On a Budget? These Are the Best Places to Buy Gorgeous Wedding Dresses for Under $1,000 (2024)

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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 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

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

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 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 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

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.

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