Weddings can be shockingly expensive, regardless of how much money you do or don't have. Every little thing adds up so quickly! When my husband and I were planning our wedding we splurged on the things we loved – good food, a full bar, and stationery – and saved on things that were less important to us. I'm not a big flower person so my husband's aunt provided all of the flowers out of her abundant garden. We skipped the DJ and spent hours planning out playlists on our iPods.
We also cut corners when it came to what we were wearing. My husband and all of his groomsmen bought their suits together at one of Jos. A. Banks' crazy sales (read more: where to get khaki wedding suits) and I had my dress custom made for me. While the words “custom made” might immediately make you think of dollar signs, my dress was surprisingly affordable.*
This is a great time to go wedding dress shopping if you want a beautiful dress but can't afford to spend a fortune. Last season's dresses are all on sale and some are a real – there are tons of under $500 wedding dresses – since stores want to get them off the shelves to make way for the new releases.
Under $500 Wedding Dresses
I rounded up some of my favorite under $500 wedding dresses, and while you'll see some dresses included that are always affordably priced, there are also gems like this:
It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I think this Julianna Gown would be perfect for a garden wedding! Originally $1,395, it's now on sale for $500 in sizes 0, 2, 4, 6, 8.
If I were to get married again, I'm fairly certain I would purchase the Kiyonna Forever Yours Wedding Dress, which costs $188. It's very similar to the Modern Mesh Dress from Kiyonna that I wore to a wedding over the summer and absolutely LOVED. I rented the dress from Gwynnie Bee. (Here's the image of that dress on Instagram.) The dress was so comfortable and flattering that I think about buying it constantly!
Ready to purchase your wedding dress? Check out these under $500 wedding dresses, but be sure to act fast! Some of last season's dresses are sure to sell out quickly at these prices!
*As affordable as a dress can be that you know you will only wear once in your life.
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