Let's Talk Gown Budget
We can’t tell you how much to spend on your wedding gown; that’s a completely personal decision that’s dependent on both your priorities and your finances. However, we can offer our two cents on how to navigate the ever-awkward topic of your gown budget, and how to make the financial realities of your wedding gown as stress-free as possible.
First off, let’s answer a very frequently asked question — how much is a wedding gown?
Let’s compare purchasing a wedding gown to purchasing a home: the price range varies wildly, so it’s best to set some parameters for your search.
If you are looking for a wedding gown in the traditional sense - a floor length ivory/white gown with a train and elevated construction - gown prices start at $750 and can range upwards of $20,000. Your $750 gowns are your one-bedroom homes in a modest neighborhood, and your $20,000 gowns are your celebrity-dwelling mega mansions.
At House of White, our gowns range from $2,000 - $8,000, with the majority of our inventory being priced between $2500 - $4000. Our collection is considered mid-high end, which is consistent with most elevated bridal boutiques you’ll find across the country. Gowns on the lower end of the spectrum often mean lower quality fabrics and construction. The gowns on the highest end of the spectrum offer the highest level of fabrics, construction, and embellishment (and often come with a recognizable designer label).
What’s important to us at House of White is offering gowns that are worth their price tag, and are ethically made with quality construction. While we understand the lure of a bargain, just know that the working conditions and carbon footprints of low-end bridal production can be ghastly, which is why we always encourage buying vintage, designer samples, or second hand for luxury on a budget.
Another financial reality to remember before your gown search is the cost of alterations. Gone are the days of stores having ‘alterations included’ — it simply doesn’t exist anymore, and we caution anyone from taking advantage of ‘free’ alterations. This is one area where you undeniably get what you pay for, and you’ll never regret trusting a professional. Skilled tailoring is essential for any bridal gown, and generally adds an additional $300 - $1000 to the cost of your gown.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, allow us to offer some tips when it comes to budgeting for your bridal gown.
tip #1: establish where your gown ranks in your wedding budget
As a first step in wedding planning, we always recommend writing gown a list of ALL wedding expenses, and ranking them based on their importance to you. For some, the venue will be at the top of the list. For others, it will be the honeymoon, or photography, or a live band. For a lot of brides, the gown is definitely in the top 5. This list is subjective to everyone, which is why it’s not a list you can find in a Google search…it has to come from you. By ranking these items, you can plan to ‘splurge’ a little more for the things at the top of your list, while going for the budget versions of the items at the bottom. Trust us, this always helps in making sure you spend your wedding budget in a way that makes sense to you. Once you’ve done that, take a look at where “wedding gown” ranks for you. If it’s near the top, then plan to invest in a gown that you love! If your wedding gown is lower on your radar, then you can budget accordingly.
tip #2: establish who is paying for the gown
Before you step foot into a bridal store, you have to know how much you plan to spend. And in our experience, one can’t know the gown budget until they know WHO is paying for the dress. Are you paying for the gown yourself? Easy! Tell us your budget and let’s get started! However, if the gown is being paid for by a relative, parent, etc., some further logistical discussions must be had before you proceed. How much are they comfortable spending? Do they want to be present when you purchase your gown? Are they ok with you supplementing if you’d like to go over the budget they’ve established? All these questions should be discussed before you begin gown shopping, so there is no added stress or uncertainty to your special day.
Tip #3: book your bridal appointment with your budget in mind
It’s important to do a little bit of research into any bridal store prior to making an appointment, and ensuring they are compatible with your budget is a crucial step. If you mistakenly book with a store whose selection is lower quality than you’d like to spend, you’ll start off your search feeling frustrated and underwhelmed. If you book at a store whose inventory is more of an investment than your budget allows, you’ll risk not being able to try on anything — or worse — trying on something ‘for fun’ and falling in love with something that’s out of budget. We’ve seen it happen, and it’s never good. Do just a little bit of research and if necessary, simply call a boutique and ask for their price range upfront before booking.
tip #4: have your method of payment with you when you shop
Expect the unexpected when it comes to gown shopping. You may tell yourself “I’m just looking” and have no intention of purchasing, when low and behold you fall in love with a one-of-a-kind sample. Or maybe you just have an undeniable ‘moment’ in a gown and know without a doubt that you’re ready for your ‘yes’ moment. Nothing knocks the wind out of a once-in-a-lifetime moment quite like realizing you don’t have the payment method - or the person- needed to finalize your gown purchase. Come prepared and have those essential guests there, because you never know when your ‘yes’ moment might sneak up on you.
We encourage brides to reach out with any questions - we realize this is unfamiliar territory, and are always happy to provide a little clarity to calm your nerves. Happy Shopping!
House of White is an intimate bridal experience in the heart of Historic Newburgh, Indiana, just outside Evansville. For eleven years House of White has been a designer bridal shopping destination for brides from Indianapolis, Bloomington, Louisville, Bowling Green, Owensboro, St. Louis, Nashville, Cincinnati, and everywhere in between :)