Bride-reported prices · 465 discussions · updated September 2026
How Much Does a Wedding Dress Cost? 4,609 Real Prices From Brides
Brides who shared what they paid spent a median of $850 on the dress itself, across 4,609 US price reports collected from 465 discussions between 2016 and 2026. The Knot's official $2,100 average describes one group: made-to-order salon gowns, where 781 salon buyers here land at a $1,900 median. Everyone else, from sample sales to made-to-measure shops online, paid far less.
Below: the price by where you buy, the year-by-year trend through the 2025 tariff surcharges, the alterations bill that surprised most brides, and the budget line where regret starts showing up.
$850median dress price, 4,609 reports
$345–$1,900middle half of all dress prices
$500median alterations bill when paid (1,989 reports)
$166median veil (596 reports)
$1,600median all-in: dress + alterations + veil (2,086 reports)
What brides paid, by where they bought
Salon gowns cost a median $1,900 across 781 reports, while secondhand dresses cost a median $300, non-bridal retail $280, and made-to-measure gowns ordered online $600. Where you shop moves the price more than any other single choice.
| Where the dress came from | Reports | Median | Middle half | Lowest | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridal salon (made to order) | 781 | $1,900 | $1,200 to $3,000 | $80 | $65,000 |
| Off the rack, sample sale, outlet | 645 | $700 | $400 to $1,000 | $30 | $10,000 |
| Secondhand (StillWhite, Poshmark, thrift) | 409 | $300 | $120 to $600 | $0 | $6,000 |
| Made to measure online (Etsy, Azazie, custom) | 324 | $600 | $365 to $1,600 | $60 | $45,000 |
| Non-bridal retail (Lulus, ASOS, department stores) | 777 | $280 | $138 to $500 | $5 | $5,000 |
| Rental, borrowed, self-sewn | 36 | $358 | $75 to $600 | $0 | $2,500 |
Walk into a bridal salon and, according to the brides who shopped them, most racks start between $1,500 and $2,000. A quarter of salon buyers here still paid $1,200 or less, usually a floor sample, an end-of-line style or a designer's entry label. Order the same silhouette made to measure from an Etsy or Azazie seller and the median drops to $600; several brides paid $499 and skipped alterations because the dress was cut to their measurements.
Sample sales and off-the-rack outlets sit in between at a $700 median. One bride took home a $2,200 gown marked down to $1,100 with only a hem left to do. Another bought a $9,000 Italian jacquard dress off the rack for about $4,000. Secondhand is the floor: a Maggie Sottero gown for $23 at Goodwill, a $1,000 dress spotted on closeout for $99, a brand-new BHLDN dress for $340 on Poshmark. Prices by store and designer are broken out on the designer page.
Why one median is not enough
The median dress price moves from $350 to $6,000 depending on which brides are answering. Brides keeping the whole wedding under $10,000 report a median $350 across 796 prices. Brides planning a large-budget wedding report $6,000 across 118. The figure at the top of this page averages those worlds together, which is why the row closest to your own plan is the more useful number.
| Who is answering | Prices | Median dress | Middle half | Alterations median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brides keeping the whole wedding under $10,000 | 796 | $350 | $180 to $650 | $450 |
| Everyone else | 3276 | $1,000 | $400 to $1,950 | $500 |
| Brides marrying in New York City | 208 | $1,800 | $600 to $3,800 | $800 |
| Brides planning a large-budget wedding | 118 | $6,000 | $2,400 to $10,000 | $1,000 |
The tailoring bill does not fall the way the dress does. Across the whole table the dress median spans 17 times, from $350 to $6,000, while the alterations median spans about 2 times, from $450 to $1,000. In the tightest-budget group the median tailoring bill of $450 is larger than the median dress it is fitted to. Budget for the tailor before you set the gown number; the alterations page has the job-by-job prices.
How the 4,609 prices spread out
33% of brides paid under $500 for the dress, 76% paid under $2,000, and 5% crossed $5,000. The average ($1,518) sits well above the median ($850) because a few $10,000 to $21,000 gowns pull it up.
The spread is wide because the channels differ, not because salons vary wildly. Inside salons the middle half of prices runs $1,200 to $3,000. Across all channels the middle half runs $345 to $1,900, and the 90th percentile is $3,200: nine brides in ten paid less than that for the gown.
Dress prices by year, 2016 to 2026
Brides who bought in 2016 report a median of $550; brides buying in 2025 report $800 and in 2026 $1,000. Alterations rose faster than dresses: the median tailoring bill went from $225 in 2016 to $600 in 2026.
| Year bought | Reports | Median dress | Middle half | Salon median | Alterations median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 106 | $550 | $240 to $1,200 | $1,300 | $225 |
| 2017 | 88 | $850 | $400 to $1,500 | $1,421 | $330 |
| 2018 | 105 | $930 | $500 to $1,600 | $1,600 | $422 |
| 2019 | 70 | $772 | $400 to $1,700 | $1,386 | $412 |
| 2020 | 66 | $610 | $300 to $1,450 | $900 | $450 |
| 2021 | 100 | $498 | $200 to $1,400 | $1,850 | $490 |
| 2022 | 935 | $900 | $400 to $1,900 | $2,100 | $500 |
| 2023 | 628 | $1,067 | $450 to $2,000 | $2,000 | $500 |
| 2024 | 455 | $700 | $250 to $1,800 | $1,700 | $550 |
| 2025 | 800 | $800 | $300 to $2,000 | $2,100 | $600 |
| 2026 | 1130 | $1,000 | $355 to $2,000 | $1,800 | $600 |
The year is the one the bride named, or the year she posted when she did not. The big 2022 sample (935 reports) comes from several long "how much did you spend" discussions that year, so it leans toward brides who were mid-planning. The 2025 and 2026 figures include the tariff surcharges bridal shops started adding in spring 2025; the 2026 page breaks those out with the shop-by-shop reports.
Alterations: the second bill
Alterations cost a median $500 among the 1,989 brides who paid for them, with a middle range of $300 to $800 and a 90th percentile of $1,000. At the median the tailoring bill ran 43% of the dress price, and in 244 of 1235 cases it matched or exceeded the dress itself.
The reports that stung were the ones where the dress fit on paper. One bride ordered in her size after the consultant said her measurements matched the chart, then paid $950 for a bustle, hem, cups, straps and hips. A $30 antique-mall find became a $3,000 tailoring project. A $500 David's Bridal sale dress needed $1,000 of work. New York City brides report a median $775 with salon flat fees of $995 to $1,800, while brides in the Mountain West report a median $385. Itemized charges, city-by-city medians and the salon-versus-independent-tailor gap are on the alterations page.
Two brides paid $700 and $350 for the same resizing job. The difference was a bridal-shop seamstress versus an independent tailor. Get both quotes before the first fitting.
Does spending more bring regret?
Only 297 of 2053 brides who addressed the question expressed any regret, and the share rises with the bill: 8% under $1,000 all-in, 28% between $2,500 and $3,999, 27% above $7,500. The regret reports rarely blame the gown. They blame the second bill and the ceiling that got crossed.
| All-in spend (dress + alterations) | Brides | No regret | Mixed | Regret | Any regret |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $1,000 | 1102 | 1017 | 63 | 22 | 8% |
| $1,000 to $2,499 | 548 | 445 | 70 | 33 | 19% |
| $2,500 to $3,999 | 194 | 139 | 43 | 12 | 28% |
| $4,000 to $7,499 | 125 | 94 | 25 | 6 | 25% |
| $7,500 and up | 84 | 61 | 15 | 8 | 27% |
A $2,900 gown bought after the bride told the shop $2,000 was the limit, then $900 of tailoring and a $400 veil on top: she wrote that the overspend makes her unhappy about the dress itself. A $1,700 dress followed by $1,200 of alterations after she agreed to every suggested tweak. A $10,000 Anne Barge column gown ordered in a rush for a short engagement, with doubtful resale. Brides who set a ceiling and said it out loud before the first appointment almost never reported regret. One told every shop $1,000 and was shown only dresses under $1,000.
These numbers vs The Knot and Zola
The Knot's 2026 Real Weddings Study puts the average wedding dress at $2,100 across 10,474 couples married in 2025; the bride-reported median here is $850, and the salon-only median is $1,900. Both are right. They measure different shoppers.
| Source | Sample | Headline number | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Knot 2026 Real Weddings Study | 10,474 US couples married in 2025 | $2,100 average; $1,200 low tier, $2,000 mid, $3,200 high; Midwest $2,500, Mid-Atlantic $2,200 | Couples using The Knot or WeddingWire; 81% off-the-rack or made-to-order, 19% custom |
| Zola | Zola couples, 2025 to 2026 | $2,250 average; 21% spend $4,000 or more | Couples who booked vendors through Zola |
| This page | 4,609 bride reports, 2016 to 2026 | $850 median all channels; $1,900 salon; $500 alterations; $166 veil | Anyone who answered "what did you pay", including thrift, Etsy, rental and $20,000 couture |
The Knot and Zola survey couples who planned on their platforms and hired vendors, which skews toward salon shoppers. An anonymous "what did you pay" question also catches the $23 Goodwill find, the $89 elopement dress and the $499 made-to-measure gown. Filter these reports to salon buyers and the median lands within $200 of The Knot.
What individual brides paid
Eighteen reports, low to high, with the detail that explains the price. All amounts in US dollars as the bride stated them; the alterations column is blank where she did not separate it.
| Dress | Alterations | Year | What the bride reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| $23 | – | 2025 | Maggie Sottero gown found at Goodwill |
| $50 | $0 | 2023 | SHEIN; she hemmed the tulle herself |
| $99 | – | 2025 | Consignment find, later spotted online on closeout from $1,000 |
| $159 | $0 | 2023 | David's Bridal sample sale, second marriage, no alterations needed |
| $340 | $250 | 2023 | Brand-new BHLDN dress via Poshmark |
| $499 | – | 2025 | Azazie made to measure, fit without changes |
| $500 | $1,500 | 2023 | Secondhand online at a third of retail, then heavy tailoring for the photos |
| $1,150 | $0 | 2023 | Traveling sample sale, marked down from $2,500; wore heels instead of paying for a hem |
| $1,500 | $400 | 2026 | Grace + Ivory, Chicago, off the rack at $1,000 off; $100 veil; bustle, hem and neckline lace |
| $1,700 | $370 | 2023 | Vowd, Raleigh NC; cups $35, five-layer hem $235, bustle $100 |
| $2,000 | – | 2026 | Abella by Allure; the shop said it would have been $1,700 without the tariff surcharge |
| $2,400 | $900 | 2026 | Watters gown that felt like the $10,000 dresses she tried; flat-rate studio alterations, waist down four sizes |
| $2,800 | $1,300 | 2026 | Milla Nova at Luv Bridal Denver; $650 custom veil; ordered size runs large, so $1,300 of tailoring expected |
| $2,900 | $900 | 2025 | Told the shop $2,000 max, then $900 of tailoring and a $400 veil; unhappy about the overspend |
| $6,000 | $400 | 2026 | Custom Dalaarna gown; $100 Etsy veil; later shortened for anniversary wear |
| $14,000 | – | 2026 | Netta BenShabu main gown with lining and waist changes, plus a $4,000 Eva Lendel reception dress |
| $20,000 | – | 2026 | Oscar de la Renta; expects little resale recovery and is happy with the spend |
| $21,000 | – | 2023 | Small New Jersey shop after Kleinfeld showed dresses at double her stated budget; $2,000 veil |
Is $1,500, $2,000, $3,000 or $5,000 a good wedding dress budget?
Is $1,500 a good budget for a wedding dress?
$1,500 sits above the $850 median of 4,609 bride-reported prices and lands inside the salon range: a quarter of salon gowns cost $1,200 or less. It also covers any made-to-measure gown online (median $600) with money left over. From a salon, hold back $300 to $800 for alterations.
Is $2,000 a good budget for a wedding dress?
$2,000 is the 75th percentile of dress prices: three brides in four paid less. It matches The Knot's mid-tier figure of $2,000 and sits just above the $1,900 salon median, so it buys a made-to-order gown at most salons if alterations are budgeted separately.
Is $3,000 a good budget for a wedding dress?
$3,000 is roughly the 90th percentile ($3,200): nine brides in ten paid less for the gown. All-in, the 75th percentile is $2,800, so $3,000 covers a $1,900 salon dress plus $500 of alterations plus a $166 veil. Regret climbs to 28% in the $2,500 to $3,999 all-in band, almost always when the total blew past a ceiling the bride had named.
Is $5,000 a lot for a wedding dress?
By the numbers, yes: 238 of 4,609 brides paid $5,000 or more for the dress alone, and The Knot's high-budget tier averages $3,200. Among brides who spent $4,000 to $7,499 all-in, 25% reported some regret; above $7,500 it was 27%.
What is a realistic budget for a wedding dress?
Pick the channel first, then the number. Secondhand: median $300. Non-bridal retail such as Lulus or ASOS: median $280. Made to measure online: median $600 with little or no alterations. Sample sale or off the rack: median $700. Bridal salon: median $1,900 for the gown plus $300 to $800 of alterations. Add a veil (median $166) and, if you want it, $250 for cleaning and preservation.
What share of the wedding budget should the dress take?
Brides in these discussions most often name 5% to 10% of the total wedding budget for the gown, and The Knot reports about 6% on average. On a $36,000 wedding (Zola's 2025 average) that is $1,800 to $3,600; on a $10,000 wedding it is $500 to $1,000, which is where the secondhand and non-bridal channels live.
Add your price
Every report on this site came from a bride answering one question. Add yours and the tables update at the next data refresh (every two months). No email, no account.
Where the brides in these reports shopped
- Azazie: made to measure, 94 reports with a $400 median. Several brides needed no alterations; a few reported loose threads and weak bust support, so order early enough to return.
- Lulus: 92 reports, median $116, Black Friday drops to $80. Simple silhouettes, no train, no bustle.
- David's Bridal: 338 reports, median $450; $159 at a sample sale, $450 to $500 on sale, in-house alterations quoted $250 to $600.
- StillWhite: secondhand marketplace, 100 reports, median $600. One "gently used" gown arrived damaged and went back, so check the return terms.
- BHLDN (Anthropologie Weddings): 147 reports, median $540; $600 at 50% off on Black Friday.
- Etsy: 160 reports, median $545, mostly made-to-measure sellers in Ukraine, Vietnam and Turkey; four to ten weeks of shipping.
Sources and method
Price reports on this page come from 427 public discussions where brides answered in their own words. Each comment that stated an amount became one row; notes are paraphrased, never quoted.
Discussions used on this page (427)
- 2025-04: Help! Dress designer is requesting an extra $1500 for my dress due to tariffs. (1596 comments)
- 2026-04: Wedding Dress Giveaway - $0 Shipping (636 comments)
- 2025-06: (10k) Help me decide if this dress is this is worth it (559 comments)
- 2023-09: What did you budget for your dress and what did you actually end up spending? (405 comments)
- 2022-03: How much have you spent or are you planning to spend on your wedding dress? (397 comments)
- 2026-04: Wedding dress regret… (372 comments)
- 2026-01: How much did your wedding dress cost? (369 comments)
- 2025-01: Wedding dress regret (368 comments)
- 2026-01: Is under $2,000 dress budget unrealistic? (367 comments)
- 2026-02: Having INTENSE wedding dress regret (350 comments)
- 2025-04: Wore this shein dress as my non traditional wedding gown 😍 $60. Veil was $5 (342 comments)
- 2026-05: ($200) feel cheated on my dress.. (317 comments)
- 2026-03: How much did you spend on your wedding dress? From 2023 and on (316 comments)
- 2026-03: wedding dress regret MAJOR (289 comments)
- 2023-08: Wedding dress regret! Am I Bridezilla? What to do? (honest feedback please) (284 comments)
- 2021-07: Another COVID bride who bought her dress ages ago and has dress regret. Getting married in a week so I won't be purchasing something else, I just need some outside perspectives. Did anyone have dress regret but stick with your choice and end up feeling okay about it? (270 comments)
- 2022-01: Is $500 an unreasonably cheap budget for a wedding dress? (270 comments)
- 2026-01: Will alterations make me feel less regret? (268 comments)
- 2026-05: Experience with Lulus wedding dresses? My budget is about $2k and this was only around $300. I’m debating if it’s giving wedding or more event? My wedding is about 130 ppl. (266 comments)
- 2023-01: I’m so nervous.. I’ve had less than $1000 for my wedding (including my dress, venue etc) and I don’t want to look stupid… (261 comments)
- 2023-11: How much did you spend on your dress? (257 comments)
- 2024-02: How much did you spend on your wedding dress all together? (249 comments)
- 2025-12: Wedding Dress Regrets (241 comments)
- 2024-11: Does anyone regret starting out at David’s Bridal? (241 comments)
- 2025-12: Dress regret?? SOS (226 comments)
- 2024-02: Full Blown Dress Regret (224 comments)
- 2026-04: I’m having major dress regret (219 comments)
- 2023-08: Not engaged but couldn’t pass up this dress. Bought this $1400 David’s Bridal wedding dress for $250. Thoughts on what I should do with it now? (219 comments)
- 2023-12: How much did you spend on your wedding dress? Did you regret it? (210 comments)
- 2025-01: Wedding dress regret (208 comments)
- 2022-01: Having some dress regret. I wasn't very dolled up the day I got my dress, and I don't feel very pretty in the photos that we took. Opinions? (200 comments)
- 2021-12: Dress Regret After Showing Family (199 comments)
- 2024-05: Wedding dress regret :( (197 comments)
- 2025-09: Where are y’all finding low cost dresses? Budget <$2k (196 comments)
- 2025-08: It’s not that I regret my dress, it’s just not what I thought I would get (191 comments)
- 2016-01: Can we get down and dirty about dress prices? (189 comments)
- 2022-01: I am a May 2022 bride who said yes to her dream dress but does not want to spend $600 on a veil. Can someone lead me towards a stunning, affordable, and stylish veil? (188 comments)
- 2021-10: I’m super into wedding jumpsuits and digging this half dress/cape situation! I’m looking for some feedback. I promised my mom I’d keep an open mind and still go dress shopping, but I keep coming back to this. Also considering an outfit change if the price is right on a dress. *Not me in the video* (187 comments)
- 2023-09: I haven’t bought it yet, but I think I found my dress today. Going for a midnight disco wedding vibe. Is there a dupe for #1? (186 comments)
- 2026-06: Major Dress Regret (184 comments)
- 2026-02: Buyers remorse wedding dress $1800 (182 comments)
- 2026-04: How much did you spend on your wedding dress? From 2023 and on (179 comments)
- 2026-03: Wedding Dress Regret? Feel stupid (175 comments)
- 2024-10: Got my dream wedding dress for $150! (173 comments)
- 2026-06: How much did you spend on your wedding dress? (171 comments)
- 2025-10: Wedding dress prices (171 comments)
- 2025-10: Be Honest - Is $950 for a veil too expensive and excessive? (169 comments)
- 2025-04: Floor sample or full price, better dress? (164 comments)
- 2026-04: Dress regret :( (164 comments)
- 2026-06: $12.50 Dress (161 comments)
- 2025-10: Is this free wedding dress worth the alterations needed? Is the style old, for my age? (160 comments)
- 2022-09: Torn between 2 dresses at 2 different price points - please help me choose! (154 comments)
- 2025-11: I’m a bridal boutique owner | Here are the most common mistakes I see brides make ($2k) (149 comments)
- 2024-02: Wedding Dress Regrets (147 comments)
- 2025-03: Is this really how much dresses cost? Feeling sticker shock (142 comments)
- 2025-09: Dress regret / alteration advice (141 comments)
- 2026-02: Feeling a little bit of wedding dress regret (141 comments)
- 2026-06: Dress Regrets (132 comments)
- 2022-03: How realistic is it to plan on spending $500 or less for a wedding dress? (132 comments)
- 2024-12: I wanna see your budget dresses!! (130 comments)
- 2025-07: Heartbroken — is this normal for a $20K Monique Lhuillier wedding dress? (129 comments)
- 2023-03: Where to buy a cheap/affordable yet pretty wedding dresses? (129 comments)
- 2025-06: Dress Regret!!! (128 comments)
- 2026-08: My $9k Danielle Frankel dress turned out to be 100% polyester? (127 comments)
- 2026-06: Part 2. Major Wedding Dress Regret (127 comments)
- 2020-01: I couldn't afford a 12,000 dollar dress, so I decided to "make" my own. (127 comments)
- 2026-08: Should I tell my friend I found her wedding dress on etsy for a fraction of the cost? (126 comments)
- 2025-08: Do you regret getting an expensive wedding dress? (123 comments)
- 2022-09: How much was your dress? Do you regret it? (121 comments)
- 2025-07: Dress regret (120 comments)
- 2025-11: Brand new dress with tags at Goodwill for $70 (119 comments)
- 2026-03: How much is too much for a wedding dress? In your personal opinion. (117 comments)
- 2025-05: How much did you pay for alterations of your dress? (115 comments)
- 2019-10: I found a dress I’m absolutely in love with, but it’s a little bit over my budget and I’m struggling to justify that much amount of money for a dress I’ll be wearing less than 24 hours. Has anyone else struggled with that feeling and what did you end up doing? (115 comments)
- 2017-04: How much did you spend on your dress? (114 comments)
- 2021-08: I bought my own wedding dress for £120 and love it! However, friends and family think I should do the traditional thing of going to dress shops and make a big deal of trying lots of styles on. Has anyone else gone for a super budget dress/outfit for their wedding? Did you regret it? (112 comments)
- 2025-11: Budget Bride needing help on dress choice (111 comments)
- 2022-02: How much did you all spend or intend to spend on your wedding dress? (111 comments)
- 2025-10: 7-10k budget - try on used wedding dress? (108 comments)
- 2026-07: I love both dresses, the second is double the cost is it worth it? (108 comments)
- 2025-12: Budget has been blown. How much are/were your weddings? (108 comments)
- 2024-01: Wedding dresses under $500 (107 comments)
- 2023-10: Bridal shop put me in a dress $1,100 over budget without me knowing. How do I let go of it and move on? (107 comments)
- 2025-04: I want to pay for my daughter’s wedding dress but I’m clueless about dress prices. (105 comments)
- 2026-08: ($20k) Cannot afford to alter dress, will a bra that adds 2 cup sizes save me? (103 comments)
- 2026-08: Wedding dress regret and feeling like a big dummy :( (103 comments)
- 2025-07: Wedding Dress Regret Led to 2 Dresses/Looks (101 comments)
- 2026-06: wedding dress regret:^( (101 comments)
- 2026-01: Does my dress look cheap? (100 comments)
- 2025-11: ($15-20k) Wedding Dress Regrets (100 comments)
- 2022-07: How much did you spend on your wedding dress? (99 comments)
- 2025-10: (7k) Under $150 dress regrets? (98 comments)
- 2026-05: ($10k) how much did you spend on a dress? (98 comments)
- 2026-04: Feeling sad, fell in love with a dress I can’t afford (98 comments)
- 2019-07: Your dress budget: goal vs reality (98 comments)
- 2025-09: ($100-$800) looking for a 'different' floral wedding dress (97 comments)
- 2025-04: A reminder that your wedding dress does not have to cost your soul! 💚 (96 comments)
- 2025-07: ($3k) dress help. (96 comments)
- 2025-11: ($16k) Lulus Dress Try On (94 comments)
- 2024-11: I purchased my ceremony & reception dresses secondhand for $205. (93 comments)
- 2022-11: How much did your alterations cost? (93 comments)
- 2024-03: Does my dress fit well enough as is, or does it need $575 worth of additional alterations to take it in? (92 comments)
- 2026-08: What did you guys pay for alterations? (90 comments)
- 2026-02: [$100]Rehearsal dinner is at fancy steakhouse and I need a dress under $100 that doesn't look cheap but also won't upstage the bride (88 comments)
- 2021-03: Wedding Dress Regret?? Maybe? (Also would love recs for shapewear!) (87 comments)
- 2025-02: Weird question: does anyone regret their dress choice? (86 comments)
- 2025-12: Has anyone had wedding dress regret? (85 comments)
- 2025-08: 10k - just got a secondhand wedding dress, having buyers remorse (85 comments)
- 2021-04: Help me decide on a dress - left feels fairytale-esque, middle is amazingly flattering (but 2x the price of the others), and right is romantic and boho. I’m stuck! (84 comments)
- 2025-03: Is $600+ normal for alternations? (84 comments)
- 2025-11: How to Handle Expensive Flower Girl Dresses for My Nieces at My Cousin’s Wedding? (83 comments)
- 2026-03: Under $1k dress, but does this look cheap? (79 comments)
- 2023-02: I’m back yall. My dream dress is way out of budget. Starting again and this wild card surprised me! Open to all feedback (79 comments)
- 2022-04: How much did you pay or budget for your wedding dress? (79 comments)
- 2025-01: Affordable dresses other than David's bridal? (77 comments)
- 2024-03: Fiance keeps asking about the price of my dress (77 comments)
- 2023-08: Overwhelmed by wedding dress shopping! Should I increase my budget? (76 comments)
- 2026-04: I have a limited budget so I’m buying a dress off of the rack (76 comments)
- 2025-08: Can’t fathom paying over $1k for a dress (76 comments)
- 2025-09: How much do wedding dresses cost? (76 comments)
- 2017-04: I made my own (non-traditional) dress! It may be simple, and it may be cheap, but I love it. (76 comments)
- 2025-09: Is my dress regret legit? (75 comments)
- 2022-11: Fell in love with this elegant and timeless dress from Suzanne Neuville at the first trial but realized the additional bow & train costs 2k. Dress is 4k. 1. Looking for ideas to save or alternative dresses! 2. Is this a yay or nay? Too plain? Venue is outdoor villa mansion. (75 comments)
- 2017-08: What did your wedding dress alterations cost? (75 comments)
- 2026-07: Cheap Wedding Dress Anxiety? (73 comments)
- 2025-08: (10k budget) Are ready to wear dresses that bad? (73 comments)
- 2021-10: Is an expensive dress worth it? (73 comments)
- 2022-01: We got married at the place we had our first date. It cost under $4000 for 50 people. We used a tripod and camera for photos, made a music video play list. My dress was a prom dress I got at the same mall the restaurant is in! Was the best day ever! Budget brides you can do it❤ (73 comments)
- 2022-03: Is it normal for bridal salons not to post ANY dress prices? (73 comments)
- 2024-09: said yes to my sample sale dress today!! (72 comments)
- 2016-07: Bridesmaid Dresses how much $$ is too much (72 comments)
- 2025-05: $2,500 Darius Cordell Dupe of $10,500 Lian Rokman Dress – Was It Worth It? [Dress Only Budget] (71 comments)
- 2025-11: $1700 ish dress on Etsy (71 comments)
- 2018-05: how much is too much for a wedding dress? (71 comments)
- 2025-10: Wedding dresses that are under $1K? (70 comments)
- 2020-03: Dress was $170 on Etsy, cape veil was $170 on Etsy, alterations were $170! Very excited for our small Airbnb wedding (hopefully it won't get cancelled) (70 comments)
- 2026-02: Where did you guys find affordable wedding dresses? (70 comments)
- 2026-06: (8-10K) Thoughts on buying secondhand dress and counting on reselling it after the wedding? (69 comments)
- 2024-09: Please be real with me. Does this wedding dress look cheap to you? (69 comments)
- 2022-03: Dress budget? (68 comments)
- 2026-03: ($2k) I am absolutely paralyzed on how to make a wedding dress actually physically materialize (68 comments)
- 2025-04: Help me pick! My dream dress - Khya Kasia Corset and Milford Skirt vs budget option - Jory by Pronovias (68 comments)
- 2022-08: How much are you/did you spend on your wedding dress? (67 comments)
- 2023-08: So thankful bridesmaids dresses come in ivory. My $240 budget dress! (67 comments)
- 2026-05: dress regret (66 comments)
- 2022-06: Alterations only cost $50! (66 comments)
- 2015-10: Do you regret how much you spent on your dress? (66 comments)
- 2024-01: Unintentionally love a dress 2x my budget (65 comments)
- 2025-08: HELP. Should I buy from this Esty seller? Found my dream dress. (64 comments)
- 2026-02: How much did you spend on your wedding dress? (64 comments)
- 2013-09: Anybody else frustrated with alteration costs? (64 comments)
- 2021-08: How much did your wedding dress alterations cost? (63 comments)
- 2023-04: Don't be too shy to try online. This $150 dress fit as beautifully as a $1,000 dress from David's Bridal. We got away with our entire backyard wedding for $2,800 (63 comments)
- 2025-05: $7000 wedding dress, worth it or not? (63 comments)
- 2026-01: What are some good sites or places to buy a wedding dress for $500 or less? (63 comments)
- 2023-06: Cost of dress alterations? Gut check (62 comments)
- 2026-01: Vintage wedding dress from Etsy for $200 (62 comments)
- 2026-01: Update: i got the dress from Anthropologie sample sale!! (61 comments)
- 2025-12: Bought new wedding dress for $100 in Vietnam (61 comments)
- 2026-05: $$$ Dress I or $$ Dress II? (61 comments)
- 2020-07: I made my own wedding dress! It was a trial and a half, but I'm so happy it's done now. 165 hours spent total. (61 comments)
- 2025-04: Brides who spent more than $10k on your dress, do you feel like it was it worth it? (60 comments)
- 2026-06: Wedding Dress shopping is disappointing. Heavy reliance on polyester (under the guise of “new” words.) Price range is 25-40. Need advice. (60 comments)
- 2026-01: ($3K) Where are people finding actually affordable wedding dresses that still feel bridal? (60 comments)
- 2017-10: Found my dress at a BHLDN sample sale and it fits perfect. Plus, only $200 (60 comments)
- 2025-07: Rue de Seine "Desert Rose Veil" used re-sell or cost share? (59 comments)
- 2026-07: Good options for inexpensive ($500 or less) wedding dresses online (e.g. Baltic Born, JessaKae)? (59 comments)
- 2022-05: please help. i'm having some awful wedding dress regret after having purchased a sample dress. wedding is in a forest chapel and the dress is much more delicate than i remembered. i'm worried i should have gone with something more simple. i thought i loved it, but then it arrived and... yeah. (59 comments)
- 2018-07: While I may not be 100% sold on this being my dress yet, this $70 Amazon dress is really great! Any budget brides out there (holla), do not fear this dress! (59 comments)
- 2019-07: My $368 wedding dress from Etsy came in today and it looks exactly like it does in the pictures!! (More info in comments) (58 comments)
- 2023-03: My wedding dress has turned into an expensive disaster and I don’t know what to do (58 comments)
- 2022-05: Other brides who are trying to lose weight or have lost weight, how much is too much where alterations would be an issue? My dress is already a little big and I’m planning on losing 20-25 pounds and I’m 5’3 (58 comments)
- 2024-11: How much did you spend for your wedding dress alterations? (57 comments)
- 2026-08: Does anyone else feel guilty about how much they spent on their wedding dress? (56 comments)
- 2020-12: Saved $900 on my dress.Original price $1600, got it for $700. I am completely in love. (56 comments)
- 2026-05: Re-selling dress regret? Advice please (55 comments)
- 2026-08: ($260) Where can I find a (nice) cheap wedding dress these days? (55 comments)
- 2021-12: List of affordable wedding dresses! (55 comments)
- 2020-04: How much did you spend on your dress? How much of your budget went to your dress? (55 comments)
- 2021-01: Found my dress!! Harley by Hailey Paige - I fit into their floor model too so got it 30% off, which was the only reason it was in my budget. I thought I absolutely DID NOT want a ballgown, but the lightness of this one and the leg slit make me feel like an absolute princess. (55 comments)
- 2026-03: Wedding dress dupe or similar styles (54 comments)
- 2024-01: Cheap Wedding Dresses are also called… (54 comments)
- 2024-02: $17 thrifted Dress = Good News for Wedding Budget (54 comments)
- 2026-08: (<$10k) Pretty Princess on a Budget: how to get a dress? (54 comments)
- 2021-02: After dress regret and purchasing a 2nd, I finally made my decision and went with the new one! $300 dress, perfect for our barn wedding! (54 comments)
- 2025-02: Buying a dress off of a suuuper cheap site: AliExpress, Shein, etc. (54 comments)
- 2025-10: My fiancé’s looking for a dupe dress / dress suggestions (54 comments)
- 2022-03: How much did your wedding dress cost? (54 comments)
- 2025-11: Why not get a cheaper dress? (53 comments)
- 2025-10: Should I get this beautiful but very expensive veil? (53 comments)
- 2026-01: Is a $1,000+ veil ever worth it ?? (53 comments)
- 2023-11: Dress regret 🙃 (52 comments)
- 2017-05: Any other places like BHLDN that offer beautiful but affordable wedding dresses? (52 comments)
- 2018-09: How much did you spend total on your wedding dress after alterations and was it worth it? (52 comments)
- 2025-11: ($15k) Alterations costing an arm and leg?! (51 comments)
- 2026-04: Freaking out about additional dress costs (~$8k) (51 comments)
- 2020-03: I went to try on dresses at a boutique that was way over my price range, when I got there and said my absolute maximum budget was $600, the stylist said that the dresses on the floor start around $1000, but she was so nice and found me a beautiful discontinued dress in the basement for 400$! (51 comments)
- 2023-12: David’s bridal feel cheap? (51 comments)
- 2026-01: Does my dress look cheap? (51 comments)
- 2025-01: $75 vintage wedding dress from Etsy (50 comments)
- 2024-10: I said yes (to the dress and over budget matching veil) ☺️👗👰🏻♀️ (50 comments)
- 2022-12: Bought my dress online for $400...no regrets! Elegant and timeless pearls was exactly what I wanted without the price tag for my tiny wedding (50 comments)
- 2017-03: My first post here, so I figured I would share that I found my dress yesterday at BHLDN by Anthropologie in Atlanta! Anyone looking for vintage/BOHO styles at super affordable prices, check them out! (50 comments)
- 2017-09: Found THE dress but didn't buy it because it was twice my budget. Found it again today unused but preowned for under my budget. I bought it! (50 comments)
- 2025-11: Slashing budget for dream dress? (48 comments)
- 2026-04: How Much Was Your Veil? (48 comments)
- 2025-11: What was your dress Budget? (48 comments)
- 2023-10: Help! Where can I find plus size formal dresses on a budget? (48 comments)
- 2026-06: Wedding Dress below $800 (48 comments)
- 2021-01: Honest opinion on dress? Bought on Sample Sale for my 2022 garden wedding! (48 comments)
- 2026-09: Reasonably priced bridesmaid’s dresses? (48 comments)
- 2021-05: Found the perfect dress for our Las Vegas Elvis wedding, can’t wait to wear it. $232 from Lulus (48 comments)
- 2026-02: Will I regret not buying a traditional wedding dress? (47 comments)
- 2025-09: ($20k) Wedding dress shopping was surprisingly easy... is that normal? (47 comments)
- 2026-08: (<$10k) I finished my dress!!! (47 comments)
- 2020-01: Wedding Dress Regret—am I crazy for having spent $600 on this (includes the price of veil, belt, sleeves)? I just wanted something simple. (47 comments)
- 2021-04: I couldn’t pass up a sample sale. But I committed the cardinal sin of buying a dress that doesn’t fit right now. I’m working on some weight loss, and I actually love a corset back so that’s okay if needed. I’m so in love with it! (47 comments)
- 2025-07: Should I try on out-of-budget dresses? (47 comments)
- 2026-04: Are affordable wedding dresses even a thing or am I dreaming? (47 comments)
- 2025-06: Bride approves of the dress, but does it look cheap? (46 comments)
- 2026-06: ($7K) Help me find my Vegas elopement mini dress before I lose my mind (46 comments)
- 2026-08: I just said yes to the dress!!($1k-2k) (46 comments)
- 2025-10: Give my dream dress the day it deserves 🕊️ selling my unworn, unaltered Floure Studio gown (46 comments)
- 2019-06: My $70 Amazon dress got $54 in alterations and now she’s all set to go! I am so in love, and so is my budget! (46 comments)
- 2025-10: Milla Nova Alaia- I’m in love with this dress but it’s out of my budget. (45 comments)
- 2024-08: How hard is it to sell a wedding dress? (45 comments)
- 2025-05: Affordable dresses (Vowd and David’s Bridal) (45 comments)
- 2020-03: Final dress update- found the one on Poshmark for $260! I live in a super rural area, aside from 1 trip to David's Bridal the search was done entirely online. So happy to finally have a dress!🎉 (sorry for the mirror pic- no one but my fiance here to take a photo of me in it). (45 comments)
- 2022-08: Brides: what alterations did you get and what did they cost? (45 comments)
- 2024-04: Wedding dress regret, please help! Pics included (45 comments)
- 2021-07: How much is too much for a dress? (45 comments)
- 2026-04: Wedding dress normal cost? (45 comments)
- 2019-06: Found my dress! I was in search of sleeves, an open back, and non-traditional lace. Bonus.. it was marked down to less than HALF my dress budget!!! (45 comments)
- 2026-07: Early stages of searching for a colorful wedding dress. Please suggest with affordable websites that aren’t scams (44 comments)
- 2020-09: Fellow Jenny Yoo Sample Sale purchaser!! I am so excited about this dress- it fits perfectly (44 comments)
- 2026-08: My tailor is charging $2200 for alterations (44 comments)
- 2025-03: Help, I’m regretting my dress and I’ve spent $5000 on it (including alterations) (44 comments)
- 2016-12: Show me your under $500 wedding dress! (44 comments)
- 2018-05: How much did you spend on your wedding dress before and after alterations? (44 comments)
- 2023-11: Plus size budget friendly eloping dress (43 comments)
- 2025-11: ($5k-$10k) Etsy Wedding Dress possible fail 😭 (43 comments)
- 2026-07: Custom silk dress for under 5k, 20k wedding budget (43 comments)
- 2020-04: I chose my wedding dress today! Paid under 500 dollars with custom sizing and in champagne and ivory!! (43 comments)
- 2021-07: Azazie Dress Review!! Overall a good purchase for the price, more info in the comments (43 comments)
- 2024-10: Low Budget Dress (43 comments)
- 2023-05: Any suggestions for not paying full price for a wedding dress? (43 comments)
- 2023-11: How did you decide Wedding Dress budget? (42 comments)
- 2026-02: Expensive Dream Dress or Budget Friendly Dress (42 comments)
- 2026-01: (10k) Is the price of my wedding dress alterations fair? (42 comments)
- 2019-01: Budget Wedding dress try on (ASOS and Lulus) (42 comments)
- 2021-11: Struggling to find a dress I like under $500 (42 comments)
- 2024-06: The $279 wedding dress I bought online with a $30 petticoat underneath (42 comments)
- 2022-08: Said yes to the sample dress! I tried this dress a few weeks ago (priced at $1700) and it was out of my budget. I went back yesterday to see if they would potentially sell me their sample since it fit perfect and only had minor scuff marks and they sold it to me for $1300. (42 comments)
- 2025-06: Dress over budget I love vs dress I liked within budget? (41 comments)
- 2024-06: Brides who spent more than they budgeted for their dress, do you regret it? (41 comments)
- 2024-07: Alterations Cost More Than Dress - What?! (41 comments)
- 2025-07: ($14k) My $30 wedding dress from FB Marketplace (41 comments)
- 2026-03: Civil ceremony dress under $300 online and NYC (41 comments)
- 2021-08: Fiance wanted a ring with wood. I wanted shiny stones. This could be a nice set but oh so expensive! It will cost more then my full dress and shoes and his suit combined. Thoughts on how much is too much? (40 comments)
- 2026-07: Dupe for this dress, or is it worth it? (40 comments)
- 2018-04: Picked my dress for my intimate beach wedding! Lulu’s -$80! (40 comments)
- 2022-03: Wedding dress prices (40 comments)
- 2024-11: Deciding on a budget for your dress (39 comments)
- 2025-07: Serious dress regret, has anyone here started over with a new dress? (39 comments)
- 2026-03: Advice on the cost and process for a custom wedding dress (39 comments)
- 2025-07: Wedding dresses under $1000 need help picking (39 comments)
- 2024-09: How much should I realistically be spending on wedding dress Alterations? (39 comments)
- 2025-01: Sites for reasonably priced, decent quality dresses? (39 comments)
- 2026-06: ($5k) need others opinions on my dress options (39 comments)
- 2022-03: My $300 AliExpress Dress (39 comments)
- 2024-09: Wedding dress budget? (39 comments)
- 2024-07: I found my dress at a sample sale! (39 comments)
- 2026-08: Is this dress worth the repair hassle? (39 comments)
- 2025-07: Is it okay to go wedding dress shopping without a budget in mind? (39 comments)
- 2019-06: Did you get your wedding dress online for $200 or under? Please share! (39 comments)
- 2021-07: Decided against a veil as they were so costly and it was the best decision, went for a simple but fun pony tail (38 comments)
- 2024-09: Wedding Dress Dupe (38 comments)
- 2026-09: Brides who preserved their wedding bouquet — was it worth it? (37 comments)
- 2024-05: Lower priced dress shops? (37 comments)
- 2024-10: Enough time? Also, affordable bridal dresses (37 comments)
- 2024-08: ‼️Viral TikTok wedding dress designer scammed me out of $700 (37 comments)
- 2025-08: I’m really worried my dress won’t get shipped because of the tariffs and I’ll be out of $$$ and no dress (37 comments)
- 2026-01: Save or splurge on the dress??!! What is your opinion? (37 comments)
- 2026-02: Bought my dress today! Did anyone else end up going way over budget? (37 comments)
- 2026-06: (Under $750? 🥴) DRESS I.D. & advice needed for affordable wedding dresses in this style (36 comments)
- 2025-01: Got my dress at the Anthropologie sample sale this morning for $400! (36 comments)
- 2026-01: time for the anthropologie weddings sample sale again! ($300-$500 wedding gowns) (36 comments)
- 2026-02: I’m in LOVE with this wedding dress, but not the price… HELP (36 comments)
- 2025-02: Wedding dress shops in Manhattan - budget $1-2K (lower the better!) ? (36 comments)
- 2025-09: Fell in love with a dress above my budget (36 comments)
- 2025-10: Where to get reasonably priced, quality dresses (36 comments)
- 2024-03: Wedding dresses? 100-600$ ?!? Or less ? lol (36 comments)
- 2013-04: Think I found the dress... low budget so not everything I was looking for but I really do love it anyway. Thoughts? (36 comments)
- 2025-05: My experience with a low budget dress (36 comments)
- 2025-11: My sister is fairly picky but we finally found dresses. Most are way out of budget though (36 comments)
- 2017-03: Found my dream dress at a dream price - Stella York 6048 for $250! (36 comments)
- 2018-08: How much did your alterations cost? What did you get altered? (36 comments)
- 2020-02: LOVE this Lulus dress. Fits like a glove, under $100, perfect, simple dress. But... is this too much cleavage? (36 comments)
- 2022-05: how much did you spend/ are you planning to spend on your wedding dress? (36 comments)
- 2024-08: Designer wedding dress prices (35 comments)
- 2020-09: This gorgeous venue costs $800 for 2 hours. My dress was on sale for $350. My hubby’s grandma owns a limo (free) and we had a small reception in my SIL’s home. Photographers was $450, videographer was $600 and about $1500 for food and misc. (35 comments)
- 2025-11: Obsessed with dress, out of budget- Katherine Tash Luna (35 comments)
- 2026-08: Does anyone else feel guilty about how much they spent on their wedding dress? (35 comments)
- 2019-05: Bought my future wedding dress from Lulu's! Total was $78, including free shipping and a 15% student discount! (34 comments)
- 2021-06: Happy with my online dress (paid a quarter of the price I would have bought at a local boutique otherwise)! (34 comments)
- 2021-07: Your Go To Affordable Wedding Dress Places (34 comments)
- 2021-03: My wedding dress is actually a prom dress. Got it for 1/3 the price of a similar wedding dress I almost bought [O.C.] @sel_s. (34 comments)
- 2025-07: $1000 dress budget (33 comments)
- 2026-02: Any online store recs for wedding dress below $1k? (33 comments)
- 2026-04: (~$10K) I got my dress!!! Eeeee!!! (33 comments)
- 2024-06: Wedding dress alterations nyc (33 comments)
- 2025-01: Experience at Anthropologie Weddings Bridal Sample Sale (NYC) (33 comments)
- 2024-07: Alterations cost? Is it normal to cost this much? (33 comments)
- 2024-02: Dip dyed Lillian West dress - just ordered online for an absolute STEAL of a price (33 comments)
- 2024-08: WIBTA to Let My Future MIL Pay for My Wedding Dress? (33 comments)
- 2024-11: My $185 wedding dress from Etsy (33 comments)
- 2024-11: Wedding Dress Dupe Help (32 comments)
- 2026-01: Looking for an affordable dress in this style for under $200 (32 comments)
- 2026-02: (18k-20k) Wedding Dress Alterations - Typical cost? What worked and what didn't? (32 comments)
- 2024-09: Please Help Find Similar (affordable) Dresses! (32 comments)
- 2025-04: Wedding dress budget keeps going up … trying to get to a comfortable spot (31 comments)
- 2026-05: Paying for dress dilemma (31 comments)
- 2026-04: ($20k wedding budget) Dresses from Non-traditional stores (31 comments)
- 2021-05: Found my dress! First one I tried on, my exact size, clearance at David’s Bridal . $450 😭😩✨ I’m so so happy! (31 comments)
- 2023-10: My $99 Lulu's Dress (31 comments)
- 2024-01: Update: Cheap Wedding Dress (31 comments)
- 2024-08: How much do dresses go down in price after the season is over? (31 comments)
- 2025-03: Where to resell big budget wedding dress (30 comments)
- 2025-12: Wedding dress budget sweet spot? (30 comments)
- 2026-08: $500 Reputable affordable wedding dress sites (30 comments)
- 2022-11: Got my dream dress for $600! Original price ~1,800. More in comments. (30 comments)
- 2020-08: NEED HELP: Cheap Wedding Dress? Shame? (30 comments)
- 2021-07: Help finding this dress. I fell in love with this dress made by “made with love” but it costs $2800. I was wondering if anyone has seen something similar to this in a better price range? (30 comments)
- 2023-02: How much do alterations cost? (30 comments)
- 2022-11: How much did your alterations cost? (30 comments)
- 2025-11: How/where are we finding dresses? I'm on a budget and I don't want the boutique experience. (30 comments)
- 2026-01: Dream dress 1.5k over budget (30 comments)
- 2019-02: I bought my dress secondhand, and it only needed $64 in alterations! Best wedding purchase I made. 8 weeks to go! (30 comments)
- 2023-11: Expensive wedding dress (29 comments)
- 2025-01: Super cheap princess wedding dress (29 comments)
- 2025-11: (10k) I have found my dream dress but I think it’s too expensive. (29 comments)
- 2025-03: I bought a wedding dress for $100 today 🥰 (29 comments)
- 2026-02: Wedding dress ?regret? (29 comments)
- 2022-03: Dress regret? Is this a bad idea?! Story in comments (29 comments)
- 2022-01: What my alterations cost: An itemized list (29 comments)
- 2025-05: Big budget dress difficulty (28 comments)
- 2026-08: ($500) Wedding dress reasoning, I would love some feedback (28 comments)
- 2024-05: Cost of Wedding Dress Alterations? (28 comments)
- 2026-05: Dresses under $2500 (28 comments)
- 2024-08: Any recommendations on where to buy beautiful ball gown wedding dresses for cheap? (28 comments)
- 2026-07: Bridesmaids dresses on a budget (28 comments)
- 2020-03: Can we discuss alterations costs? (28 comments)
- 2021-09: Cost of dress alterations in NYC? (27 comments)
- 2017-03: I FINALLY BOUGHT THE DRESS!! Is it normal to feel 50% overwhelming excitement...and 50% irrational, anxiety-fueled buyer's remorse despite loving the dress? (27 comments)
- 2020-09: How much did you spend on your wedding dress? (USD$) (27 comments)
- 2026-09: Will I regret not spending more on my mother’s and sister’s dresses? (26 comments)
- 2023-01: Not started looking yet but do wedding dress shops sell just skirts or will I have better luck somewhere else? (26 comments)
- 2013-08: Let's take a poll: How much did you spend on your wedding dress? (26 comments)
- 2025-06: Is $2,000 a good price range for a wedding dress? (26 comments)
- 2018-03: I said yes to the dress! (And got an extra 5% off the price just by asking) (26 comments)
- 2022-07: How much did you spend on your wedding dress? Was it worth it? (26 comments)
- 2026-01: Dress Budget vs. Photographer (25 comments)
- 2026-06: What to expect in wedding dress appointment? Price points of designers? City dependent? (25 comments)
- 2023-09: Dress prices (25 comments)
- 2017-08: Help! How much should dress alterations really cost?! (25 comments)
- 2021-11: Can we talk about how I got my wedding dress on Lulu for less than $200!!!!! We are eloping on the beach in SC (25 comments)
- 2016-05: 28 pounds lighter. Cost me a fortune in alterations. Can't wait to wear it on Sunday. (25 comments)
- 2020-01: Having somewhat of dress regret! (25 comments)
- 2025-09: Need to know how much a wedding gown would cost (24 comments)
- 2021-11: Dress Question - Budgeting (24 comments)
- 2026-05: Do I get THE dress over budget? (24 comments)
- 2024-06: Alteration cost?? (23 comments)
- 2026-07: Hidden planning cost: dress cleaning / preservation (23 comments)
- 2019-08: Y’all were not joking about the price of alterations! Here’s the cost breakdown for mine.. (23 comments)
- 2025-12: Looking for budget wedding dress shops! (22 comments)
- 2022-06: Bridesmaid Dress: what's a good price point? (22 comments)
- 2022-09: How much did you spend on your wedding dress? (22 comments)
- 2026-01: Vietnam invitations and dress prices? (22 comments)
- 2026-05: Dress Budget (22 comments)
- 2022-07: Is £350 normal for alterations? My wedding dress just needs some bringing in at the top and hem. Imo it’s only simple alterations and I am paying £40 for express service so without this would be 310 I have attached the alterations being done at the top that cost £160 plus £150 for the hem. (22 comments)
- 2022-04: So in love with my Lulus wedding dress and can’t wait to get married this month! It only cost me $350 total including alterations (21 comments)
- 2020-05: Was anyone else floored when they realized what alterations cost? (21 comments)
- 2021-07: How much is too much to spend on a wedding dress? (21 comments)
- 2026-08: I’m torn on spending $1750 on a wedding dress for a micro wedding. (21 comments)
- 2018-05: Overpaid for dress and am full of regret :( (21 comments)
- 2023-06: Wedding Dress Prices (20 comments)
- 2024-04: Alterations cost (20 comments)
- 2026-05: Offered dress over budget (20 comments)
- 2018-05: Experiencing Dress Regret (20 comments)
- 2026-03: Where to get reasonably priced after party dresses? (19 comments)
- 2024-08: Insane Alterations Cost (19 comments)
- 2025-02: Need Veil That Does Not Cost As Much As A Dress (19 comments)
- 2026-01: ($7-10k) Dress and Alterations Cost (18 comments)
- 2025-01: wedding dress shopping: budget vs. actual cost (18 comments)
- 2026-03: Help finding a dress in the 200-400 dollar budget ? (17 comments)
- 2025-12: Budget Friendly Wedding dress stores in 2026 (17 comments)
- 2025-06: Wedding dress regret! (17 comments)
- 2023-09: Veil Cost (16 comments)
- 2025-07: Budget wedding dress recs? (16 comments)
- 2016-10: How much did you spend on alterations for your dress? (16 comments)
- 2019-02: Alterations to make my dress remotely wearable cost nearly as much as the dress itself?? (16 comments)
- 2019-10: How much did you spend on your wedding dress?? (16 comments)
- 2019-01: Looking for a similar veil that DOESN’T cost $1,100 dollars. Please help! (16 comments)
- 2024-11: Whats the Right Budget for Wedding Dress?? (15 comments)
- 2023-02: Dress Regret and Tailoring (15 comments)
- 2024-10: Try before you buy dress at azazie, good price (15 comments)
- 2026-04: Dress shopping recs for $3k or under budget? (15 comments)
- 2019-07: Veil cost?! (15 comments)
- 2022-12: Price matching/ negotiating a dress? WYD? (15 comments)
- 2017-10: How much did you spend on your dress and how did you acquire it? (Poll links in text) (15 comments)
- 2026-05: How much did you spend on dry cleaning dress? (14 comments)
- 2026-09: Wedding dress under $1k (14 comments)
- 2019-11: My pearly veil was one of my favorite wedding details. 9 feet long, amazing quality, and cost $22 from AliExpress. (14 comments)
- 2024-12: How much should it cost to dry clean a wedding dress? (14 comments)
- 2023-05: My alterations cost as much as my dress.. someone tell me it's worth it please 😭 (14 comments)
- 2024-12: Wedding Dress Preservation.... Worth it or can I save the money? (14 comments)
- 2021-03: How much did you spend on your reception dress? (14 comments)
- 2022-12: How much did your alterations cost be what did you have done? (13 comments)
- 2025-09: ($12k) Dress Alterations Pricing (13 comments)
- 2023-03: Bay Area alterations costs? Just to help me avoid sticker shock 😂 (13 comments)
- 2024-09: Alteration costs? (13 comments)
- 2019-06: How much did you spend on Alterations to your Wedding dress? Is $500 average for a quote, or should I keep looking? (13 comments)
- 2026-09: PSA: If you’re just starting to wedding plan, when you budget for your dress,l definitely budget a healthy amount for alterations. (12 comments)
- 2025-08: Dress alteration cost reasonable? (12 comments)
- 2025-02: Cost to clean and preserve? (11 comments)
- 2021-12: Anyone not get their dress preserved and regret it later? (9 comments)
- 2026-01: Dress Alteration Cost? (3 comments)
Official comparisons:
- The Knot 2026 Real Weddings Study
- Zola, wedding dress alteration costs
- CNBC, May 3 2025, tariffs and bridal shops
- NPR, June 29 2025, wedding dress tariffs
"Dress price" is the gown as the bride stated it, including sales tax where she included it, excluding alterations. Alterations, veils and cleaning are counted only where stated separately; brides who said "about $3,000 all-in" appear in the all-in figure only. Regret is tagged from the bride's own words: none, mixed, or clear. Reports in Canadian dollars, pounds, euros and Australian dollars are kept in the dataset and shown on the Canada, UK and Australia pages; every statistic above is US dollars only. Reader submissions are reviewed and added at each data refresh (every two months).
Download the dataset: wedding-dress-prices.csv (6,961 rows, CC BY 4.0, link back to this page).