Western style wedding dresses on a budget

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"This wedding takes place during a week when the web is all astir over ... 4-Feb-201There's nothing like a wedding around Valentine's Day."

Planning a wedding is a big expense, and one of the biggest expenses is the dress. But it doesn't have to be. With a little planning and some research, a wedding dress can be found for a lot less than you think. Here are strategies for finding a perfect wedding dress on a budget.

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1. Sales

   • Most bridal stores have clearance sales once yearly to make room for newer fashions. Although the atmosphere can almost resemble a feeding frenzy from "Jaws" when brides-on-a-budget descend on these stores, it can also be a good place to find the wedding dress of your dreams. Typically stores list sales in newspaper circulars, fliers, store banners or classified ads in advance. Some brides-to-be line up outside the shop early to be first through the door. Some stores allow only a few shoppers at a time. Brides have been known to bring friends to hold potential dresses and wear bathing suits so they can try on a gown right there on the showroom floor. A designer dress at one of these sales may be had for as little as $100.

   Online Auctions

   • Wedding dresses at online auction houses range from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars. These dresses may be vintage, used or never worn. A few dresses may have damage, from dirt to tears. It's considered good etiquette for the seller to list any damage to the dress and provide photos so that the bidder can judge for themselves. However, many auction houses such as eBay rely on the honor system. Should your dress not arrive as described, you can attempt to return the dress. Your other courses of action may include leaving negative feedback with the seller and requesting that the auction house mediate a dispute. However, most online auction houses are limited to banning the seller from their website. The bottom line on buying a dress at an auction house: Let the buyer beware.

   Something Borrowed

   • Another alternative for your wedding day is to borrow a dress from a friend or family member. Often, wearing your grandmother's or mother's (or your groom's mother's) dress can add feelings of nostalgia that make the dress even more special. If you have a friend who is willing to loan you a wedding dress, this may also be an option. Finally, you may consider renting a dress or purchasing one from a consignment shop. Consignment shops have a high standard for the quality of clothing that they will accept. Often a consignment shop in an upscale neighborhood will carry clothing with designer labels.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: wedding dress, auction houses, auction house, consignment shop, dresses budget, online auction