Buying your wedding dress cheaper
Not many of us can spend a king’s ransom on wedding attire but there’s no need to compromise style. It is possible to find a happy medium between having a gorgeous gown and allocating cash elsewhere in your wedding plans! Here are some tips for finding the right dress if you’re on a budget. Search the newspaper classifieds: You can often find gowns from sole traders who bring in a few exclusive dresses at reasonable prices. Shop your mom’s closet: Ever thought about wearing your mom’s gown? If it’s a timeless piece that has been well-preserved and, of course, if it can fit you, it may be a wonderful choice (plus your mom will feel flattered too!). Another idea is to use the fabric from the dress to make an entirely new dress for you.
Veer off the wedding racks: Search for a beautiful evening gown in place of a wedding dress or ethnic wear. You may be surprised at what you find! Go the designer route: Consider asking a local designer to make you a simple, short white or ivory dress or suit. This may work out better and be more practical in the long-term than a full-scale bridal gown.
Consider renting your bridal attire: This will cost you at least one-third of what you would pay for a brand new dress. Plus, there’s an added bonus, some rental stores will also do minor adjustments for you. Make a budget and stick to it! Many times, brides are swayed by a must-have dress that they can’t finance without credit. Venture online: This works well if you know your size in a specific bridal designer’s line. Remember that bridal sizing is different from the sizing for regular clothing. Spruce up an off-the-rack dress: A simple sheath dress can be a show-stopper if you can find the right person who can embellish it with your choice of pearls, crystals, the right touch of lace, a silk sash, elegant brooch or even fabric flowers. Make a fault a fashion: Don’t ignore wedding gowns that may have a fault, since you may get these at bargain prices. Sometimes, a tiny stain in an inconspicuous place can be removed or camouflaged; and loose buttons can be replaced.
Gently Used Wedding Dresses are better for some people
What do you do with your dress after the big day? Brides and bridesmaids alike often struggle with what to do with a priceless—and yet somehow still expensive—mementos from their special day.
Let’s face it: you are not going to have the length and sleeves altered to turn your gown into a cocktail dress. It’s never going to happen.
And brides, it will (hopefully) be a long time before you need a wedding dress again. And even if you do, let’s be realistic: you probably won’t be the same size.
What is the alternative?
A North Richland Hills non-profit is asking for you to consider donating your dress, and accessories, for a worthy cause.
We’re All About the Dress is trying to pair recently separated military personnel with a gently used wedding dress to ease the financial burden of their special day.
They are also accepting cash donations to assist with operating expenses, dry cleaning, service, and volunteers.
Brides forced to buy new wedding dresses
Some angry brides are scrambling to find new wedding dresses after the store where they ordered them apparently went out of business.
Brides say Sister's Bridal in Valparaiso closed suddenly, and the owner is not returning emails or phone calls.
The building's owner says the bridal shop has not paid rent in two months, and about 90% of the store's merchandise appears to have been moved out.
Several brides say they are out thousands of dollars and plan to file lawsuits.
News for Saturday 31 December, 2011
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