it would be more than twice as much if hand-sewn). I googled the minimum wage in USA which is $7.25. That means that only the work would cost over $700. This fabric seems more expensive than linen and also more delicate making it more difficult to work with. I would really love to know the magic behind this purchased dress.
#12
I Said Yes To A Hail Mary Of A Dress After Almost Losing Hope, And I Love It! 99 Dollars.
Dippin Dot 5 years ago
I love that this one isn't white! If I ever get married again and have a more formal wedding, my dress will def. not be white (my first dress was white with navy too).
Elisabeth Moriarty 5 years ago
A lovely change from white personally I think there are only white dresses you can look at and go Wow )0(
JuJu 5 years ago
the dress you wear for your wedding = wedding dress (even if it's neon green and screaming tangerine)
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Heather Althouse 5 years ago
why do i feel like this is a girl going to the prom not a wedding.....where's her ring ?
#13
As A Plus Sized Bride, I Never Thought I'd Find A Dress I Could Feel Pretty In. Took A Chance On This Beauty For $250. Floral Print!
Celtic Pirate Queen 5 years ago (edited)
That's really flattering. I think I paid about $500 for my dress, veil & shoes back in 1993 (should have saved it for the divorce lawyer a year later), but it was beautiful. I was a standard size 12. The wedding dress of my dreams? A size 20. Why the f**k do designers do s**t like that? Oh, and that dress & veil? Perfect for my "Bride of Dracula" halloween costume 5 years later - after I dragged it all over my sister's unfinished basement floor and put some shredding along the bottom.
Allison Woodfill 5 years ago
It's gorgeous. All that matters is that you love it and you feel pretty.
KarmaPeace 5 years ago
Stunning!!!! Love a floral patterned dress. This looks amazing on you x
#14
An Asos Wedding Dress For £300... I Love It!
Pamela24 5 years ago
Not gonna lie - I know that wedding gown can cost a lot more but 300 pounds still doesn't sound like a bargain.
WillemPenn 5 years ago
Well, Marian, if that’s the kind of hat you wanted, you certainly got a good one!
#15
Brides, Don't Rule Out Second Hand Dresses - I Saved 1k On This Dress, And Saved £50 For Each Bridesmaid Dress So Far!
Mrs. Smith 5 years ago
This dress makes her a*s look amazing! What more could a bride ask for?
Celtic Pirate Queen 5 years ago
Rentals are an option as well. Do you really NEED to keep your dress?
#16
Found My Beautiful Dreas For Only $25. Couldn't Be Happier
#17
Bought A Dress For $94 On Amazon... Comparable To David's
Anna McHugh 5 years ago
Lovely and actually fits you in the bust! The bosom-falling-out look is really not a good one.
#18
$200, Thrifted/Vintage, And Fits Perfectly! Couldn’t Have Designed A More “Me” Dress!
Sinkvenice 5 years ago
It's a shame they didn't show the front but you can still tell from the back of the dress that it's really pretty.
#19
Dress From Amazon $100, Veil Also From Amazon $10, Earrings From Walmart $2, Flowers From Albertsons $25. I Think I Pulled It Off Well!!
#20
My 300€ Asos Wedding Dress! Better Than Any Designer Dress I Have Tried On
#21
If You’re Looking For A Really Inexpensive Dress, Mine Turned Out Great!
Dragonfruit'nrollerskates 5 years ago
The resembleance between her and her brother is uncanny...I've heard of genes copying and pasting but this is another level
firu 5 years ago
Wow dude....you're right....her brother lokks exactly like her!!!!
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#22
So I’m Having A Courthouse Wedding And I Wasn’t Gonna Go For Anything Big But You Know What. You Only Get One Wedding! So I Went To Local Stores To Look For Something Nice But Affordable And I Found This Gem For $53 It’s So Beautiful And I’m So Happy About It!!
Troy Currie 5 years ago
And you get to wear it to fancy functions afterward...then dye it and wear it to a bunch more fancy functions.
Hilary Mol 5 years ago
Reminds me of traditional flamenco dresses (at the bottom). Truly stunning! And the shoes are perfect for the dress.
#23
Can't Help But Share My Excitement Over My Dress. It Is A New Martina Liana (#942) In Champagne And Ivory That I Found Via Poshmark For $500 Total (3k Retail). Could Not Have Asked For More. I Am In Love With It!
SirPatTheCat 5 years ago
Damn! Look at her arms!! As someone who recently started rock climbing thats goals man!
#24
$90 Dress, $7 Veil, And Dollar Store Bouquet. I Don't Want To Take Them Off!
KarmaPeace 5 years ago
That lace is seriously stunning and some craftmanship. You got a bargain
#25
Got Married Yesterday. Waiting For The Professional Pics To Come In But In The Meantime Here Is My $92 Dress From Amazon And My Homemade Bouquet At Our Free Venue In Austin Texas
spirit wolf 5 years ago
People!!! She looks fab and she loved her dress and that's all that matters!!
Sori 5 years ago
I think she looks amazing, and upset that she is called out when others have more plunging necklines!
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#26
Yayayayayay! (My Dress Just Came In And I Got It $100 Off On Poshmark!)
#27
I Think I Found The One For Only $500! It Fit Me Like A Glove, I Just Have To Show It To My Mom And Sister In Person For The Final Approval. Perfect For My Beach Wedding!
Melissa Sawicki 5 years ago
Beautiful Dress but it is your wedding. Why are you needing your mother and sisters approval??? Who cares what anyone else has to say about your Dress?? It is your day, no one else's. You look great girl!! Rock that dress and congratulations
SirPatTheCat 5 years ago (edited)
I totally agree but she could have been saying approval more like "I wanted them to like it too because we are close and I hold respect for their opinions/because we are close *I* want them to love it as much as I do" and not "they need to approve because otherwise they will be mean to me and be manipulative"
Load More Replies... Martha Higgins 5 years ago
It fits you like a glove and you like it. No approval from anyone else needed.
#28
Found My Dream Dress For Only $285! Need Some Ideas For Jewelry And Shoes.
Martha Higgins 5 years ago
Pearl necklace and earrings. Classy and classic and so in tune with the simplicity of the dress. Don't over-do it.
Andrea Delden 5 years ago
You look gorgeous the way it is! Simple stud earrings are all you need!
#29
$100 Asos Dress, $20 Alterations, $40 Veil From Another Reddit User. First Full Try On!
Celtic Pirate Queen 5 years ago
I do love that more & more brides are opting for more than white or cream. I saw a wedding dress that came to just below the knees with an almost off the should neckline in a sort of 50's style (she was a bigger gal and had it made) in BLACK. She wore her trademark pearl necklace and leopard print pumps with a black patent heel. It was stunning.
#30
Bought My Wedding Dress For $12!!
Yolande Labbé 5 years ago
Congratulation every body You got Gems. The dresses are all different and they are all very nice. Have a Great Day!
#31
Found The Dress Of My Dreams! $150 At Brides For A Cause, When I’m Done With It I’ll Donate It Back To The Boutique For Another Lucky Bride To Fall In Love With.
#32
Final Dress Update- Found The One On Poshmark For $260! I Live In A Super Rural Area, Aside From 1 Trip To David's Bridal The Search Was Done Entirely Online. So Happy To Finally Have A Dress!(Sorry For The Mirror Pic- No One But My Fiance Here To Take A Photo Of Me In It).
#33
My Wife's Dress Was $250 At David's Bridal, She Then Sewed On The Tulle Which She Got From Wish For 10 Dollars.
#34
Prom Dress On Clearance For Wedding Dress - $26 Included Tax!
#35
I Said Yes To The Dress... And To 87% Off! Bought In A Sample Sale - So Happy!
#36
I Chose My Wedding Dress Today! Paid Under 500 Dollars With Custom Sizing And In Champagne And Ivory!!
Just JoLynn 5 years ago
I don't think this is her dress, probably the sample, and she's letting us know what colors she chose.
Load More Replies... #37
Updated My Mom's Wedding Dress From The 80's For $300! I Wasn't Sure If I Would Like It Based On How It Looked On Me Before The Adjustments But It Really Worked Out And Was Super Special! Most Of The Time It Is Way Cheaper To Remake A Dress Than It Is To Buy A New One!
#38
Returned My $80 Lulus Dress For A $48 Amazon One And It Feels So Right!
Just JoLynn 5 years ago
Is this the 4'11" bride currently at number one? If so, I think she should rock both!
#39
My Dress Arrived This Morning And I Love It. $549.00
#40
Our Wedding Was Yesterday! Dress:$250 Veil:$40 Felt Bouquet I Made: $10 Sunglasses:$10
Kimberley Thomas 5 years ago
Felt is a good idea. I was thinking of using fake flowers. Either way, if I make or design it, I'm going to want it back from the winning bridesmaid.😁🤣
#41
Just Got My Dress For $250! If You’re In Oregon Or Washington, Definitely Check Out Brides For A Cause!
#42
This Is From Lulus! “In Dreams White Long Sleeve Lace Maxi Dress”. It Was $82!!!!
#45
Just Got My Wedding Dress At An Op-Shop For $20
#46
Found “The Dress” And It Was Only $100!
SoozeeQ 5 years ago
@Hilary, I zoomed in on the pic, and it looks like broderie anglaise to me.
Load More Replies... #47
Found My Dream Dress At The White Room For $300 During A Sample Sale!
#48
The First And Only Dress I Tried On $250
#49
Bought A Bridesmaids Dress In Ivory And Covered It With A Cape, Total Under $400
JessG 5 years ago
Okay wait...she said she *found the dress in ivory, so what's the black dress? Did she dye it later?? If she actually found it in black first, how the heck do you dye it ivory?!?! I'm so confused
Jennie-Lind Normand 5 years ago
The sample she tried on is the black, and then she ordered it in ivory Boutiques would have a sample of each dress you could order in a wide variety of colours, usually they don't stock white because it isn't a popular choice for bridesmaids
Load More Replies... #50
Poshmark Bhldn Dress Under $250 😍 Moving Forward With A 9/5 Wedding That’ll Either Happen Or We’ll Elope In Our Backyard. Covid-19 Be Damned!
#53
Got My Wedding Dress At A Pop Up Shop For Discounted Dresses! A Steal At $319 (Originally $1400)
#55
Had The First Fitting For My $600 Wedding Dress This Weekend! Fits Almost Perfectly And I'm So Excited About My Dress. Trying To Hold Onto That Feeling When Think About My November 2020 Texas Wedding That Will Probably Have To Be Postponed 💙
#56
Found My Dress!! $150 On Poshmark! Fits Like A Glove No Alterations Needed!
Dilly Millandry 5 years ago
I would never have known it was green - looks ivory on my screen. I do love coloured dresses far more than white though.
Load More Replies... #57
I Found My Dress! $70 On Sale From Modcloth And I’m In Love - Just Needs A Little Steaming And Tailoring.
#58
I Found My Wedding Dress At A Resale Shop For $500!
#59
I Found My Dress Today For $230! It Still Needs Minor Alterations, But I'm Just So Excited I Wanted To Share Now.
Dilly Millandry 5 years ago
It's lovely. The only downside to very structured dresses around the bust is that they can stay still when you turn your shoulders. Seen it happen. Hopefully that won't be the case here though.
#60
Found My Dress Today For $399 And I Couldn’t Be Happier!!
#65
I Found The One For $29, I've Never Felt So Pretty Or Feminine
#66
My $590 Wedding Dress From Etsy. In Love
Add New Image
What do you think ?
GirlFriday 5 years ago
I love this. My friend is getting married next year and she fretted about finding a dress in her budget because the dress shops we looked at were a minimum of $1500 per dress. One shop didn't have a dress for under $3K (USD). Just by chance, we stopped at the dry cleaner clearance (Dry cleaners selling the clothes that have been left) and she found a dress for $95. She fell in love with it and paid for it, when we got it back to her house we discovered that it was a Vera W**g that had retailed for $8,000 brand new.
Seabeast 5 years ago
Excellent suggestion - people forget about dry cleaners.
Load More Replies...
nanashi 5 years ago
it's really weird to compare with my country, people usually just rent their wedding dresses.
Seabeast 5 years ago
That is so sensible. The groom rents a tuxedo, why shouldn't the bride rent a dress?
Load More Replies...
Pamela24 5 years ago
Well...apparently my expectations of how much a "regular" wedding gown costs and therefore what constitutes "a bargain" are way off from the general population. I bought an old wedding dress a couple of years ago (didn't realize it's a wedding dress, thought I was going to wear it with a jean jacket) for roughly 35 USD. And I plan to wear it at my wedding day. But you know - to each their own - I'm definitely not trying to bash any of the brides. :)
Foxxy (The Original) 5 years ago
The average cost of a wedding dress is approx $2,500 AUD in Aus, US and the UK.
Load More Replies...
Foxxy (The Original) 5 years ago
So many gorgeous dresses at amazing prices. My dress was super expensive and that is not because I have expensive taste it's just that I planned my wedding in 3 months. I needed to find a dress early in the planning due to any alterations and also making sure that everything else like the bridesmaids dresses, my hubbys clothes and groomsmen's clothes go well together. My wedding cost between $5000-$6000 and my dress took $1665 of that budget (the average cost in Aus spent on wedding dresses is around $2500). Went to sell it recently only to discover my dress had mould all over it coz the last house we lived in had a lot of moisture inside. So disappointed but I ended up cutting up parts of the dress without mould to use in a wedding inspired craft project.
Jaded Queen 5 years ago
After a while all thy white dresses just look the same. I don't understand why an entire culture wants to dress the bride in white . It's her day . Shouldnt u play with colours .In my country traditionally all white are worn by widows. There just nothing exceptional in white dresses . All the types have been tried and done. It's done guys. It's just not pretty anymore
Samara Morgan 3 years ago
For us white used to be a colour of mourning as well, before Christians came and messed up our traditions. I would love to wear a dark dress for my wedding.
Load More Replies... Sori 5 years ago
I loved my dress, it was $35 dollars on sale 2yrs ago, a plus sized black with silver and metallic cherry blossoms with a 50s feel. Felt beautiful and loved as I married my sailor. This post reminded me of all the hope and love of that day! Hope you the brides a happy day and a wonderful marriage!
Mad Mar 5 years ago
I got mine for $26 at a Rainbow shop. Pretty white vintage summer knee length dress from that store. Saved it almost a year. We hitched at town hall an I said I had something to wear! So after 9 years together and about 5 of those engaged we finally did it. And sept 1 is 5 yr anniversary and I might wear it again for that. I do have photos but I can't post them here
Jémie Culp 5 years ago
Back in the late 90s we had Ebay. My best friend bought her dress, my maid of honor dress, and her sister's flower girl dress for around $60 total.
Soggy Crumpet 5 years ago
Lol. eBay still exists and is very much active.
Load More Replies... GirlFriday 5 years ago
I love this. My friend is getting married next year and she fretted about finding a dress in her budget because the dress shops we looked at were a minimum of $1500 per dress. One shop didn't have a dress for under $3K (USD). Just by chance, we stopped at the dry cleaner clearance (Dry cleaners selling the clothes that have been left) and she found a dress for $95. She fell in love with it and paid for it, when we got it back to her house we discovered that it was a Vera W**g that had retailed for $8,000 brand new.
Seabeast 5 years ago
Excellent suggestion - people forget about dry cleaners.
Load More Replies... nanashi 5 years ago
it's really weird to compare with my country, people usually just rent their wedding dresses.
Seabeast 5 years ago
That is so sensible. The groom rents a tuxedo, why shouldn't the bride rent a dress?
Load More Replies... Pamela24 5 years ago
Well...apparently my expectations of how much a "regular" wedding gown costs and therefore what constitutes "a bargain" are way off from the general population. I bought an old wedding dress a couple of years ago (didn't realize it's a wedding dress, thought I was going to wear it with a jean jacket) for roughly 35 USD. And I plan to wear it at my wedding day. But you know - to each their own - I'm definitely not trying to bash any of the brides. :)
Foxxy (The Original) 5 years ago
The average cost of a wedding dress is approx $2,500 AUD in Aus, US and the UK.
Load More Replies... Foxxy (The Original) 5 years ago
So many gorgeous dresses at amazing prices. My dress was super expensive and that is not because I have expensive taste it's just that I planned my wedding in 3 months. I needed to find a dress early in the planning due to any alterations and also making sure that everything else like the bridesmaids dresses, my hubbys clothes and groomsmen's clothes go well together. My wedding cost between $5000-$6000 and my dress took $1665 of that budget (the average cost in Aus spent on wedding dresses is around $2500). Went to sell it recently only to discover my dress had mould all over it coz the last house we lived in had a lot of moisture inside. So disappointed but I ended up cutting up parts of the dress without mould to use in a wedding inspired craft project.
Jaded Queen 5 years ago
After a while all thy white dresses just look the same. I don't understand why an entire culture wants to dress the bride in white . It's her day . Shouldnt u play with colours .In my country traditionally all white are worn by widows. There just nothing exceptional in white dresses . All the types have been tried and done. It's done guys. It's just not pretty anymore
Samara Morgan 3 years ago
For us white used to be a colour of mourning as well, before Christians came and messed up our traditions. I would love to wear a dark dress for my wedding.
Load More Replies... Sori 5 years ago
I loved my dress, it was $35 dollars on sale 2yrs ago, a plus sized black with silver and metallic cherry blossoms with a 50s feel. Felt beautiful and loved as I married my sailor. This post reminded me of all the hope and love of that day! Hope you the brides a happy day and a wonderful marriage!
Mad Mar 5 years ago
I got mine for $26 at a Rainbow shop. Pretty white vintage summer knee length dress from that store. Saved it almost a year. We hitched at town hall an I said I had something to wear! So after 9 years together and about 5 of those engaged we finally did it. And sept 1 is 5 yr anniversary and I might wear it again for that. I do have photos but I can't post them here
Jémie Culp 5 years ago
Back in the late 90s we had Ebay. My best friend bought her dress, my maid of honor dress, and her sister's flower girl dress for around $60 total.
Soggy Crumpet 5 years ago
Lol. eBay still exists and is very much active.
Load More Replies...
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