How much was your wedding dress?

[Clio]

I got married back in 1995, and the dress was $500, including alterations. I tried on dresses in a ton of different price ranges - up to about $4K, but the $500 dress was the one I loved best.

 

[sba771]

My dress was $6500 and is Monique Lhuillier. Would I do it over again? I am on the fence, probably not, but do I feel guilty? Not at all. My wedding was AMAZING and I still love my dress.

 

[coati]

I love looking at wedding dresses, but I didn't buy one. I eloped and wore a dress I already had. It cost very little.

Thing2's dress is one of my favorites. I adore everything about it! (Love the color!)

 

[Fly Girl]

$59 brand new about 35 years ago. 1976 was the US bicentennial, and they were promoting red, white and blue bridesmaids dresses. I purchased a white bridesmaid dress as my wedding gown. Worth every dollar, as they say!

 

[KatyWI]

After taxes and including alterations, I paid about $2500. It was Pronovias... totally classic with cap sleeves, and layers of silk tulle and lace. I felt like a million dollars! I've put it on since my wedding... though it hasn't zipped all the way for a while. Oops. I'll make it a goal post-baby.

I realize I probably shouldn't have spent that much, but I don't regret it for a second!!

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

$1200......26 years ago

cheers--Penelope

 

[iheartscience]

I love looking at wedding dresses, but I didn't buy one. I eloped and wore a dress I already had. It cost very little.

Thing2's dress is one of my favorites. I adore everything about it! (Love the color!)

Aw thanks coats!

 

[NOYFB]

$760, 10 years ago. I loved it and thought it was worth every penny!

 

[librarychickie]

I paid $1000 + $250 in alterations for my dress 14 years ago. At the time -- and in my circle -- that was more than average.

If I had to do again, yes, if I had the same tastes as I did 14 years ago, which I don't.

~LC

 

[monarch64]

My first dress was ~$700, free (minimal) alterations.

My next one I'm 99% sure will be the Avery from J. Crew. I'm holding out for the best deal I can find on eBay, hopefully under $200! I love looking at all the gorgeous designer gowns here, but I am just not into shelling out thousands for a dress!

 

[Natylad]

My first dress was ~$700, free (minimal) alterations.

My next one I'm 99% sure will be the Avery from J. Crew. I'm holding out for the best deal I can find on eBay, hopefully under $200! I love looking at all the gorgeous designer gowns here, but I am just not into shelling out thousands for a dress!

Monnie, you are a true beauty...

 

[monarch64]

My first dress was ~$700, free (minimal) alterations.

My next one I'm 99% sure will be the Avery from J. Crew. I'm holding out for the best deal I can find on eBay, hopefully under $200! I love looking at all the gorgeous designer gowns here, but I am just not into shelling out thousands for a dress!

Monnie, you are a true beauty...

Well, thank you, NatyLad!! You are very beautiful yourself!

 

[sillyberry]

With two sets of alterations, I think I paid around $2600 for my dress.

This was what it looked like:

And how I felt when I put it on and looked in mirror:

And my love seeing me in it for the first time:

 

[bee*]

Including alterations I paid €1700. It was worth every penny to me and I felt beautiful on the day. I would definitely do it again.

 

[diamondringlover]

I got my dress off the clearance rack at JC Penny in 1984, I paid $200, the original price tag was $500, I am not sure about alterations but I am thinking it was less then $50.

 

[April20]

I bought mine from J.Crew online. I paid all of $70. I found it on final clearance with an additional 30% off. It was non-returnable and I couldn't try it on. I wasn't even really interested in a strapless dress. But I figured for that price (and 100% silk to boot!), if it didn't fit, I'd just sell it and probably make money. I was lucky- it fit like a glove and didn't even need hemming/alterations!

After I bought it and realized it fit perfectly, it occurred to me that I'd never actually gone dress shopping. Or looked at a magazine. I'm such a bargain hunter and the dress just wasn't that critical to me when it came down to it. Go figure!

 

[vc10um]

I just saw jewelerman's call for pictures! It's too late to go back and edit my post now, but here's a link to my thread in BWW of pro pics from my wedding: vc10um is Married!

Just as a recap:
Dress: $400 from David's Bridal
Ivory Floral Sash: handmade by Claritek and 100% priceless
Purple Silk Sash: $15 on Etsy
Total Alterations: $105--bustle, add cups, shorten straps, and take in ~1.25" in the bodice

 

[Tuckins1]

It was $699... It was a few seasons old so it wasn't as expensive as newer ones, and I still thought that was a lot of money to drop on a dress that I was going to wear once!

 

[Porridge]

Maybe it will only be worn once, but to put it in context, it is the ONE day when ALL eyes are on you and a gazillion photos will be taken which will probably hang on your wall forever. So I don't think spending a lot of money on it is unreasonable.

A wedding dress certainly doesn't have to be expensive to be beautiful, but if the one you want is expensive and you can afford it then go for it.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

I got married almost 2 years ago and spent $99 on ebay plus $30 shipping. I didn't need any alterations and loved my gown I resold it last year for a about the same as I spent and put the money towards my diamond leverbacks (they don't take up as much space in our NYC apt

I don't regret it at all!

 

[smitcompton]

Hi Ladies,

I love your gowns. I am surprised by who bought for more $ and who bought for less $. It shows my perceptions are not even near correct. In fact I thought Bella would have one of the most expensive wedding dresses. Don't ask me why, I don't know.
Nice, fun thread.
Annette

 

[TravelingGal]

$50 and came rolled up in a fed ex box.

I never regretted not spending much money on the dress. I wore flip flops too, so it was just all super low key.

ETA, this was in 2006.

 

[phoenixgirl]

Mine was $2100 in 2004. I'm not sure it was on my radar to get a dress that expensive, but my sister/MOH made me an appointment at Saks where that was pretty much the cheapest dress. My parents had already spent a lot on her wedding and didn't seem to think it was too expensive. In retrospect, I think that money could have been put to better use, but I did love my dress. It was a Christos with a bateau/Audrey Hepburn style neckline and gold detailing. I've always loved YG!

Pan, I LOVE your dress. Scrumptious!

 

[mrswahs]

Mine was $500 and my alterations will be $234 with tax. It's getting altered now actually

We're getting married on the beach on Maui so i wanted something simple but classy. I love it.

 

[Lottie]

I planned on spending about 500gbp (sorry pound sign on laptop broken) but I ended up spending around 1000gpb. I tried on one dress and immediately know that that was the one, you can't see in the photos but it ended at about halfway down my calves with frothy petticoats peeking out and I loved it!

 

[Lottie]

I got mine at a sample sale and it was $2600, half off the original price of $5200. It was made by Amsale Blue Label. Amsale carries a ton of dresses I like, which is rare for me, because most bridal dresses didn't speak to me. I actually read on PS that Saks was having sample sales at almost all of their bridal boutiques, so I went there on a whim with my twin sister, and it was the first dress I tried on.

I do think it was a lot of money to spend on a dress I'll only wear once, but I have no regrets. It was a gorgeous light pink silk taffeta and was extremely well made (interior corset, multiple layers of the skirt, etc.). Here's a close up pic...I don't have all of my wedding photos on this computer and I've already posted this one on PS.

Thing2of2 I love your dress, beautiful.

 

[OUpearlgirl]

I was a bad PSer and didn't read the thread.. Oops, I forgot a pic!
To re-cap the dress itself I got for $450 on sample sale and the three quarter sleeve jacket was under $300..

 

[violet3]

I bought a sample that happened to fit and was $179 in 2009. I found a couple of other dresses that i really liked as well, but couldn't justify paying 600-800$ more for something i liked pretty much equally. Alterations were just about the same price as the dress, so all together it was around $360. I loved my dress!

 

[centralsquare]

I love seeing everyone dresses! And hearing about the values too!

 

[madiamondgirl]

by mrswahs » 11 Aug 2011 20:33
Mine was $500 and my alterations will be $234 with tax. It's getting altered now actually

We're getting married on the beach on Maui so i wanted something simple but classy. I love it.

I got married on Maui too! It was magical. Our wedding was at Makena Cove. Congrats and enjoy!!!!