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All-in archive · 2,422 accounts · updated September 2026

Every All-In Figure Brides Gave

Accounts that name one total for the whole outfit rather than itemising it. They do not appear on the price-range pages, because those are built on the gown price alone.

An all-in figure usually covers the gown, the tailoring and the veil, but brides differ on what they include, so read the account next to the number.

Every column of figures sorts: click a heading. The archive runs cheapest first across all 7 pages, so sorting reorders the 400 accounts on this page rather than the whole set.

Page 1 of 7 · Next

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All inDressYearThe account
$0$02025borrowed a friend's handmade dress
$0$02024Free raw silk gown that needed no alterations
$8$32025Flower girl dress, not the bride's: $5 asking price talked down to $3 at a garage sale, neighbour altered it free, dry clean cost more than the dress
$10$10202410 NZD at a thrift store, half off; fits without alterations; plans to rewear it for years
$23$2320252025
$25$25201725 second-hand, no alterations
$25$252022Goodwill gown 25 in her size; a second 25 dress was altered for free by a family friend
£28£282026Charity-donated old stock found on eBay for £28; out-of-fashion style, fitted without alterations.
£32£322024Brand new with tags for 32 pounds (source not stated); doing tiny alterations herself. Bridesmaid dresses will cost more.
£40£402023backup dress
€45€302026Ivy & Oak dress for 30 EUR on Vinted, 15 EUR to take in and shorten
$47$472016Lace dress with train and veil, 47 including shipping; whole 115-guest wedding around 20-22k
$50$502023hemmed the tulle herself
£55£152025Found about a month before the wedding; only slight alterations needed
$65$602025Sequin party dress worn for an elopement, veil from the same site; only the bust was pinched, shapewear underneath
$65$302025Two gowns at $30 and $35 in a Labor Day sale bought before the proposal; plans to donate whichever does not fit.
£65£502026£50 Cider dress fluffed up with a £15 Amazon petticoat; shortening it to rewear in summer.
£70£702025Secondhand and unaltered in great condition; she washed it in the bath because dry cleaners were shut
£70£602026£60 half-price sale dress plus a £10 eBay bolero.
£70£502021Ordered from a Chinese eBay seller after a fun try-on day in shops; a local seamstress shortened it for 20
$72$602024Wore a 60 dress with 12 in alterations after first settling on a 300 dress she never wore
$80$802023Black Friday; second marriage; own alterations
$80$60202460 dress plus a 20 shoulder cape from Amazon; shortened the hem and straps herself, so no paid alterations.
£85£852024Vinted find; mother-in-law did the alterations for free.
$88$882023on sale from 300; no bustle needed
$89$892025elopement dress; separate 5000 dream dress planned
$90$902023felt amazing
$90$902026Lulus dress 90, no alterations needed
£95£50202650-pound Amazon dress plus a 45-pound cape; wedding planned in five months on a tight budget
$99$9920252025; found the dress online on sale from 1000
$99$992023Clearance gown; seamstress mom added sleeves and alterations she values at about 1k, free
$99$992024Thrift store, tags still on, originally 1300; alterations done with mother-in-law.
$100$1002023elopement photoshoot; will get dirty
$100$1002023married at 61; mountain ceremony then mudding
$100$1002023100 dress, no alterations
$100$1002024White bridesmaid dress with the free custom sizing option, so no alterations at all; spent just under 100.
$100$1002013Consignment shop find; a friend did the alterations at no charge
£100–2025About 100 covered four dresses plus wedding shoes and bag; the unworn Monsoon gown was resold afterwards for the same price
$100$1002025Minimal alterations done at home with her aunt, so no alteration spend.
C$100C$1002026100 on clearance at David's Bridal in a larger size; mother altered it herself during the bride's pregnancy
$100$1002026Seller had already had it altered and happened to be her exact height and weight, so nothing more was needed.
$100$802022Belt bought separately on Amazon
$105$80202680 from an Etsy vintage shop; 25 to take in the waist at a regular tailor
$110$1102024White bridesmaid dress, no alterations.
$114$992021Dress from a discount dress shop, fingertip lace veil with a comb bought on Amazon; obsessed with both
$115$1002019A bridal shop closing down priced every gown at $100; the veil came off Facebook Marketplace for about $15
$118$1182022Sachin and Babi gown from The RealReal for 118, no alterations; savings went toward extra dresses
$119$892020Lacy party dress 89, not a bridal gown, plus about 30 veil
$120$702025Gown still had its tags; $50 to alter. One of several wedding dresses she has bought across four marriages, another from Express.
$120$1202025Ceremony dress 120 and reception dress 250, both new with tags on eBay; mom doing alterations. Bought several 100-200 dresses before this.
£120£1202026Facebook Marketplace, tags still on from a warehouse sale; no alterations.
$124$702019Silver lace illusion V-neck evening gown ordered off Amazon; tailoring was only straps, an extra hook and eye and taking out the mesh panel
$125$752025Vintage dress with the sleeves taken off by a tailor for 50
$125–2021Dress and veil together for the all-in figure, many years before this 2021 comment; bridesmaids dressed from the same outlet
$127$127202480 Amazon dress plus a 40 satin skirt from eBay; doing alterations herself.
£127£772019Dress 77 plus 50 alterations on a 100-150 budget; self-funding uni student who loved it on first try-on.
$129$992016New with tags in chiffon, silk-lined; alterations were only a hem and shortened straps. She says the style turned up on eBay often in many sizes.
$130$1302023short dress
$130$402022Thrifted 40 ceremony dress plus 90 tailoring; a 60 reception dress needed none; a week of cruise-wedding white dresses ran about 500 total
£130£1002022Partner reporting the bride's 100 dress, 130 including alterations
$134$682017Materials only: $40 fabric, $5 thread, $20 beads, $3 ribbon for the gown, $66 for the lace kimono. Another $60 went on muslins and a scrapped first version.
$135$602025Fashion Nova satin gown (since marked down) for 60; seamstress sewed in a 15 Amazon petticoat and hemmed it for 60, hiding thin seams. Beach wedding April 2025.
£138£1002022End-of-line high-street dress found new on eBay; £38 to shorten
£138£1002022100 GBP on eBay plus 38 GBP to shorten it an inch so she could skip heels.
$140$1002023Cheapest gown on a boutique rack of cancellations and samples; a $40 tulle bolero hand-beaded with lace cut from her mother's dress finished it.
$140$1002021Off-the-rack gown, no alterations; 40 Etsy tulle bolero dressed up with lace from mom's gown and hand beading; made her own veil
£140£1002019ASOS dress for 100, hem shortened a few inches for 40 by a relative; surprised by the quality and recommends it.
$141$1412023Guessed under 500 plus a couple hundred alterations; 141 and fit off the rack
$142$222025Goodwill lace dress with tags for $22; private seamstress added cups and took in sides and arms for $120.
$146$462016Silver prom dress via the Wish app; ~100 expected to remove a sewn-on sash and add a bustle
$146$562022Alterations cost more than the dress
$147$1102015Ivory bridesmaid dress; sewed her own lace yoke and straps, bringing the total to 147 after trying ~200 gowns up to 2000
$148$882025Alterations roughly $60; she also bought a $40 Amazon reception dress.
$149$992025A 100-year-old Vermont boutique closing down priced every gown at 99; the 1450 ticket dress fits with only a small take-in at the top, veil was 50
$149$792026Long purple off-the-rack dress from a BCBG outlet; 70 to take in the shoulders
$150$1502023aunt did alterations; eloped
$150$1502023no alterations; spent more on hair and makeup
$150$15020252025
$150$02013Vintage gown given to her for free, so alterations were the only cost
$150$402026Short tea-length white dress; accessories bring the whole outfit to about $150 and her new bra cost more than the dress. Family thinks it is too short
$150$1502026150 from JJ's House, fit with no alterations
C$150C$1502026Ball gown ordered through someone who knows how to use Taobao; no alterations and it looked expensive.
$150$1502026Linen street dress bought on sale and worn as the gown: no tailoring needed and it has pockets.
$150$1502018150 custom-made dress that fit; hemmed it and added straps herself
$150$602022Sample dress; under 150 all in after alterations
$150$1502022Damaged DB gown with a tear; repaired and altered it herself
£150£1502022Fit perfectly, no alterations
£150£702022Tea-length ivory dress 70 pounds; with petticoat, shoes and accessories about 150 total (wording ambiguous)
$150$1502022Cheap David's Bridal dress altered by the bride herself; bridesmaid dresses will cost more
$150$1502022150 dress; skipped alterations though a hem would have helped
$154$1472022Ordering the gown and the veil together from Amazon, with the veil shipping free alongside the dress
$155$552023Ivory bridesmaid gown caught on clearance; tailoring was only a hem plus a hook and eye at the zipper, which she put at under 100 rather than exactly 100
$155$852022Amazon dress 85 plus 70 alterations for bust and moving appliques; guests assumed it cost thousands; bridesmaids also Amazon at 60-70
$155$1002022Grad student self-funded; 10 vintage pink Etsy veil, 25 belt, 20 crinoline; shoes 30; alterations pending
$159$1592023second marriage; marina wedding; no alterations
$159$84202084 Lulus dress needing only a hem, expected at 50-100 (midpoint used); 4k micro beach wedding for 12 people.
$159–2020Tulle gown from the Jenny Yoo sample sale, $159 including shipping; arrived in two days because it shipped from her own state. Alterations planned but not yet priced
$160$16020252025
$160–2023Budget 500; David's Bridal closing sale: 160 covered a 600-list dress plus shoes, fit off the rack
$160$1602023Planned 500; sale dress with empire waist and puff sleeves; no alterations beyond a 5 ribbon fix she is doing herself
$160$602024COVID-era wedding kept cheap; veil cost forgotten. Purchase year not stated.
$160$602025Amazon dress at about the same price as the asking bride's 60; shortening it cost 100, more than the dress itself.
£160£802025Dedicated bridal charity shop plus a local seamstress
$160$1002022BHLDN sample sale; added a faux-fur wrap; one DB store was huffy about an under-1000 budget
$168$982022Both brides had their dresses made into keepsake pouches afterwards
$170$702020Cape-sleeve maxi hemmed and taken in at a few spots by a seamstress she rates highly
$171$852023Did not want to spend anything after seeing prices
$175$352024OfferUp dress; dry cleaning plus slight alterations cost 140 combined; mentions a wedding group
$175$752025Deliberately bought a gown she knew was too big, then paid a local teacher $100 to alter it
$175$752025Vintage gown bought from an Etsy vintage seller and let out at the waist for $100; she decided against shortening the length
£175£1002025Used the at home try on service; light synthetic fabric that stayed cool and hand washed afterwards; needed a nude slip
$175$1752022Facebook Marketplace, needed no alterations
£176£1002022UK high-street brand RRP 300 bought new on eBay for 100; hem 38; Etsy hairpiece 38; her own dress+alt total was 138
$180$18020252025; listed new at 1400
$180$1802024Ivory gown dip-dyed by an Austrian boutique that is closing; 180 covered the dress, the dye work and shipping, alterations still to come
C$180C$302024A designer gown found in a thrift store, then rebuilt into her own dress with about 150 of materials and roughly 150 hours of work.
£180£502025Dress arrived in perfect condition; only work was taking up the hem
$180$1502026Custom dress with pockets from China for 150 plus 30 hem; looked like a designer dress at a twentieth of the price
$180$802022eBay gown 80 plus 100 alterations, worn at the ceremony and a later reception; considers salon markup a rip-off
$180–2022Local dry cleaner: straps shortened, four-layer hem, about eight buttons replaced; cleaning and pressing 100 more, all done in under two weeks (ikkmupo)
$185$1852023happy she did not spend a dollar more
$185$1252024Sale plus an extra 40% off on a label whose sizing she already knew; shoes were $60
£185£652025Secondhand dress that she found easy to get altered
$189$892024Lulus elopement dress; 49 party dress; 100 covered hemming one and adding cups to the other.
$190$1002025Shop stocked with donated dresses and closed-boutique stock; skipped a hem and bought 30-dollar platform heels instead.
C$190C$1502026150 dress and 40 alterations
$194$1192026119 Azazie bridesmaid dress worn in black, which opened up cheaper options; 75 alterations at a dry cleaner with a good seamstress
$198$99202399 plus tax off the rack; family friend altered it free as a gift; warm Etsy cape cost about the same as the dress
$198$982022Under 98 online plus about 100 to alter
$199$1992023Sample-sale gown bought while still a sample size; aunt is a seamstress and did the alterations free as a wedding gift
$199$1092022Dress 109 plus 90 alterations for 199 total
$200$2002023white wedding dress 200; Indian outfit 1800 separate
$200$20020252025; others were 500-2k
$200–2023David's Bridal going out of business: ceremony dress, reception dress, two pairs of shoes and jewelry for about 200
$200$2002024Plus tax; no alterations beyond cutting out the cup inserts herself.
$200$2002024Fully beaded mermaid found at a local thrift shop, a style she swore she would never wear; fit with no alterations.
$200–2013Gave only a rough all-in figure for gown and alterations
$200–2013Dress plus sleeves waist bustle and armhole comfort work came to roughly this all in; she pushes brides toward a seamstress with no bridal-shop tie
A$200A$202025Bought many years before this 2025 comment - 20 for the gown plus 180 postage; she sent a photo, her measurements and colour choices and it arrived vacuum-packed in a month looking like the picture
£200–2016Hire price included the alterations because each hired dress is still custom fitted
$200$1002025Bought in a shop she walked past on holiday in July, about 100 more to ship it home; a local alterations shop said it fit as-is, only hemming left.
$200$2002026Vintage gown listed only as pre-2000s, no tags; fits without alterations and she plans none. Needs steaming, fabric is fragile, train longer than expected - for an hour-long beach vow renewal
£200£2002026Monsoon dress that fitted without alterations and packed into carry-on for a Caribbean wedding.
$200$1502026150 Lulus dress; an Amazon belt and hemming brought it to about 200 all in.
$200$802026Second-time bride who found it two hours into looking and stopped there; says the dress she really wanted would have started at 600
$200$2002026200 at David's Bridal with no alterations on a 20k total wedding budget
$200–2026200 including alterations for a preowned ThredUp dress and an affordable seamstress
$200–2026Two brides each wore a non-traditional Vixen dress under 200 including minor alterations (upper bound); plan to rewear
$200$20020261970s union-made gown found with very specific search terms; she mended the torn lace and let it out herself.
$200$2002026Off-the-rack gown at or under $200 that was comfortable and needed no alterations at all.
$200$2002022350 Nordstrom dress on sale; no alterations planned
$200$992022First dress tried at DB for 99; hemming brought it to ~200; 10 on blacklight wires sewn in
$200$1002022Two dresses at 100 each
£200£1002022100 pounds at a discontinued/off-season outlet-type shop plus about the same again for good alterations
$205$1702026Vintage-style white summer dress with a rose print bought without thinking of it as bridal; $30-40 of alterations and the right accessories made it read as a wedding dress
$205$1202018Knee-length lace hi-lo A-line dress
$209$892026A 1990s gown that retailed at $2,200, shortened to tea length. She had tried David's Bridal, Azazie and Mac Duggal first.
$209$8920261990s vintage gown fit her as bought, then 120 to hem it to tea length; seller shipped fast
£210£1302026£130 delivered; £80 covered alterations and steaming.
C$210C$1802026180 from ASOS bridal on sale plus 30 alterations; guests took it for vintage silk
$215$65202265 dress with 150 of alterations
$219$992022Listed 989, sale price 99, alterations 120, all at David's Bridal
$220$1002024Wore shirt, pants and waistcoat: 100 for shirt and pants, 120 alterations; 60 of waistcoat fabric paid by mum who sewed it
C$220C$2202026220 on sale at David's Bridal, no alterations; friends guessed 800-plus from photos
$225$1002023Budget 500; bought two dresses at about 100 each, wore one; everything stayed under 500
$225$1502022150 with shipping
$229–2025David's Bridal charged 150 for two small lace back pieces; an independent seamstress sewed them in and hemmed the sleeves for 79
$229$1492022Marshalls online dress plus an 80 ostrich-feather shrug from Amazon
$230$2302023never-worn sample
$230$1802024Lookalike of a $3000 dream dress, price after shipping; $230 all in once she added the undergarment that made it sit right, and she plans to keep it
$230–2026Final-sale Azazie dress at 75% off; 230 total once alterations are included
$230$02018Wore mom's dress free; 230 to cut it into a skirt and move bodice details onto a 65 Madewell top
$232$2322024Dress 232 with no alterations needed
$235$2352023Filtered by height and street size then bought from a seller with near identical measurements; no alterations needed
$240$402024Cheap secondhand find where the alterations cost five times the dress.
$240$402021Two dresses, a $40 one for the ceremony and a $200 one worn at the wedding; both fit off the rack with no alterations
£240£502022Dress £50 plus a £125 evening jumpsuit; £190 alterations covered both; overall wedding budget 22k
€241€902022Used dress with a blackened train (85 + 5 shipping); seamstress removed train and adjusted cups; 94 dry cleaning; low cost-of-living area
$242$1022025Azazie sale gown; alterations cost more than the dress.
$248$1982026Dress the Population Iris slit gown in off-white from Anthropologie for 198; about 50 to shorten straps
$250$2502024On sale from 350; no alterations.
£250£502023Brand new 1800 gown in a closing down sale; 200 more to change the neckline and add tartan
$250$502025Bought from a seller offloading theatre production costumes; alterations ran a couple of hundred; she eloped in a castle in Europe.
€250€502025Two secondhand gowns at roughly 50 each, hemmed to about 250 each all in
£250£502026Handmade 1960s dress from an American Etsy seller; vintage specialist let out the chest and cut it above the knee for about £200.
£250£2502026Off-the-peg shop, taken home same day, no alterations; later won the shop's quarterly refund draw so it was effectively free.
£250£502026Bridal store closing-down sale: £1,800 gown for £50; £200 alterations added a new neckline and tartan corset back.
£250£1002016End-of-season outlet dress; parents covered about £150 alterations for a broke student.
$250$2502026Used gown 250 from a secondhand bridal shop, no alterations needed
$250$15020252025; 150 on AliExpress, two dresses altered in Bali at about 50 each
$250$50202650 dress plus a couple hundred in alterations; simple but pretty, dressed up with accessories; could have afforded more.
$250–2026Budget skirt plus a ballerina top with lace detailing and alterations added by a friend; whole bridal outfit came in under 250.
$250$1502022Sequin dress from Marshalls online, unaltered, plus a 100 Amazon ostrich-feather shrug for a desert Vegas wedding
$250$902022Amazon dress; accessories = ~100 detachable train (half was rush shipping), ~50 bustier, 5 Goodwill veil; friend altered for free
$250$2002022Azazie dress about 200 with alterations of 50 or less
$250$2502022Just under 250 including tax; fit off the rack so no alterations needed
£255£2402024Not a white dress; 15 pounds of hair accessories, everything else owned or borrowed.
$260$2002024Sample sale gown listed at $1,800; near-perfect fit, leftover budget went on shoes
$260$2302013The extra 30 dollars was for shoes
$260$2002026Azazie custom sizing meant no alterations; 60 Etsy topper; tried 3-4 at-home samples first
$265$2002024BHLDN gown normally 1800 bought for 200 at an Anthropologie sample sale; only 65 of alterations; December wedding
$267$262022Alterations cost nine times the dress; seamstress said it does not look cheap
$268$1692024Very simple gown plus a separately bought belt
$270–2023All in with veil, alterations and shoes for 270; married two weeks before commenting
$270$1502026Closing-down bridal shop: dress 150, veil 120; non-designer but a unique design
$270$982022New-with-tags Torrid occasion dress from eBay; first dress (about 150) returned for wrong size
$274$1992025David's Bridal sale rack; alterations were a hem and letting out the sides.
$275$2752023loved it
$280$1002021Alterations cost nearly twice the dress; savings went into food and dessert at the reception
$285$2002022200 ceremony dress plus 85 reception dress
$287$2002018Budget bride; alterations removed the train and took in the bust
$290$2302013Walked away from a bridal shop and had a traditional Indian community tailor raise the hem and take in the bust for a quarter of the dress price
£290£2902025Ordered several and sent the rest back; no alterations needed and very comfortable
C$290C$2002026Wanted a dress she would not be anxious in; simple satin style was perfect after a steam, but she warns off the lace and tulle options. Price includes tax.
£295£752026Non-traditional £75 sale dress, £90 cape, £130 alterations; just under £300 total.
$295$2302022Ordered just before Azazie raised prices
$299$2992026Tadashi Shoji online 299, no alterations needed
$300$3002023silk midi slip for a Vegas elopement
£300–2022Under 300 pounds for gown and shoes together; a Needle & Thread bridesmaid-line lace gown in powder pink bought in the Black Friday sale, worn with Dr Martens
$300$2002023Lulus dress plus alterations
$300–2024Turned down a 3,000 offer from her mother; picked a white off-the-rack dress with a corset back so only the hem needed work.
$300$2002024Sale gown she could try on and return; she did her own alterations and thrifted shoes, hair pieces and a fur shawl she still wears
$300$2002024The boutique wanted a couple of thousand to rush-order it; searching the style number found the same gown used
£300£2002025Used the paid home try on service first, keeping only the dress she chose
$300$2502026Never-worn no-name dress from a consignment store for 250; alterations 50
C$300C$3002026French satin sheath on sale at Ethos in Calgary for 300 (currency taken as CAD from location); mom's friend altered it as a gift
$300$2002026Lulus dress 200 plus about 100 alterations
$300$2002026David's Bridal dress 200; 100 for zipper-to-corset-back conversion, sleeve pinning and hem by a family friend in a LCOL area
$300$3002026New-with-tags dress in her exact size from Facebook Marketplace for 300, no alterations
£300£1502026Lulus dress at 150 pounds with 150 of light alterations; liked it more than the expensive gowns she tried
C$300C$3002026300 CAD from Park and Fifth, no alterations
$300–2026All-in figure covers two dresses: a sparkly goth main gown from a secondhand bridal store and a separate reception dress
$300$3002026Preowned Stella York, 300 shipped; a local consignment shop had the same gown listed at 1200
C$300–2025300 covered dress, alterations, shipping and tax for an August 2025 wedding; lace train with appliques and four layers
$300$3002026Short all-lace little white dress from Jenny Yoo around 300; fit off the rack so no alterations, which would have cost more than the dress
$300$2602016Floor-length maid dress had to be hemmed, pushing it to about 300; she earned well and still winced at it
$300$2622021Boho lace gown ordered online; $262 for the dress and $300 total once expedited shipping was added. This was her second dress after regretting the first
$300$2002022Belt and veil added for 100; warns stores upsell add-ons
$300$3002022Corset and skirt from two Etsy makers (corset by Ukraine-based Kingdom Lace), made to measure so nothing to alter
$300–2022300 so far including cleaning; alterations pending
$300–2022Under 300 covered four dresses across two weddings (two bought online, one for a friend at 25, one in store)
$300$3002022Vintage Gunne Sax in perfect condition from Etsy for 300; fit without alterations
$300$2302022About 230 with custom sizing; minor alterations kept the total under 300
$309$2792024Chose the cheaper of two near-identical off-shoulder gowns, plus a 30 petticoat; the 439 alternative was blocked once production started
$310–2026310 including shipping and alterations
$310$3102026Olivia Bottega 310 on a deep one-size sale; alterations gifted by a seamstress family friend
$310$1602024Cheap dress; 150 covered hemming and steaming, nearly matching the dress price
$312$1982022$198 Lulu's dress: liner hemmed, tulle cut, hips let out and beading repaired for $114 at an independent shop.
$315$2502022Etsy shop LaceMarry with custom sizing, which kept alterations to 65
C$316C$2362026236 bought online; 80 alterations
$319$149202580 covered attaching a rhinestone belt and steaming; belt itself 90.
$320$1502023Budget 700; deliberately shopped secondhand
$320$2602016Simple champagne gown ordered online; hoped to stay under 400
$325$2952026Dress 295 and veil 30
$325–1996Wedding 30 years earlier: cleaning plus boxing about 125 and modest alterations around 200; plain fabric, nothing specialty or vintage.
$330$3302026Azazie Barbie lace column dress 330, no alterations needed
$330$802026Short Amazon dress about 80 for an informal wedding; 250 to alter sleeves and hem; leftover budget went to the wedding band
$330$3002022Off the rack marked down from 500 plus 30 to add cups; wife's dress 150 off the rack plus 100 for cups and taking in
C$330C$250–250 dress plus 80 alterations (CAD), a 95 dancing dress and 300 shoes she still wears. Years ago, tight income; not sentimental about the dress.
C$336C$1362022Non-white bridesmaid dress from David's Bridal; about 200 in alterations
$340$260202379 Lulus dress unworn; 260 thrift dress with a bow she removed
$340$3002026Her consultant steered her off bridal and to a prom dress needing only minor alterations, then told her to buy the veil on Amazon; the 40 covers veil, jewellery and accessories. Dress later donated
$340$1202019Unfinished $120 Etsy piece plus $20 shipping; a friend finished it for $200 - the comment does not say outright whether it is the dress or the veil
$340$2602022Was prepared for 1000; veil to be bought for 80; fits well
$343$682026Navy Amazon dress 68 for a Red Rock Canyon handfasting; 50 Etsy cathedral veil, 75 flower crown, 25 belt, 125 Swarovski necklace; oxfords already owned
$345$452020Prom clearance dress identical to a Lulus style; cleaning cost $200 so she could wear it again after a Covid-era wedding.
$345$3002022Custom-sized from China with veil included; 45 crinoline, 25 rush shipping; no alterations; shoes 30, accessories ~100 est
$350–2024Dress and veils together after haggling; she tried styles on in store first
$350$25020251950s ballgown from a local vintage store plus a vintage Jessica McClintock reception dress for about 100 on eBay
$350$3502026Designer gown found on deep sale, 350 with shipping, bought unseen and fit perfectly; alterations gifted by a friend
$350–2026Reception dress for a bride of 5ft1, all in after alterations
$350$1002022Secondhand gown from a going-out-of-business sale
$350–2022All-in figure covering gown and alterations; bought during the Black Friday sale, hemmed, bodice taken in and straps fixed to length
$350$02011Won the dress; needed about 550 in alterations but a loyal seamstress charged 350 since the giveaway shop had botched it
$355$2002024About 200 with tax and shipping; 15 alterations; 140 steaming the day before.
£360£3502023red and black dress; white version would be 1000
$360$36020252025; 500 CAD
$360$1002026Husband reports wife's dress 100, alterations 60, veil 100, accessories 50 and shoes 50 for 360 total
$360$2502026About $360 all in with two veils and lace and faux-fur boleros for a winter outdoor wedding; an earlier cheap online dress turned out to be a scam.
$360$1602026160 Nordstrom dress plus a 200 lace bolero from Etsy (logged as accessory); no alterations needed
£360£3002022Fit perfectly, no alterations
$365$3652026Built from separates she can wear again: corset about 200, satin roses about 40 for sleeves she sewed herself, bloomer shorts 55 and a tulle overskirt about 70
$368$3282019$328 dress plus $40 shipping; made to her own measurements so no alterations needed. Ordered in June for a September wedding
$375–2022Local hometown shop; 375 total including alterations, dress price not split out
$375$1002022$250-300 (midpoint) at a local tailor on a $100 Lulu's dress; between sizes, sleeves and hem shortened for a 5ft2 bride.
$379$2812024Cocomelody with free custom sizing via coupon; only alteration was removing the train for a Las Vegas wedding.
$380$1802025Kept the $180 try-on dress at a discount, then spent about $200 on alterations in five weeks; free made-to-measure would have avoided that
$380$1802025Off-the-shoulder champagne gold gown bought on sale after falling for a $2,400 Gemy Maalouf; guests audibly reacted when she walked in
$380$3602026360 from the Philippines plus a 20 veil; alterations still to be priced
$380$2502022Simple off-the-shoulder DB dress 250 new, plus a 50 lace-and-pearl belt and an 80 pearl veil; no train
£388£1882023Budget 300; high-street Coast dress caught on sale; the 200 accessory is an embroidered leather jacket
$397$2972017Tried on in a DB store then waited for Black Friday/Cyber Monday online pricing; 1095 MSRP, 100 alterations
$400$4002023About 400 custom fit on Etsy, no alterations; came out slightly short once a petticoat went underneath, so allow for shoes and petticoat
$400$4002023Wanted under 1000, really 500; size options meant no tailoring; questions the 6-8 month order-then-tailor model
$400$4002003Off the rack at David's Bridal 20 years earlier, no alterations needed
$400$4002016About 400 in 2016; a friend who is a gifted tailor altered it free, which would otherwise have cost about 400
$400$3002024Just under 300 on Amazon; only needed a hem.
$400–2024New-with-tags dress from eBay plus experienced seamstress and added petticoat, under 400 all in; fiance's bespoke suit cost twice that
$400$4002013Beaded lace gown made to measure overseas; arrived needing no alterations and she rates the quality
$400$4002025Boutique wanted $1400 plus tax before alterations; found the same gown online already altered and local to try on, veil included
£400£2002025Bought at a local bridal shop sample sale; alterations matched the price of the dress
£400£4002017Under 400 GBP delivered for a gown made to her measurements in New Zealand and shipped to the UK, including the blue underskirt detail she asked for
$400–2025Separates: silk skirt, cashmere sweater, embellished kitten heels and earrings came to under $400 for the whole look.
$400–2026400 USD package from a Vietnamese shop: custom dress, veil, sleeves or gloves and petticoat, made in 5 days, shipping extra; tried styles locally first
$400–2026400 for two custom wedding dresses made in Vietnam through family contacts; shops there also ship internationally
C$400C$2502026Consignment shop well outside the GTA; a local seamstress altered it for 150. She would not spend 1k on something worn once.
$400$1002016Short dress around 100; the 300 covers shoes plus headpiece; savings redirected to open bar and honeymoon
$400$3502016Etsy dress she couldn't find elsewhere; 50 seamstress fee; under her 500 budget
$400$1402017Sophia Tolli knockoff from eBay for 140, 250 alterations and a 10 petticoat
$400$4002018Made-to-order Etsy gown just under 400, no alterations needed; clear sizing form and quick answers from the seller
$400$2752020BHLDN Belize dress for 275, just under 400 with tax and alterations; two-person destination wedding, dress about 7.5% of budget.
$400$3002022Rated as nice as an 1100 DB dress tried on; Etsy tulle overskirt added for a long ceremony train
$400$1952022Clearance price included shipping and tax; about 400 all in
$400$4002022Azazie gown 400 with free custom sizing, so no alterations were needed
$420$3002025Bought online to avoid group shopping; a local seamstress did the alterations
$420$3002026Black dress from Saks for 300; about 120 to shorten shoulder straps
£420£4002025Found the £900 Wed2B dress brand new on Vinted for £400; only a £20 bustle needed.
C$420C$1402026Dress cost 140 and the alterations cost roughly double the dress.
$420$1202022Lulus dress about 120; alterations 300 for sleeves and hem because sizing fell between L and XL
$425$3002024Gown plus alterations.
$425$1752022175 Catholic ceremony dress plus ~250 Indian reception dress, both custom-sized
$425$1502022Lulu's dress altered at David's Bridal for about $275, $125 more than the dress; liner sewn in, slit and sleeves shortened; regrets the sleeves.
€430€4002023Etsy dress made from a reference picture; 30 alterations
$430$3002020Dress marked down from 1350 to 300; veil from 300 to 130; other accessories forgotten
C$435C$1452026Alterations stated as twice the cost of the dress, so about 290 on a 145 gown
£435£2002026Sample sale, originally 2900 pounds; alterations 235
$435$3752026April 2026 bride; 375 Anthropologie dress, about 60 alterations
C$435C$4002022Tried it on in person; unpreserved dress had a few discolored beads, replaced by a cheap tailor for 35
$440$802024Whole outfit: mesh dress, tailoring, a $120 embroidered Etsy veil, $60 shoes and an $80 strapless bra; a friend did her hair
£440£1402025Very petite bride; the 300 covered detailing and a bustle she added, plain alterations would have been about 150
€440€4002021Morilee on sale at a local shop during covid for 400 euros; veil 40 euros; wedding later called off
$440$40020221200 BHLDN dress on sale for 400 (440 with tax); no alterations; shoes 60 on sale
$441$3662009Discontinued rack dress that turned out to exist in her size; only a bustle was needed
$444–2022Custom-sized Azazie gown plus hip and bustle alterations came to 444 after Azazie refunded part of the alteration bill; 519 without the refund
$445$3452023The Lucinda, sold as a reception dress rather than a wedding gown; fit out of the box and the 100 was to close the centre slit. Worn to a late September wedding
$445$4452024Made to her measurements in China so no alterations; price covered tax and shipping, two months door to door
$448$4362017Discontinued DB gown, 1050 down to 450 plus a 10% coupon; 12 veil, 90 shoes; expects alterations to cost more than the dress
$449$992022Clearance dress; alterations cost three and a half times the dress
$450$4502025perfect
$450$4502023law school budget; fed 375 guests instead
$450$45020252025; adores it
$450$3002023Budget 1000 for a budget wedding; alterations figure is a consultation estimate
$450$4501998Raw silk halter with full skirt, 25 years ago; mom did the hem and shortened the train for free
$450$3001995David's Bridal in the 1990s (year approximated); veil was a comb with three silk roses for 150
$450–2001Gown plus extras for one price; glad she did not spend more on something she has not looked at since
£450£3002025Vintage bridal shop; clearly secondhand which she likes; the 150 alterations figure is her estimate
$450$4502025Sample-sale gown bought through StillWhite; mother is doing alterations for free.
$450$1502025Amazon dress; tailoring cost twice the gown.
$450–19831983 wedding: 350 covered dress and veil; about 100 in alterations that amounted to remaking the dress after a 30-pound illness-related loss
$450$2019941994 wedding: vintage dress 20; 430 of alterations including a train taken from her mother's spare wedding dress
$450$1002022About 100 Amazon gown with 300-400 alterations (hemming tulle layers); photographed well but she still eyes pricier mermaid gowns
$450$1502022Alterations double the dress price, mostly hemming for a very short bride
$450$2502022Amazon dress; 100 alterations plus a last-minute 100 bustle
$460$2052026Secondhand dress store find at 205 fit almost perfectly; 200 for a small hem and detachable sleeves; 55 Etsy veil
$460$602026Too small; alterations include letting out and adding sleeves
$460$1002026100 from Taobao/Alibaba plus 360 alterations; later resold for 80; suggests women's fashion or prom consignment over bridal consignment
$460$1602018160 at David's Bridal plus 300 alterations; mother had 1000-plus set aside but she would not enjoy an expensive dress
$470$202020Used dress for 20 with a full-skirted train; about 450 in 2020 to shorten the skirt, remove bows and redo the bustle
$470$2702016Sale from 399 in 2016; alterations were a hem across several tulle layers; returned four other dresses
$470$4402022Custom machine-washable dress with pockets; only strap shortening needed
A$470A$4472022JJ's House order (~320 USD) plus 38 for custom measurements and a 23 petticoat; advises buying only styles with photo reviews
$470–2022Used dress from a vintage boutique; 470 total including a hem-only alteration
$475$252023Used gown in excellent condition; alterations (mostly shortening skirt and train) cost 18x the dress
£475£1002025Secondhand gown at a hospice wedding fair; the 350 to 400 estimate covers alterations plus dry cleaning in London
C$475C$3752026Used Azazie's try-on rental, then bought custom-sized on Cyber Monday for 350-400 (midpoint); seamstress added a bustle and shortened straps for 100
$480–2024480 total: single-layer hem and hips taken in, of which 120 was steaming and pressing before the wedding.
A$480A$3802022Jumpsuit; alterations = taking in, seam reinforcement, cups; 50 shoes; sewing her own capelet for ~100 in materials
$480$3002022Secondhand BHLDN gown (about 1200 new) for 300 on eBay; minor alterations 180
$480$3002022Used dress via StillWhite; alterations 80 and cleaning 100; also holds an unworn ~250 backup dress she plans to resell
$484$3942024Loved it immediately.
$490$3902026First marriage: white strapless ballgown floor sample 390 plus 100 alterations; second marriage: blue sequined Mac Duggal evening gown 550 plus 100 alterations
$490$4402022440 after tax on a 400 budget; Etsy caplet; separate navy Macy's reception dress for 80
$495$4952016San Marino champagne lace tea-length gown from the designer's at-home sell-off of the 2015 line; cash, no tailoring; had eyed a 4000+ House of Mooshki
$499$49920252025; fits perfectly
$499$49920252025; DIY pearl straps; no bustle
$499$4992026Ordered online and it fit perfectly with nothing to alter; the whole wedding including flowers outfits and the ring came in under 2000
$500$5002023sale from 1400; fits already; cocktail-style reception
€500€5002023fabric for two dresses; sewing herself
£500£5002023perfect amount
$500$50020252025; free custom sizing so no alterations
$500$5002023Mom bought two consignment dresses, 100 and 500; the 500 one was a custom designer piece originally 2500-6000; maid of honor altered both free
$500$2002023Budget 1k; Amazon dress; a 100 reception dress on top
$500–2023Bought the gown on eBay and paid a seamstress to build a new back; the 500 figure reads as the combined outcome rather than the gown alone
$500$2002023Ceremony dress 200 plus about 250 alterations and a 50 half-price reception dress, 500 for both; proud of the prices but rushed the search
$500$1502024Beaded sequined off-the-rack dress; three bridal alteration shops wanted 800+, a well-reviewed local seamstress did it for 350
$500$5002024Azazie with free custom sizing; 500-something and no alterations needed
$500$5002024Clearance gown against a $4k budget; the seamstress could not find anything to alter
$500–2024Eldest daughter wore a prom dress and stayed under $500 even after alterations
$500–2025500 covered two elopement-style dresses bought at a stylist's shop; mother paid for jewelry and bands instead
$500–2013Bought used because the same gown was 1300 new; the 500 covers a 108 dollar veil, an 80 dollar headband, a 75 dollar petticoat and an 85 dollar bra
$500$2002013Prom dress rather than a gown: alterations more than doubled the purchase price and she will not use the chain again
£500£5002025Made to her own measurements so no alterations are needed and a matching veil is included; the equivalent gown was quoted at 4000 locally and a Fiverr sketch cost her 18
£500£4002025Taobao does not ship outside China, so she paid about 100 more for a shopping agent to forward it to the UK; she offers it as proof you can get this look at that price from Asian high-street labels
$500–2025Bought her dress off the rack in a Black Friday sale; dress and veil together came in under $500
£500£5002015Off the rack about ten years ago, no alterations; designed to convert into a cocktail dress
$500$5002025Rented a Morilee for about 500 with alterations and veil included, 2025
$500$1502026Off-the-rack dress 150; alterations about 200; veil 90; sparkly sneakers 80; whole look about 500
$500–2026500 including alterations.
$500$2002026Bought secondhand (source not stated), originally a 2800 dress; the 300 covers dry cleaning plus minor alterations
$500–2026Rented two dresses for under 500 total, no alterations needed

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Price reports on this page come from 113 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 (113)