OK, today’s wedding gown post is for those looking to get a little creative. The dresses and ideas I’m about to present may not be traditional…they may need embellishment…they may not even be wedding dresses! (at first)…but in the end, they are all definitely unique, gorgeous, and gloriously within budget.
Here are some non-traditional ways to make a big statement minus the big price tag:
Go custom-made. Now this may not seem like a cheaper route, but you’d be surprised at the gorgeous one-of-a-kind gowns you can find for under $1,000. Below, you’ll find some beauties from Etsy (the world of handmade) for prices I’m sure you will be pleasantly surprised to see—
Price: $654.00
Price: $499.00
Price: $658.00
Price: $349.99
Check out J.Crew. They have their fair share of pricey gowns, but they also have gorgeous inexpensive gowns that are stylish and well-made.
While some will love the simplicity of their dresses, others will be longing for more detail. Here are the dresses along with my ideas for “sprucing them up”—
+ White bloom sash ($40) = $435.00
+ Couture wrap w/ brooch ($50)= $475.00
+ Romantic sash ($40) = $290.00
Dress up a white dress. Much like the J. Crew gowns above, you can find simple, beautiful white dresses almost anywhere for affordable prices. Embellish them with sashes, brooches, wraps, boleros, even add lace or beading for minimal costs. Check out places like Macys.com, Nordstrom.com, edressme.com, simplydresses.com, just to name a few. There’s no limit to how creative you can get to make a “simple” white dress into a beautiful bridal gown.
These are just a few more ways to find yourself in a beautiful wedding gown that you (and your budget) can be proud of.
Did you score a magnificent dress for an even more magnificent price? Where and how did you do it? Inquiring wedding dress bargainistas of the world wanna know… 
My boyfriend proposed to me and goal is to get married in a few months. I am hoping for a later fall wedding but we have not done much planning. questioning if anyone tips about when is the normal time to purchase the dress?
The “normal” time to purchase a dress is between 9-12 months out. The long time frame is to ensure that there is enough time for your dress to be made, delivered, altered, and delivered again. But not all brides need this much time. If you buy a dress off the rack, you could snag it the week before your wedding. I say the general rule is to get it as soon as possible…so you can love it for longer.