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Wedding Dresses for under $700

September 27th, 2009

One of the most frequent questions I was asked before the wedding day was “How does the dress look like?”  Not only is the big white dress one of the major focuses of the wedding, it can be one of the major costs in a wedding budget.  The average wedding dress in America is four-figures and can reach up to over $10,000.  But if you’re looking to cut back on that five-figure wedding budget, here are some beautiful dresses that range from $200 to $700.

J Crew - silk chiffon Whitney dress

J Crew - silk chiffon Whitney dress

This is a great look for a casual, beach wedding.

Jenny Yoo - Olivia Dress
Jenny Yoo – Olivia Dress

I absolutely love the elegance and simplicity of this dress. I almost got a dress with this same silhouette. The empire waist and A-line skirt is flattering on every body type.

Jessica McClintock - Veronica Dress
Jessica McClintock – Veronica Dress

If you are looking for something with a fuller skirt but without all the glitz and lace, this is the dress for you and your budget.

Davids Bridal - Halter Lace Dress

David's Bridal - Halter Lace Dress

This dress is so sexy yet so romantic.
Davids Bridal - Chiffon A-line Gown

David's Bridal - Chiffon A-line Gown

This classy dress was what my sister wore on her wedding day.  She says its quite comfortable too.

Jenny Yoo - Audrey Dress
Jenny Yoo – Audrey Dress

This is a dress for those who are looking for a more modern style.  If we went for a less traditional wedding, this would be my pick for a dress.

Did you have to break the bank for your wedding dress?

They say money makes the world go ’round and that you can never have enough.  The same principle applies to weddings – if you don’t budget realistically and determine your absolute spending limits, you can find yourself spending lots of money on little things.  You don’t want to regret anything about your big day!

I recently read a great article in the magazine I Do for Brides about three couples with three very different weddings – one with a $3,000 budget, one with a $10,000 budget and the last with a substantial $68,000 budget.  The first couple saved a ton of money by having the ceremony and reception at her parent’s house, arranging her own bouquets, purchasing her dress on eBay and limiting the bar to beer and wine, purchased in bulk from a store like Costco.

blingThe couple with a $10,000 budget spent the majority of their money on catering and the reception site fees.  The third couple, with a $68,000 budget, spent $29,000 on food and service, $5,300 on flowers and $6,500 for the reception site.  One thing the weddings all had in common?  As the budgets increased, the do-it-yourself levels decreased.  Also, all of the brides had connections through family or friends to photographers, florists, bakers, wedding coordinators, etc.  Lesson?  Call in the favors you’re due – ask your friends for help and advice, but don’t take advantage of them.

There’s no right or wrong way to spend money on your wedding, but don’t forget that you’re also getting married – you’re beginning a lifelong journey with your soulmate.  Get your budget in place and stick to it so that you can have a little something to put towards an exotic three week honeymoon through the South Pacific or towards your first home together.

How did you budget for your wedding? How realistic was your budget – were you tempted by vendors up-selling services because you were having a wedding?