Are you a newly engaged bride who is wondering how much to budget for your wedding dress and bridal fashion? While many couples begin wedding planning by deciding on a budget for the big day, how much should you set aside for your wedding gown? If you have not shopped for a wedding dress before, it can be hard to know where to start and how to choose a number that you are comfortable spending while also getting a dress that you love at that price point. How are brides supposed to set a budget out of thin air if they don't know how much wedding dresses cost?
When brides come to shop with us at The White Dress by the Shore, we often get many questions about bridal fashion budget and how much brides should plan to spend on their wedding dress. (We love working with our brides! If you're looking to make an bridal appointment, come visit us in Clinton, CT. We'd love to see you in store!)
Brides are often curious on who determines the price of wedding dresses, why there are such a range of prices, and what is the ideal number they should plan to spend on their wedding dress. If you have begin researching wedding dress styles online or even bridal stores that you want to visit to shop for your wedding dress, you have likely seen a wide range of costs associated with wedding dresses. Some dresses that are clean and minimal in their design may be priced higher than a dress that has a lot of lace or embellishment, which seems counter intuitive as you would expect a more detail heavy dress to cost more than a simple gown. You might see two similar wedding dresses from different designer collections that are priced very differently.
Bridal fashion is a whole world to itself, much different than the everyday clothing you purchase from a department store or boutique. We're here to help demystify wedding dress pricing and, even better, help you have your "yes to the dress" moment!
After many years of experience as bridal consultants helping thousands of brides find their dream wedding dresses, we are excited to be sharing our best tips for understanding wedding dress pricing. We hope these insights will shed some light on how wedding dresses are priced and what you can expect to budget for your bridal gown.
Free Dress Budget Worksheet
Before we get into the main factors that impact wedding dress costs, be sure to download our free Wedding Dress Budget Worksheet to help you determine what to budget for your specific bridal style. This will walk you through step-by-step so you can know what you are looking to spend when it comes to certain bridal styles. Having a clear budget in mind will make your dress shopping experience more enjoyable and stress-free, allowing you to focus on finding a gown that feels perfect for you!
Wedding Dress Cost Factors
When it comes to bridal fashion, there are two main factors that determine the cost of a particular wedding dress design: fabric and construction. Wedding dresses are typically made of high quality fabrics that are going to cost more than your everyday cotton clothing. Even if you are not choosing a high end silk wedding dress, the fabric required to make a wedding dress is going to be expensive because they often require quite a bit of fabric to be made.
In addition to the base fabric materials, the specific detailing of the fabric can also influence the overall cost of a wedding dress. A handsewn lace fabric and a jacquard printed fabric are going to be at varying price points. Whatever specific fabric a designer chooses to use for a particular dress is going to influence the final price of the finished wedding dress.
The next major factor that determines the cost of a wedding dress is the construction of the dress. Depending on the amount of labor required for each dress, the cost of a certain gown will vary. A wedding dress that requires a lot of hand sewn details is going to cost more than a dress that can just be made from one piece of cut fabric. A gown that has a lot of structural elements built-in may cost more than a gown that is more flowy and with lots of movement.
Who Sets Wedding Dress Prices?
It's also important to keep in mind that the bridal designers are the ones that set the cost of their gowns, not the specific bridal store you are shopping at.
Additionally, even if a certain designer has a general price range for all of their bridal collections, there is not a set formula for wedding dress pricing between designers. Meaning that not all ball gown wedding dresses are going to be in a specific price range or all minimalist style bridal gowns fall into a specific price range.
It all comes down to the specific details of each particular wedding dress and what that particular designer determines is the cost.
Once you begin shopping for your wedding dress in person and trying on various dress styles, you will better understand why bridal fashion is priced the way it is and what you should realistically be budgeting to find a dress you will love.
Wedding Dress Price Comparisons
Now that you understand the two main factors that influence wedding dress pricing, let's look at a few examples of similar style wedding dresses that are at varying price points to understand why two similar style dresses would be different prices.
Here are two different strapless, ballgown style wedding dresses...
These two strapless ball gown wedding dresses with floral detailing are very similar in overall style. Dream Weaver by Anne Barge (left) is priced between $6,500 - $7,000. This wedding gown features hand beaded floral embossed jacquard fabric with a full ball gown skirt and a v-notched bodice. Amani by Justin Alexander Signature (right) is priced between $3,500 - $4,000 and has sequined floral lace appliques that are embroidered.
The difference: Dream Weaver is hand beaded and Amani is embroidered on a machine. Hand beaded gowns are more expensive due to the materials, time and labor.
Let's look at another example of wedding dresses so that you can start to get a feel for what makes dresses cost what they cost. But, keep in mind, nothing compares to actually going into a bridal shop and experiences the dresses first hand. Once you see them in person and feel the materials, you'll have a much better sense of pricing. Here we have two fitted, column style floral lace wedding dresses...
Collier by Blue Willow by Anne Barge (left) is priced between $3,200 - $3,750. This wedding gown features corded lace on top of a chantilly lace underlay. Edwina by WTOO by Watters (right) is priced between $2,000 - $2,500 and is made using corded lace and thicket lace fabrics.
The difference: Despite both gowns using corded lace, thicket lace is less intricate than corded and chantilly laces. The Collier gown combines premium materials with lace, thus is more expensive than the Edwina gown. This is a difference that you'll not only be able to see in person, but you'll be able to feel it in your hands.
Next up, let's compare pricing between two popular modern minimal style wedding dresses without lace or sparkles. This style of dress is very popular lately with classic and traditional brides who want a more clean and sleek bridal look....
Both of these wedding gowns are made with crepe fabric and an exposed boning detail, but they are different prices… Here’s why!
Rhode by Made with Love (left) is made with soft french crepe and has more structure in the bodice due to the boning. Sandra by Jenny by Jenny Yoo (right) is made with luxe stretch crepe and has less structure in the bodice due to less boning. The difference in fabric and in construction make the difference in price. Rhode is priced between $2,500 - $3,000 and Sandra is priced between $1,000 - $1,500.
Focus On Your Priorities
As you can see from just these three examples, different bridal designers often have similar style dresses in their collections based on the current trends in the bridal fashion world. If a certain gown that you love is out of your budget, you may be able to make a few compromises on fabric materials or the level of embellishments to find a dress that is similar in style and look that will also fit your budget.
In addition to trying on the dresses in person, it is also it is important to decide what factors are most important to you as a bride. You'll want to know what you are and are not willing to compromise on when it comes to your wedding dress and how much you want to invest in your bridal fashion.
Taking the time to set a budget and explore your options - whether it’s a dramatic long train, delicate lace details, intricate beading, or romantic off-the-shoulder sleeves - will help you feel confident in your decision.
Don't Forget Accessories & Alterations
A final note that is important to keep in mind when determining your wedding dress budget is to not forget about your bridal accessories and wedding dress alterations. These are items you will need to pay for separately from the wedding dress itself.
If you plan on wearing a veil with your bridal gown, new bridal shoes, special jewelry or bridal hairpieces, those items will need to be budgeted for as well.
When it comes to wedding dress alterations, at the very least, your wedding gown will need to be hemmed to the proper length for your height and may also need to be adjusted at the bust or waist to fit you perfectly.
If you are ready to begin shopping for your dream wedding dress and want to start with figuring out your bridal fashion budget, be sure to get your free copy of our Wedding Dress Budgeting Worksheet. This downloadable wedding dress pricing guide is easy to use and after a few quick questions about wedding dress styles and designs, we'll help you narrow in on which wedding dress styles will fit your budget and be a good starting point when you are ready to try on gowns.
And when you are ready for the next step of trying on wedding dresses to find your perfect wedding dress, visit us in our bridal store in Clinton, CT by booking a wedding dress shopping appointment. We can't wait to work with you!
xoxo,
TWD Lovelies