With the cost of weddings hitting astronomical highs, you may be concerned about your budget. The flowers, the cake, the music, the venue, the transportation and everything else that you need to make your dream wedding become a reality can get really costly – and fast!

If you want to keep your budget in check, you don’t have to forego the big event and elope; just be savvy and find ways to keep the costs down. An excellent way to keep your budget tamed is to determine how much you can comfortably spend on a wedding dress, and stay within that price range.

Now, you may be thinking that you have to spend an arm and a leg in order to find a dress that will make you look like a knockout, and that simply isn’t the case! If you want to keep the price of your dress down, here is so important information regarding the cost of wedding gowns – and how you can keep the cost in-check.

The Price

In 2014, the average amount brides spent on their wedding dresses was $1,357. However, that’s not to say that some brides spend more and some spend less For example, some of Hollywood’s elite drop millions of dollars on their wedding attire, while some brides spend less than $500!

The truth is, the cost of a wedding dress really does vary. It’s up to you to set a price that works for you.

What Impacts the Cost?

There are several factors that make the price of a wedding dress go up. These factors include:

• The designer
• The fabric
• The embellishments

The more well-known the designer is, the more expensive the dress is going to be. Also, the more costly the fabric, the bigger the price tag, and the same is true for the embellishments; the more bling you have on your dress, the more it will cost you (and, the type of bling will impact the price, too!)

Tips for Keeping the Cost Down

If you want to keep the cost of your wedding dress down, there are some key tips to keep in mind.

Firstly, consider buying a dress from a lesser-known designer. There are plenty of wedding gown designers who create simply stunning pieces, however, just because their names aren’t well-known, that doesn’t mean that their dresses aren’t fabulous!

Try to look for a dress that has less sparkle. The adornments can really cause the price of the dress to soar. You can purchase a less bedazzled gown and dress it up with a belt, a broach, or a killer hairpiece.

Shop the sample sales! Bridal salons host sample sales, during which they sell the samples they have in stock to make room for new samples that are coming in. The cost of these gowns is usually much lower than what you would spend on a brand new dress that is shipped directly from the manufacturer.

Consignment shops can be an excellent source for finding a great wedding dress at a fraction of the price. Many brides sell brand new dresses at these shops because they fell in love with a different dress after they purchased their first one. This really works out for you, because you could end up paying next to nothing for a brand new, high style, designer wedding gown.

If keeping your budget tamed is a big concern for you, it’s crucial to set a budget for your dress and stick to it! You can find a killer dress that won’t break the bank by following the above-mentioned tips.