The High-Street Bride’s Guide: How to Plan Your Perfect Wedding On A Budget

The Designer Showstoppers

Here it is, ladies: exactly what I promised you back in the Basics section. You can walk down the aisle head-to-toe in catwalk names without breaking the bank, if you know where to look for them. And Here. They. Come.

THEOUTNET (theoutnet.com)

I actually can’t get enough of this place. I just can’t get over the gowns you can afford on there thanks to all this up-to-70%-off business. And since they’re the sister site of Net-a-Porter too, you know they’re on the level – not like some of those faceless so-called ‘designer’ online shops.

Many’s the time I’ve daydreamed about festooning the super-simple Minimarket georgette maxi I once saw on there with some serious statement jewellery – not to mention stroking my laptop screen when I first saw the ankle-length Theyskens’ Theory vision in silk that was only £146.

The cool Carven shell dress with twisted neckline for £189 would have been a head-turner at the registry office, too, while the not one but four Notte by Marchesa full-length gowns they had online at the same time – from only £322, by the way – would have owned any aisle.

Did I mention the Stella McCartney super-soft-pink lace dress for informal outdoor occasions? Or what about the the crème de la crème for under £550: a long-sleeve, floor-gracing Amanda Wakeley silk-satin jaw-dropper? That, you’d just damn well build your wedding around.

But my favourite thing to do here? Take the tip from Net-a-Porter and skip the Wedding section in favour of searching by colour and style – the more open-minded the better. I mean let’s be honest, if you’re walking down the aisle in the grey Valentino Roma rosy-lace-smothered dress that was up for less than £600, the black Gianfranco Ferré V-neck that was under £550, the Vivienne Westwood black and blue jacquard-taffeta that was £525, or the red silk-organza and georgette Oscar de la Renta that was less than £515, who’s going to blink if it’s not white?

Saks Fifth Avenue

Busy brides, step aside. If you’re going to order online from the States, you’ve got to have the time and money to send your gown back if it doesn’t work out. Brides who are up to their eyes in work or other wedding preparations won’t want to take the risk of being lumbered with a £500 dress they don’t have time to post across the pond.

For those who do have the seconds to spare though, Saks Fifth Avenue have made a big hoo-ha out of the fact that they’re now up for shipping worldwide. If you’re after a short and simple dress, don’t spend the international postage – there are generally styles similar to what Saks is hawking way more locally – but if you’re struggling to find a longer look that suits your taste, the swish department store often stocks several standout options for under £500.

Example? Last time I checked, an Aidan Mattox with a beautiful curlicue-meets-sheer back was up for less than £315, while a seemingly simple cowl-neck ABS in satin revealed beautifully intricate silver and champagne back detailing – all for under £350. Meanwhile, the same brand’s bow-detail strapless gown was textbook modern, origami-chic for under £250.

For glamour-hunters, there were various visions in gold – from Sue Wong’s elaborately beaded and tightly ruffled chiffon number for under £445 to an utterly jaw-dropping gold V-neck, cowl back Notte by Marchesa stunner for under £430.

Also featured were a truckload of gorgeous, affordable BCBGMAXAZRIA, some glittering David Meisters and – if you’ve got just a little more to play with – a delicate, empire Badgley Mischka for under £610. There are even videos of a lot of the dresses so you can see them in floor-sweeping action before you order.

Shop Smart

There are just a few things to bear in mind when you shop online. theoutnet.com (http://theoutnet.com) is an established, recognised brand, but there are a lot of cowboys out there hoping to fob you off with a counterfeit that crackles when you walk and costs your whole bridal budget – and possibly your sanity. Don’t buy from sellers you haven’t heard of, or who no-one you know has had positive first-hand experience with.

Always check the Ts and Cs when spending this amount of money on the web. You don’t want to be stuck with a dress that doesn’t fit because it turns out since it’s sale stock you can’t send it back.

You may need to get alterations, so you should factor these into the cost before deciding whether to keep your gown. Talk to an experienced, trustworthy seamstress or a bridal boutique that doesn’t mind amending dresses other than their own before you decide it’s the right dress for you.

If you’re shopping from abroad, keep in mind extra charges – I’ve seen shipping priced at £9.99 and then taxes and duties tacked on at £80. It doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker if you’ve laid eyes on your dream dress at a pinch-yourself price, but it’s hardly pocket change so be careful to budget for it.

Best for: Brides with a lot of time on their hands. You have to be willing to wait for your dress to arrive, to get in touch with a seamstress for alterations, or to send it back if needs be. With discount sites like THEOUTNET you’ve also got to keep an eye on Twitter or newsletters from your fave site so you can jump in and order your dream dress the minute it goes online – miss them and you could be left with slim pickings when it comes to choice of sizes.

Hire

No desire to wrap your W-day dress up in anti-moth paraphernalia and stash it in the attic? Or to try to convince your daughter she wants to wear it on her wedding day in 25 years or so? Go temporary and take all the savings that come with.

Go Local

I have a confession to make. For a while before my wedding I daydreamed about a little old lady – probably the cobbler from The Elves and the Shoemaker’s more competent other half – who would take in my dress for me, stitch on a few extra sequins and wipe a little tear from her eye in a grandmotherly way when I finally tried it on.

If that’s the kind of experience you’re after, you’re not going to get it on the high street. Or at the jaw-dropping online hire place I’m about to wax lyrical about. But you might find it in that friendly neighbourhood bridal boutique I mentioned – as well as that warm, fuzzy feeling of supporting local biz (and not paying the earth for it).

Although hiring means it’s likely your bridalwear choices will be more limited than if you bought – some fabrics can’t be altered imperceptibly so they won’t be available to rent – you will be able to add super-pretty prom dresses into the mix, and it’s a way of wearing something heart-stopping that also keeps your bank balance the right side of red.

Wish Want Wear

Fans of Temperley, Badgley Mischka and Malene Birger, try to hold it together: gowns by these and other designers are available to hire online from Wish Want Wear – from as little as about £50. No, I haven’t missed a nought off – last time I looked Birger-ites could hire a trim, super-cute style with cool, contemporary lace for four days for £50, or eight days for £85.

Meanwhile, Temperley lovers could get a stunning laser-cut, empire-line, floor-length number for four days for £165 or eight days for £315. Or even an embellished low-back look worth £3,835 for four days for £215 or eight for £415.

As for Mischka fans, you were looking at a totes-affordable £115 for a ruffle-loving halter neck for four days, or £215 for the same dream-dress for eight.

This is a site where it’s worth checking out the wedding section (it’s under Occasions, Bridal), but if you’re open to other colours, you can also search gowns by names like Hervé Léger, Just Cavalli, M Missoni, MW Matthew Williamson, See by Chloe and co. according to everything from neckline to sleeve and body type.

Standout brides and designer addicts can hire their accessories here too – if you’re into statement necklaces and eye-catching clutches, you can often rent names like Erickson Beamon for the price of buying a bling-tastic high-street gem. There are usually – for major label lusters – a few select Chanel by Vintage Heirloom quilted bags too, but you’re unlikely to get them for much under £100, and they tend to be black.

The need-to-knows at the time of writing: delivery is available next-day, same-day and even on Saturdays; you can pre-book your delivery date in advance; minor spills and damage are covered; returns are free; they do the dry cleaning; they send you a free back-up size with your hire; and they offer a handy try-on service so you can test the fit of up to three dresses for £21.90.

I’d recommend calling up one of their style advisors before you book anything though – when it’s your wedding, I can’t help feeling it’s best to confirm the availability of your date and size with a human being, rather than an online calendar.

Best for: Designer divas. Who cares if you don’t get to keep the dress? There’s no room in your cluttered loft anyway. My only hint: brides outside average sizes may struggle – there are gowns in sixes and 18s, but your choice will be more limited than your eights to 12s.

Couture

In bridal circles, this tends to mean going to one of the big-name couturiers and spending thousands of pounds having your dress designed and crafted to your exact spec. What I’m suggesting is a less intensive – and expensive – experience that’s perfect if you’ve got a dream dress in your head that doesn’t seem to be on the hangers.

I’ll be honest: this option is going to take a lot of legwork. You’ll have to Google/Yell.com/Thomson Local dressmakers or seamstresses in your local area, check their reviews online and call them up for prices. Numbers are likely to vary, but in general are cheaper for – you guessed it – shorter, simpler styles.

Your best bet is to ask around among friends and relatives – maybe even put up a post on Facebook or hit Twitter. You’ll be surprised how many people have taken a prom dress to a tailor in the past or even know someone who makes clothes for a living. For me, working with someone who’s been recommended by a pal you know and trust has got to be a better bet than hoping the reviews you read on that random website weren’t just written by the shop itself.

Once you get down there, get to know your seamstress before you book anything. Ask to see samples of their previous work, or items they’re working on now, and touch the fabric so you can see that it’s of a suitable quality.

Then sit down and discuss their process – are they a one-man band expecting you to supply the silk, or a boutique ordering their fabric in at a range of prices? Make sure you get a written quote before they get started too – or you could end up having all the fun of bringing in cowboys to redo your kitchen and watching the price go up and up and up…

Best for: Brides of all shapes and sizes. Petite brides, in particular, might have trouble finding a style in your standard sizes, but as long as you’re careful about the dressmaker you choose, this option could land you with a luxe, perfectly fitted look.

Charity and Vintage

More and more often, charity and vintage shops are taking on second-hand wedding dresses and selling them off at reasonable prices. If you’re not worried that your dress has been worn once before and you want to make every penny you’re spending on your big day count, helping out an independent vintage shop owner or the beneficiaries of a registered charity is the way forward.

Oxfam is really making a name for itself in the inboxes of wedding writers – and even if you can’t pop into your local branch, their online shop is full to bursting. As you’d expect, there tends to be more in sizes 10 to 14 than any others, but new brides are giving over their gowns for a good cause every day, so it’s worth checking back regularly.

To give you an idea, the most expensive dress I’ve seen them offer was a beaded, halterneck Johanna Hehir for £800, but really the majority of gowns have tended to go for less than £350. It’s the place to go if you’re after individual style sans the couturier too – with old-school looks from the Forties to the Seventies and unbranded pink and lacy confections, there’s little chance of you getting copycatted by the time you walk down the aisle.

Best for: One-off brides. If today’s gowns aren’t making the right style statement, why not rifle through your local treasure trove and come out with something uniquely you?

Chapter 4

The Groom (#ue6b9f003-1ade-5319-af0e-478647d2bbcd)

Truss up your man without emptying his wallet