Bargain Shopping for Your Wedding Dress Continued
Bargain Shopping for Your Wedding Dress and Accessories
Part 2
by Kim McMullen, Something Spectacular Custom Floral Design
Consignment bridal boutiques have become extremely popular over the past few years and are another option for locating bridal attire and accessories at budget prices. Generally consignment boutiques accept only new or previously worn wedding dresses of current style in good condition, and previously-worn items must be dry-cleaned before they are accepted. Items in the store are consigned (on loan) to the store for a set amount of time and a consignment or listing fee is paid to the store by the individual seller. If the items sell, the consignment wedding dress shop gets a percentage of the selling price. If the items do not sell within a set period of time (generally 60 to 120 days), the seller picks up the bridal items.
Consignment shops can be a good, one-stop shopping solution for brides on a budget as they generally carry a large variety of sizes, styles, colors of wedding dresses , and matching accessories. Many of the larger bridal consignment boutiques have their own seamstresses so alterations and pressing can be done at the shop just like full-service bridal salons.
Another excellent way to bargain shop for bridal wedding dresses and accessories is online through the internet. The internet is a very powerful tool and can connect you with thousands of sellers. There are a number of websites dedicated to selling bridal attire and wedding items. Sites such as www.nearlynewbridal.com, www.bridesmade.com, and www.ebay.com offer thousands of items. Sellers range from brides with new or used items, bridal stores from all over the world with samples or discontinued gowns, and manufacturers with overstocks. Often, you can find brand new, never worn, never altered, gowns and accessories for sale at less than half the original price. There are many bargains to be found, and all it takes is a little online research.
If you already know the brand and style of wedding dress you desire, you can perform internet searches for online retailers and discounters who may have in stock (or can order) your gown for a discounted price. Average online discount bridal shops can save you up to 25% off salon prices because many are strictly on-line businesses and do not have the overhead costs of running a store-front, bridal salon. Many local full-service salons are losing business to internet bridal retailers because they have difficulty competing with the deep discounts, therefore, you may have noticed paid articles in bridal magazines discouraging brides from purchasing wedding dresses online. As long as your expectations are that ordering a wedding dress from an online bridal retailer means that your dress will arrive packaged in a small box, will be wrinkled from the packing, need pressing before wear, and any alterations will need to be done by a local tailor or seamstress, you won’t be disappointed.
Another way to use internet research to locate bargain bridal bargains is to perform searches for any outlet stores that carry the brands of wedding dresses and accessories you seek. For example, the author of this article saw the wedding gown of her dreams in an online auction listing. However, the gown was too small and the seller did not have a larger size. Unfortunately the gown had been discontinued and all boutiques shipped their leftover merchandise to the manufacturer’s outlet store. Success came with a call to the cross-country outlet. The wedding dress was available in the correct size, available in two colors, and the price of each dress was only $44! Not a bad price considering the gown originally sold for $799 in the boutiques. Since the price was so low and the author was unsure of the best color, two gowns (one of each color) were ordered. The ivory gown was chosen for the wedding and the white gown was quickly resold online to another bargain-seeking bride.
If you are looking for something in particular and are having difficulty locating it or need to find it in a hurry, some online sites such as www.nearlynewbridal.com also offer a feature where you can place free, online “Wanted” ads for the item(s). Sellers with items that fit your description can then contact you by e-mail to send information and photos. Local newspapers and trading publications also offer free or low cost “want ads” that you may want to consider. Too, check out their “For Sale” listings. You never know what you might find. Several years ago, a friend found her $1000 dream dress for $200 in a “Trading Times” style publication.
Other places to find bridal bargains include thrift stores, swap meets, and yard sales. Often the bridal merchandise found in these outlets are older in style, however, if you’re looking for a vintage gown you could easily find the perfect gown and accessories for an amazing price. Too, if you have chosen to make your gown or if you purchased a very basic gown in need of embellishments, you could recognize a significant savings by utilizing fabric, lace, beading, and buttons from low cost wedding dresses found at thrift outlets and yard sales. The fabric and embellishments can also be used to make a number of wedding accessories including ring pillows, flower girl dresses, wedding favors, etc. Also check with friends and relatives to see if they have any wedding attire or accessories to give, loan, or sell.
One more option for locating bargain bridal items is checking with your bridal service vendors. Often bridal consignment shops start out as other service vendors such as florists, photographers, and bridal consultants. Over years of doing business, the vendors often expand their businesses to encompass consigning various bridal and wedding items. Even if your vendors have not yet officially branched out, they may have items they are displaying for their clients and past clients. It is not uncommon for clients to ask vendors to help them sell items or pass along sales referrals, particularly if a wedding is cancelled or if the event was very expensive and the bride and groom would like to recoup some of the costs.
One thing to remember about bargain shopping is that to realize significant savings, you often cannot try on the gowns (particularly if shopping online, by phone, through a newspaper, or at a yard sale, swap meet, or thrift store). Since sizes vary greatly by manufacturer, it is imperativeto know your exact body measurements -- particularly, your bust, waist, and hip measurements as well as an accurate measurement of your height. When measuring your height, keep in mind the heel height of the shoes you’ll be wearing. Most new, unaltered gowns are made to fit brides up to 5’11” and 6”. Utilize actual measurements as the most reliable way to determine fit. If you are looking at a wedding dresses advertised online, ask the seller for both wedding dress size and gown measurements. If you’re looking at a gown at a yard sale or thrift store, carry a tape measure with you to measure the gown’s measurements.
Bargain shopping for your bridal attire and accessories can be both financially and emotionally rewarding. Throughout your search, you need to stay focused on the end result – a feeling of pride and accomplishment as well as a sense of satisfaction for finding the perfect gown and accessories for the best price. Stay focused on the excitement of your search and let it drive you forward. Your search should be fun, adventurous, energizing, and enjoyable. Good luck and happy bargain hunting!
Kim McMullenSomething Spectacular, Custom Floral Design
located in Warren, Michigan.586-778-4624
Part 2
by Kim McMullen, Something Spectacular Custom Floral Design
Consignment bridal boutiques have become extremely popular over the past few years and are another option for locating bridal attire and accessories at budget prices. Generally consignment boutiques accept only new or previously worn wedding dresses of current style in good condition, and previously-worn items must be dry-cleaned before they are accepted. Items in the store are consigned (on loan) to the store for a set amount of time and a consignment or listing fee is paid to the store by the individual seller. If the items sell, the consignment wedding dress shop gets a percentage of the selling price. If the items do not sell within a set period of time (generally 60 to 120 days), the seller picks up the bridal items.
Consignment shops can be a good, one-stop shopping solution for brides on a budget as they generally carry a large variety of sizes, styles, colors of wedding dresses , and matching accessories. Many of the larger bridal consignment boutiques have their own seamstresses so alterations and pressing can be done at the shop just like full-service bridal salons.
Another excellent way to bargain shop for bridal wedding dresses and accessories is online through the internet. The internet is a very powerful tool and can connect you with thousands of sellers. There are a number of websites dedicated to selling bridal attire and wedding items. Sites such as www.nearlynewbridal.com, www.bridesmade.com, and www.ebay.com offer thousands of items. Sellers range from brides with new or used items, bridal stores from all over the world with samples or discontinued gowns, and manufacturers with overstocks. Often, you can find brand new, never worn, never altered, gowns and accessories for sale at less than half the original price. There are many bargains to be found, and all it takes is a little online research.
If you already know the brand and style of wedding dress you desire, you can perform internet searches for online retailers and discounters who may have in stock (or can order) your gown for a discounted price. Average online discount bridal shops can save you up to 25% off salon prices because many are strictly on-line businesses and do not have the overhead costs of running a store-front, bridal salon. Many local full-service salons are losing business to internet bridal retailers because they have difficulty competing with the deep discounts, therefore, you may have noticed paid articles in bridal magazines discouraging brides from purchasing wedding dresses online. As long as your expectations are that ordering a wedding dress from an online bridal retailer means that your dress will arrive packaged in a small box, will be wrinkled from the packing, need pressing before wear, and any alterations will need to be done by a local tailor or seamstress, you won’t be disappointed.
Another way to use internet research to locate bargain bridal bargains is to perform searches for any outlet stores that carry the brands of wedding dresses and accessories you seek. For example, the author of this article saw the wedding gown of her dreams in an online auction listing. However, the gown was too small and the seller did not have a larger size. Unfortunately the gown had been discontinued and all boutiques shipped their leftover merchandise to the manufacturer’s outlet store. Success came with a call to the cross-country outlet. The wedding dress was available in the correct size, available in two colors, and the price of each dress was only $44! Not a bad price considering the gown originally sold for $799 in the boutiques. Since the price was so low and the author was unsure of the best color, two gowns (one of each color) were ordered. The ivory gown was chosen for the wedding and the white gown was quickly resold online to another bargain-seeking bride.
If you are looking for something in particular and are having difficulty locating it or need to find it in a hurry, some online sites such as www.nearlynewbridal.com also offer a feature where you can place free, online “Wanted” ads for the item(s). Sellers with items that fit your description can then contact you by e-mail to send information and photos. Local newspapers and trading publications also offer free or low cost “want ads” that you may want to consider. Too, check out their “For Sale” listings. You never know what you might find. Several years ago, a friend found her $1000 dream dress for $200 in a “Trading Times” style publication.
Other places to find bridal bargains include thrift stores, swap meets, and yard sales. Often the bridal merchandise found in these outlets are older in style, however, if you’re looking for a vintage gown you could easily find the perfect gown and accessories for an amazing price. Too, if you have chosen to make your gown or if you purchased a very basic gown in need of embellishments, you could recognize a significant savings by utilizing fabric, lace, beading, and buttons from low cost wedding dresses found at thrift outlets and yard sales. The fabric and embellishments can also be used to make a number of wedding accessories including ring pillows, flower girl dresses, wedding favors, etc. Also check with friends and relatives to see if they have any wedding attire or accessories to give, loan, or sell.
One more option for locating bargain bridal items is checking with your bridal service vendors. Often bridal consignment shops start out as other service vendors such as florists, photographers, and bridal consultants. Over years of doing business, the vendors often expand their businesses to encompass consigning various bridal and wedding items. Even if your vendors have not yet officially branched out, they may have items they are displaying for their clients and past clients. It is not uncommon for clients to ask vendors to help them sell items or pass along sales referrals, particularly if a wedding is cancelled or if the event was very expensive and the bride and groom would like to recoup some of the costs.
One thing to remember about bargain shopping is that to realize significant savings, you often cannot try on the gowns (particularly if shopping online, by phone, through a newspaper, or at a yard sale, swap meet, or thrift store). Since sizes vary greatly by manufacturer, it is imperativeto know your exact body measurements -- particularly, your bust, waist, and hip measurements as well as an accurate measurement of your height. When measuring your height, keep in mind the heel height of the shoes you’ll be wearing. Most new, unaltered gowns are made to fit brides up to 5’11” and 6”. Utilize actual measurements as the most reliable way to determine fit. If you are looking at a wedding dresses advertised online, ask the seller for both wedding dress size and gown measurements. If you’re looking at a gown at a yard sale or thrift store, carry a tape measure with you to measure the gown’s measurements.
Bargain shopping for your bridal attire and accessories can be both financially and emotionally rewarding. Throughout your search, you need to stay focused on the end result – a feeling of pride and accomplishment as well as a sense of satisfaction for finding the perfect gown and accessories for the best price. Stay focused on the excitement of your search and let it drive you forward. Your search should be fun, adventurous, energizing, and enjoyable. Good luck and happy bargain hunting!
Kim McMullenSomething Spectacular, Custom Floral Design
located in Warren, Michigan.586-778-4624
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