There are lots of tricks you can use to find items of choice at below retail value, and your wedding dress can be the best find of your whole planning experience!

Consider the following ideas to locate an inexpensive wedding dress:

* Heirloom: Your mother or grandmother may have a dress tucked away in an attic and would absolutely love for you to wear it. Perhaps they don’t mention it because they don’t want to offend you. Ask around and you may find an aunt or someone who knows of an heirloom dress you can make your own for no cost whatsoever. You can even spend a little money and have a seamstress update the dress’s look to suit you by removing the sleeves, for example, or adjusting the length.
* Auctions: Online auctions such as ebay, and local auctions you find by searching online or in the papers, can be a great source for cheap wedding dresses. Often women will want to recover a little of their investment after their special day, and you can get deep discounts on beautiful dresses. Once it’s been dry cleaned it will be as good as new, and you save lots of money for your other wedding expenses.
* Second hand or never-used: Local second-hand shops can be a great source. Set aside some time for sleuthing in your local shops, and put the word out to the salespeople about what you’re looking for. Often they will have something come in that you can work with and which will cost you very little. If you are in North America, your local craigslist, kijiji or backpage online classifieds can be a super source for a cheap and perfectly good wedding dress.
* Sample sales: Keep your eyes and ears peeled – many designers and wedding shops hold sample sales at the end of each season or once a year. These sales are a fantastic opportunity to acquire a new dress at a deep discount. Be prepared to go early and to shop until you drop, and be prepared for many other eager and possibly aggressive brides-to-be!
* Discontinued, damaged or returned dresses: Ask around at your local bridal shops. Let them know what you are looking for and that you are on a budget. They may have something that has been damaged but can be corrected by a seamstress, or perhaps something that is discontinued or has been returned and already altered (thus considered by them to be no longer saleable at retail).
* Friends or relatives: Put the word out among your friends and relatives. Maybe your best friend’s cousin’s best friend had her wedding last year and would LOVE to sell you or give you her dress. In this day of email and instant messaging, your request could go far and you may stand a good chance of finding something that will work for you, especially with a little tailoring.
* Non-traditional: ‘Fancy’ dress stores such as those which carry evening and cocktail dresses often carry dresses that would be suitable for a wedding. Cream, white or pale pastel gowns can be perfect for a wedding if paired with the right accessories, and can often be hundreds or even thousands less than what you would pay for a ‘true’ wedding dress in a bridal shop. Some of these stores and boutiques even carry traditional wedding dress styles that are very affordable.

This should get you started on your hunt for an inexpensive or cheap wedding dress. There is nothing wrong with wanting to save money on planning what can be a very expensive day. No one will know any different, but you can enjoy a smile to yourself knowing you have been smart about your money!

With so many different types of wedding dresses to choose from, in hundreds of different styles, colors and fabrics, how do you go about choosing the perfect wedding dress for that special once in a lifetime day? Picking the best dress for your wedding day can be a daunting task!

Firstly, the type of wedding that you are planning will often have the most influence on the dress you pick. If you are planning to have a traditional style of wedding, you may want to have a classic style of wedding dress, but something that will match your personality along with the theme of the wedding.

Secondly, the location of your wedding will have a big influence on your dress style. For example, if you are planning to get married on the beach in a tropical climate, it is important to have the right wedding dress. You may want something more simple and easy to wear when you are standing on a beach or by a swimming pool. Something along the lines of a sundress may work best for your special occasion. You will find that there are plenty of colors and lengths to choose from. You may want to stick with the white or off white, or you may want to add some color to your wedding day and choose a bolder looking dress. The lengths for the beach wedding dresses are different too. Think about whether you want to have a longer ankle length dress or if you want something that will be a little shorter. Something around the knee length may be more appropriate for your wedding day on the beach. It is important for you to feel good and stay cool in your wedding dress.

The time of year is another important factor in the style of dress you choose. If you are getting married in the middle of winter you will want to have something that will keep you warmer, perhaps by looking for something in a thicker material with long sleeves or a cape. There are many options for this style of wedding dress and you will want to take your time and choose one carefully.

If you are getting married in warmer months you may want to go for a strapless wedding gown. This is a choice that is risky for some women, but a perfect choice for others. The important thing is that you feel comfortable in your gown. Alternatively you may want to go for a backless wedding dress. This is a great idea that will be a perfect fit for many women. Some women may even want to go for a lower cut neckline so that they can show off a little cleavage. It is up to you to make the decision and be true to your personal style for your wedding dress. Do not be afraid to ask for what you want and to go for it. You only get married once and this is your day to be creative and to show off your style and personal taste.

Often a woman will not want to have the traditional white wedding gown. They will want to add some fun and color to their wedding and their dress is the perfect place to start. There is no law that states that a wedding dress has to be white! Some brides will feel more comfortable in a dress that is off white or pale pink. Others will want to have something a little bolder. They may want to have a yellow, blue or even red wedding dress. This is totally up to the bride and she should choose something that reflects her personality and flatters her figure. Make sure you visit a few different bridal shops, try on a wide selection of styles and colors and be sure to take your time in choosing the most important dress of your life!

The wedding is one of the oldest traditions and the wedding dress in its many styles can be traced back as far as the Pharaohs. Over the centuries the style of the wedding dress has changed many times but seems to be on a circular route with styles and colour coming back full circle over the course of time.

There have also been many different customs associated with the wedding dress, one being that in ancient times the guests would tear off a piece of the dress and keep it for good luck. The Greek still pin money to the brides wedding dress this being the wedding present. Queen Victoria marked a big change in the wedding dress when she married Prince Albert She chose to wear white symbolizing maidenhood and purity and this still continues today.

Probably the most important aspect of organizing a wedding and getting married is the Wedding Dress itself. Years ago the wedding dress was nearly always white signifying the purity of the bride.

Nowadays it can be of any colour and type according to the culture and desires of the bride. Having only recently been on the rounds of choosing a wedding dress with my future daughter in law, I was surprised at the huge array of wedding dresses on display in all colours and styles, plus the numerous shops available.. Good job the daughter in law had a fair idea of what type of wedding dress she was looking for as we could have been trawling around for years.

I found all the staff in the bridal shop very helpful and extremely patient, what with the endless trying on of dresses and the pure weight of the wedding dress I imagine it can all be very tiring. Having finally picked out two wedding dresses my daughter in law then picked a third wedding dress and now the test began. Along came a friend and between the two of us had to pick the wedding dress we thought was the best, fingers crossed we picked the correct one.

As luck would have we both chose the same wedding dress and it was the one daughter in law liked the best. Thank god for that, not sure what would have happened had we picked the wrong one. So the wedding dress is now ordered and we are waiting for the fittings to be done. I must say my experience of choosing a wedding dress was very pleasurable and was amazed and the sheer variety that was available.

The modern wedding has evolved and changed over the centuries, we now have so much choice church or registry office, tropical island beach or a Scottish castle that the wedding dress will be chosen according to the style of the wedding. The one thing that remains unchanged is the essential role that the wedding dress will play.