The Truth About Thrifted Wedding Dresses

Going to thrift shops in person might also score you the dress of your dreams. Spotlight highlights one bride's story, who paid 35 British pounds (under $46) for a white lace bridal gown. Alterations which included replacing clasps, zippers, and buttons cost the bride 200 British Pounds (about $262), and she subsequently discovered that the dress came from the 1950s, was possibly handmade, and could have been a family heirloom because some of the flowers on the dress were even older. While stories like that might be few and far between, you just never know.

Once you have your dress, Thumbtack says you will probably need to budget up to $700 that covers a flat fee for all alterations, simply because the fabrics used for a bridal gown aren't your everyday cotton, linen, or rayon, and wedding dresses are complicated things. Changes could include altering sleeves, changing its silhouette, or even adding beading. If the changes aren't too complicated to manage, you could still be looking to spend about $300, so don't forget to budget for that.