Following are 10 money saving tips for choosing one for those on tighter budgets. 1. Make Your Wedding Dress - If you have a sewing talent, make your own wedding dress or find a seamstress in the family to make one for you. Or, find an experienced seamstress to make a design from a magazine picture. This costs about 50% less than what you would pay for an almost equal brand label dress in a boutique. If you want this path, find a designer or seamstress that is well-known and can provide you with references from previous bridal clients. Ask to see pictures of previous work done and make sure that the designer has specific experience with bridal wear as bridal apparel involves specialized techniques when designing and sewing the gowns. 2. Rent a Wedding Dress - If finances don't allow you to purchase a designer wedding dress, think renting. Check the yellow pages in your area or in a close by city for formal wear stores. Many stores fee both dressy formal wear and bridal gowns; others specialize in bridal attire. 3. Shop at Boutique Alternatives - Check out consignment shops or visit a bridal outlet stores. Find extraordinary bargains on wedding dresses, veils and other bridal accessories without having to pay the full retail price. 4. Borrow a Wedding Dress - Consider them worn by your mother, sister, aunt or friend. Not only is this a price saving, but also adds sentiment to your special day. Also inquire about veil and other bridal accessories they may still have. 5. Check the Newspaper Classifieds - Sometimes weddings are canceled or recently married brides are trying to recoup some of the money just spent so they place an ad in the newspaper in an effort to sell theirs. Even if it needs to be altered and cleaned, this may still be a less costly alternative. 6. Negotiate with Bridal Salons - Call bridal shops in your area to see if they have any wedding dresses that have never been chosen up. Sometimes a bride will put a deposit on one and never returns to pick it up. Since the shop already received a deposit they may be eager to sell it to you for the remaining balance. If you find a dress that is out of your cost range, see if the dress can be made in a less expensive fabric. Also check to see if they will give you a discount on yours if you purchase all of the bridesmaid's dresses from them. It never hurts to ask! 7. Look for Sales - The larger bridal shops tend to have sales once a year, typically held at hotels or other venues. 8. Shop In-Season - For an informal wedding, consider wearing a white bridesmaids dress. Check for gowns in department stores during prom seasons and around New Year's when there is more of a variety. If possible, shop for your wedding shoes in the summer when it is more general to find white shoes in department stores or discount shoe stores instead of paying bridal shop prices for shoes. 9. Minimize Design Changes & Alterations - Find a wedding dress that has the design elements you desire and avoid expensive changes such as modifying the train length. Keep alterations to a minimum by order closest to your size . 10. Search Online - If you have an idea as to the style you favor, check online. Online 'dress stores' will usually be less expensive, giving you more to play with on your bridal budget.
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