The High-Street Bride’s Guide: How to Plan Your Perfect Wedding On A Budget

High-Street Bridalwear

It might not be as glamorous as a bridal boutique when you’re trying on your wedding dress in the next fitting room to a girl pulling on a pair of jeans, but believe me, it’s worth it – some of the high-street brands we know and love have gone to the trouble to design dresses that really are worth coveting.

I’ll be straight with you: try on a £2,000 Ritva Westenius goddess gown and your high-street dress isn’t going to feel as sumptuous. Meanwhile, if you’re after full-on ruffle-mania you might even do better with a standard bridal boutique. But if you’ve set your sights on a fun, chic style that can be seriously elegant, since these labels often come in at less than £300, you really can’t go wrong.

BHS

Styles are mostly simple and classic with a modern finish. In the past I’ve seen longer and fuller gowns at about £125 to £495, while shorter or simpler gowns – including a Pippa Middleton lookalike with cowl neck – have sold for around £80 to £175. And a little bird tells me you can expect even more affordable dresses from here on in…

Coast

We’ve all drooled over a Coast dress at one time or another, whether it was too expensive for the Christmas party or too elegant to go clubbing in. So why would anyone look down their nose at such a luxe brand when it comes to their wedding? I for one didn’t – full disclosure: this is where I got my wedding dress from.

As you’d expect from a name with a fairly young following, there are those slightly higher-fashion details on these gowns compared to some of the others on our list – they got on board with the origami trend with a sheeny, structured bodice, and the high-front, low-back ruffle skirt has made an appearance, too. Expect to pay somewhere in the region of £115 to £695.

Debenhams

The Debut collection is a good call for empire line and sheath gowns especially, so if you’re looking for something simple and classic – maybe with a high neck or lace cover-up – this could be the place for you. Prices from about £150 to £200 aren’t uncommon, though there’s the occasional £450-er. In the sale shorter styles have been known to go for as little as £35, and longer for less than £90.

Monsoon

Similarly to Coast, Monsoon is on the style pulse – one of their collections even featured not one, but two lilac gowns for the fashion-forward bride. Again, we’re often talking sheaths and empires, so you’ll want trad bridal labels for a fuller gown, but if elegantly understated is the name of the game, Monsoon has got to be a front-runner. Numbers-wise, think around £129 to £399 – but they have been known to do designs for as little as £85.

Phase Eight

On the whole another member of the sheaths and empires brigade, there’s the odd slightly fuller or shorter skirt here – but the thing you’ll get from Phase Eight is that little bit of extra embellishment. Tapework, lace and beading have all featured in their collections, and prices have ranged from about £130 to £750.

T.K. Maxx

There’s been a lot of furore about T.K. Maxx launching a bridalwear department – mostly because in true T.K. style they’re not creating their own dresses, they’re flogging designer ones on the cheap. To be clear, we’re not talking Marc Jacobs or Vivienne Westwood here – the gowns are by a select few names with RRPs up to about the £2,545 bracket, and Maxx pricetags often between around £119.99 and £699.99.

In our price range, think dresses of the fuller, flouncier kind, with skirts running the gamut from ballgown to mermaid and A-line. They’ve also stocked the occasional dramatic twist in ruffled red, as well as slighter cuts with lacy sleeves and elaborate embellishment.

The labels? Look up Annais Bridal, Christian Wu, Dere Kiang, Donna Lee Designs, Hollywood Dreams, House of Wu, Jacquelin Exclusive, Sue Wong and Tracy Connop and you’ll get the idea.

Best for: Mini-budget brides. In traditional wedding world, £500 is considered inexpensive for a bridal gown. In the real world, it’s four or five times more than many of us have ever spent on a dress. Happily though, high-street bridalwear often comes in at under £300, with many shorter styles available for less than half that. And let’s not forget: if you’ve got your eye on something more expensive, it can be worth hanging on for the frequent sales on some brands.

Bride or Bridesmaid?

Remember those gorgeous bridesmaid dresses you saw in that wedding magazine that turned out to be way over budget? I bet they’re not more than you’ve pencilled in for your gown, are they? The thing with maids’ dresses is that they are occasionwear – they’re made with luxury and elegance in mind – but since very few people would pay more than a few hundred pounds per bridesmaid, they’re rarely out of the realms of your bridal budget.

I’m not even suggesting you go for an offbeat colour if that’s not your thing – there are lots of brands that offer their bridesmaid dresses in cream or white. And if you were looking for a simple, cute style anyway, why not save the pennies – after all, it’s not like your guests will be any the wiser.

Here are a few fave bridesmaid brands whose gowns would make for some seriously chic brides – and since most styles are priced at around £100 to £200, they’ll be pretty damn smug too…

Dessy

Simple elegance is what it’s all about at Dessy: swingy chiffon column dresses that wouldn’t look out of place on a far-flung beach, and slinky, sophisticated satin and charmeuse for understated glamour.

If you’ve got an unusual cut in mind – off-the-shoulder, cowl back or asymmetric neckline, for instance – there’s a good chance you’ll find it here, and the same goes for hard-to-get colours. Most gowns are available in ivory or white but if you’re feeling crazy, some styles even come in polka dots and prints – and you can order ‘extra length’ versions if you’re a taller Mrs-to-be.

Impression

Sheer overlays, ruffled necklines and hankie hems make Impression’s bridesmaid range one to watch if you dare to be different on your big day. Many of their looks have a laidback prom or party feel, so if you’re the type of bride who’s known for bucking trends, partying ’til dawn and doing things your own way, this multi-tonal lot – most gowns are available in white – could be the collection for you.

Kelsey Rose

I admit it: I’ve had a thing for Kelsey Rose maids dresses for a while now. In fact, if you ask me, they’re pretty much the height of bridesmaid chic. They’re mostly modern, fitted and – dare I say it – even cool, with a few cute retro-inspired shorter skirts in the mix too. They’re a smart bet for a range of necklines – strapless, one-shoulder, halter – and where ruffles do appear they’re minimalist and finished with contemporary finesse. To top it all off, dresses come in an insane amount of colours, with most styles available in white, ivory and champagne for more trad brides.

Love By Enzoani

Enzoani regularly rock the bridesmaid world with their off-the-wall collections – we’re talking that fierce embellished, coat-cut gown in magenta and their feather-light, breeze-catching daydream in lilac. If you’re after a statement look like no other, this is the label for you – just bear in mind that for the most part you’ll have to sacrifice shade for style: dresses often come in pastels and scene-stealing black, but I wouldn’t set your heart on hard-to-come-by white.

Mori Lee

Their straight-up Bridesmaids collection is usually wall-to-wall floor-length satin and chiffon in sheaths, empires and columns. Most looks come in classic bridal colours and necklines go from romantic sweethearts to off-one-shoulders and halters – in short: floaty beach bride or city sophisticate.

Then there’s the Affairs collection. Styles are normally shorter, lacier and on the whole go for a lot more of a ‘fun and flirty’ vibe, though you can also find versions of some of the Bridesmaids dresses here with hiked hemlines.

The Angelina Faccenda Bridesmaids collection is generally more like the first than the second – expect city-slicker classics along with a few pre-knee cuts, and more chances taken on the detailing side.

In all the Mori Lee collections though, be aware that the few taffeta dresses rarely come in whites, creams or ivories like the chiffon and satin do – instead, be prepared to compromise with something subtle like a gorgeously glowy champagne.

Best for: Barely-there-budget brides. If you haven’t got time to wait for the sales on the high street and your numbers won’t stretch much beyond £100 to £200, downsize your skirt and your outlay – then put your actual bridesmaids in a prettily styled, more low-key jersey number.

Surprisingly Doable Designer

Before I start on this one, let me say that these are not the only designer dresses I’ve got for you – there are lots of other options in a more strictly bridal style in the upcoming section – but I thought it was worth noting that if you’re up for a not-so formal, unconventional get-together, there are both glam and laidback designer looks that are out there for less than you think.

Moschino Cheap and Chic

I’ll be honest: the bridal possibilities here are few and far between – don’t expect floor-length and be prepared to compromise on colour – but in the past I’ve seen a shimmering, cowl-neck, knee-length number that took the lame out of lamé for £509, while a pretty beige, lace look with waist bow made vintage-cute an affordable £407.

Proving beyond a doubt that the name’s a total misnomer though, you’re just as likely to find something in the straightforward Moschino range – I once spotted a wrapover V-neck in creamy crepe for £509, and a pastel-pink ruched boatneck for £446.

Alternatively there’s Love Moschino, where I’ve seen a registry office-perfect long-sleeve, funnel-neck jersey dress for £177, and a relaxed, white lamé-jersey dress with one short sleeve for £229.

Net-a-Porter

If you’re willing to go as high with your hemline as your flavour of fashion, this online mecca could be a port of call. They do stock a bridal range, but unless you’re ready for your credit card to take a battering, I’d steer clear.

Instead, take one of my top tips: narrow your search to dresses, click on the colours you’re happy with – from white, neutral and silver to metallic, gold and pink – and arrange by price, from low to high. Then hold tight to resist temptation: be sure to only browse as far as your budget allows.

If you’re after the all-out, floor-length white designer stunner, this isn’t the way to get it (the next section is), but if you’re looking for something low-key in a cute, Bradshaw-weds-Big registry-office number, this could be for you. The trick is to find the luxe not in the length but the fabric: that short, well-cut look in jersey won’t do it, but in satin-trimmed lace you’re indulgently casual-cute.

Not convinced? Here’s some of the hot stuff I’ve found this way: Malene Birger had a cream, ruffled, mid-thigh lace number up for £310; Anna Sui debuted a daring long-sleeve mesh and satin look that was not for the faint-hearted – or strait-laced mothers-in-law – at £375; Alice + Olivia had me at “hellooo” with a slinky, beach-ready silk maxi for £395; Antik Batik went all ornate and elaborate in a silk blend with cheeky open back for £420; and there was a near-homage to Bradshaw in a Burberry London V-neck, high-shoulder style – just add sheeny bling – for £495.

Harrods and Selfridges are a similar story: more big names’ short dresses in decadent fabrics for £500 and under. Apply the search technique and prepare for some serious knee wobbles!

J.Crew

Yes, some of their bridal gowns are more than £1,000, but if you’re after a short or simply glam ivory style – think columns or sheaths in chiffon, silk or tulle – you’ll still likely spot some picks around the £500-or-less mark. I for one was always a big fan of the floor-skimming boatneck, V-back Corrina and the slinky, square-neck, peekaboo Bettina. Littler brides – like me! – will also love the novelty of several styles actually being available in petite. Buy direct from their website (their wedding section is a do for once), or from the smaller selection over at Net-a-Porter.

Vivenne Westwood Anglomania

If you’re dreaming of a white wedding, walk away now – Viv’s statement, out-there Anglomania collection is for high-fashion brides with a kink in their style. I’ve seen a short-sleeved, knee-length purple number for £435 at Net-a-Porter, while a brocade-print piece with deceptively structured slouchy collar was £345. The collection can also be good for brides who favour the two-piece look – there was a time when you could supply the skirt and Westwood did a romantic red off-the-shoulder top to go with it for £300.

Diane von Furstenberg and Temperley occasionally have the odd short, white, lacy number for under £500, but for the most part the gorgeous gowns outside their out-of-reach bridal collection aren’t so aisle-friendly.

Best for: Laidback, fashion-forward registry office dos. However gorgeous, these looks will get lost in a massive, high-ceilinged or cathedral-type venue, but they’re just right in a more intimate setting, where they’ll let your natural beauty do the talking.

The Designer Showstoppers

Here it is, ladies: exactly what I promised you back in the Basics section. You can walk down the aisle head-to-toe in catwalk names without breaking the bank, if you know where to look for them. And Here. They. Come.

THEOUTNET (theoutnet.com)

I actually can’t get enough of this place. I just can’t get over the gowns you can afford on there thanks to all this up-to-70%-off business. And since they’re the sister site of Net-a-Porter too, you know they’re on the level – not like some of those faceless so-called ‘designer’ online shops.

Many’s the time I’ve daydreamed about festooning the super-simple Minimarket georgette maxi I once saw on there with some serious statement jewellery – not to mention stroking my laptop screen when I first saw the ankle-length Theyskens’ Theory vision in silk that was only £146.

The cool Carven shell dress with twisted neckline for £189 would have been a head-turner at the registry office, too, while the not one but four Notte by Marchesa full-length gowns they had online at the same time – from only £322, by the way – would have owned any aisle.

Did I mention the Stella McCartney super-soft-pink lace dress for informal outdoor occasions? Or what about the the crème de la crème for under £550: a long-sleeve, floor-gracing Amanda Wakeley silk-satin jaw-dropper? That, you’d just damn well build your wedding around.

But my favourite thing to do here? Take the tip from Net-a-Porter and skip the Wedding section in favour of searching by colour and style – the more open-minded the better. I mean let’s be honest, if you’re walking down the aisle in the grey Valentino Roma rosy-lace-smothered dress that was up for less than £600, the black Gianfranco Ferré V-neck that was under £550, the Vivienne Westwood black and blue jacquard-taffeta that was £525, or the red silk-organza and georgette Oscar de la Renta that was less than £515, who’s going to blink if it’s not white?

Saks Fifth Avenue

Busy brides, step aside. If you’re going to order online from the States, you’ve got to have the time and money to send your gown back if it doesn’t work out. Brides who are up to their eyes in work or other wedding preparations won’t want to take the risk of being lumbered with a £500 dress they don’t have time to post across the pond.

For those who do have the seconds to spare though, Saks Fifth Avenue have made a big hoo-ha out of the fact that they’re now up for shipping worldwide. If you’re after a short and simple dress, don’t spend the international postage – there are generally styles similar to what Saks is hawking way more locally – but if you’re struggling to find a longer look that suits your taste, the swish department store often stocks several standout options for under £500.

Example? Last time I checked, an Aidan Mattox with a beautiful curlicue-meets-sheer back was up for less than £315, while a seemingly simple cowl-neck ABS in satin revealed beautifully intricate silver and champagne back detailing – all for under £350. Meanwhile, the same brand’s bow-detail strapless gown was textbook modern, origami-chic for under £250.

For glamour-hunters, there were various visions in gold – from Sue Wong’s elaborately beaded and tightly ruffled chiffon number for under £445 to an utterly jaw-dropping gold V-neck, cowl back Notte by Marchesa stunner for under £430.

Also featured were a truckload of gorgeous, affordable BCBGMAXAZRIA, some glittering David Meisters and – if you’ve got just a little more to play with – a delicate, empire Badgley Mischka for under £610. There are even videos of a lot of the dresses so you can see them in floor-sweeping action before you order.

Shop Smart

There are just a few things to bear in mind when you shop online. theoutnet.com is an established, recognised brand, but there are a lot of cowboys out there hoping to fob you off with a counterfeit that crackles when you walk and costs your whole bridal budget – and possibly your sanity. Don’t buy from sellers you haven’t heard of, or who no-one you know has had positive first-hand experience with.

Always check the Ts and Cs when spending this amount of money on the web. You don’t want to be stuck with a dress that doesn’t fit because it turns out since it’s sale stock you can’t send it back.

You may need to get alterations, so you should factor these into the cost before deciding whether to keep your gown. Talk to an experienced, trustworthy seamstress or a bridal boutique that doesn’t mind amending dresses other than their own before you decide it’s the right dress for you.

If you’re shopping from abroad, keep in mind extra charges – I’ve seen shipping priced at £9.99 and then taxes and duties tacked on at £80. It doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker if you’ve laid eyes on your dream dress at a pinch-yourself price, but it’s hardly pocket change so be careful to budget for it.

Best for: Brides with a lot of time on their hands. You have to be willing to wait for your dress to arrive, to get in touch with a seamstress for alterations, or to send it back if needs be. With discount sites like THEOUTNET you’ve also got to keep an eye on Twitter or newsletters from your fave site so you can jump in and order your dream dress the minute it goes online – miss them and you could be left with slim pickings when it comes to choice of sizes.

Hire

No desire to wrap your W-day dress up in anti-moth paraphernalia and stash it in the attic? Or to try to convince your daughter she wants to wear it on her wedding day in 25 years or so? Go temporary and take all the savings that come with.

Go Local

I have a confession to make. For a while before my wedding I daydreamed about a little old lady – probably the cobbler from The Elves and the Shoemaker’s more competent other half – who would take in my dress for me, stitch on a few extra sequins and wipe a little tear from her eye in a grandmotherly way when I finally tried it on.

If that’s the kind of experience you’re after, you’re not going to get it on the high street. Or at the jaw-dropping online hire place I’m about to wax lyrical about. But you might find it in that friendly neighbourhood bridal boutique I mentioned – as well as that warm, fuzzy feeling of supporting local biz (and not paying the earth for it).

Although hiring means it’s likely your bridalwear choices will be more limited than if you bought – some fabrics can’t be altered imperceptibly so they won’t be available to rent – you will be able to add super-pretty prom dresses into the mix, and it’s a way of wearing something heart-stopping that also keeps your bank balance the right side of red.

Wish Want Wear

Fans of Temperley, Badgley Mischka and Malene Birger, try to hold it together: gowns by these and other designers are available to hire online from Wish Want Wear – from as little as about £50. No, I haven’t missed a nought off – last time I looked Birger-ites could hire a trim, super-cute style with cool, contemporary lace for four days for £50, or eight days for £85.

Meanwhile, Temperley lovers could get a stunning laser-cut, empire-line, floor-length number for four days for £165 or eight days for £315. Or even an embellished low-back look worth £3,835 for four days for £215 or eight for £415.

As for Mischka fans, you were looking at a totes-affordable £115 for a ruffle-loving halter neck for four days, or £215 for the same dream-dress for eight.

This is a site where it’s worth checking out the wedding section (it’s under Occasions, Bridal), but if you’re open to other colours, you can also search gowns by names like Hervé Léger, Just Cavalli, M Missoni, MW Matthew Williamson, See by Chloe and co. according to everything from neckline to sleeve and body type.

Standout brides and designer addicts can hire their accessories here too – if you’re into statement necklaces and eye-catching clutches, you can often rent names like Erickson Beamon for the price of buying a bling-tastic high-street gem. There are usually – for major label lusters – a few select Chanel by Vintage Heirloom quilted bags too, but you’re unlikely to get them for much under £100, and they tend to be black.

The need-to-knows at the time of writing: delivery is available next-day, same-day and even on Saturdays; you can pre-book your delivery date in advance; minor spills and damage are covered; returns are free; they do the dry cleaning; they send you a free back-up size with your hire; and they offer a handy try-on service so you can test the fit of up to three dresses for £21.90.

I’d recommend calling up one of their style advisors before you book anything though – when it’s your wedding, I can’t help feeling it’s best to confirm the availability of your date and size with a human being, rather than an online calendar.