Budget wedding dresses are growing in popularity – but is it the right option for you?
There’s no doubt that the UK’s budget bridal business is booming, with growing numbers of brides heading to the high street to choose their wedding dress.
The pros
While designer wedding dresses still remain popular with the vast majority of brides, there are those who are simply not comfortable visiting bridal boutiques to choose ‘The One’, and instead opt for the easier process of an off-the-shelf wedding dress.
It can save lots of time, lots of phone calls, lots of stress, and lots of money – which can be used to offer more champagne for the reception, or to pay for an impressive honeymoon!
Most importantly, budget bridal wear today is nothing like it used to be, in the days of scratchy satin dresses and poorly made fishtails.
While the new high-street gowns may be cheap, it doesn’t mean they are basic, with a wide choice of well-made and well-designed low-cost gowns available. For example, one high street chain has announced its unveiling of budget wedding dresses inspired by ‘historic wedding trends’.
Alongside the high-street offering, some online fashion stores are also joining the growing wedding market, with their own popular bridal collections. Indeed, one famous online retailer has launched a range of elegant dresses that includes Grecian-style gowns and caped ivory jumpsuits, along with tulle skirts and crop tops.
Also, there’s one up-and-coming designer who has hit on the idea of offering a budget wedding dress that is not only initial value for money but can be used time and time again for a variety of events and dos. The designer’s creations are for the ‘non-traditional bride’, which means the plunging necklines and lacy creations will look fantastic when they are worn again.
These low-cost stylish wedding dresses are an excellent choice for those who are thinking of heading overseas for their wedding, since they can also be an impressive honeymoon outfit.
The cons
High-street wedding dresses may not meet the needs of all brides-to-be, however.
While they may be reasonably priced and have a fitted bodice and deep neckline, the materials – while much better than in the past – are unlikely to be of the same, premium quality that a dress designer would use.
Many brides still want to invest time and money in a head-turning and unique outfit to help celebrate their special day, and for that there’s a lot to be said for choosing an excellent wedding dress designer.
The benefits of using a designer rather than a high-street shop will be apparent to those who want quality, style, and a timeless and impressive creation.
Nevertheless, the growth in budget wedding dresses shows no sign of abating as couples look to reduce the hefty cost of a wedding while still enjoying an artistic, contemporary look that meets their needs.
Pictured dress: £250 from ASOS Bridal
