VoucherCodes advises on how to save on your dress shopping

Anita Naik, Savings Expert at VoucherCodes.co.uk provides her top tips for saving money on your attire be it the wedding dress or your wedding guest outfit. “We know how important it is to pick the perfect outfit ahead of the big day, which requires time to plan and browse. But with rising costs and weddings being more expensive than ever to organise, I’ve put together my top tips to help you save that extra bit of cash when it comes to purchasing your big-day look. 

Tip 1 – Sample Sales. Boutiques, bridal salons, and retail stores will often host sample sales throughout the year, where designers will significantly reduce dress prices as they look to clear out their stock ahead of a new season. This can provide a fantastic opportunity to get a dress at a discounted price, but with these sales only happening once or twice a year, make sure to check in with your favourite designers or bridal boutiques to find out where and when they sell samples.

Tip 2 – Shop off the rack. Buying a dress that’s made ready to wear, straight off the rack, is a great way to save some extra cash whilst keeping the quality to a maximum. The cost of an off the rack dress will generally be significantly lower than one that needs to be customised or pre-made, which drives up the price. Another bonus is that this approach can save you time, allowing you to bring the dress home the very day you purchase it, as opposed to having to wait months for a customised or pre-made one.

Tip 3 – Rent a dress. Whilst it may not be for the sentimental bride, renting a dress is a great alternative for wedding guests. This will allow you to wear the dress you’ve always dreamed of whilst keeping the costs to a minimum – just make sure that you’re aware of the return policy to avoid any late fees. Sites such as By Rotation and HURR offer a range of fashionable dresses.

Tip 4 – Shop pre-loved. If you want to keep your dress after the big day but can’t afford to purchase it new, consider opting for a pre-loved dress. As brides typically only wear their wedding gowns for one day, purchasing a second-hand alternative is almost as good as buying a new design. With the money you’ll save, you could even look to customise your pre-loved fit like adding or removing sleeves. Browse around a range of pre-loved sites, compare the cheapest prices, pick a dress you like and ensure that the quality is to a good standard.

Tip 5 – Family Heirloom. Wearing a wedding dress that’s been a part of your family history, whether it belonged to your mother or grandmother carries great sentimental value, all you’d have to consider is dress tailoring costs, so it fits to your size and possibly restoration costs if it needs a little sprucing up. So, if this is something you’d consider, ask around the family to see if they can help you out ahead of the big day.

Online retailers often have a wide range of dresses to suit all tastes and styles, at varying budgets. Whilst it won’t quite match the experience of browsing for dresses in a bridal boutique, scanning the web for the best deals and filtering to match your price range is a great way to find reasonably priced gowns. Websites such as VoucherCodes.co.uk, the UK’s most trusted voucher site, have great discounts on both wedding dresses and guest dresses, offering you the best possible deals.”