If you’re wearing a dress to your wedding, you’ll spend many hours (or , more likely, days and weeks) agonising over what the right dress for you might be. Do you want a ball gown? Mermaid? A-line? Do you want strapless? A train? When it comes to choosing the right wedding dress, there are so many options available it can sometimes be overwhelming. Where do you even start?
Another question you might ask is how much does a wedding dress cost? You may know the style you want for your wedding, but does it align with the budget you have in mind? For many, choosing the perfect dress is just as important – if not more important than – the venue and catering.
In this post, we’re going to explore everything to do with the cost of a wedding dress, including the average cost, what affects the cost and what you might expect for your budget.
What’s the average cost of a wedding dress?
According to our 2024 UK Wedding Report, the average amount couples spend on a wedding dress is about £1,300. However, there are plenty of reasons why you may spend far less than this, and in other cases, why you might spend way more.
It’s important to note that this amount doesn’t include any jewellery or accessories you might wear, nor your shoes. So, expect to pay a little more for those (unless you’re getting married on the beach!) to complete your overall wedding attire. Check out our ultimate wedding budget breakdown for an understanding of how much your wedding might cost.
Even if you don’t have the average amount to spend on a dress, there are still plenty of options available to ensure a stunning dress is within easy reach. Here at Bridebook, we have a fabulous collection of wedding dress suppliers and boutiques, so you can find your perfect dress. There are also a few tricks to be aware of so you can save money on your wedding dress.
What factors affect the cost of a wedding dress?
With wedding dresses coming in all manners of shapes, designs and sizes, no two dresses cost the same. Plenty of factors mean you may end up spending less – or even a lot more – than the average.
- Location: Wedding dresses bought in London will cost more than those bought outside the capital.
- Brand: A dress made by a well-known brand will often cost significantly more than a dress made by a less well-known brand.
- Materials: Premium and high-quality fabrics, such as lace and silk, will cost more than other fabrics, such as satin.
- Expertise: A dress from an experienced designer will be more expensive than an up-and-coming designer with little experience.
- Style: The more complex the style and design, the pricier your dress will be.
- Embellishments: Dresses with more embellishments, such as embroidery, beads or sequins, will cost more than dresses without.
- Imported materials: Materials manufactured in Asia are likely to be less than half the cost of European fabrics, while the small number of fabrics still milled in the UK are some of the most expensive fabrics available.
What type of wedding dress can you expect for your budget?
Even if you already have a good idea of the budget for your dress, it can be difficult to know where to start looking. Do you go designer? Which designers suit your budget? How do you find out the wedding dress prices if designers don’t even show them?
To help with the confusion, below is a rough price guide for different stores and designers based on various budget ranges:
Budget | Store/Designer |
£100 – £500 | Monsoon, Phase Eight, Ben de Lisi, Pearce II Fonda. |
£500 – £1,000 | Aneberry, Alexia, John Lewis. |
£1,000 – £2,000 | Maggie Sottero, Jenny Packham, Pronovias, Ronald Joyce, Vera Wang White Collection. |
£2,000+ | Vera Wang, Suzanne Neville, Jenny Packham, Caroline Castigliano, Pronovias, Monique Lhuillier. |
How much does a bespoke wedding dress cost?
For a bespoke dress, you’ll need a little more than the average paid by couples, with costs starting from £1,850. If you want a dress made by a designer, you’ll pay for their time designing the dress, the materials and any extras, like intricate beadwork. But there’s also so much more to it than that.
What goes into the cost of a bespoke wedding gown?
More than just a gown: A bespoke wedding dress is a wearable work of art, crafted to fit your unique style and body like a glove. When you choose a designer-made dress, you’re not just paying for fabric and stitching — you’re investing in a truly personal experience and unparalleled quality.
Countless hours behind the scenes: Your dressmaker devotes significant time to perfecting every detail. It all starts with your vision, turning a sketch into a beautiful reality, with each element thoughtfully considered and brought to life.
Careful selection of high-quality materials: Whether it’s luxurious silk, delicate lace or hand-embroidered embellishments, the materials used are chosen for their quality and beauty. Intricate details like beadwork or custom lace patterns require incredible precision to achieve a flawless finish.
Artistry in fitting and adjustments: A bespoke dress isn’t simply made to your size — it’s sculpted to your body, ensuring every seam and contour accentuates your shape beautifully. Fitting sessions involve painstaking adjustments to make sure the gown drapes flawlessly while maintaining a seamless and natural look.
The expertise of skilled artisans: Opting for a bespoke or designer wedding dress honours the passion and dedication of designers who transform your gown into more than just an outfit — it becomes a cherished heirloom to live on long after your wedding day. This choice embraces quality, artistry and individuality, creating something that tells your unique love story.
Designers like Vera Wang, McQueen and Givenchy will charge premium rates, so, if your budget is more generous, then you’ll have a greater selection of well-known designers to choose from. That said, most designers will also have a more affordable collection, like White by Vera Wang, if you’re keen on a big-name brand but not necessarily a big-name budget.
How much does an off-the-peg dress cost?
An off-the-peg wedding dress can be a fantastic way to reduce your wedding dress cost. Most department stores will have an array of absolutely stunning gowns at a fraction of the price of a bespoke or designer gown. As we highlighted above, John Lewis offers modestly priced wedding dresses that start from as low as £175 (or lower during a sale).
Our advice for an off-the-peg dress is to make sure the gown fits you as close as possible before buying and then taking it to a professional tailor for any alterations, otherwise it can get quite pricey.
How much does a bespoke dress by a tailor cost?
If you still want a bespoke gown but your budget is limited, you can always contact a talented tailor near you and ask what they would charge for making your wedding dress. Much like designer gowns, you’ll pay for the design, the time and the materials, but at a far more affordable price. The cost for simpler gowns starts at £400 and something more elaborate will start at £1,200.
How much do wedding dress appointments cost?
If you’re visiting a department store, you won’t need to make an appointment. However, bridal boutiques are often much smaller, so you’ll likely need to reserve an appointment. Whether or not you have to pay for this appointment depends on the owners’ policy, but many do charge at busy times such as evenings and weekends. The amount can vary between £20 and £50, which is usually discounted from the dress if you make a purchase. But, if you’re making an appointment at several boutiques, then you may lose a little as you’re not likely to buy a dress at every store!
How much do wedding dress alterations cost?
Much like the cost of the dress itself, the cost of alterations can vary based on factors such as location, time, the skills required, and the experience of the tailor. It can also be cheaper to have the alterations done at the same boutique you bought your dress at as part of a package.
The typical price you might expect to pay for wedding dress alterations is between £100 and £500. However, this is totally dependent on the amount of work required.
The rough price breakdown for a London tailor is:
- Altering the hem: £75 – £100. The more layers your dress has, the more altering it will need, with the first two layers coming to £75 and the subsequent layers adding around £25 each.
- Altering the sides: £50 – £75. If your dress has intricate beading and detailing it might cost more as a tailor would have to remove them, make the alterations and then sew them back on by hand.
- Adding bustles (to tie up the train if needed): £20 per bustle.
- Changing the zip to a laced back: £75 – £100.
Can you buy a wedding dress from a charity shop?
Yes, you can buy a wedding dress from a charity shop! More often than not they’re in great condition because they’ve been carefully looked after, and have usually only been worn once before.
Browsing charity shops is a fantastic way to grab a bargain while supporting a good cause. You may even find a wonderful dress for around £50. But, finding the perfect dress for you in a charity shop will take a lot of dedication and luck. It’s also likely that you’ll need to take it to a tailor for alterations.
Charity shops are also sometimes sent discontinued dresses which will be cheaper than the original cost, but still fairly pricey – especially if by a well-known brand or designer.
How much does it cost to rent a wedding dress?
The cost of buying your wedding dress isn’t cheap, especially as you’re only going to wear it once. If you’re on a budget, another option is to rent your wedding dress, with costs starting from as low as £12 per day. To put this into perspective, Carrie Johnson’s wedding dress was rented for £45 – far less than the original £2,830 price tag.
Plan your wedding today with Bridebook
Sign up to Bridebook and start planning your wedding today! We have a huge choice of wonderful wedding dress suppliers so you can find the dress.
And if you’re looking for ways to save money on your wedding dress, we’ve got a load of hacks to help you slash your budget and still look fabulous on your big day.
You Might Also Like…
- The Ultimate Wedding Budget Breakdown
- How Much Does a Wedding Cost? The 2024 UK Average
- How to Save Money on a Wedding Dress
- How Much Do Wedding Accessories Cost? The 2024 Average Revealed
