As I mentioned yesterday, used wedding dresses are a great source for a cheap wedding dress. Another idea for saving money is to purchase new gowns made to resemble designer dresses. In general, you order the gown based on a photo of an existing dress. A seamstress, usually in an Asian country, then recreates the general look of the pictured gown — often for less than $100. I’ve read both positive and negative critiques of this approach to purchasing a wedding gown. Whether these dresses are right for you depends on your own priorities: If you expect the same quality of material and exact detailing as a designer original, you will be disappointed. If you are looking for a way to very inexpensively purchase a formal wedding dress that will look good on you for a day, then consider this option. Many currently available examples are here and below.
