While a designer wedding gown can take a huge chunk out of your wedding budget, using a little imagination, can yield wedding dress alternatives that will have all the beauty of a new dress at a fraction of the cost. Thinking outside the box will also allow you to have a truly unique, often one of a kind bridal gown.

An idea that may have never crossed your mind is to consider purchasing a bridesmaid dress. If you take a look through bridal magazines you will see that many of the dresses that are labeled bridesmaid dresses are just as nice as the dresses for brides. You can often purchase a somewhat plain bridesmaid dress in a style that is flattering to you and have a seamstress add embellishments to make it a little fancier and more bride like. The difference is usually many hundreds of dollars in price.

Another alternative idea is to wear the dress that your mom, grandmother, aunt or other family got married in. Even with the cost of alterations often a used dress will be cheaper than a new one.You will not only save a ton of money, but it will also be sentimental. If you are into vintage and retro fashion, this is an especially great option.

While many brides preserve and keep their wedding dresses, many others choose to sell them. Used wedding dresses often sell for a fraction of what they originally cost. This makes consignment shops a great place to shop for a dress for your wedding. Also take a look at any special occasion or prom dresses the consignment shop may have. Many dresses that are not strictly wedding gowns are elegant enough that they make beautiful wedding dresses. You might also check the classified ads in your local paper as well as online for great deals on used wedding dresses.

Antique, vintage and thrift shops are also good places to take a look. Although true antique wedding dresses may be pricey, they are often less than a new one.

I have mentioned it before, but it is worth repeating. The special occasion section of your local department stores will often be a gold mine of affordable dresses. Many of the dresses will be perfect for your wedding day, especially if you are not having an ultra formal wedding.

Before you spend thousands of dollars on an expensive wedding dress, take these ideas and shop around. You can be a beautiful bride on your wedding day without spending a fortune on your wedding dress.

There are multitudes of beautiful designer wedding dresses on the market, I am sure you have looked through a bridal magazine or two and seen the pictures. What many brides don’t know is that there are also a multitude of beautiful bargain wedding dresses. Often you will find an inexpensive wedding dress that looks almost exactly like the much more expensive designer wedding gown, but at a fraction of the cost. The secret is knowing where to look. One of our sponsored advertisers is an excellent place to find wedding gowns for reasonable prices.

US Weekly has just published an article on Jen Schefft, from The Bachelorette. The article is all about how Jen is planning her wedding on a budget since being laid off from her job. The dress US Weekly featured her in is from one of our sponsored advertisers and is absolutely gorgeous. You can see the magazine photo here. If seeing that wedding gown and the unbelievable price doesn’t convince you that you can find a wedding dress that doesn’t break your budget, I don’t know what will.

So, take a tip from us, you don’t have to spend a fortune on your dress. Shop around and don’t be afraid to shop online at a reputable internet retailer. Examine the return policy before you order. Any reputable online store will have a return policy that allows you to return or exchange the dress if you do not like it after seeing it up close.

In your quest to have a beautiful wedding on a budget, finding bargain wedding dresses that look like you spent thousands is one of the easiest ways to save money.

Where you shop will have a big influence on the price you end up paying for your wedding dress. The simple truth is that a full scale bridal shop will be the most expensive option you have. So, if you are interested in saving some money you might to steer clear of these exclusive bridal shops. You may however be able to find cheap wedding gowns in these shops if you are willing to buy sample dresses. Bridal shops have these for brides to try on and look at and they do take abuse, but you just might find a bargain if you look.

Many department stores have a bridal section and you might find a dress that works with your budget there. The real secret in department stores is to shop in the evening or formal wear section. You may find a suitable dress at a great price. You may even think of buying a simple formal wear dress and having someone add embellishments to it in order to make it more like a wedding gown. Use your imagination.

Ordering online is often a great money saver. You can often shop locally and find the same or similar style so you know how it looks and fits and then order the dress online and save big bucks. If you aren’t able to try a similar dress, reputable online retailers will have size charts and measurement guides on their site as well as the ability to easily return the dress if you are not happy with it. Be sure you check return policies before you order. You will find a great selection of low cost designer wedding dresses and unbelievably cheap wedding gowns here at 80% off retail prices.

Shop around, there are bargains to be had if you look in the right places. Think outside the box and you just may walk away with the dress of your dreams at a budget friendly price. I hope these tips help you in your search for beautiful, elegant but cheap wedding gowns.