Price Range

[roxyg]

I have been wondering a lot about what price range to go with. I haven't gone out to look for a dress yet, I'm actually planning on doing some looking this month! Time is flying by, and I feel like I am way behind. I read all through a lot of these threads, and I have to say most of you women are on top of the ball! Anyway, so what price ranges have any of you gone with when going out for your first time looking for dresses? Also, at the time of looking for your dress did you know what color scheme you wanted? Thanks for any and all help!

[EngagedMouse]

When I went shopping for my dress, I didn't really have a price range. There were two dresses that I loved on my first time out that were two totally different prices. One was $580 (but would require extra $$$ for modifications that I would have done to it other than traditional alterations) and the other was $920. I took pictures of both dresses from every angle possible. For a few weeks, I kept staring at the pictures and decided that I didn't like either anymore....even though one was really cheap....I think at this point I had it in my mind that I didn't want to spend more than $1,000.

The 2nd time that I went out, I tried on a bunch more dresses and told the owner that I didn't want to know the prices until I had tried on all the dresses that I liked. After about 25 dresses, I narrowed it down to two. To my horror, one dress was about $4,000 and the other was $1,800 (If I bought the dress that day, I would get a 15% discount).

I was in LOVE with the expensive one and was trying to convince myself that I could buy it. I then told myself that I loved the other one as well (they were two totally different dresses) and decided on this one....I think I paid $1350 with the discount. So, I went from $500+ to $1,350...but I fell in love with that dress and had to have it. I decided that I couldn't put a price on how I am supposed to feel on the day of my wedding....I didn't want to like my dress because of the price, I wanted to love my dress because it was the one for me.

As far as color goes, I thought that I wanted a white dress. After trying them on, I decided that white didn't look so good on me with my skin color. So I'm going with a soft ivory color - which looks gorgeous against my skin.

If there's a budget that you need to stay in, I would tell the bridal shop that price and tell them NOT to show you anything outside that price. That way, you don't fall in love with something that you can't afford. Good Luck!

[kg4eoh]

the price range is really going to depend on you and your budget. You can spend as little as $200 buying your dress online and as much as $5000 if you get a high end designer like Reem Acra or the like. I knew going into dress shoping that I needed to stay under $600 if at all possible, so I didn't even look at too many dresses over that. (even though I did try on a few that were in the $800 range just to make sure I wasn't limiting myself) I ended up paying $518 for my dress at a discount bridal outlet. If I had bought it in a full price salon I probably would have paid $800 for it. So, first, set a budget based on what you know you can handle. Second, go try on dresses...even try on a few over your budget range so that you don't have any regrets. Then, once you pick one, research to see if you can get it less expensively by ordering online or going to a bridal outlet. The bridal outlet I bought mine at is online and I have nothing but good things to say about them. I, fortunately was able to go in person, but if you know the dress you want and they carry it, I would highly reccomend them. their web address is bridal mart (http://www.bridalmart.com)

[Lacey]

I tried on every dress I could find. Some were only $99 to upwards of $5000. Since my mom and stepdad were paying for, I didn't really have a set budget. They just said to find one that I loved. I ifnally found one that cost just around $1000. (Boy were they happy about that!) I don't know where you are from but if western PA isn't too far for you I would highly suggest MB Bridals in Greensburg. It is just about an hour east of Pittsburgh. They have one of the largest selections in the state and carry more designers than just about any other salon that I went to.

[kayla&Mitch]

I tried on only about 12 on. The last one was a Maggie Serento (sp) I paid about $500. I feel in love it the min I put it on. I was trying not to go over $500.

[Jen062406]

When I was looking at dresses I didn't have a price range but I was trying to stay under $2,000. I tried on NUMEROUS dresses..probably like 30-40..lol. I ***e down to 2 dresses. One was about $1,500..and the other one was (my dress) $800 something. I didn't even look at the prices then..I was looking at what looked the best on me. I wound up getting the $800 dress..and I was pleasantly suprised afterwards that I had chosen the cheaper one!! hehe.

As for color schemes..I didn't know the exact colors when I was looking for dresses. I did know I love red..and wanted some shade of it.

If you're trying to save some $$ wait until David's Bridal has those semi-annual sales or whatever. You can save a lot of $! Good luck. :)

[Vixen]

it really depends on your budget. However i went to the knot and looked at thier dresses they show. they have little dollor signs next to them and those tell you the price range that the dresses are.

I found a couple i like but i am not going over 1500. that is the limit i set for myself. If i get something less than that then that i just a bonus.

[rachmc]

If you have a limit you need to make sure that you let the bridal shop attendant know. I wanted to stay between 400-500 so they wouldn't show me anything above 500. I then picked two dressed that I really liked but wished they where a little different and the attendant asked me if she could show me a dress outside of my price range and I was hesitant at first but after I tried on the dress I knew it was the one for me it was a perfect combination of the two dresses that I liked without the things that I didn't like from the other dresses. I spent about 995 for my dress but I don't really feel guilty because it was exactly what I wanted and my mom paid for half of it!

Just a little advice try on a couple different styles even if you think they look ugly on the hanger you will be surprised to see how different they look on you!

[_Laurie_]

I went shopping knowing that I didn't want to spend a lot on a dress. If I found one I was in love with, I would spend more than I wanted. I'm one of those gals who don't want to spend a lot on a dress that I will only wear for a few hours. I tried on dresses that I liked the look of before I even looked at the prices. The one I found that I liked was $500. When I went to pay for it, they told me that it was discontinued and I only ended up paying $350 for my dress and I was so excited about that.

[cryssi]

i originally budgeted about 1k, because that's what everyone said it would cost. I almost bought a gown off the rack for 250. I almost bought a gown at David's on sale for under 500. My gown ended up being around my original budget...

[briansgirl]

As far as color goes, I thought that I wanted a white dress. After trying them on, I decided that white didn't look so good on me with my skin color. So I'm going with a soft ivory color - which looks gorgeous against my skin.


The exact same thing happened to me! My mom used to think that the only dress I would ever get was starch-white but after I tried on a white after the ivory, there was no questioning that I would be wearing the ivory. So we ordered the ivory (which is so light, you would honestly think that it was white).

As for pricing, my orignal plan was to spend 3,000 to 5,000 because I wanted a couture dress. (Vera Wang). However, once I found the dress that I loved, it ended up only being 1,025 so I bought it. I say, go with your heart. If the dress is perfect, get it! Or, if your on a budget, look online. I had a friend who got her dress off ebay and she really likes it. Regardless, dad was happy and because I didn't get an expensive dress he's letting me get Manolo Blanhics (sp?) instead! lol!

[flygurl8004]

I payed $299.00 for my dress and it was actually $50.00 off that..then the sash was $40 something with a 10% discount along with the bra and the slip the total cost ***e up to $432.00. and all I'll have to do is get the hem $75 bucks and the bustle $35 bucks. so thats an extra $110 with tax added on of course...

I LOVE my dress..its what I've wanted and I'm so excited that it was the cheaper of the few I've tryed on.


Good luck and know that you don't have to spend thousands on the dress of your dreams....and your only going to really wear it once so why go broke over it?? :D

[Octoberbride15]

I tried on all price ranges. My dress was a little over 4K. I went shopping for a white dress and ended up with a champagne one. It was the only color in the store in this dress. I was told that white is a horrible color for most skin types, so I was happy to go a shade different. The champagne color also makes you tan and skin a little more illuminant.

[alley06]

My price range that I was looking for was around $300-$400. I found some great dress at that price but nothing that I really liked. I found a couple dress that were around $600 and loved one of them. I went to another store and found a dress that I wanted and it was $880. That was way out of my price range. The third store I went to was way more expensive. I found a dress that I liked but it was $1200! No way. I went back and was able to get the dress that was $880 for just over $600 because I bought the sample dress.

[kyethra]

I'm still looking. Right now I want to spend no more than 2000 dollars and that is the absolute limit. FH asks if I need to spend that much. I say yes.

The pictures of dresses I have likes have all been over 3k so I am likely going to go with custom made because I am also very pick and detail orientated. I know exactly what I want, but I have yet to find it.

I also want ivory. Maybe a light gold color. ANd I want green embriodary in mine, green vines and lace leaves and I want flowers on mine too. But I don't want a train. And I'm a plus size.

[grywlfjla]

My price range was tops $3000.00 since that is the average that I have seen if you want a nice dress and the gown is one of your main priorities. Unfortunetly I fell in love with a gown that I had to have so now $5000.00 later I am hoping that I can sell it for at least 3500.00

When I told her what I was looking for and what my price range was for that is where she should have stayed and she didn't she went into the over 3000.00 range so be very careful after you pick the dresses you want to try ask again are all these dresses in the proce range I gave you, because they will try and get you to try on the more $$$$ dress and then you will feel sick when you realize it is way over your budget. I really fell for this gown so I am working to pay it off and it is my first wedding so I am going all out on this one and cutting in other areas such as on flowers, video etc etc ..


I have been wondering a lot about what price range to go with. I haven't gone out to look for a dress yet, I'm actually planning on doing some looking this month! Time is flying by, and I feel like I am way behind. I read all through a lot of these threads, and I have to say most of you women are on top of the ball! Anyway, so what price ranges have any of you gone with when going out for your first time looking for dresses? Also, at the time of looking for your dress did you know what color scheme you wanted? Thanks for any and all help!

[robin611]

Also, try David's Bridal. Their prices seemed really reasonable and if you don't have one near you you can look online....