Find Great Deals on Wedding Gowns

The bridal gown can take up 10% or more of the total wedding budget, which if you think about it, is a lot! Brides who gravitate towards hauteur couture or ornately embellished gowns may end up spending a lot more than that. You want to look fabulous on your wedding day, yet no one wants to pay more than they have to for a gorgeous wedding dress. These are some tips on how to find great deals on wedding gowns.

Tip number one is to find out when bridal salons in your area have their sample sales. At least twice a year, most stores will sell off some of their designer samples to make way for new arrivals. Get sale dates early, so that you can snag the first appointment on the first day of the sale. That will give you the best shot at finding your dream gown for 50% off. Come prepared with pictures of the styles that interest you, but be open minded, because you are unlikely to find the exact gown from a current magazine ad in the clearance samples. Also come prepared to buy, because if you walk away from a great deal on a beautiful designer bridal gown, it will probably be snapped up by another bride while you are thinking it over.

Girls who are up for a big adventure can consider searching for a great deal on a wedding gown at the Filene's Basement wedding gown sale, also known as the Running of the Brides. Definitely not for the faint of heart, the shy, or the bride who wants personal assistance, the event can nonetheless be a great opportunity to score a once-in-a-lifetime deal on a top designer gown. Brides make an event of the Filene's Basement sale, bringing along a gaggle of assistants, wear their bridal jewelry, signs to hold up stating the style and size they seek, and even their own mirrors. For those who survive the mayhem, this can be the least expensive way to get a high dollar wedding gown at bargain basement prices.

Private sales are another option for finding a good deal on a designer bridal gown. Sometimes brides who have canceled their weddings or changed their mind about a dress will sell them at a deep discount. Always buy locally, and never purchase a gown sight unseen. Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous people out there who make designer knock-offs and try to pass them off as originals, so private sales are always a case of buyer beware. Know what the quality should look like of a genuine designer bridal gown so that you can verify that you are buying what you think you are.

If you want the hottest look off the runway at a discount, your best bet is a bridal trunk show. You will not get the deep discounts found at sample sales at trunk shows, but there is often a small incentive for purchasing during the event. The salon might offer 10% off on trunk show orders (which can be hundreds of dollars for some designer gowns), discounts on coordinating veils, or no-cost customization. The bride will get a deal on a brand new look, which none of her friends are likely to have.
More great designer wedding dresses at reduced prices can be found at: David's Bridal.