Dress prices

pbny24

I know some of you have got really bargain prices for your
wedding dresses, but aside from eBay and Chinese copies (Personal opinion but I wouldn't want to risk buying from either) what would you consider a good price for a dress coming from a bridal shop? I think reading this site has made me want everything for a bargain so is skewing my opinion a bit. Tried on my first dresses yesterday and the shop was lovely, really helpful. I found one dress I like, not sure if it's the one I'll go for yet- but need to decide soon as it's being discontinued at the end of the month. The sample is my size and the shop said they would clean and replace any missing beading so it would be as new, for £575 from £860, alterations a maximum of £125 although she said it would likely be half that as only the length needs altering. Is this a good price honestly? It is within budget but not sure whether to go for it! I was going to try a factory outlet shop aswell but if buying a sample from them I don't think they clean it/ replace beading in the price. Just wondering if I'm missing a good deal to get a bargain that might not be as good quality!

aarchk

To be honest that sounds like a really good deal to me. As you say the shops is including the cleaning and repairs, not many shops do that from my experience. I would also check if they will store it for you or if you have to take it away with you? Some shops charge for storing sample sold dresses and if you have no where else to put it, it will be further expense.

I would definitley try a few more dresses before you decide though as it sounds like it may not be 'the one' in your mind at the moment.

Hollie84

I had a £300 budget in mind and every shop i went into said no chance apart from the last shop who had a sample sale,my dress was £600 down to £300 she then knocked me £50 off to have a lace up back put in so a grand total of £250.my mums friend is a seamstress so is doing the lace up back and any other alterations for next to nothing which mum is paying for anyway.i personally said im not spending over £300 on a dress i will wear once couldnt justify it.but sounds a good deal on the dress u like.find out when there having a sample sale,most shops will be doing it in the next month or so.i know the bridal shop i got my dress from are having a huge two day sale in sept,they have dresses come in from other shops to so have all designers there,they sell of veils,tiaras,underskirts etc

Lizzieb151

Personally I would look around again - but that price is still not bad.

I took my dress to the shop to see if it could be altered to which they said no so I tried some others and found a lovely sample dress down from £850 to £495, they agreed to do the alterations and cleaning for free (lovely ladies)

The price for shortening the hem from them is normally £50.00 so I would hope that your alterations price is less than the £125 considerably and I am having the hem shortened, bust adjusted, back panel moving and a hook put in to pull the train up at night.

Sammy85_2

I went to a few bridal shops to try on different styles.

Prices were from around £600 upwards, many around the £8-900 mark (plus alterations).

The sale rail started at £300ish and was generally around 50% off original tag prices.

Sample dresses are not necessarily all in poor condition. Sure, some will be, with dirt, makeup etc on them and beads missing but i wouldnt exclude looking at them, you may find a gem.

If you do find a dress you like try and get the name/number of it and have a look to see if you can get it online cheaper (not necessarily ebay - some wedding shops advertise online and even some charities list wedding dresses online). You may find it new or 2nd hand and save quite a lot.

74jax

If it is within your budget for a dress and you love it, then I'd buy it. You might end up kicking yourself afterwards.

My budget for my dress is £150.00, so when I see one I like, I think I'll grab it and run!

roses

I think Oxfam have a wedding dress shop. Have you tried there?

pbny24

Thanks for the replies, went to a bridal factory outlet today and did not enjoy it at all. At the back of my mind yesterday was really what if I can find something cheaper than the one I liked, but after today I've decided to go back to the original shop and try on a lot more as well as the one I liked. The help they gave yesterday made such a difference as they we're honest and helpful.today felt like they wanted the sale so would say anything.The £125 for alterations was a maximum price only for any dress just so I could budget a very maximum she didn't think it would be anything like that if that dress was the one I go for. She said altering the straps would be free as it would only take her a few minutes. Going to look at a couple more shops but will definitely go back to the first one

Bride2be24

I personally think its a fab price. most dresses in bridal shops cost more than that these days. If you feel like its the one snap their hands off i would. I got mine from a bridal shop and that cost me £1100 but luckily it didnt need any alterations whatsoever so i was lucky x

hp3

Hi, like others have said if it's the dress you like and you have the budget for it I would just go with it. The same thing happened to me over the weekend and I am in a similar position. I had tried one on and really loved it but it was way over £1000, which i wasn't prepared to spand on a dress for 1 day nor did I have the money. I had looked round at others but that dress was in the back of my mind like yours. Then the shop rang at the weekend to say it would be discontinued. As you, the dress in the shop is my size so they have said I can have it at sample price which is £695. This is still a lot of money but better than the price before. The shop it's in however do not give any details out about the dress or will let us have any photos so I cannot find out what designer it is to see if other shops have it cheaper but hey bit of good luck it's my size.
Hope you get it!

ladymarmalade

If you really like the dress and its within your budget then I would buy it.

I have found a few dress designers I like and they start at £800 going up to in excess of £1500, so if I found one for that price i would go for it!