Author Topic: Bought my wedding dress... for $35! (Read 7021 times)

purplepear · « **on:** October 06, 2015, 03:43:40 PM »

Here's the scoop: I'm getting married next May and my partner & I are planning a simple, tiny ceremony. 15 people, free chapel, mimosas afterwards.

Last week, the Shopping Gods bestowed their favor on me. I happened to go to Anthropologie (a fancy-pants, expensive women's clothing store) with a friend to help her shop for her birthday. While browsing the clearance section, I found a beautiful white, knee-length dress. Totally what I wanted for my simple, informal wedding. It fit like a glove... and it was on sale for an extra 30% off of the already discounted clearance price!

My price: $35
Normal price of dress: $180
Average price for wedding dresses: $1200 (according to TheKnot)

Not a bad start to the wedding planning. :)

Rosy · « **Reply #1 on:** October 06, 2015, 03:47:00 PM »

Sweet! Congrats on the upcoming nuptials:)

Kimchi Bleu · « **Reply #2 on:** October 06, 2015, 08:15:00 PM »

How wonderful! Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

MrsPfennig · « **Reply #3 on:** October 07, 2015, 06:11:36 AM »

Congrats! I also got my wedding dress of the sales rack for less than $40. I absolutely loved it.

MissStache · « **Reply #4 on:** October 07, 2015, 06:38:12 AM »

I'd be impressed that you managed to find a dress at Antropologie for $35. The fact that it is your wedding dress quadruples the badassity! Kudos!

catccc · « **Reply #5 on:** October 07, 2015, 07:00:17 AM »

Nice! My wedding dress was $30! It was a tea-length strapless ivory dress (in silk faille) from J.Crew. Marketed as a bridesmaid dress and on clearance, it was such a stunning little number that I was a little nuts in buying it before I was actually even engaged. Coincidentally, I was engaged about a month later.

RunHappy · « **Reply #6 on:** October 07, 2015, 07:15:04 AM »

Great find! Congrats on the upcoming wedding!

Ducky · « **Reply #7 on:** October 07, 2015, 08:19:31 AM »

Sweet find!!!

acroy · « **Reply #8 on:** October 07, 2015, 08:29:59 AM »

NICE!
DW's family insisted on a custom dress. $4,000 later she looked nice.

purplepear · « **Reply #9 on:** October 07, 2015, 08:44:05 AM »

Quote from: MissStache on October 07, 2015, 06:38:12 AM

I'd be impressed that you managed to find a dress at Antropologie for $35. The fact that it is your wedding dress quadruples the badassity! Kudos!

Right? I figured even if I decided against wearing it for the wedding, it was still a great find. But a week later, and no buyer's remorse. Totally wearing it for the wedding. :)

Quote from: catccc on October 07, 2015, 07:00:17 AM

Nice! My wedding dress was $30! It was a tea-length strapless ivory dress (in silk faille) from J.Crew. Marketed as a bridesmaid dress and on clearance, it was such a stunning little number that I was a little nuts in buying it before I was actually even engaged. Coincidentally, I was engaged about a month later.

Haha that's amazing. I'm glad that timing worked out for you.

2ndTimer · « **Reply #10 on:** October 07, 2015, 01:15:13 PM »

Brilliant. The perfect start to a mustachian life together

lifejoy · « **Reply #11 on:** October 07, 2015, 03:38:13 PM »

Woohoo! I hope the wedding gods keep smiling on ya :)

Pleasedeletethis · « **Reply #12 on:** October 08, 2015, 08:18:10 PM »

Quote from: purplepear on October 06, 2015, 03:43:40 PM

Here's the scoop: I'm getting married next May and my partner & I are planning a simple, tiny ceremony. 15 people, free chapel, mimosas afterwards.

Last week, the Shopping Gods bestowed their favor on me. I happened to go to Anthropologie (a fancy-pants, expensive women's clothing store) with a friend to help her shop for her birthday. While browsing the clearance section, I found a beautiful white, knee-length dress. Totally what I wanted for my simple, informal wedding. It fit like a glove... and it was on sale for an extra 30% off of the already discounted clearance price!

My price: $35
Normal price of dress: $180
Average price for wedding dresses: $1200 (according to TheKnot)

Not a bad start to the wedding planning. :)

Can we see a photo?

Bob W · « **Reply #13 on:** October 12, 2015, 12:39:08 PM »

Quote from: acroy on October 07, 2015, 08:29:59 AM

NICE!
DW's family insisted on a custom dress. $4,000 later she looked nice.

That actually hurt to read ---

MakingSenseofCents · « **Reply #14 on:** October 12, 2015, 10:08:41 PM »

Great deal. Congrats!

Deo · « **Reply #15 on:** October 14, 2015, 03:45:58 PM »

I can beat $35... my wife used my mother's wedding dress, which was handmade by my grandmother. The materials cost 20 South African Rands back in the day, which translates to about $2! :D

Bajadoc · « **Reply #16 on:** October 14, 2015, 07:09:59 PM »

You're getting off to a good start. Your future is bright.

elaine amj · « **Reply #17 on:** October 18, 2015, 10:03:37 AM »

Congrats! You rocked it :)

My own was nowhere near as Mustachian although way less than the $1000 dresses that are common. Mine was custom made and ended up around $200-$300 if I recall correctly. It hurt to even pay that much, even way back then. I was always a cheapskate and wasn't used to paying more than $20-$50 for a dress!

OlyFish · « **Reply #18 on:** October 22, 2015, 10:10:16 PM »

Your wedding sounds like my wedding. I paid $50 for my dress at a consignment store. Beaded a line tea length with pockets. Loved it.

Landslave · « **Reply #19 on:** October 26, 2015, 04:22:02 PM »

$4000 for a wedding dress??? WOW!!

Our $3200 wedding had 125 guests aboard a dinner (lunch) cruise in a local harbor and included a 3 course meal. People complimented us and offered to help defray the cost! We had a great time and everyone still buzzes, calling it as one of the most elegant and memorable weddings they ever attended.

We did the $32,000 wedding for 1/10 the cost and filled both our 401Ks for that year with the savings....we were off to a good start.

Congtatulations on the $35 gown.....PERFECT. There are plenty of brides on the Earth who look beautiful on their wedding day and don't earn $35 per month.

needmyfi · « **Reply #20 on:** October 27, 2015, 05:25:02 PM »

Amazing start to a good life together. Please don't click on the "how much should a wedding cost" thread. I'm still having frugal ptsd just from reading about the money spent. Good luck.

Quote from: Landslave on October 26, 2015, 04:22:02 PM

There are plenty of brides on the Earth who look beautiful on their wedding day and don't earn $35 per month.

Lovely thought Landslave and something to think about.

curlyfry · « **Reply #21 on:** October 27, 2015, 07:39:25 PM »

High five! Also got a dress for about the same price. And also had 15 people to our wedding. BEST DECISION EVER.

(Disclaimer: I did use the cheap wedding dress to buy a $850 Vitamix.. but if anyone asks about it, I think, $850 dress of $850 blender.. it's clear what is a better choice!)

SachaFiscal · « **Reply #22 on:** October 27, 2015, 10:41:55 PM »

That's great! When I got married, one thing that helped me save was having a destination wedding. Not a lot of people showed up. Just close family and friends. I invited everyone first by email, those that said yes or maybe got real invitations. The location was basically free (a retreat center that my fiancé had volunteered at) just had to pay for the food which was simple but delicious. Also the destination was near the location of our honeymoom so no extra travel after the ceremony and reception.

One thing I regretted skimping on was getting my hair and makeup done and getting a real photographer/ videographer (we just gave everyone disposable cameras, this was before smart phones).

purplepear · « **Reply #23 on:** October 28, 2015, 10:01:16 AM »

Thanks everyone! I've definitely been avoiding the "how much should a wedding cost" thread lol.

Quote from: SachaFiscal on October 27, 2015, 10:41:55 PM

One thing I regretted skimping on was getting my hair and makeup done and getting a real photographer/ videographer (we just gave everyone disposable cameras, this was before smart phones).

We have a few photographer friends, and we'll only need them for a couple hours since the ceremony is so short. I think hiring a friend to photograph us for 2 hours should be fairly cheap. And I'll probably just pass around a camera for the "reception".

My best friend is basically a makeup artist, so she's doing my makeup for free. :) Oh and I have a pixie haircut... so I'm just going to do my own hair. There's not much else a stylist could do lol.

It's all coming together!

Ceridwen · « **Reply #24 on:** October 28, 2015, 12:14:58 PM »

That's awesome, congrats!

I thought my wedding dress was a good deal, but it's nothing compared to yours! Mine was $350 from www.thebridesproject.com. Fantastic organization in Toronto that sells second-hand wedding dresses and sample gowns from bridal shops, and all of the proceeds go to cancer charities. I highly recommend it to any brides in the Toronto area!

News:

Author Topic: Bought my wedding dress... for $35! (Read 7021 times)