| What you've heard is true - average wedding | | | | than a simple sheath. |
| costs run anywhere from $20,000 to $25,000! | | | | 3. Quality |
| The average wedding gown's contribution to this | | | | Hand sewn beading, linings, finished seams and lace |
| figure? Between $800 and $2,500. Of course, this | | | | accents obviously are going to cost you more |
| average only includes the gown alone. Adding | | | | than glued on beads, ragged seams and no lining. |
| some accessories such as shoes, a veil and | | | | 4. Time Of Year |
| headpiece along with under garments and you're | | | | Yep - this is important too. Just as with any other |
| looking at an additional $200 to $300. And don't | | | | fashion, unsold gowns from this year are going to |
| forget any alterations you may need to the | | | | go on sale (Usually in November and December) |
| dress! This can add even more dollars to the final | | | | to make room for the next year's new styles. |
| price. Oh, and these figures don't even begin to | | | | 5. The seller |
| cover the cost of any jewelry you want to wear. | | | | You'll generally pay a lot more at a bridal shop |
| You may be wondering why on earth wedding | | | | than you will for the same dress at a department |
| gowns and all the needed accessories are so | | | | store like Macy's or Saks Fifth Avenue. And you'll |
| expensive. The four biggest contributors for the | | | | pay more at a department store than you will at |
| cost being so high are: | | | | a discount bridal shops, online retailers or on eBay |
| 1. The Designer | | | | or similar auction sites. |
| The designer is a huge part of the cost. For | | | | Let's face it - the simpler the gown, the less |
| example, if you get a Vera Wang designed dress, | | | | expensive it is, just as with anything else. Tea |
| you are going to pay a lot more than for an | | | | length gowns are normally less expensive than an |
| Alfred Angelo design, which will cost a lot more | | | | elaborate, floor length gown. Add in a train, and |
| than an unknown designer's dress at a local | | | | you are clearly looking at an even more |
| department store. | | | | expensive gown. But make no mistake about it - |
| 2. Fabric | | | | you can get an elegant gown at a reasonable |
| Both the quality and quantity of a particular fabric | | | | price. Just as with anything else when it comes to |
| can really add to the cost of a gown. For | | | | planning your wedding, doing plenty of research |
| example, real silk is going to cost more than a | | | | can and will save you plenty in the end. The extra |
| silky polyester. And a full gown that uses yards | | | | effort will go a long way. |
| and yards of fabric is going to set you back more | | | | |