DC Wedding Planning - Wedding Dress Cost
Our DC Wedding Blog attempts to answer the most frequently asked questions about Wedding and event planning. Since most folks have little experience planning a Washington DC Wedding or corporate event, the questions are often about costs.
As an award-winning Wedding DJ in Washington DC serving both the DC Metro area as well as Northern VA, our passion is helping couples have the best experience possible and to be an asset in all facets of wedding planning. Our DC Wedding Blog is designed to provide localized answers to your questions.
What’s the average cost of a wedding dress?
For some brides, the best part of planning a wedding is picking out the perfect wedding dress. This enjoyable and unique once in a lifetime shopping trip can also be a bit daunting depending on your taste and your wedding budget. After all, like many other aspects of planning a wedding, the perfect dress can be a considerable expense.
We went to Wedding Wire to determine what the average bride spends on a wedding dress in the Lancaster PA, Baltimore MD, and Washington DC markets that we serve.
Maryland Average Cost = $1,564
Pennsylvania Average Cost = $1,781
Virginia Average Cost = $1,458
Washington DC Average Cost = $1,682
West Virginia Average Cost = $1,204
If you’d like to see how this compares to other states here is a handy link to see what others are spending: The Average Price of a Wedding Dress in Every State.
What factors impact the price of a wedding dress?
Details – A dress with lots of beading on intricate details will cost more than a simpler dress.
Fabric – Expect to pay more if the dress is constructed of more pricey fabric such as silk.
Designers – If you have your heart set on wearing a wedding dress by a famous designer, know that it will cost more.
What additional wedding dress costs should you plan for?
There are several additional costs that brides should factor into their wedding dress cost and budget.
These include:
Alterations - If you want to drastically change your wedding dress, your alterations may end up costing more than your actual wedding dress!
Undergarments and accessories - Be sure to factor in your accessories— bridal undergarments, shoes, and more. These accessories will greatly affect how your gown looks and fits, so don’t forget to include them in your wedding dress cost.
Cleaning and preservation - Whether you plan on wearing your wedding dress again, passing it on to a future generation, or none of the above, it’s still a good idea to have your gown professionally cleaned and preserved. Wedding dress cleaning and preservation can cost $200 or more.
How can you save money on your wedding dress?
Your wedding dress will probably be the most expensive piece of attire you’ll ever purchase! However, there are several ways to save money on your wedding dress while still finding a gown that you absolutely love.
Don’t try on dresses that are over-budget.
Be upfront with your bridal salon consultant about your budget and avoid the temptation of trying on a wedding dress that’s out of your price range.
Find a simple wedding dress and accessorize it.
A simple and relatively unadorned wedding gown will cost less than an extremely detailed wedding dress. If you’re on a tight budget, find a simple gown, and use a beaded sash or a brooch to give it some extra sparkle.
Find a dress you love as is.
Alterations or customizations will greatly increase the cost. Therefore, if you want to make significant changes to a wedding dress that gown is probably not for you. Look for a wedding dress that you love most as it looks off the hanger.
Look for sample sales.
Many bridal salons offer sample sales where they sell sample dresses from past seasons. These sample dresses are typically in sizes 6 to 12, so if you fall in that size category, you may find a gorgeous gown at a low price at one of these sales.
Visit trunk shows.
If you’re set on purchasing a gown by a specific designer, you might find a deal at a trunk show. Trunk shows allow you the opportunity to score a discount on designer wedding dresses. Research the bridal salons in your area carry and check their websites for upcoming trunk shows.
Give yourself time to shop.
Start shopping for your wedding dress as soon as possible. If you wait until the last minute, you may end up paying rush charges for your dress, which can greatly add to your total wedding dress cost.
Not only will starting the search earlier ensure that you don’t pay rush charges, but it also allows you more time to find a deal on the dress of your dreams.
Conclusion
Shopping for your wedding dress should be a fun and memorable experience for all the right reasons. If you start the process early and you will leave yourself enough time to pick up the perfect wedding dress without paying a premium price.
Do you have any wedding dress-shopping tips to share? We would love to hear about it!
Average Cost of a Wedding in DC
-
Description text goes here
-
Description text goes here
-
Description text goes here
A guide to Antrim 1844 in Taneytown, Maryland, featuring formal garden ceremonies, a glass-enclosed ballroom, on-site guest accommodations, fine dining, and one of Carroll County’s most established estate wedding experiences.