Wedding Budget 101: What to Expect When Buying Your Dress

It’s no secret that picking out the perfect wedding dress is one of the best, most exciting, and fun parts of planning your wedding. However, before you can get to wear your gorgeous gown on your wedding day there’s a few things you need to know about when it comes to the costs of buying your wedding dress. Luckily for you, we’ve listed all the bits and bobs that you need to pay for when it comes to getting your dream dress! 

1) Firstly, before you’ve even tried a dress on you should expect to pay for your bridal appointment.

These appointments are often tailored to your preferences and the store will make you a priority – meaning the time and effort they spend on your appointment will be reflected in a fee. Most bridal boutiques charge per appointment and prices can vary depending on how busy the time of day is; after work and weekend appointments are often the most expensive slots. Although not all boutiques will charge, the average price for one of these appointments ranges between £30 - £50 but can be more expensive depending on the individual stores pricing. So, if you’re planning a weekend or afternoon of visiting a few dress suppliers you should expect to spend a minimum of £100.  You may also want to factor in the price of transport to fittings whether that’s train tickets or petrol money if you’ve got a bit of a distance to travel. 

2) Once you’ve found your dream gown and said yes to the dress, it’s time to pay for it!

Wedding dresses are around 7-15 times more expensive than most other dresses dependant on who the supplier is. According to Harpers Bazaar, the average cost of a wedding dress in 2017 in the UK is £1385. Again, this price is subject to variation depending on where you choose to purchase your dream wedding dress or if you choose to get one custom made. 

3) Next on the list is alterations!

Once you’ve visited the boutiques and picked your dress it is important to make sure it fits perfectly. Unless your dress is custom made then odds are it may need a little tweak here and there regarding size and fit. Alterations can go as far as to include fabric changes, colour changes, and even structural changes. For this reason, it can be hard to work out exactly how much alterations will cost. However, for most brides the average cost of alterations does tend to range between £110 - £530 (quite a big range, we know, but alterations is quite a broad area!)

4) If your dress is being ordered in or sent off for alterations it is important to remember the costs of shipping 

The average shipping price sits at around £20-£50 but again, this is subject to variation depending on the distance the dress has to travel and whether it is out for fast delivery. 

5) The low down on lingerie

It’s easy to think that once your dress has arrived then that’s you sorted and organised. However, what you’re wearing under your dress can be just as important. Depending on the style of your dress you may need to invest in appropriate lingerie; an adhesive bra for a backless dress, one with adjustable straps for certain designs, seamless underwear, and so forth; the list can go on for quite a while! It may seem obvious as well but it’s important to source lingerie in an appropriate colour; if your dress is white then stick to whites and nudes. So don't forget to factor in the cost of wedding dress lingerie as it is a pretty vital part of your wedding day ensemble. 

6) Don't forget the accessories

Once you’ve got all the dress details organised it’s important to remember the extra costs that go into wedding dress accessories other than jewellery. For lots of brides a veil is a wedding must have! If you’ve got your heart set on wearing a veil then the average UK price for one is around £115. If you’re planning an autumn or winter wedding it might be a good idea to think about purchasing a bridal shawl or jacket to go with your dress. High street brands such as Monsoon and M&S stock these for between £30-£120.  

So, there you have it! Some of the costs you need may want to think about when it comes to purchasing your wedding dress. However, remember that when it comes to what you wear on your big day that prices can vary greatly from supplier to supplier and not everyone has the same budget. Don’t be afraid to break from the norm and do your own thing; it’s totally up to you.