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Original poster

Probably a stupid question, but how much does a wedding dress cost?

77 replies

AbsDuCroissant · 16/02/2011 14:51

What are the sort of price ranges?

I (stupidly) really, really like one of the Vera Wang ones, but from two seasons ago - would this cost like a million pounds?

I'm trying to find out info online, but struggling, so what are the pricing bands?

TIA

[very boringly drawing up budget for the next 18 months. Yes, I'm that boring organised]

OP posts:
TeaOneSugar · 16/02/2011 14:53

Mine was £450, I'm probably at the bottom end of the spectrum.

Panzee · 16/02/2011 14:54

Mine cost £500.

JaneS · 16/02/2011 14:54

Try Ebay/secondhand sites? There are loads of people who want to sell a once-worn dress. I know someone who got an Alfred Angelo (relatively posh; not as posh as Vera Wang!) for 100 quid from someone who was just happy to let it go to a good home. If you have 18 months, there's time enough to keep an eye out for it, I'd say.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 16/02/2011 15:00

Mine was £1250, I think Vera Wang are more than that.

Original poster
AbsDuCroissant · 16/02/2011 15:13

Hm, interesting.

More faffing about on internet and somewhere priced it at EUR 12,000?!?!?!?!??!

What the hell?

It's so beautiful though

It's the one that Ivanka Trump wore - maybe I should give her a call and see if she'll give it to me? Grin

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 16/02/2011 15:17

ebay but still pricey

Dropdeadfred · 16/02/2011 15:19

You'll get something nice for £1000 if you're on a budget

reallygrumpy · 16/02/2011 15:21

I think wedding dresses can cost as much or as little as you want to pay. Mine was £1250 but it wasn't full length and that was a few years ago I then had to pay another £250 to have it altered cos I got pregnant 3 1/2 months before our wedding. If you want something a bit different my sister got a stunning dress from Here other options if you've fallen in love with a pricey dress are to try and find a sample. Good luck!

Original poster
AbsDuCroissant · 16/02/2011 15:23

Thanks for all these suggestions!

I also like this one but I think I'd need to keep hitting the gym quite hard.

OP posts:
mippy · 16/02/2011 15:29

Monsoon do a sample sale every six months or so - if you take a 12, then you can get a dress there for about £50, I think.

YorkshireCrockpot · 16/02/2011 16:21

I spent £120 on a really gorgeous monsoon one as i didn't want to spend a fortune (preferred to spend money on a amazing honeymoon). Friends have spent over a £1000 plus on bespoke handmade ones.

Up to you how much you spend if you can afford it but you can get beautiful dresses on the high st and then get them fitted or customised using a seamstress ( I used my mum!). Your guests won't know if you've gone haute couture or coast if you look amazing.

SlightlyMadSpook · 16/02/2011 16:30

Don't know where you live but there are wedding dress outlet/factory shops.

There is one in teh East mids and you can get designer (as in proper) designer dresses for a fraction of the price. I had a friend that got a £3K+ dress for less than £500.

The only (minor IMO) downside is that you need to get your own seemstress to get any alterations made.

Original poster
AbsDuCroissant · 16/02/2011 16:34

I'm in London. Surely this city must be crammed with bridal outlet stores?

Thanks for all the suggestions. This is a very big and scary area I've never delved into before. And so many choices to be made.

OP posts:
thefirstMrsDeVere · 16/02/2011 16:40

i got mine made. mum paid for it. i dont know how much it was but no where near 1k. my whole wedding cost that much Grin. can you find a local seamstress who can make you one ?

Original poster
AbsDuCroissant · 16/02/2011 16:44

That is an idea - how do you find them though? I've been looking for tailors/seamstresses in general (to mend or adapt some clothing) and all of them have things like "we can make a skirt to your specifications starting at £600"

OP posts:
thefirstMrsDeVere · 16/02/2011 16:54

Well we were lucky because my mum had one living across the road!

You could try local papers, local websites, craft magazines etc. The cost is really going to depend on the style of dress, how much fabric you need and how expensive the fabric is. Details like hundreds of covered buttons with loop fastenings etc will add to the labour costs because they are fiddly.

If I were you I would decide on the style you want and then work out the cheapest way of getting it - off the peg, handmade, ebay etc. You might find it cheaper if you get your own fabric rather than leaving it to the seamstress. I bet there is an online forum somewhere for people who want a dress made Smile

If you spend a while getting the style right in your head at least you know what you are looking for.

Mine was a cocktail style so less fabric. It had very little detail on it it (think audrey hepburn but in ivory).

daimbardiva · 16/02/2011 17:01

Mine was £1000 by Pronovias - I absolutely loved it, and doubt I could have found one I liked better even if I'd had £10k to spend

crazybutterflylady · 16/02/2011 17:01

abs Johanna Hehir are £££ too. And right snobs. I called them when looking for a dress and they said really snootily "what's your budget, we don't want to waste your time if it's not high enough". Cheeky cows.

If you like the style of those dresses I'd also recommend Caroline Castigliano though again she starts at about £2k. There's a fab independent bridal boutique in Blackheath if you're anywhere near there? And I can recommend a brilliant seamstress in Kent (not deepest darkest, sort of London borders) if that's near you? PM me if you'd like the info.

Original poster
AbsDuCroissant · 16/02/2011 17:03

Yeah, I read some rather bad reviews of Johanna Hehir - lots of snootiness. Doesn't sound good.

Will hold off for now, and start looking again closer to the time. Squee!

OP posts:
Original poster
AbsDuCroissant · 16/02/2011 17:06

I would like, however, to complain about the lack of straps/sleeves on wedding dresses. 99% are sleeveless - have sleeves become illegal or something? It's bizarre.

OP posts:
twolittlemonkeys · 16/02/2011 17:08

I traipsed round loads of bridal and department stores in London, struggled to find something with sleeves, but eventually got one in BHS of all places, short sleeves, perfect for me, only £120.

runnyhabbit · 16/02/2011 17:15

Well, if you're in London, what about contacting a few fashion/art colleges, and see if a student could do something for you?

bishboschone · 16/02/2011 17:18

Funnily enough we went to try on wedding dresses today . My sister is getting married. They started at £1000 up to £5000!!. only a village shop..I was a bit shocked!!

wubblybubbly · 16/02/2011 17:20

I got mine from M&S, short sleeves, silk and velvet devore, £120! It's beautiful and looked very vintage.

pink4ever · 16/02/2011 17:53

My mum offered to pay for my dress(before she disowned meHmm. Saw the perfect dress in the second shop we went into.Mum looked at price tag,smiled and said it was within her budget.I then pointed out that was only for the bodiceShock!!. But was my dream dress and we were spending buttons on the rest of wedding. Total cost with alterations came to about £900. Hanging in my wardrobe now.Toyed with the idea of giving it to charity but am hoping dd will want to wear it on her special day.