It’s been about 5 months since my own wedding day, so I thought now is a good time do a reflection post looking back to talk about some of the things I learned being a bride. According to the recent survey results from TheKnot, the average cost of an American wedding was $26,984 for 2010 (not including the honeymoon). Here’s a breakdown of some facts:
Key Average Wedding Statistics
- Most Expensive Area to Get Married (excluding honeymoon): NYC (Manhattan), $70,030
- Least Expensive Area to Get Married (excluding honeymoon): Utah, $13,214
- Wedding Dress Spend: $1,099
- Percentage of Destination Weddings: 24%
- Bride’s Age: 29
- Groom’s Age: 31
- Number of Guests: 141
- Average Wedding Spend (on a per guest basis): $194
- Number of Bridesmaids: 4
- Number of Groomsmen: 4
- Length of Engagement: 14 months
- Most Popular Engagement Month: December (16%)
- Most Popular Wedding Month: June (15%)
- Most Popular Wedding Color: White/Ivory (43%)
- Los Angeles, Santa Barbara/Ventura ranks 6th place on the top 20 most expensive places to get married averaging $35,000
I find these numbers interesting as an average, but because there are so many different factors when it comes to wedding planning, it’s hard to think of them as a guide. I believe a wedding is one of life’s greatest moments and should fully reflect a couple’s personality. On the same hand, it should also be within a budget, and not leave you broke at the end of the day! It takes a careful balance of both splurging on your heart’s desires and making smart spending decisions to create a wedding that is affordable, fun, and unique! One of the points I want to elaborate on in today’s post is…
1) How to get a good deal on a new wedding dress?
I attribute my skewed perception of the average costs of wedding dresses to TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress.” (The show is filmed in Manhattan at Kleinfelds Bridal.) Most brides on that show spend $2000-$6000 on designer dream dresses. (With the most expensive silver Pnina Tornai gown reaching $45k!) If you are a bride who can afford to spend that much on a dress, you’re a very lucky lady… and I’m very jealous! But for the rest of us, thankfully there are ways to get a great wedding dress without breaking the bank. When it came to my wedding day fashion, I wasn’t really looking for the newest and trendiest styles, but I did want something that was good quality, a good price, and a flattering fit. After searching the Internet for bridal shops, I found The Glamour Closet in Los Angeles. They specialize in selling sample gowns off the rack for up to 50-75% retail prices. The dress selections aren’t huge and what you see is what you get. There is no ordering dresses in other sizes, so it’s really a hit or miss. The first time I visited the shop, I wasn’t really sure of what I wanted. I ended up falling in love with a pretty Kirstie Kelly gown with sparkly rhinestones and soft silhouette. Pros: I ended up paying $850, which was 50% of the original price of the dress (score!), it fit awesome and didn’t need any alterations (saving another $250+). Cons: after defining the style of my wedding as more “romantic, rustic, ranch” I envisioned a different dress all-together and I ended up going back to the Glamour Closet and buying a second lace dress that was more of my style. The price was about $1000, and still a great deal at 40% off the retail price.
2) How to sell a used wedding dress?
So now, 5 months and $1,850 later… I have 2 dresses in my closet, one is still brand new with tags and the other was worn once and has now been dry-cleaned. The question I’m face with now, is what to do with them? I don’t plan on passing the dress down to anyone in my family, and with our wedding costs being so high… I like to gain some of my money back. Luckily there are many options for reselling used dresses (and buying used!) #1) Consignment (It’s typical for them to charge a fee of 50% the dress’ sale price) #2) Ebay/Craigslist #3) Online Dress shops like The Gown Swap, Pre Owned Wedding Dresses, Once Wed, 100 Layer Cake’s marketplace.
My advice for brides searching for an affordable dress
Remember the most important part of your wedding dress is the fit. Make sure to try on different silouettes before making your decision. When setting a budget, consider hidden fees such as alterations (this can range from $100-400) and accessories like the veil, jewelry, and shoes! If you want to save some money there are options. You can buy a dress off the rack or choose to buy your dress used. When you’ve found “the one”, make sure it’s exactly what you want! Changing your mind later can be costly and stressful. This is your wedding day and you get one shot to live it up. Happy Planning Brides! xoxo
**UPDATE** Pictured above are my 2 dresses both for sale at White Magnolia, a consignment shop close to my place. I currently still have the veil. Contact me if you’re interested!
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