Why do wedding dresses cost thousands of dollars? This is a topic that we hear a lot in our bridal shop and we are happy to be able to share important information to brides as they begin their wedding dress shopping and are trying to research the cost of bridal dresses.
If you are a newly engaged bride-to-be and have begun researching wedding dresses, you might experience a bit of sticker shock. If you are early in your wedding planning, you are likely having budget discussions with your fiancé and have to consider how much you will spend on your wedding overall and your wedding dress as well. We recently shared our tips about setting a wedding dress budget and why spending thousands on your wedding dress is worth it, especially when you are only going to wear your bridal dress once. If you have not shopped for a wedding dress before, you might not know where to set your bridal fashion budget or why certain wedding dresses are priced the way they are.
If you are not sure where to set your wedding dress budget, you are in the right place as we are going to delve into why wedding dresses cost what they do and why investing in your wedding dress is worth it. We always say that it is important to do your research and fully understand what the dollar buys you when it comes to your wedding dress, so we're happy to be able to share this helpful information on wedding dress pricing that we deal with everyday in our bridal store. We want you to have a stress-free wedding planning experience with all of the information that you need to make informed choices for your wedding day. Above all, we want you to feel as amazing as you deserve to feel on your wedding day!
Video: The Real Reason Why Wedding Dresses Cost Thousands of Dollars
If you are beginning to shop for your wedding dress, you might be wondering how much wedding dresses cost and what an ideal dollar amount is to budget for your wedding dress. Tune in to our latest bridal expert advice video to learn the real reason why wedding dresses cost thousands of dollars.
You Get What You Pay For
In the simplest terms, like most things in life, you get what you pay for when it come to wedding dresses and bridal gowns. While you could certainly find a bridal dress to wear for your wedding for under $1,000, it is not going to be what you traditionally think about for bridal fashion. It’s not going to be a wedding dress that has a lot of layers or volume or a long train. Even if you are not the most "over-the-top" bride, you have probably thought about what you would wear on your wedding day at least once in your life, and whether it was a dramatic ball gown or a more fitted style, it likely had a train in your imagination. A train can really elevate a dress and make it definitely "bridal." That is a main element that sets a wedding dress apart from an evening gown.
Not every bride is going to be able to spend $5,000 or $10,000 on their wedding dress and you certainly don’t have to do that to be a happy bride. But you do need to understand what the dollar buys you in the bridal fashion world before you can begin bridal dress shopping or setting a wedding dress budget. There is a reason that wedding dresses typically cost thousands of dollars.
Materials and Construction
The main reason why wedding dresses cost thousands of dollars comes down to materials and construction. The amount of material, boning, and structure that is in these dresses is a main factor as to why wedding dresses are priced the way they are. Material can be anything from lace to satin to silk to tulle and more. Add in embellishment details such as beading, sparkle, or lace and the price is going to reflect that as well. No matter where you decide to shop for your wedding dress, at the end of the day, you will get what you pay for.
If you want a wedding dress that has a lot of layers in the skirt and a lot of detail and embellishment, that is going to make the cost of the bridal dress go up. If the wedding dress has hand sewn fabric or hand beaded embellishments or draping done by hand, that will increase the cost of the wedding dress. Even when you compare clean or sleek (minimal style) satin or silk bridal dresses without any details, you will see price differences in a gown that is 100% silk or 100% polyester or even a blend of fabrics. The amount of material being used for each wedding dress impacts the cost. The structure of a bridal gown also plays a role in the price. If you opt for a wedding dress that has say a corset top with a lot of boning and structure, that is more labor in creating that structure as well as materials to create the design.
The fabric choices, the level of construction, the amount of detailing, all factor into the final price of a wedding dress. If there is less labor in creating the bridal gown, the cost will not be as much as other dresses that involve a lot of hand sewn or detailed elements.
Seeing Is Believing
In order to really understand the differences in wedding dresses, you need to see the bridal dresses in person. It really helps to see the dresses to touch them and experience the detail up close. Once you start shopping and trying on different dresses in varying styles and price points, you will better be able to understand what you are willing to invest in your bridal fashion.
When you begin trying on dresses in person in a bridal shop, you will start to identify what you like about certain dresses and how they move and feel and that will narrow down what you should budget for your wedding dress. You really have to see the fabrics and detailing in person to understand the varying price points any wedding dresses cost thousands of dollars.
For Budget Brides
Perhaps you are a more simple, minimalist bride who is not overly concerned with elaborate details on their wedding dress or having a long train or a lot of layers of fabric in their dress skirt for a dramatic look. That is totally fine and you will have no problem finding a simple, not fussy wedding dress to suit your tastes.
If you are a bride who dreams of a more traditional wedding dress that does have the embellishments or a long train, but you find yourself on a budget, then shopping a wedding dress sample sale may be a good option for you. Bridal stores often have a selection of their inventory available for sale as they have to make room for newer wedding dress collections. These sample dresses are “used” in the sense that they are the gowns other brides have tried on when shopping for their wedding dress, but have not been worn on a wedding day. You can get a designer wedding dress at a discount this way, so you might be able to get that more elaborate wedding dress you dream of but in your budget range.
These sample wedding dresses will have some signs of wear as brides have tried them on and worn them around the bridal store, but generally speaking, bridal stores want to keep their inventory looking as nice as possible. The condition of the dress will be reflected in the price, so if you are a bargain shopper, a bridal store sample sale can be a great way to get a top quality bridal dress at a discount. You will want to ensure the sample size will work for your body and will work for alterations because the exact wedding dress you see in store is what you will be taking home with you if you decide to purchase a sample dress.
More Helpful Wedding Dress Shopping Advice
We hope you have found this advice helpful when it comes to understanding why wedding dresses cost thousands of dollars and how they are priced. For even more helpful advice when it comes to shopping for your dream wedding dress and finding your bridal style, be sure to check out our past posts:
- How Much Do Wedding Dresses Cost?
- The Truth About Setting A Wedding Dress Budget
- Why Spending Thousands On Your Wedding Dress Is Worth It
- The Difference Between Wedding Dress Sample Sales & Trunk Shows
About Lovella
If you're shopping for your perfect wedding dress, come visit us at Lovella Bridal in Glendale, CA. We carry wedding dresses in all sizes and styles, including plus-size bridal gowns and a full selection of veils and accessories. Lovella Bridal is the premier, luxury bridal wedding dress shopping boutique located in Los Angeles, California. Lovella features couture, feminine, modern and chic bridal gowns in all sizes from the best wedding dress designers. Schedule an appointment to find the wedding dress of your dreams at Lovella Bridal. We can't wait to help you!
About Wedding Fashion Expert
Our wedding dress shopping tips and advice are from Nayri, Lovella's own, in-house wedding fashion expert. Nayri is truly the expert when it comes to bridal fashion and wedding style. As the Wedding Fashion Expert, Nayri is the top bridal fashion stylist and the best-selling author of the book "I'm Getting Married And I Have Nothing To Wear," the ultimate guide to helping brides find their wedding day style and their perfect wedding dress. You can subscribe to her YouTube channel or listen to her podcast for more helpful and practical advice on wedding dress shopping.
