Category — Wedding Dress

Hobrias Sudoneighm

Been shopping for your wedding dress yet?

Finding “the” dress is one of the most exciting things about getting married.  It’s also ripe for the RIP OFF.  Literally.

The biggest rip off…

Most bridal shops remove the labels from designers wedding gowns. This is illegal, by the way…a label is required by law to designate the designer, manufacturer or distributor according to the Federal Trade Commission.  Check out their article, “Unveiling the Truth About Wedding Dresses.”

If the label’s missing when you try on a dress..the bridal shop is breaking the law.

Bridal shops started pulling this literal “rip off” to keep you from finding a dress you love in their shop and buying it cheaper from a discount store online.  Instead of figuring out how to compete with the discount outlets, they rip off the evidence.  Many bridal boutiques also forbid the use of cameras so you can’t identify it on your own later.

Anything to keep you enslaved to paying higher prices.

Unfortunately, without labels it’s impossible to know for sure if the designer dress you’ve chosen was truly made by that designer. Some shops even trick brides by selling them sample or used dresses when they paid full retail price for a brand new one.

So what can you do?

I reveal all the details about the wedding dress scams to avoid and how to find your designer dress at up to 92% off in my book.  But here are some ways to fight back…

• Don’t buy from the bridal shop.  You can almost always find a better deal on the exact same dress somewhere else.  Try ‘em on, learn what you love…and leave ‘em high and dry.
• Check the ID number.  Shops are permitted to remove the original label and replace it with a store label that identifies the designer, manufacturer or distributor by ID number.  Copy down the ID number on the tag (if there is one) and make sure the designer is who they claim on the FTC’s website in the RN Lookup Database.
• If they won’t tell you the designer…don’t buy from them.  Take detailed notes on the design of a dress you like, including the silhouette, neckline, length, etc. and locate it online.
• Never pay cash and always get a receipt.  Read your contract carefully and make sure it has all the specifics written in clearly.

Don’t get ripped off!  It’s up to you to protect yourself and make the most of your money so you can plan the wedding of your dreams.

If brides band together and so NO to wedding rip offs maybe those bridal shops will finally wise up and start giving brides the service they deserve.

Got a wedding dress story, good or bad?  Leave me a comment.

Taylor Swift’s dress in her “Love Story” video is to die for.  A touch of Renaissance mystique and a corseted waist that shows off her itty bitty figure.  Bitch.

Of course, her dress was custom made.  But that doesn’t mean you can’t steal the idea for your wedding.

Dress Like Taylor (yes, a whole website dedicated to imitating Ms. Swift’s fashion persona) suggests two dresses similar to the one she wears in the “Love Story” video.

How about this corseted medieval wedding dress from Medieval Bridal Fashions?

Medieval Bridal Fashions

Or this corset wedding dress fashioned after the Maggie Sottero design?

I love the corseted waists!  If you can handle not breathing all night, the look is stunning.  I’m far too practical to ever pull that off, but I can dream…

What’s your wedding inspiration?  Leave a comment.

Judith Green

Every time I pick up the newspaper RECESSION is blasted across the headlines.  And weddings…traditionally viewed as lavish, extravagant affairs…are getting a recession make-over.  Check out this New York Times article, “A Sale To Benefit Charity and Thrifty Brides-To-Be.”  You’ve gotta love the photo of the bride to be in the red and white beanie with blue horns and stars adjusting her “girls” as she tries on a dress.

Downsize.  Cutting back.  Budget.  Trim.

No matter what you call it, brides are doing it.  The deals to be had right now are phenomenal. You can learn how to take full advantage of these recession deals on wedding gowns in my book.  But for now, take some pointers from these thrifty brides.

Judith Green

One bride snagged an Emerald wedding gown that originally sold for over $1,000 for only $250.  Another bought her dress for only $80.

How do you pull it off?

1)  Know what you want first. Surf photo galleries of wedding gowns on the internet, clip pictures from magazines.  Visit a few stores to try on dresses…shopping for options and not to buy…until you have an idea of the style you like.

2)  Shop the sample and bargain basement sales. Filene’s Basement started the original “Running of the Brides” blowout bridal sale in 1947 and bridal boutiques have been copying them ever since.  Designer dresses typically start at $250 at these marathon events.

Take a cue from thrifty brides and bring a posse with you if you attempt a sample sale.  One person to hold the dresses, one to find the right size, and one to run interference.

Sign up for a free account at Top Button to locate the sample sales near you or try these other sites to locate sample sales.

3)  Visit a consignment shop in an upscale neighborhood. Consignment shops only accept perfect or near perfect items and you can locate one in your area at this link.

4)  Browse the selection at local thrift shops, the Salvation Army and Goodwill.  Beware of damaged dresses, as thrift shop quality typically isn’t quite as high.  Contact them to find out if they’re planning to hold their own bridal event.

5)  EBAY! If you know what you want you can find it at deep discounts here.

6)  Buy used dresses online from Preowned Wedding Dresses or BridePower.

Whatever you do, know that you DON’T have to pay $2,000+ for the wedding gown of your dreams.  Find the option that works for you and work it girl!

How did you snag your designer dress at a discount?  Leave me a comment and share the knowledge.

According to these numbers, 78.53% of couples are paying for the wedding dress themselves. Gone are the days when Mom and Pop picked up the tab.  In fact, one of my brides pointed out that her parents specifically DID NOT want to pay for her gown.  “We think you should be paying for that, honey,” they said.

Another helpful stat provided by The Wedding Report.

Let’s focus on the positives, shall we?

1)  This puts YOU are in charge of the dress.  You get to spent what you want on exactly what you want.

2)  You get to be as traditional or non-traditional as you like…without getting flack from anyone else.

3)  The gowns discount available on a wedding dress is HUGE.  You can save up to 95% on a designers wedding gown.

“Woah.  Run that by me again, girlfriend.”

Yes.  You CAN save up to 95% on a designers wedding gown.

That’s a lot of money!  And because you’re paying for your dress, it’s up to you to find out HOW.

I’ve talked about some of the easy ways to save on your wedding dress here and here.

QUICK NOTE:  If you’re ready to learn exactly what to say and do to save the MAXIMUM on the designer wedding dress of your dreams…you owe it to yourself to read The $10,000 Dream Wedding.  And download my free special report, “The Bride’s Secret Weapon” to get an unfair advantage that will literally compel wedding vendors to give you discounts.  READ IT.

Michael Bucker/Getty Images

Did you check out the Oscars?  It was all about WHITE…dresses for wedding inspiration and maybe a twinge of jealousy.

From goddess chic to voluptuous curve-hugging gowns…princess ballroom dresses and sequines…mermaid cuts and A-lines…from classic ivory to champagne and metallics…a vertiable feast for a bride’s eyes.

Nina Callaway put together a terrific gallery of White Wedding Dresses At the Oscars.

This is my favorite by Tina Fey…most likely because I’m a huge fan.  She’s smart and sexy, sassy with ruthless wit and self-depreciating humor.  And she absolutely rocks this metallic number.

It also reminds me of the only wedding…the only wedding in hundreds that I’ve attended…where the bride DID NOT wear a white/ivory/champagne wedding gown.

This bride chose a silk wedding gown in soft lavender gray that clung to her curves.  She was absolutely ravishing.  It was sort of like this in a silvery tone, with a bit more up top, but the same elegance…

I still remember it to this day…

So if you’ve got an urge to buck the white trend, take your cues from the Oscars.  It’s a room stopper.

What’s your favorite Oscar inspiration?

Did you know there is a completely legitimate, legal way to write off the entire cost of your wedding dress?

Yes, you read that correctly.

Donating your wedding dress to a charity after the wedding lets you write off the entire retail cost on your taxes.

You might have done this in the past with the clothes you donate to the Salvation Army, but few brides ever think of doing this with their wedding dress.  When you make the donation, the organization signs a form verifying your donation…and you get to write off the entire retail cost of the dress.

Wait…it gets better.

If you donate your wedding dress to Brides Against Breast Cancer, you’ll assist another bride in affording the dress of her dreams, help cure breast cancer and get that killer write off on your taxes.

Brides Against Breast Cancer resells used and new donated wedding gowns to brides across the United States.  Find a Brides Against Breast Cancer charity gown sale in your area on the website.

These aren’t all used dresses.  Many of them are designer samples and discontinued gowns that have been donated by boutique shops across the country.

This is only ONE of the little known write offs for your wedding that I reveal in my eBook, The $10,000 Dream Wedding.

Have a wedding write off story?  Leave a comment.

Photo by Julie Ray

There’s no question that David’s Bridal has risen to the top of the stack (or the top of the search engines, at any rate) when it comes to selling elegant wedding gowns for less.

But the gossip and rumor about DB seems to be unending.  Some brides swear to god they’ve found both great bargains and great treatment…others just swear and spread their list of complaints.

What’s the truth about David’s Bridal?

The Pros:

• You CAN find a great gowns discount.  They run frequent specials with dresses that start at only $99.  Will this fool you into thinking it’s a designer gown?  No.  Will you still look beautiful if you choose the right style?  Yes.
• One stop shopping for inexpensive wedding gowns and all the trimmings.  Check out these four wedding gowns looks including accessories from head to toe for under $800.
• When you register on the website, you get entered into a contest to win a free wedding dress in a monthly drawing.  You can opt NOT to receive any offers and promotions, but I still recommend creating a specific “wedding” email account with Gmail or Yahoo.  (Unless you want tons of spam, this is highly recommended for all your wedding related email inquiries.)
• Accessories, favors and invitations are available all in one place, many at reasonable prices.  They even have green wedding favors.

The Cons:

• Service varies from store to store.  Some get great reviews…others don’t.
• Alterations are not included in the price.  Most brides recommend hiring an independent local seamstress to minimize the stress.
• You can get lured in by the $99 dress deal…and end up spending A LOT more on various accessories and “upsells.”

The Verdict:

Like anything else, YOU have to decide what’s right for you.  If you’re dying for a couture designer wedding gown…this probably isn’t the place for you.  If you’re looking for an affordable option on a great dress…check it out.

Do your research.  Have an idea of what you like…and what you can spend…BEFORE you go to DB.  Have a definite plan of action.  Being a smart bride means being a prepared bride. I teach you exactly what to do and say to snag your dream dress for less in my eBook.

What’s your take on the debate?  Leave me a comment.

It’s official.  It is now COOL to buy a used wedding dress.

Check out this article to find out how brides are purchasing “preowned,” “once worn” or “lightly loved” gowns and savings hundreds…and sometimes thousands…of dollars.

Remember how I said being a frugalista or recessionista would be cool?  The time has come.

Ultra extravagance is out.  Cheap and chic is in.  Reduce, reuse, recycle.  Even “the” dress.

Designers wedding gowns can cost up to $10,000 or more.  But even these high end couture gowns discount 25-50% off retail price.

Examples of how smart, savvy brides are saving:

PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com - One bride saved $1600 on the gown of her dreams by buying a used wedding dress.

Bride Chat Rooms - Another bride browsed the WeddingBee classifieds and found the wedding dress (a Jim Hjelm, original cost $3,100) in her exact size for only $1240.

Craigslist - One bride bought TWO wedding dresses.  Total cost: $300.

Encore Bridal - Sells sample, new and used wedding dresses that are not more than three years old for 30-60% off gowns discount.

Renting Dresses - Some brides are even renting dresses from bridal salons.

BrideToBrideBoutique - Used wedding dresses and bridal accessories at wedding discount prices.

Ebay.com - Buying used wedding dresses and designer dresses direct from the manufacturer for a discounted price.

Back in the day, brides would never even think of admitting that they walked down the aisle in a used wedding dress.  But today…it gives you bragging rights.

What do you think about wearing a used wedding dress?  Leave me a comment.

Is it possible?  Could it be?

At PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com, you can buy and sell preowned and sample sale dresses.

It works like this:

1) Search the selection of dresses designer, size, silhouette, neckline, size and/or location.

2) Email the seller for details and arrange the purchase.

3) There are no fees to the buyer and it’s recommended to protect yourself through a service like PayPal.com or Escrow.com.

But what if you can’t quite stomach the idea of a used wedding dress?  (Uh, gag!  What if they got divorced?)

There IS an alternative to snagging a second-hand wedding dress.

BridePower.com.

Cool name, huh?  Very empowering.

At BridePower.com you can search over 1600 dresses by designer, silhouette and neckline.  These dresses are wedding gown samples and overstocks.  They’re a REAL business with an actual, physical store, and an excellent reputation.

One bride was able to snag a perfect Carolina Herrara dress for only $400!

If you know what you want, this could be the path for you.

How did you find your wedding dress?  Leave me a comment.

Photo by Devin Young

I was looking at designer wedding dresses the other day…just for fun…and came across something that made me really MAD.

A very famous wedding designer site (which shall remain nameless) made the following statement:

“We recommend not purchasing on the internet…Buying gowns on the Internet for a discount is a gamble.  We support full service brick and mortar bridal salons because we know they will provide you with the service you deserve and the product you expect.

Purchasing from an unauthorized retailer on the Internet presents many problems including the following reported issues:

• Receiving the incorrect size gown.
• Receiving the incorrect color gown.
• No support through the unauthorized website retailer you purchased the gown through.
• A gown being damaged in the shipping process.
• Losing money to a website that has gone out of business.”

I’M FUMING!

It’s fairly common knowledge that most designer gowns, even the “custom-made” gowns, are manufactured in China for a fraction of what it would cost to make in the United States.  Translation: HIGH MARK-UP before it even gets to the U.S.  Then, those designer wedding gowns are sold to warehouse distributors (ANOTHER MARK-UP) before being sold to bridal shops (THIRD MARK-UP) where they are sold to brides (FOURTH MARK-UP.)

The mark-up on designer gowns sold by bridal shops is 100% to cover the costs of rent for the shop, heat, and all the other overhead for the business.  It’s justified as a way to make a living according to this article at HubPages.com.

Hey, I’ve got nothing against making a profit.  But for a designer to say that buying off the internet is more of a gamble than purchasing at “brick and mortar” bridal salons is a CROCK.

There are risks, sure.  But if you’ve been around the wedding industry block a few times, you won’t go far before finding the exact same complaints–ordering the wrong dress, wrong color, no service, damaged gown, bridal salon going out of business–about those same precious “brick and mortar” establishments.

Who do they think they’re kidding?  Buying your wedding gown on the internet is a SMART OPTION that reaps huge discounts when you buy from a reputable seller.  By cutting out the middle-man, you cut out the mark-up, which is what makes those discounts possible.

Who do you think is paying the designer top prices?  Yep, those “brick and mortar” (or vinyl-siding, cheap facade) bridal salons.  So isn’t it in the designers best interest to scare brides away from discounted internet purchases…and keep lining their pockets with the cash of poor brides like you?

It really ticks me off!

Fortunately, I know the truth.  And I’d love to dish out all those secrets they don’t want you to know about saving on the designers wedding dress of your dreams in my eBook.

Has the wedding mark-up got you fuming?  Leave me a comment.