Question for the ladies. To save money on your wedding, would you consider a pre-owned wedding dress?
Why or why not?
This seems to be a trend that is catching on. There are websites for used wedding gear. New dresses can cost $6,000. Even the used ones at the link below were $2,800. That is a crazy amount of money for something you will wear a few hours. Depending on what website you visit, the average cost of a wedding is $20,000 or so. Starting a marriage off with this much debt is a bad idea.
When an artist marries a seminary student there’s no way it makes any sense to drop even $1000 on a dress. 25 years ago we paid $1000 for an entire wedding.
The second largest expense were the gold wedding bands. (Jewelry store going out of business sale.) We covered the wedding liscence and blood tests. A friend shot the photos. We paid for his copies/film/processing and gave him a small cash gift. The church was affiliated with the seminary and we paid someone to clean up after. Our pastor got a small cash gift. (The sweet man would have done it for nothing.) The organist the same. The tux and dress were vintage thrift store finds. My mom made the food (that was my parents’ contribution.) My uncle made the cake (that was his gift as well as the single ribboned roses the bride’s maids carried and the ring of flowers for my head – no veil. I carried a small crocheted bag.) We paid for the men’s single flower boutineers. My sisters sewed tafetta skirts and purchsed lace blouses from Ross. His sister made chocolate favors. We purchased invitations mail order. (That and postage were the biggest expense.) The groomsmen rented tuxes from their respective places and brought them with. A friend’s parents owned a small “inn” near the shore where we honeymooned off season. (Third biggest expense.) Everyone looked spiffy, and had a lovely time. I’ve known other artists to design equally frugal and fun ceremonies. Pot luck or dessert receptions, unusual venues, own made gowns, hand made invitations, music by friends or relations, etc. It can be lovely and memorable without killing your finances.
Thanks for commenting. I agree you can save money and still have a good time and a memorable wedding.