The current state of the economy got me thinking about budgets and what I would do personally if I had $500 to spend on looking the part of the bride. Can it be done? I am not talking about just the dress, but all the bits and pieces that go with a wedding gown. It is hard to find a full blown wedding gown for much under $500. Maybe you could find an informal gown (without train) or if you are lucky you could find something on a sale rack. Even if you found a gown for under or around $500 you would still need hundreds of dollars to finish the look…alterations, undergarments, veil, shoes.
So is it possible to dress a bride for $500? Absolutely, you just need to get creative. I would suggest looking at some of the nicer lines of bridesmaid gowns. For example, Belsoie style #L2059 or style #L2019 would make beautiful informal wedding gowns. Belsoie gowns (a line of Jasmine Bridal) are available in whites and ivory colors and can be made with additional lining fabric to add substance to the gown. A third example is Dessy Style #2758, it’s made of silk, can come in white or ivory and you can have it made with a contrasting sash color. Imagine it with a few strands of pearls, simple veil and a sassy pair of shoes. What if you want a train? You can order most bridesmaid gowns with extra length and then have just the front hemmed to create a small train. What if you want a lot of sparkle? You could add sparkle with your jewelry or add a beaded trim to the gown. Beaded trims are available at most fabric stores.
So at this point we have spent about half of our $500 budget on the gown. Next we need to find great undergarments. You do not want to skimp. A bride should feel and look like a “hottie” on her wedding day! You will need a great bra or bustier and maybe controlling undergarments to make sure the gown falls smoothly over your curves. Next you will need to find a seamstress who can make the gown fit you perfect. Good alterations are going to run you about $100 on a bridesmaid type gown.
This leaves us with about $75 bucks and we still need something for the head and toes. I would suggest looking to borrow a veil or head piece and jewelry if you can. If you can borrow at least one of these finishing touches our $500 will work out. As far as shoes go, you do not need to limit yourself to “bridal” type shoes. There’s nothing wrong with wearing a great pair of shoes you already have as long as they’re comfortable and coordinate with the gown (think about a great pair of metallic heels).
So if I had $500, I would buy the nicest gown I could for the money. I’d rather have a simple well made bridesmaid gown of a nice fabric then a poorly constructed formal gown of cheap fabric!
Happy Planning, Jeri
