Finding wedding dresses on a budget is not a hard process...you just have to know where to look.  Although they may be the most logical place for you to look first, you probably won't be able to find the best prices in town at your local bridal dress shops.  The question is where do I start looking?

Here are the Top 18 Ways to Help You Save Money on Your Wedding Dress:

1. Shop on Ebay - Ebay is a terrific place for the bargain hunter looking for wedding dresses but remember to always read the descriptions carefully and pay attention to how much the seller is charging for shipping and handling fees.

2. Order From the Internet - There are a number of fine online bridal merchants that offer unbeatable prices.

3. Dicker Over the Price - Sometimes local bridal shops will match prices that you find online, BUT you have to ask.

4. Buy "Off the Rack" - You can find some stores such as David's and BridesMart in the U.S. that offer a good selection of moderately priced dresses with in stock sizes of 2 to 24.

5. Check the Classifieds - Be sure to check your local newspaper classifieds or online ad service such as Kijiji.

6. Shop in the Department Stores - Another great place to look for wedding dresses on a budget. Don't discount places such as Sear's and JCPenney. They often times carry a few budget wedding dresses for unbeatable prices.

7. Get It Made - If you have fallen in love with a dress that costs over $1000, you could perhaps consider having a custom copy made for you by a talented local seamstress.

8. Sew It Yourself - If you are a good sewer (or know a friend or relative who is) you can consider making the gown yourself.

9. Buy a "Sample Gown" - Another great source for wedding dresses on a budget is buying a sample gown. You just might occasionally go into your local bridal shop and find a rack of gowns on sale.

10. Wear Your Mom's Dress or Borrow a Dress - Even if it is a little out of style or date, you would be surprised at how well a talented seamstress could jazz up a vintage gown.

11. Order a Bridesmaid dress or Less Formal Gown - Many bridesmaids' gowns can be ordered in white. You can easily find a beautiful, less-formal wedding dress this way.

12. Vintage Clothing Shops - Wedding dresses can also be found at vintage clothing shops.

13. Outlet Stores - Yes, there are bridal outlet stores for bridal designers and retailers that can offer you substantial savings on wedding dresses.

14. Fabric Swap - If your perfect gown is made of silk, ask if it comes in other more affordable fabric.

15. Travel to Another City/State/Province/Country - Combine a smaller town with other savings such as lower sales tax or favorable exchange rates.

16. Hire a Student - If you have a fashion school or college nearby, you might just be able to hire a student to make your wedding dress for you.

17. Charity Sales - You can also find wedding dresses on a budget by checking out charity sites such as Brides Against Breast Cancer.

18. Rent a Wedding Dress - Rental prices can range from $100 to $600 with deposit required and the gowns are professionally cleaned after each rental and can be altered to fit (check with each rental shop).

So you see, there's 18 Ways to Finding Wedding Dresses on a Budget...although you want to look your best on your wedding, you certainly don't want to pay more than you have to on a dress that you are going to wear for just a few hours!

Happy Bargain Hunting!

Top 18 Ways That Help You Save Money on Your Wedding Dress is a post from: My Wedding Blog

Your wedding day is around the corner, and you haven't yet decided what to choose for your wedding dress? Is it the perfect time to panic? No it isn't. This is but a very normal situation that today's working professionals find themselves in. However, it must be kept in mind that there are few things to be considered before picking up a wedding dress. You simply cannot step inside a store and grab any wedding dress that you set your eyes on. This is your wedding and you just can't be that casual while picking up a wedding dress. There are a few things to be considered while choosing a wedding dress. Sure it is natural for you to get really excited after you accept the proposal from your beau but soon it's time to concentrate on the wedding dress.
One of the first and foremost things that you can do in regards to choice is to decide on a particular style In case you have no idea about wedding gown styles then you need to consider the following tips:

You have to make sure that the wedding dress that you choose suits your age. In case you are pretty young, you may not have much knowledge regarding what to wear. Certainly an old fashioned dress that is complete with longish sleeves and also has a high neckline may not be the right style for you. Similarly, in case you are not in youth, a strapless as well as a short dress probably would not be the very best idea for you because of weight issues that come with age.

The wedding dress that you choose should suit the particular body type you have. In case you have a curvaceous body, you probably would look nicer in a loosely fitting wedding dress that is flowing as well. In case the bride is petite, she should definitely go for a wedding dress with lots of decorations on them especially at the bust line and lower hips. Such decorations may comprise of beads as well as laces, or floral designs.

The wedding dress you choose should suit the seasonal trends, as you sure wouldn't like to be called a ?slob with zero sense of fashion' by anyone on that special day of yours. Summer wedding dresses can be strapless while a winter wedding dress should have more coverage in the form of a short jacket, short wrap, a shawl, or a stole over the shoulders.

Another need that can't be overlooked is to match your wedding dress with the grooms clothing so you look like the perfect match.

Finally, the wedding dress chosen should gel with the thematic approach undertaken at the wedding and should not look out of place. In case of a renaissance themed wedding, you have to dress accordingly so as to look gorgeous, trendy and beautiful all at the same time.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Wedding Dress is a post from: My Wedding Blog

Where and how does one shop for plus size wedding dresses? Every bride wants to wear a beautiful wedding dress and full figured women are no exception. Just because one is not slim doesn't mean one shouldn't have the whole fairytale.

So what choices do you have?

The Bridal Boutique

If you are intending to visit your local bridal boutique, we would advise you to call ahead to find out if they do, indeed, sell plus size wedding dresses. In many cases, they stop at size 14 or 16 and don't carry larger. If they have a selection of wedding dresses in your size, go ahead and make an appointment. If they don't, move on to another venue.

The Plus Size Clothing Store

Many shops specialising in plus size merchandise do sell wedding dresses. Since they also sell clothes for business and every day, the selection of wedding dresses might not be too impressive. Still it's worth a look as there may be a selection of wedding dresses that flatters your body type.

The Internet

Believe it or not, the Internet is an excellent source of plus size wedding dresses and wedding accessories. A quick Google search will yield hundreds of websites for shops and designers specialising in wedding dresses for the full figured woman. If you don't find your dream wedding dress at one of the other venues, you'll definitely find one online.

There's just one problem.

When you purchase wedding dresses over the Internet, in most cases you can't try it on. Wedding dress sizes are funny, plus size wedding dresses are no exception. So when ordering wedding dresses from the Internet, it is important that you measure yourself carefully and order the right size dress. Even if you are on a diet, we suggest that you order your wedding dress at the size you are now, rather than ordering a smaller size wedding dress in the hope that it will fit, come the big day.

Be thorough and check your measurements with those on the Size Chart at the website. If you're unsure, add a half inch to an inch. You can always take the dress in but it is a lot more difficult to let the dress out.

Every bride should look her very best on her wedding day. The full figured woman is no exception. Don't settle for any dress just because it comes in your size. Take your time. Look for wedding dresses online and in the real world. When you find the right wedding dress, you'll look stunning!

Plus Size Wedding Dresses is a post from: My Wedding Blog

A wedding is a dream-come-true occasion for everyone involved, especially the bride. After dreaming for years of her handsome Knight in Shining Armor, she has eventually found him, and is about to embark on a completely different phase of life – one that includes him, and actually revolves around him, with only their love and commitment as the focus. It is a pious union of two souls, blessed as they are by the great Lord, encouraging them to fuse into one complete entity, and face every aspect of life in this very form, with complete dedication and loyalty to each other, and enough love to fill every heart that beats in this entire world.

Now, since the wedding is one of the most significant events in a woman’s life, each and every aspect of it is also equally significant. However, there happens to be one aspect which, at least for the bride, is actually a little more important than the others, and that is her special bridal wedding dress. There are many facets to be taken care of when it comes to selecting the perfect wedding dress for you, and all of them are equally important.

First of all, you need to know the theme of your wedding. This decides the important aspects of the wedding dress. You need to know whether you are holding a gothic wedding, or a casual one, for then it will require a wedding dress that will match the concept, namely a celtic wedding dress or a casual one, respectively. Your budget also plays a very important role in deciding the kind of wedding dress you ought to choose.

Next, you must take care of the fabric of the wedding dress. You could select between any comfortable types of clothing material, the thickness depending on the season, and, once again, the theme. Once you have decided this, your next step would be to decide on the kind of cut you want to wear in the form of your wedding dress. The cut not only includes the length and neckline, but also the overall contour ad fitting of the dress. Ensure that you choose a cut that suits the theme, season, and of course, the fabric of the dress in itself, and is, most importantly, comfortable for you to wear. For instance, in case you are expecting a baby, you will need a pretty maternity wedding dress, which will enhance your motherly beauty, apart from the obvious bridal kind.

Depending on these factors, you need to decide on the color of the wedding dress. While white is the traditional and conventional hue for a bride, you could select any other one based on your wedding theme and, obviously, your preference. The accessories that you select for your wedding dress, such as gloves, veil or tiara, and the special hand bouquet of beautiful and fragrant flowers, depend on all the facets mentioned above. You can make your choice from the available options.

Choosing the perfect wedding dress is going to be extremely difficult, but if you follow the right steps in the right manner, you are sure to look absolutely stunning on your wedding day, just as you always wanted, and it is really doubtful if your Prince Charming, or any other male in the vicinity, for that matter, will have eyes for any other woman, apart from you. So, choose wisely, and get gorgeous for your wedding day.

Casual Wedding Dresses is a post from: My Wedding Blog

Weddings are one of the most important occasions in a persons life. As a result, every bride strives to look good on this occasion.  Even though other factors like make-up and hairstyle will play a role in your appearance on your big day, the wedding dress will play a major part. Again, both you and your family will be looking at your wedding pictures for decades to come. As such, it is important to let your wedding album remind you of that one moment in time when you looked your absolute best.

How can you look absolutely wonderful on your wedding day?

Here are some factors to consider when deciding on your wedding dress.

1. The occasion

When looking at wedding dresses keep in mind that some dresses will be better suited to some weddings than others. The type of wedding dress to choose will partly depend on the type of wedding you will be having;  your wedding could be formal or informal, take place indoor or outdoor. It could also be a grand occasion in a massive cathedral, a sophisticated evening event with a civil ceremony, a simple church wedding, or a beach wedding in the tropics. This will help to inform your choice but by no means limit it. There are many wedding dresses to choose from for all types of weddings, so it should not be difficult finding one you like and that fits the occasion.

2. Keep your wedding dress in proportion to your body.

There are all different types of body shapes, some people are tall and slender, while others are short or petite, some have large bust and others have wide hips, and many other body types. When choosing a wedding dress, consider ones that flatter your best features while hiding the not so good ones. In order to this, you must know your body type. Remember that a particular dress may look fabulous on someone, but the same dress may seem unattractive on another . For example, If you are a tall and thin bride, huge ball gowns will not do justice to your figure, but rather gowns which are straight up and down (sheath gowns)  will show off your figure and make you look great. Likewise, If you are a short or petite bride, stay away from gowns with too much fabric. These tend to swallow smaller women. A-line wedding dresses are great because they lengthen the body.

3. The Colour

Your wedding dress does not have to be white. More and more women are opting for dramatic reds or soft pinks, pale golds or pretty lilacs. The only condition is that, the colour of your wedding dress should compliment the theme of your wedding. Also, remember to choose a colour that best suits the colour of your skin and makes it look gorgeous.  Some popular shades are an off-white, ivory or cream shade, these are often easier to wear. Other frequently used colours are light blue, pale pink, cappuccino brown and champagne red. Instead of wearing a coloured dress, you could also decide to just add a bit of colour. It could mean just having a wedding dress  with colorful beading, hints of colour fabric, or wearing colourful accessories such as jewelry or shoes.

Your wedding occasion may be the most important day of your life. You are going to spend a fortune for the perfect dress, so look stunning in it. You will have your wedding pictures for the rest of your life. You'll show these pictures to your grandchildren one day. Let it be a perfectly preserved memory of your special day. Choose the perfect wedding dress and turn heads when you glide down the aisle.

Wedding Dress – How to Choose the Perfect One is a post from: My Wedding Blog

There is always one gorgeous wedding dress that stands out nearly every year, and more often than not, it is always worn by a celebrity. After all, who would best represent glitz and glamour than a true blue celeb. In case you too want to shine as bright as they do on your wedding day, here are some celebrity wedding dresses that have caused quite a stir - for their aesthetic features as well as monetary value. Well, you can just imagine that these wedding dresses cost more than the value of their elegant bridesmaid dresses and wedding favours put together.

1. Renee Zellweger
Although her marriage to country singer Kenney Chesney was short-lived, Renee Zellweger's bamboo twill, ivory-colored, form fitting strapless wedding dress went down in history as one of the best celebrity wedding dresses ever. The wedding dress perfectly complimented their beach-themed wedding. Of course, it does help that Renee has a body to die for.

2. Sandra Bullock
Sandra Bullock looked absolutely stunning in her Angel Sanchez-designed strapless, antique white lace dress with ruffled bodice. Although her wedding was anything but conventional, Sandra was the very epitome of a blushing bride that day.

3. Melania Trump
You may have heard the rumors that Melania Knauss' wedding dress designed by Christian Dior cost a whooping $100,00! The form-fitting, white strapless dress donned by the third "Mrs. Trump" is almost history-book worth, with its stunning design and 16-foot train that weighed 50 lbs. Imagine walking around in that. Oh well, you shouldn't be surprised. Expect over the top - and nothing else - from a Trump.

4. Tori Spelling
The late Aaron Spelling's beloved daughter, Tori Spelling, wore a form fitting wedding dress sprinkled with crystal beads. It was the perfect traditional wedding dress that every woman would surely envy. Of course, the middle-class bride should do away with all the crystals and look for some other substitute to sprinkle her dress with.

5. Britney Spears
Nearly everyone hated everything about Britney Spears and Kevin Federline wedding. The groom, most especially. It came as an awful surprise to the rest of the world. However, Britney's gorgeous Monique Lhuiller wedding gown saved the occasion. Britney Spears wore a $26,000 wedding dress with a hand sewn train and cathedral length veil.

6. Demi Moore

Demi Moore did not look her age when she became Mr. Ashton Kutcher. Her floor-length gown by by Jeanne Lanvin was sheath-style, topped with jeweled shoulder straps. Her dress was simple, lovely and one of a kind. Just like Demi herself.

7. Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston's now-defunct marriage to Brad Pitt was a wedding that stirred the media for weeks. No, it was not about the ceremony itself, it was all about the bride and her to-die-for wedding dress. Jennifer's halter style, white tulle dress, adorned with tiny pearls was designed by Lawrence Steele. It was the perfect wedding dress to define a once-perfect marriage.

If you want to follow these celebrities wedding dresses, make sure to seek your designer's aid in putting together fabric and materials that aren't as costly as the real wedding dresses. You don't need to splurge too much to get the look of a celeb on your wedding day.

Best for Bride Bridal Store
5359 Dundas St. West (at Kipling)
Etobicoke, ON, Canada, M9B 1B1

Style Guide: The 7 Best Celebrity Wedding Dresses is a post from: My Wedding Blog

When you dream about your wedding, you always picture yourself in the perfect wedding dress. You will be the center of attention, and you want to remember your wedding day as the best day of your life.

Here are some tips for choosing the wedding dress that's both affordable and absolutely perfect for you.

Set a budget for your wedding dress - Wedding dresses can cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Decide what you are willing to spend on your wedding dress ahead of time.

Only look at wedding dresses that are within your budget - Once you start looking at dresses over your budget, you'll start rationalizing why you should buy a more expensive dress. Don't tempt yourself. Stick to your budget and don't get sidetracked by wedding dresses outside of your price range.

Buy a wedding dress because it looks fabulous on you - Forget about the latest trends. If the dress doesn't fit your size ad body shape, it's the wrong wedding dress for you. Take your mom or a good friend along with you when you try on dresses. Ask for their truthful opinion, and listen to their advice. They want you to look wonderful on your special day, so they'll be honest with you.

Buy a wedding dress that you'll be comfortable wearing all day - There's no reason you have to be uncomfortable at your own wedding. You can find a beautiful wedding gown that also makes you feel great. When you try on a dress, walk around it in, sit down, bend, and move around normally. If it still feels good, consider buying it.

Shop for a wedding dress when you don't think you look your best - if you still think you look good in a dress, it will look even better when you're at your best.

The most important thing to remember is to have fun when you shop for a wedding dress. Make a day of it. Plan your itinerary, bring your mom or friend, have lunch, stick to your budget, and find the wedding dress of your dreams.

How to Buy the Wedding Dress of Your Dreams is a post from: My Wedding Blog

Let's face it - getting married can be an expensive proposition! But it doesn't have to be, for the savvy bride who knows where to shop.

There are lots of tricks you can use to find items of choice at below retail value, and your wedding dress can be the best find of your whole planning experience!

Consider the following ideas to locate an inexpensive wedding dress:

Heirloom: Your mother or grandmother may have a dress tucked away in an attic and would absolutely love for you to wear it. Perhaps they don't mention it because they don't want to offend you. Ask around and you may find an aunt or someone who knows of an heirloom dress you can make your own for no cost whatsoever. You can even spend a little money and have a seamstress update the dress's look to suit you by removing the sleeves, for example, or adjusting the length. Auctions: Online auctions such as ebay, and local auctions you find by searching online or in the papers, can be a great source for cheap wedding dresses. Often women will want to recover a little of their investment after their special day, and you can get deep discounts on beautiful dresses. Once it's been dry cleaned it will be as good as new, and you save lots of money for your other wedding expenses. Second hand or never-used: Local second-hand shops can be a great source. Set aside some time for sleuthing in your local shops, and put the word out to the salespeople about what you're looking for. Often they will have something come in that you can work with and which will cost you very little. If you are in North America, your local craigslist, kijiji or backpage online classifieds can be a super source for a cheap and perfectly good wedding dress. Sample sales: Keep your eyes and ears peeled - many designers and wedding shops hold sample sales at the end of each season or once a year. These sales are a fantastic opportunity to acquire a new dress at a deep discount. Be prepared to go early and to shop until you drop, and be prepared for many other eager and possibly aggressive brides-to-be! Discontinued, damaged or returned dresses: Ask around at your local bridal shops. Let them know what you are looking for and that you are on a budget. They may have something that has been damaged but can be corrected by a seamstress, or perhaps something that is discontinued or has been returned and already altered (thus considered by them to be no longer saleable at retail). Friends or relatives: Put the word out among your friends and relatives. Maybe your best friend's cousin's best friend had her wedding last year and would LOVE to sell you or give you her dress. In this day of email and instant messaging, your request could go far and you may stand a good chance of finding something that will work for you, especially with a little tailoring. Non-traditional: 'Fancy' dress stores such as those which carry evening and cocktail dresses often carry dresses that would be suitable for a wedding. Cream, white or pale pastel gowns can be perfect for a wedding if paired with the right accessories, and can often be hundreds or even thousands less than what you would pay for a 'true' wedding dress in a bridal shop. Some of these stores and boutiques even carry traditional wedding dress styles that are very affordable.

This should get you started on your hunt for an inexpensive or cheap wedding dress. There is nothing wrong with wanting to save money on planning what can be a very expensive day. No one will know any different, but you can enjoy a smile to yourself knowing you have been smart about your money!

How To Find A Cheap Wedding Dress is a post from: My Wedding Blog

Choosing the colors to accentuate your wedding dresses seems pretty easy. Predictably enough, most brides pick out their favorite shade out of the palette, without giving their wedding motif much consideration.

Let's just put it this way, your wedding motif is red. Your wedding favors are the same shade of red, your mom's plus size wedding attire is even red! Then you decide to go off and add a despicably obvious apply green sash to your otherwise pristine wedding dress. Horrendous is the best word for it.

Pink, red, fuchsia, burgundy, plum, mauve, purple, or blue, you name it. It actually does not matter what shade you would accentuate your wedding dresses with, as long as it is in the same color family as your chosen motif for your wedding. The key here is to leaf through a variety of color combinations and patterns. Bridal magazines are the best medium by which to look for wedding dresses. They portray wedding dresses of various designs, color combinations and color patterns.

Here are a few tips that might help you out in choosing the right colors to accentuate your wedding dresses:

1. As mentioned above, choose colors that complement your wedding's motif. The closer the shade of your wedding dresses' accents to your motif, the better.

2. Consider how the color of your choice will look on your wedding dresses. White may be neutral, but it doesn't mean that anything goes with white. For instance, choosing a chocolate brown sash or a dirt brown bow may not work well for you or your wedding dress. Instead of looking special, you will end up looking dowdy.

3. Think about how your accentuated wedding dresses will look with the other wedding accessories. Will the accents stick out like a sore thumb? You may have picked out a shade that basically belongs to the same family as your wedding theme. Your wedding theme lilac. You chose to accentuate your wedding dress with a deep purple sash. Note, deep purple, the color of mourning. That is not good at all.

4. It is good to be daring. In fact, the best inventions in this world emerged because a lot of people were audacious enough to try new things. However, this does not always apply to your wedding dresses' color combinations, or color patterns for that matter. Plaid, checkered or stripes will never work in a wedding. Leopard prints, zebra prints or giraffe prints will produce worse effects. Imagine how horrifying it would be for your guests. Unless of course, your venue is the public zoo.

5. Here is a very good piece of advice, check out the venue of your wedding and your wedding reception. Take a look at the curtains, carpet and the tablecloths. Make sure the accents to your wedding dresses are not the same shade as those. Save yourself the embarrassment.

6. Sequins look great on wedding dresses. However, covering up nearly half of your wedding dresses is certainly not a good idea. Whatever the color of the sequins is, they should not be overbearing. Sequins are meant to accentuate your wedding dresses, not to cover it up.

Choosing the Right Colors to Accentuate Your Wedding Dresses is a post from: My Wedding Blog

A-Line or Princess Style

This is a great dress that is suitable for most body types. The way the dress is made gives the impression of height and is good for the bride who wishes to look taller. The cut also helps to make the bride look slimmer which is a bonus. The style means that there is a full skirt and the whole dress is very versatile. It accentuates the best bits of your body and hides the others!

Empire

This is a very good dress again for most body types but especially good for those women with a smaller bust or those with a larger bust. This is because the dress brings the focus of attention to around the neckline. With some jewellery here, the effect is increased and the neckline becomes the centre of attention.

Column

The column style dress is quite well fitting and is more suitable for the slimmer lady. It is not the most forgiving so if you have body areas that are perhaps a little larger than you are happy with, this dress will not do well to hid it. Due to the hugging nature of the dress, it will make the bride look taller, the downside is that it can be a little harder to move in!

Ball Gown

This style of dress is good for the slimmer bride and also for those who do not wish to show off the leg area too much. The way the dress fans out at the bottom does not show off the legs at all but the centre of focus if at the upper half of the body. This style is also probably not best suited to shorter women as it can look proportionally unequal.

Mermaid

This style of dress is best suited to the slender bride as it does show off the figure and does not look flattering for those who do not enjoy their body curves. There are a range of styles to choose form and you can see if there is one for you.

Just remember that once you have decided upon your dress, you need to invest in the proper dress storage box for it otherwise you risk ruining your investment in many years time through fabric degradation.

Wedding Dress Styles – Choosing the Right One is a post from: My Wedding Blog