One aspect of wedding planning that I feel the most conflicted about is “the dress.” The proverbial gorgeous gown that causes your mother to weep with joy as the dressing room door swings open, and gives you the unmistakable fluttery feeling in your stomach that says that this is the one. Unfortunately, however, this feeling usually comes with a fairly hefty price tag attached.
Now, I love fashion. I’m also willing to spend a good amount of money on pieces I love, especially when the photographs of that particular outfit will be on my wall for years to come. But what continues to perplex me is the mark-up on wedding gowns just because they are wedding gowns. A similar gown in another color, with the same quality fabric and construction, even by the same designer will sometimes run you thousands less.
In this spirit I’ve put together some of my favorite non-wedding wedding dresses. I think that wearing something slightly unusual down the aisle can create just as much of a statement as a beaded princess ballgown with a ten foot train. Plus, as I like to remember, what you save on your gown you can spend on your shoes!
Who says the bride has to wear white? The color is fresh and gorgeous, and the billowy chiffon would be beautiful for an outdoor wedding. This dress is $1,190 at Neiman Marcus.
Vintage dresses are another way to make an entirely unique statement. This sweet lace dress could be dressed up or down depending on how you accessorize. A bargain at $485 at Antique Dress.
I think this dress is stunning. Its feels Grecian but not in an overbearing way, and I love the silvery blue details. A bonus perk is that it is only $238 from Nordstrom.
Badgley Mischka makes lovely wedding dresses, but they usually retail from $6,000 to $10,000. This gown has the glamour factor with the embellishment and draping seen on many designer bridal gowns, and as evening wear is priced at $995 from Saks.
That lace dress from Antique Dress is just gorgeous. Of course I found a dress I was drooling over on that site that was already sold. Thanks for the great link though!
Without a doubt the dress is a major part of you’re wedding day, just make sure you take the time to pick perfect bridal wear that is going to make your day more of a success. You want to look as good as you feel, and theres such a selection of dresses out there that you should be able to find one for every venue/season/mood and so forth, dont take the choice too lightly