Historically a wedding has been a perfect platform to display wealth; with an elaborate white wedding dress being the ultimate in extravagance, as an expensive item of clothing intended only for one use. Today, things have changed. While a traditional white wedding dress is still quite likely to be the most expensive item of clothing you ever buy, more and more brides are feeling the pressure to shop for their dream dress within a very tight budget.

The good news is that not only is this possible, it can also be a lot more fun than sticking to the so-called tradition of white or ivory (which, incidentally, dates only from Victorian times, before which wedding dresses came in a wide variety of colors).

Wedding dresses today can be exquisite creations, often made with amazing details and expensive materials and worth every penny of the massive price tag for those who are willing and able to pay it. But, for those who don’t have a bottomless bank account, there are other options equally worthwhile and beautiful, and a great deal more economical. Here we explore a few ways to make big savings while still looking fantastic on your big day.

Colored Wedding Dresses

Some brides are ignoring the relatively recent tradition of wearing pure white and adding a splash of color to their choice of dress.

While white and red, or ivory and black wedding dresses can also command a hefty price tag, there are also many options outside of specialist bridal collections that can draw the eye and make a big difference to the pocket. A red wedding dress, chosen from a prom or ballroom collection, or even from a more general retailer, can be incredibly beautiful and very striking. Green, blue and even black wedding dresses are also worth considering and if you are happy to shop around and keep and open mind the choice of colors become almost endless.

Secondhand Wedding Dresses

While is is less common these days for a mother to keep her own wedding dress to pass on to her daughter, as styles are changing all the time, a secondhand wedding dress is a viable option for those who are determined to stick with white and looking for a cheaper option. It need not have the feel of a hand-me-down either – the thought that your dress has history and that another bride has been happy and beautiful while wearing it can be a very cheering one.

How much you ultimately spend on your wedding dress, and where you buy it, is unimportant. Looking and feeling the best you can while you take that long walk down the aisle is. If you feel happy and confident in the choice you’ve made you can guarantee your guests and loved will share in your happiness.

If you are planning on a beach wedding this year then our key advice is to keep it simple and easy.  There are many different factors involved in a beach wedding including travelling abroad if you are doing it in a foreign country, and trying to organise wedding receptions with a far flung wedding planner, possibly in a different language.  There will also be the situation that the day could be very hot, so with that in mind try and keep the beach style wedding dress one of your easier and simpler decisions.

One of the more popular fabrics used in beach style wedding dresses is cotton.  Using cotton fabric means as a bride on the beach your skin can breathe a lot easier under the midday sun and heat.  Cotton beach style wedding dresses will mean you can relax and it’s also a very easy dress to chance out of – although in truth you will probably be able to party long into the balmy night wearing a cotton design.

Not only that, but think how easy it’s going to be transporting a cotton beach wedding dress abroad in your suitcase – a lot easier than an extravagant and heavy wedding dress I am sure you will agree!

In terms of the cut of a beach style wedding dress you will find that the options are a lot more casual than your standard home wedding with pomp and ceremony definitely taking a back seat to practicality and fun.  Nothing says this more than a themed beach wedding, for example somewhere in the Caribbean where bright floral and tropical colors are infinitely more preferable to the traditional white wedding dress so popular in Western culture.

Some of the better and more affordable beach style wedding dress designers on the bridal market are names such as Cymbeline USA and Ali Express.  You have probably already heard of Cymbeline who are a Paris bridal house with outlets globally.

Their 2011 collection contains two wedding dresses that are ideal for a beach wedding so if you do decide to look into them further then make sure you don’t miss out on the Hester, Essentia, and Elenore pieces this year.  All beautiful wedding gowns that are not in the traditional mould, made from lighter fabrics, and can be worn with no shoes making them ideal for a wedding on the beach.

If like many brides you are getting help from your bridesmaids in choosing a wedding dress, then you should also look at the Ali Express website if there are any other guests who need some inspiration.  They have a range of wedding guest dresses that are  also lightweight, casual, and affordable making them perfect for your dream beach wedding on the sand.

Choosing your Wedding Dress

Some might say the focal point of your entire wedding. You, wearing your wedding dress, is going to be the center of attention for much of the day (and night) so choosing the right wedding gown is an extremely important decision.

There are so many factors to consider when deciding on your wedding dress, but the most important things are:

Your wedding dress budget

There is no point falling in love with a Vera Wang orginal masterpiece if you only have a budget of $1000. So instead of putting yourself through the agony of lusting after designer wedding dresses which are totally unatainable, sort out how much you have to spend and only look at dresses in your price range. It will save so much heartache in the long run!

Your wedding theme

Depending on the theme and location of your wedding, some wedding dresses gowns are going to be more suitable than others. If you’re having a casual beach wedding then a gown with a 10 meter long cathedral train is not really practical, not saying you can’t have whatever dress you want, but imagine dragging all that fabric through the sand!

If you’re going for an elegant, modern wedding then a halter neck satin sheath gown might be a great idea. You must choose a wedding dress that suits your personality and fits in with your wedding theme.

Your body type

Unfortunately all wedding dresses are not created equally. There are about four main styles of wedding gowns, the empire, ballgown, sheath, mermaid. The empire and ballgown dresses are the most forgiving as your lower half is hidden in layers of fabric. However if you’ve got the figure to pull it off then sheath and mermaid gowns can look stunning!

The fabric

Traditionally a wedding dress is made from fabrics such as tulle, organza, satin and silk. There are so many variations to these fabrics and the same design bridal dresses can look completely different when made with each fabric, so always check with your dress maker or bridal shops what fabric is best for you.

Remember wedding dress shopping is supposed to be an enjoyable time and most of us only do it once so have fun!

If you don’t have a huge budget, you can find cheap wedding dresses online at sites such as Trade Me and E-Bay, in most cases the dresses are in brand new condition (since they have only been worn once!) and you can find amazing bargains on designer wedding dresses, sometimes at half the retail price!

Your Bridal Gown Style

Your bridal gown has a lot to live up to, as guests will be buzzing with excitement to see it. The perfect gown will accentuate your good points and minimize any flaws. It will also give you confidence, as well as being comfortable to wear and utterly gorgeous!

Petite and Slender

Empire-line dresses have a seam just below the bust and fall away to the floor. It’s a style that suits slim and smaller-busted women. A column dress with a high neck is a style that can be pulled off by those blessed with a slight figure. Steer clear of ball gowns, which can swamp a petite figure.

Untoned arms

If you feel self-conscious of your arms, don’t show them. Either opt for a bridal gown with full sleeves, or choose a sleeveless dress, but cover your arms with a pretty jacket, shrug or wrap for a hint of movie-star glamour.

Hourglass figure

Consider a halter-neck bridal gown, which gives the illusion of extending the shoulder line and balancing out the lower body. A two-piece works well if your bust is smaller than your hips. A bodice married with a ballerina-style skirt gives the figure a better proportion. Avoid straight or bias-cut designs, which magnify the hips and bottom.

Generous bust

A strapless bridal gown can look bewitching on a curvy figure, but you will need some extra support in the bust area. A V-shaped or scooped neckline (not too plunging) is also flattering. Avoid high necklines, which make breasts appear larger.

Womanly tummy

An A-line bridal gown if perfect. This style flares out from the waist and hides a multitude of sins! Many A-line dresses have vertical seams running from the top of the dress to the bottom, so there are no seams across the dress at the tummy area. Leave the beading to the upper part of your dress. Avoid bows or sashes around the waist, as they will only add bulk.

People go back and forth as to whether or not a bridal tiara is a “must wear” for the bride on her wedding day. Obviously, it is not an issue for the groom but it is a debatable topic for the bride. Some brides like to show off their hair and makeup without a bridal tiara. However, there are other brides who prefer the tiara because they think it will magnify their hair and makeup. And some just think  bridal tiaras are a vital and traditional hair piece and do not want to buck the tradition.

My wife, for example, wanted to wear a bridal tiara so after she bought her wedding dress she decided to find a tiara to match. Some brides, however, pick out their tiara before the dress. My wife thought that the wedding dress should take priority over the tiara so that is why she bought the dress first and the tiara second. However, the priority is at the discretion of the bride and all brides are different (not surprising, of course).

photo credit: euthman

When my wife and I attend weddings, we often find that the bridal tiara is worn by the bride during the pictures and during the ceremony. However, once the ceremony and the pictures are over, the tiara comes off during the reception. According to my wife, the bridal tiara is not the most comfortable wedding accessory on the planet, cheap bridal tiaras can be especially uncomfortable, so be aware of this when you are making your decision – you don’t want a thumping headache at your wedding reception caused by your head piece.

Nevertheless, we both view the bridal tiara as a traditional part of the bride’s wedding attire and are in full favor of her wearing it. However, it is important that the tiara conforms to the dress. If the wedding dress and the tiara do not fit like a glove, we recommend that it not be worn. When we say fit like a glove, we mean that the two must compliment each other. Just like the bride and groom!