Where can you find an off-the-peg designer wedding dress for under £500?
Thanks to Jenbug for sending us this challenge, which initially sounded completely scary considering the average bride in the UK shells out £826 on her dream dress. But once we started looking around we soon discovered thet there are many beautiful budget-friendly options around to choose from.
Firstly, keep in mind that there are many factors that go into the expense of a wedding dress. With a bespoke gown, you’re paying for the hours of work that go into the various stages of getting an exact fit, as well as extensive corsetry and hand-finished details such as beading and embroidery.
But I was genuinely amazed at the quality of some of the designer dresses I found, including the Elizabeth Emanuel range at Bhs, which are all priced at £495 (see pic above). I was equally impressed with the Star by Julian McDonald range at Debenhams (see right, for £200).
If I had my time again I may be inclined to splash the 500 quid on a gorgeous cream or white dress by a fabulous designer such as Vivienne Westwood or Philip Lim, which are both available from Selfridges. In fact, Selfridges stocks an excellent range of wedding-worthy frocks under £495 – keep an eye out for designers such as Malene Birger, Milly, Westwood Red Label, Maje, Tibi, Paul & Joe and Haute Hippie. A quick whirl around the shop floor also revealed some gorgeous cream or white options including a Vivienne Westwood Anglomania white cotton corset ribbed dress for £340 and a Marc by Marc Jacobs one-shouldered embroidered dress for £310.
The best thing about a ‘non-traditional’ wedding dress is that you could get more than one wear out of it – not to mention wearing a fabulous designer on your wedding day. Matches is also an excellent source for affordable designer frocks. This divine silk crepe shift by Freda would look ‘60s-style simple and chic for a city wedding – a total steal at £98. And I really like this flirty crochet dress by Diane von Furstenberg.
Then there is this heavenly Roksanda Ilincic silk satin gown (see right) from Net-a-porter.com, which is slightly over budget at £625, but still excellent value for your wedding day.
And although it may not be exactly “designer”, there are many stunning vintage wedding dresses that come in well under budget. I love the fabulous fifties wedding gowns from Love Miss Daisy, like this breathtaking ballerina-length dress with delicate ivory French lace for £390.
Tomorrow: our top six wedding dresses under £500.
All posts on this challenge
- Where can you find an off-the-peg designer wedding dress for under £500?
- Where can you find an off-the-peg designer wedding dress for under £500 [Part 2]
- Where can you find an off-the-peg designer wedding dress for under £500 [Part 3]
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I am all for getting wedding dresses for under £500 - I got an Amanda Wakely floorgrazer in the sale at Harrods for my wedding, but I wasn’t looking for white - which definitely made my life easier.
However - a word or two of warning about Selfridges. I booked a personal shopping session with them to look for a non weddingish wedding dress with a budget up to almost a thousand pounds and they were INCREDIBLY rude to me. The personal shopper suggested that I had made a terrible mistake in coming to see them, that they never did things like look for dresses and somehow I had slipped through the net. Eventually she brought me a couple of dresses which were pretty much unlike anything I’d asked for and too small to boot. When I said this - she said “I know…” I left in tears and felt totally humiliated.
Harrods on the other hand were a dream - even in sale time and they have a massive eveningwear section, so there was lots of choice.
Thank you very much BirdyMoola! You have inspired me to go on the hunt again for my wedding dress. After trying a couple of shops with an average of £1700 for a traditional dress I was going to leave it for a while. The Julian MacDonald range at bhs looks really exciting so will definately try on there. Not only am I on a budget but I’m also quite fussy because I’m a short bride! - but you’ve given me some great suggestions. ta!
In my reckoning, the best place to buy a wedding dress on a budget is… Oxfam!
Last year Oxfam opened special bridal shops around the country. I didn’t realise til I went that it’s NOT ropey second hand dresses but instead they’re all designer/high street donated end-of-season dresses at ridiculously low prices. Details & the gorgeous photoshoot here: http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shops/content/bridal.html
I went to the Leatherhead Oxfam & the woman was really professional & knew what she was doing but it wasn’t pressured selling from someone on commission. There were lots of different styles so at the very least you get to work out what you like even if you don’t decide to buy. If you do buy, the money obviously then goes to charity, which gives you an extra warm glow. There were shoes & accessories too.
I spent £250 on a beautiful two piece big skirted dress, a second dress for the evening which is more cocktail dress and an enormous beautifully embroidered veil!
Happy shopping!
ps: you need to book an appointment
Hi birdy, I know the challenge. I got engaged while living in Scotland, with a wedding for Sth Africa, so I needed something that could travel by plane and then also look good for the climate. I found mine at Monsoon on sale for 60 quid. My shoes on sale from Dune 20 quid, hair piece monsoon also sale and lingerie from La Sensa. All up I spent under 200 pounds. My jewellery I got in Sth Africa and was the most expensive pieces. All in all, I got a dream dress in silk and beautifully beaded. You can’t do that back here in Australia. Good finds!
I’d also say check out etsy for handmade, one-offs, custom designed and fitted to you! Just browsing their wedding section, there’s so many option for under £500! There’s always vintage too…
i bought my wedding dress on eBay… sounds terrible, but i was just googling the designer i liked - Alberta Ferretti - for some ideas about dress types, and up popped a delicate, floaty cream AF dress on eBay. i tried on similar ones in harrods for the size, and looked in the AF shop on sloane st (too scared to try anything on there!)… after a few days of wondering if i was crazy, i bought it. cost about £350. it was perfect.
Hi All - thanks for all your superb comments!
Lauren - nice win on eBay, well done. Your dress sounds just divine.
Fiona - thanks for the tip - I’ve been checking out Etsy and am working on a post featuring my top wedding dress picks.
Naomi - well done, Monsoon is another brilliant high-street source for evening and occasion wear.
Julietdh- absolutely love the idea of an Oxfam wedding dress. How truly clever and thrifty!
Jenbug - sounds like you’re on the right track - let us know how you go - and check out my top Etsy picks (coming soon!)
Fabhat - what an appalling experience, thanks for sharing with us!
I am looking for a wedding dress and I LOVE the one in the first picture on this post. Is there any way to find out where to get it?? Thank you so much.