So my good friend has decided to go on and completely ruin the lives of her friends by getting married. So much for single gal solidarity. But it’s okay. I love her, so I’m willing to embrace this forecoming change. What I absolutely will not tolerate, however, is her spending an obscene amount of money on her wedding which, in my opinion, is just a glorified party. Again, this is fine because I adore parties – especially when I can find sneaky ways to save money planning them! So to that end, I’ve been concocting a series of tips for my dear friend on how to spend less in the various areas of wedding planning.

Today: wedding dresses.

I swear, it’s the only time in an average girl’s life where you can convince her it’s okay to spend thousands of dollars on an outfit (that she’s only going to wear once)! I don’t buy it, though and neither should you.

Here’s how to be smarter about your wedding-wear:

Used wedding dresses

I know. Breathe. You can get through this, little bride. Honestly, as jarring as those words tend to be to a woman who’s all awash in a sea of taffeta and dreams of Golden Anniversaries, the reality is not only nothing to be afraid of, it’s one of the smartest moves you can make when shopping for a gown.

The truth is, these are some of the more well-made garments out there (which you ideally would like in a piece of used clothing) and chances are they’ve barely been worn (another highly-covetable trait).

Did I mention they’ll be wonderfully less expensive? Definitely something to look into.

Don’t wear a “wedding dress”

Even if you’ll be wearing something poofy and white when you walk down the aisle, you should still take heed here. Just because you’re going to a wedding doesn’t mean you have to wear a “wedding dress”. What you really ought to do is find any white dress (if that’s your sticking point) that feels and looks great and roll with it.

Lucky for you if it’s not a wedding dress because you’ll save some major money! If you happen to be one of those more open-minded brides-to-be, you should know that anything goes when it comes to these gowns these days; if you’re a little funkier and feel like expressing your personal style on the big day, don’t hesistate. Any dress you love can be your wedding dress. Don’t let any pushy commission-based salespeople at the bridal salon tell you otherwise!

Skimp on shoes

This is a no-brainer to me.  As long as you’re not wearing a short dress (in which case, you better know it’s all about the shoes – and hott legs), you shouldn’t sweat the shoes. You definitely shouldn’t break the bank on them. Even if you don’t feel inclined to go funky with your choice of dress, some of the even more straight-laced brides these days are opting to wear out-of-character shoes (think bedazzled Chuck Taylors, or flip-flops) under their dresses – it’s cheaper, quirky and fun, and infinitely more comfortable.

Nobody wants blisters on their wedding night, anyway.

Bridal rentals

Okay, I’m sure if you’re the kind of gal who wasn’t onboard with the whole “buying a used wedding gown” thing that you might not like this too much. But I’m begging you, for the sake of your wallet, to consider how reasonable this option is. No one ever suggests that a man must actually purchase a tux for his wedding day. Of course not – that’s crazy! So in the spirit of gender equality, why not let the ladies in on the rental action?

It’s great: you pay for one day of use, the gowns are immaculately cared for!

Now It’s Your Turn

Are you shopping for a gown right now? If so, how’s it going? What do you think of the tips? Have you already been married and have some more tips! Discuss in the comments, below!