How to sort your wedding dress without exceeding your budget?
Posted on March 22, 2021 by Lissa
How do you find your perfect wedding dress without exceeding your budget?
Finding the perfect gown without breaking the bank might seem daunting at first glance, but if you know where to look (and what to look for!), you’ll be able to find your dream dress at a price you can afford.
1. Know your budget
The best bridal shops in San Francisco will typically offer gowns in a range of prices. Here at Flares Bridal + Formal, our extensive collection includes styles and prices for just about every bride, but it helps if you know precisely what you can and can’t spend. If you come in with only a rough estimate, you might find yourself tempted by something just a bit over budget, which might mean cutting corners elsewhere. Make sure you give yourself a number for not only your gown, but also the alterations, shoes, and other accessories you want to include.
2. Pay attention to price tags when browsing
Every bride starts her dress shopping with a bit of browsing, whether in magazines or online. While that makes perfect sense, you should be a bit wary of falling in love with a specific gown. The wedding dress shops San Francisco brides love can provide just about any style you’re after, but if you’re trying to match a $3,000 designer gown on a $500 budget, you might be setting yourself up for disappointment. Make sure you pay attention to the price points as well as the styles as you browse to get a sense of what you can afford.
3. Find an off-the-rack gown
Even the best bridal shops in San Francisco can’t sell every gown the season it’s released. When production on those styles is discontinued, the remaining stock is often discounted, since not all colors and sizes will be available to order. These “off the rack” gowns can be a great bargain, but you never know what will be available. You can’t count on finding any specific style, but if you’re open to exploring different options, this is a great way to save some money.
4. Dress up your dress
The wedding dress shops San Francisco is known for offer so much more than just gowns, and you can use this to your advantage. Choosing a plainer gown and spicing it up with gorgeous accessories—from shoes to veil to jacket and more—is a great way to save a bit of money. Not only are simple designs less expensive, but gowns with less embellishment are typically easier and less expensive to have altered.