How to Find Your Dream Wedding Dress on a Budget

By Kourtney Perry

Did you know that you don’t have to break the bank to find a wedding dress? There are plenty of budget-friendly wedding dresses out there, you just have to know where and how to find them. If you want to save money on a wedding dress, these tips are for you!

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS FOR WHICH WE’LL RECEIVE A COMMISSION IF YOU CHOOSE TO SHOP THROUGH THE LINKS. PLEASE READ OUR DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO

Wedding dress shopping is one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning! You’ve just gotten engaged and you’re ready to find your dream wedding dress – but you’re on a strict budget. Finding a wedding dress on a budget can seem like a challenge, but it can also be a lot of fun! Think of it as more of a treasure hunt. If you are a Texas bride who is also a savvy shopper, you can easily save money on a wedding dress and still have the wedding dress of your dreams. This guide will tell you everything that you need to know to find a budget-friendly wedding dress that you will absolutely love.

Related Content:

When shopping for a wedding dress on a budget, don’t underestimate David’s Bridal

If you are looking for a budget-friendly wedding dress, you can’t go wrong with David’s Bridal. They have a huge selection of beautiful wedding dresses, and most of the gowns are under $1500. If you are looking to save money on a wedding dress, this is the place for you! David’s Bridal got a bad rep years ago, let’s be honest, but they have seriously upped their game! You can even find budget-friendly dresses from major designers like Vera Wang and even Zac Posen.

Boutiques & off-the-rack shops are another budget-friendly option

If you are a bride who is looking to save money on a wedding dress in Texas, we are lucky enough to also have a variety of boutiques where you can buy discounted dresses right off the rack. You can even find a beautiful wedding dress on consignment. If you are looking for a deeply discounted designer wedding dress, these shops could be a great option for you. We created guides for these sample and/or consignment dress stores for three main areas in Texas: Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, and San Antonio & Austin. These articles are great resources if you’re looking for a discounted wedding dress. Also remember that many of these stores place their inventory on their website or Facebook page. So you can check out the goods before you make a trek out to their stores.

Related Content:

Chain Retail Stores

Chain retail stores are another great way to save money on a wedding dress. Did you know that many chain retail stores have jumped on the wedding industry bandwagon? Now you can find dedicated wedding lines at some of your favorite clothing stores, such as:

Dresses at these stores range from simple to extravagant and with most clocking in at under $2000. An added bonus? Many of these stores have their wedding dresses online and offer a return policy where you can try them on and send them back for a full refund if it is not the dress for you.

Find a Budget-Friendly Wedding Dress from a Sample Sale

Did you know that you can save money on a wedding dress by buying it online? A strategy that I’ve recommended to brides is to go try on dresses to decide what style you like and to determine your general size, then look for that dress (or a similar dress) online that will fit into your budget.

Bride Power is the online store connected to the brick and mortar bridal outlet, Vows (the store is also the site for the TLC hit, I Found the Gown). The site has an enormous selection of designer gowns and a search function that makes it super easy to narrow down the selection by price. This is a great resource for finding a wedding dress on a budget.

Another site that I love is Your Dream Dress. For the bride that is set on a high-end designer dress, this site is a must! They have all of the greats–Vera Wang, Kenneth Pool, Oscar de la Renta, Monique Lhuillier–for up to 90% off retail. Many of them are even under $1000! Your Dream Dress is the perfect online option if you want a designer gown that is still a budget-friendly wedding dress.

Both of these sites have fairly simple return policies, so even if the gown doesn’t work out, you can return it for a full refund (minus the cost of shipping).

Previously loved wedding dresses are another budget-friendly option

If you are okay with wearing a dress that has already been worn, there are many online sites where you can buy a used dress. These are often sold directly from the bride. On sites like Poshmark, you can even find dresses that are being resold, but have not been worn. Maybe the bride just had a change of heart and decided to go with another dress. To find a wedding dress on a budget, a used wedding dress is a great option. While some may scoff at the idea of purchasing a used dress for their wedding, the deep discounts could more than make up for any hesitation you may have. Some of the most popular sites are:

Etsy, Ebay, and even Craigslist are also great sites for scoring a wedding dress deal.

Happy shopping!