When is the best time to buy a wedding dress on a budget?

According to bridal designer Phyllis Brasch Librach, the ideal time to buy a wedding dress is one year ahead, or immediately after your engagement if you get engaged less than one year from your wedding date. This is especially helpful for more budget-friendly dresses, since “you can scout bridal salons for sample sales and deeply discounted styles,” Brasch Librach explains. Planning a year in advance also allows you to take advantage of online sales like Memorial Day. And, if you’re able to shop for dresses over the summer, that can also help with cost since it’s between peak wedding seasons and when many sample sales occur. Sabatino says another good time to buy is when new dresses start to come in. “Bridal market happens twice a year in April and October and stores will often want to get rid of previous inventory once these collections eventually make their way into the stores,” she explains.

How much of your budget should go to your wedding dress?

When determining a wedding dress budget, Brasch Librach says most experts say somewhere between five and 10 percent of your wedding budget . But, how much you spend on your wedding dress is really up to you. “Start by weighing what elements of your wedding day mean the most to you and your partner,” Brasch Librach suggests, noting that it’s most important to prioritize what will make you the happiest when you look back on your wedding day years later. As far as price is concerned, Colema says it’s common for wedding dress budgets to be somewhere between $1,000 and $1,900, but a bride can choose to spend more or less depending on the style, designer, and fabric. All of the online stores on our list of the best places to buy affordable wedding dresses include several styles (if not, dozens of styles) that cost less than $1,000.

The Best Places to Buy Wedding Dresses Under $1,000 in 2024

Collage of women wearing Affordable Wedding Dresses on a silky beige background with white line designs — Brides / Kristin Kempa

Next to engagement rings and wedding bands, wedding dresses can be one of the biggest bridal investments for your big day, as many wedding dress styles can cost thousands of dollars. But, as something you’ll only wear once, saying yes to the dress for that amount of money might not feel right for you, or fit into your wedding budget (especially if you’d rather save in some areas to splurge in others, like food or entertainment). The good news is not all wedding dresses come with luxury price tags—in fact, you can find an abundance of both trendy and timeless gowns for a fraction of the cost, without sacrificing quality and style.

“You do not have to spend a lot of money on a wedding dress, and a budget-friendly wedding dress can be just as beautiful—if not, more beautiful—than a more expensive gown,” says Justin Warshaw, a bridal designer at Justin Alexander. With this in mind, the modern bride tends to value design and personal style over price, especially with so many affordable options available. “These days, you can find a lot of stunning bridal gowns that have fantastic embellishments that are also very affordable,” says Ranu Colema, Chief Marketing Officer of Azazie. “The definition of the perfect wedding dress is different for every bride—for some, it’s more about the style and if it fits in with their venue.”

Whether you’re shopping for a budget-friendly wedding dress or are looking for a reception dress that won’t break the bank, you can find a variety of styles and price ranges (including lots of options for under $1,000) online. With this in mind, we researched dozens of popular wedding dress shops and brands to find the best places to buy affordable wedding dresses. Here are our top picks.

In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look For
FAQ
Why Trust Brides

Illusion Sequin Lace Feather Sleeve Mermaid Gown MAC DUGGAL

Nordstrom

View On Nordstrom

Department stores are always promising when it comes to looking for garments in a variety of styles and budgets—and Nordstrom is no different. With the Nordstrom wedding shop, you can browse the department store’s collection of white dresses, which start at just $55 and are available in inclusive sizing, including plus size, petite, and maternity dresses. We also love Nordstrom for wedding dress shopping because the gowns are all ready to ship (so there are no wait times!) and you can easily find shoes and accessories to go with your bridal looks all in one place. Once you have your dress, you can also take it to Nordstrom in case you might need any alterations.

Size Range: 2XS-4XL, 14-28, petite and maternity | Ready to Ship: Yes

Love of Details White Lace Backless Maxi Dress

Lulu's

View On Lulus

Famed for their budget-friendly (and super stylish) bridesmaid dresses, Lulus is also a fantastic place to shop for affordable wedding dresses. When shopping Lulus’ collection of luxe bridal gowns, you can expect to pay between $100 and $400 for a dress. We love Lulus because, in addition to their prices, there are lots of styles to choose from—including a good mix and modern, trendy, and timeless—and the dresses are ready to ship so you don’t have to wait weeks upon weeks for your dress order.

Size Range: XS-3X| Ready to Ship: Yes

View On Anthropologie

Formerly known as BHLDN, Anthropologie Weddings curates some of the most beautiful modern and bohemian white dresses from both their namesake brand as well as other designers like Reformation and Jenny Yoo. Although the bridal shop carries dresses in a wide price range—including options that are well over $1,000—you can find a variety of options for less than $1,000, too. And, in addition to shopping their gowns, you can also book an appointment with their bridal specialists, either in-person, virtually, or via email, for further shopping and styling support.

Size Range: 00-18, 16W-26W| Ready to Ship: Yes

View On Etsy

Etsy is another excellent place to find affordable wedding dresses. With so many different shops to choose from, you can find wedding dresses at a variety of price points, styles, and sizes. Additionally, some shops even offer custom wedding dress creations at a fraction of the price of some designers and bridal boutiques. And, since many Etsy shops are independent designers, they can often alter gowns to fit your measurements ahead of time so that you don’t have to pay extra in tailoring fees.

Size Range: Varies, depending on Etsy shop | Ready to Ship: Varies, depending on Etsy shop

View On Showmeyourmumu.com View On Showmeyourmumu.com View On Showmeyourmumu.com

Whether you love a bohemian look or want a wedding dress with a more timeless silhouette, you can find it at Show Me Your Mumu at a budget-friendly price. From short dresses to long ball gowns, the bridal brand offers a stunning collection of styles and silhouettes, starting at $78. On top of that, you can find a lot of fun bridal outfits for bachelorette parties, the rehearsal dinner, and the honeymoon, making it a good one-stop-shop for all things wedding wardrobe.

Size Range: 2XS-3XL | Ready to Ship: Yes

View On Amazon

Amazon might be a popular place to shop for wedding decor and accessories, but it is also home to some stunning wedding gowns at affordable prices, some of which cost less than $100. We love Amazon for wedding dresses because there are so many different styles available in a variety of sizes (depending on the brand), the prices are amazing, and you can find many options that ship quickly, which is perfect for a last-minute order. Additionally, some brands also offer custom sizing for budget-friendly prices, so you can get a made-to-order luxe wedding gown for less.

Size Range: Varies, depending on brand | Ready to Ship: Yes

View On Asos

If you’re looking for a fashion-forward, trendy wedding dress, you’ll find it at ASOS, which has become a go-to for wedding wardrobes. From courthouse wedding dresses to reception looks to floor-length ball gowns, you can find an assortment of different designs that work for a variety of wedding venue settings at prices as low as $30. In addition to its dress collection, ASOS also carries lots of bridal accessories, wedding shoes, and bridesmaid dresses, too, so it’s a good one-stop shop for budget-friendly weddings.

Size Range: 0-26 | Ready to Ship: Yes

View On David's Bridal

For those looking for a more traditional wedding dress shopping experience online, David’s Bridal is it. The iconic bridal shop offers lots of gorgeous dress options at a variety of prices, including dozens of budget-friendly styles that start as low as $36. In addition to their wedding dress collection, David’s Bridal also offers free bridal styling appointments over video, chat, or in-store to make the entire process of finding the best wedding dress even easier.

Size Range: 0-30 | Ready to Ship: Yes

View On Reformation

If you want a designer wedding dress that feels more fashion-forward, consider shopping for your wedding dress at Reformation. Albeit not the most affordable place to buy wedding dresses on our list, the collection of luxe dresses starts at $298 and features some high-quality and sustainably sourced materials, including silk. We’re big fans of Reformation’s wedding collection because they are dresses you could easily wear again, plus they offer a more refreshing spin on timeless silhouettes.

Size Range: XS-XL | Ready to Ship: Yes

View On Revolve

When shopping for wedding dresses at Revolve, you’ll not only find lots of unique styles but also affordable prices from brands like Lovers and Friends and Katie May. What stands out the most about Revolve wedding dresses is their versatility, as many of the dresses can also be worn again, especially if you go for a shorter silhouette or a trendy slip-dress style.

Size Range: 2XS-4XL | Ready to Ship: Yes

Fame and Partners

View On Fameandpartners.com

Bridal company Fame and Partners is another excellent place to shop for affordable wedding dresses, especially if you are drawn to more modern designs. With prices starting at $199, you can find a collection of wedding dresses in a variety of silhouettes that won’t break the bank and still look as luxe as some designer options. In addition to their dress collection, what draws us to Fame and Partners is how easy it is to navigate and shop their website, thanks to filter features that allow you to shop based on dress style, fabric, and even specific design features. And, although not every dress comes ready to ship, the brand makes it easy to shop options that are if you don’t have the wiggle room on your timeline to wait several weeks for your dress. If you do have time to wait, you can order a dress custom made to your measurements.

Size Range: 0-22 | Ready to Ship: Yes

View On Eloquii.com

The best place to buy plus-sized wedding dresses on a budget is Elloquii. We swoon over all of the unique and stylish designs offered and, with prices starting at $119, they’re certainly kind to the wallet, too. In addition to the wedding dress styles, we love all of the wedding accessories at Elloquii — think: stunning ruched gloves and a fun puff-sleeved cape — which elevate the dresses and add a more luxurious finish to the overall bridal look.

Size Range: 14-28 | Ready to Ship: Yes

View On Bloomingdales

If you want a more elevated department store experience, consider shopping for your wedding dress at Bloomingdales, which offers a collection of beautiful white dresses and gowns from a variety of designers. With lots of stunning short wedding dress options to choose from, Bloomingdales is a fantastic place to shop for courthouse weddings and reception dresses.

Size Range: Varies, depending on brand | Ready to Ship: Yes

Revelry

View On Shoprevelry.com View On Shoprevelry.com

Revelry is technically a bridesmaid dress brand, however, their collection of white bridesmaid dresses could easily double as wedding dresses, plus they are more affordable than other brands. The dresses are made-to-order, too, providing a more personalized shopping experience—and a dress that is made to fit your exact measurements. We love Revelry for wedding dresses because you have access to a lot of in-person experiences, since they offer at-home try-ons and color and fabric swatches, so you can get a good idea of what the materials look and feel like before purchasing. Plus, since it’s a bridesmaid shop, the dresses come in lots of colors—not just white—including popular bridal hues like champagne.

Size Range: 0-36 | Ready to Ship: No

View On Macy's

Macy’s is home to a collection of wedding dresses as well as formal white gowns that could moonlight as a wedding dress, providing lots of variety in styles and prices. Shopping for your wedding dress at Macy’s is an excellent idea, especially if you want to try on dresses at home, since you can easily return most styles in-store and online, making it even easier to find your dream dress.

Size Range: 0-18, plus and petite sizes available | Ready to Ship: Yes

AW Bridal

View On Awbridal.com

AW Bridal offers traditional wedding dress shopping online with a vast collection of dresses in different bridal styles. From classic and timeless silhouettes to trendy and fashion-forward, you can find a variety of options that fit your personal style and even choose a second dress for your reception, too. While the custom-sized dresses aren’t ready to ship, the turnaround time is a lot faster than other options, as it takes 7 to 10 business days for alterations and then 5 to 10 days for shipping so, in total, you only wait around 20 days for your gown, making AW Bridal a good place to shop for wedding dresses with a tighter timeline.

Size Range: 0-30 | Ready to Ship: No

Desssy

View On Dessy.com

If you’re looking for an affordable wedding dress brand with the best size range, Dessy is one of our top picks. This brand has luxe-worthy wedding dresses starting at $398 with sizes ranging from 00-30. On top of that, you have the option to input your measurements at checkout to make sure you chose the right size and choose to add an extra 5 inches if needed. In addition to size, Dessy is a go-to because they have a lot of beautiful designs to choose from, including many more simple and timeless styles.

Size Range: 00-30 | Ready to Ship: No

A-line V-Neck Asymmetrical Chiffon Lace Wedding Dress

JJ's House

View On Jjshouse.com View On Jjshouse.com

JJ’s House is one of our top recommendations for bridesmaid dresses, and their wedding dress collection is just as impressive. The brand makes it super easy to shop for wedding dresses online with its curated collections of different styles—think: boho wedding dresses, simple wedding dresses, and ball gowns—plus search features based on silhouette, length, neckline, fabric, embellishments, and more. While not all of the dresses are ready to ship, the brand does make it easy to find the ones that are, with their ship in 48 hours filter, so you can also find a gorgeous dress without worrying about turnaround time. Additionally, they offer custom sizing for only $20 extra, which is less than the usual cost of alterations.

Size Range: 0-16, 16-26, custom sizes available | Ready to Ship: No

Park & Fifth

View On Parkandfifthco.com View On Parkandfifthco.com

Park & Fifth is a go-to for modern and trendy styles, with lots of amazing short dress options, too. Depending on the style you’re going for, you can find dresses for as low as $154, making it one of the most affordable options for wedding dresses. Additionally, Park & Fifth offers virtual bridal fitting appointments to make shopping for a wedding dress online even easier.

Size Range: 2XS-7XL | Ready to Ship: Yes

Azazie

View On Azazie.com View On Azazie.com

Azazie is one of our go-to places to find gorgeous bridesmaid dresses in a variety of colors, and they also make budget-friendly wedding dresses. With prices starting at $209, you can find white dresses in many different styles, fabrics, and silhouettes. We love Azazie because they bring the experience of shopping for a wedding dress in person online, with the option to try on styles at home before purchasing and custom sizing available, too.

Size Range: 0-30, custom sizes available | Ready to Ship: No

Meet the Expert

Julie Sabatino is bridal stylist and founder of The Stylish Bride.
Phyllis Brasch Librach is the founder of Sydney’s Closet, an international company that sets the bar for fashion-forward prom, wedding, formal and evening gowns, and party dresses in sizes 14 to 40.
Justin Warshaw is the CEO and Creative Director of Justin Alexander.
Ranu Coleman is the Chief Marketing Officer of Azazie.

What to Look for in Affordable Wedding Dresses

Silhouette

When shopping for an affordable wedding dress online, the first thing to consider is the dress silhouette. “The silhouette of the dress is very important because you want a silhouette that will flatter your body shape and size,” says Colema. Silhouette can impact the entire style of the dress, so it’s also important to look at this detail to ensure it not only fits you but feels like an extension of your personal style.

Fabric

In addition to silhouette, it’s also necessary to think about the fabric—not just the type of fabric, but the amount of fabric incorporated into the design—when shopping for affordable wedding gowns. “It’s really important for a bride to consider how valuable a more fabric-heavy gown is to her, since more fabric means a higher price tag,” says Julie Sabatino, bridal stylist and founder of The Stylish Bride. “Consider your budget, what you can get for it, and what you’re willing to compromise on."

Fabric type also matters, as this can not only impact the overall design and style but also the color, since silkier fabrics look different in color compared to matte fabrics. Fabric type also determines the cost. “Fabrics such as lavish silks, unique laces, and heavily headed, hand-embroidered embellishments are examples of fabrics that will elevate a gown to warrant a higher price point,” says Warshaw. “At the same time, it’s possible to be a budget-conscious bride and not have to sacrifice the quality of the fabric when it comes to some [dresses].” For instance, if you want a silky dress for look, you can opt for a dress made from polyester rather than real silk.

Budget and Price

While it might seem obvious, your wedding budget and the price of the wedding dress is also essential when looking at more affordable wedding dresses. Before shopping, it’s important to determine a dress budget for yourself. If you plan on wearing two dresses—one for the ceremony and one for the reception—think about how you want to split your budget up.

Customer Reviews

Depending on the brand and the dress, quality can vary drastically, especially when shopping for more budget-friendly wedding dresses. With this in mind, it helps to look at customer reviews to get real-life insight into whether a wedding dress fits well and meets your quality standards. In general, customer reviews are also excellent for insights on turnaround time, shipping, and customer service, too.

FAQ

When is the best time to buy a wedding dress on a budget?

According to bridal designer Phyllis Brasch Librach, the ideal time to buy a wedding dress is one year ahead, or immediately after your engagement if you get engaged less than one year from your wedding date. This is especially helpful for more budget-friendly dresses, since “you can scout bridal salons for sample sales and deeply discounted styles,” Brasch Librach explains.
Planning a year in advance also allows you to take advantage of online sales like Memorial Day. And, if you’re able to shop for dresses over the summer, that can also help with cost since it’s between peak wedding seasons and when many sample sales occur. Sabatino says another good time to buy is when new dresses start to come in. “Bridal market happens twice a year in April and October and stores will often want to get rid of previous inventory once these collections eventually make their way into the stores,” she explains.
How much of your budget should go to your wedding dress?

When determining a wedding dress budget, Brasch Librach says most experts say somewhere between five and 10 percent of your wedding budget. But, how much you spend on your wedding dress is really up to you. “Start by weighing what elements of your wedding day mean the most to you and your partner,” Brasch Librach suggests, noting that it’s most important to prioritize what will make you the happiest when you look back on your wedding day years later.
As far as price is concerned, Colema says it’s common for wedding dress budgets to be somewhere between $1,000 and $1,900, but a bride can choose to spend more or less depending on the style, designer, and fabric. All of the online stores on our list of the best places to buy affordable wedding dresses include several styles (if not, dozens of styles) that cost less than $1,000.

Why Trust Brides

Contributing writer Jessie Quinn has a bachelor’s degree in fashion journalism. When researching the best places to buy affordable wedding dresses, Quinn considered everything from price points to available styles to fabric offerings to find a variety of dress shops that create stunning wedding gowns for under $1,000. She also reached out to top wedding dress experts to learn more about what to look for when shopping for a budget-friendly wedding dress, learn how much you should spend on your wedding dress, and find out the best time to buy a wedding dress on a budget to further support brides on their shopping journey. As a result, she curated this list of the top 20 best places to buy affordable wedding dresses.

20 Stylish and Affordable Wedding Dresses Under $100