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Save Thousands On These Cheap Wedding Dresses In Melbourne

Slash your wedding dress budget in half with these affordable options in Melbourne. - by Rhys McKay
  • 31 Aug 2019
Save Thousands On These Cheap Wedding Dresses In Melbourne
Getty

Even for those who DIY their weddings, getting married can cost a lot of money. The average cost of an Australian wedding in 2019 was a whopping $53,000 for the venue, catering, photography, and more. But out of all of the expenses associated with getting married, the biggest single-item spend is the wedding dress.

Brides are willing to part with a lot of money to get their dream wedding dress. The average bride shells out almost $2,500 for the dress alone and higher-end designers can charge as much as $6,000!

For budget-conscious women, that’s a lot of money – money that could go into other aspects of the wedding, the honeymoon, a new home, or starting a family. So if you’re looking to save money without compromising on beauty, check out our list of the top cheap wedding dresses for Melbourne brides below.

RELATED: 10 of the Best Shops for Bridesmaid Dresses in Sydney

Why Is Your Wedding Dress So Important?

Whether you prefer your wedding to be simple and casual or grand and luxurious, we can all agree that a wedding is one of the most important days in anyone’s life. It’s the start of a new chapter, a celebration of commitment, and a spectacle for love. 

And whether or not you have a dream dress in mind, we can all agree that looking your best on such a special day is important. On your wedding, all eyes are on you, so it’s crucial that you feel good and look good too. Not to mention all of the pictures that will immortalise your ensemble forever!

Tips For Finding Affordable, Good Quality Wedding Dresses

Consider Non-Bridal Options

The moment you shop for “wedding dresses”, you can expect to pay a premium. Everyone from caterers to venues to florists charges more simply because it’s for a wedding. You can skip the “wedding tax” and opt for a standard (a.k.a. non-bridal) white evening dress.

Better yet, why not go completely non-traditional and get your dress in a colour other than white? Black wedding dresses have been en vogue ever since Vera Wang debuted the dark frocks on her 2012 runway. If you can’t quite commit to a black wedding dress, you can still achieve a radiant bride-like look with softer non-white colours like nude or blush.

Check Sample Sales And Designer Rentals

If you really, really want a designer dress but don’t have the budget for it, you still have a couple of options. First, you can wait for your local bridal outlet’s clearance sales. You can get big-name brands off the rack and at a discount if you keep an eye out.

A woman holding a wedding dress against her
Getty

Another way to get cheap bridal dresses is by renting them out instead of buying them. Some boutiques and online stores allow you to “hire” a dress for a few days. You don’t get to keep it of course, but let’s be realistic here – you’re only going to wear it once, so why drop thousands on a designer dress for keeps if you can rent the same gorgeous dress for a fraction of the cost?

Get A Custom-Made Dress From A Local Designer

Although the phrase “custom-made” usually translates into a higher price tag, that isn’t always the case, especially with local designers. Reach out to small sellers or browse through online markets like Etsy, and you could score some incredible deals on a one-of-a-kind, bespoke wedding dress.

Buy Secondhand

Tons of brides would be aghast at the suggestion of buying someone else’s wedding dress, but preloved dresses can save you a ton of money while also being the sustainable, eco-friendly choice. Plus, not all secondhand dresses are even used – if the engagement was called off, or if the bride decided to switch to another dress, they’ll often sell their brand-new dresses at a preloved price.

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A natural beauty inside and out, we'll never get over real bride @gittafutacs who looked oh-so-romantic on her wedding day! 💕 #sophiatollibride #Y21659 #weddinggown #realwedding #bridalstyle #weddinginspo ​📷: @teodorasimonwedding

The Best Cheap Wedding Dresses In Melbourne

Lyra Two-Piece Wedding Dress Set

Price: $299

Shop/Designer: Always and Forever Bridal

Location: Collins St

The sale gowns section of Always and Forever Bridal is constantly being updated with new styles and lower prices.

Shop this dress here.

Ivory With Maple Underlay Wedding Dress

Price: $699

Shop/Designer: Sophia Tolli

Location: Online

Find gorgeous (and affordable) preloved pieces for your wedding on Tradesy.

Shop this dress here.

Donatella Wedding Dress

Price: Starts at $99

Shop/Designer: Miss Bella Bridal

Location: Boronia

Miss Bella Bridal’s regular line is already cheap, starting at $599. But their sale rack, which starts at less than a hundred dollars, takes “cheap wedding dresses in Melbourne” to a whole new level.

Shop this dress here.

A-Line Princess Of The Shoulder Sweep Train Dress

Price: $316

Shop/Designer: JJ’s House

Location: Online

Online shop JJ’s House has an entire bridal section dedicated to gowns under $316, as well as hot weekly sales.

Shop this dress here.

Augusta

Price: $1,399

Shop/Designer: Raffaele Ciuca

Location: Brunswick

Okay, technically it’s still a lot of money, but paying $1,400 for a designer gown that was originally twice the price is a steal!

Shop this dress here.

Conclusion

Wedding dresses can be incredibly expensive, but you don’t have to buy into the hype. If you’re really committed to more budget-friendly options, it won’t be difficult finding an affordable wedding dress that you actually love. Just keep an eye out for sales, be patient, and keep an open mind. Your dream dress will be yours soon enough, and without going over budget too!

RELATED: You Can Get Plus Size Wedding Dresses In Melbourne At These Ateliers

  • Beauty & Style
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Rhys McKay

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