Budget Wedding Dress Ideas Archives - The Budget Bride Company

Five tips for buying a budget wedding dress from wedding dress sample sale.com

19/11/2015/in Budget Advice, Budget Beautiful Wedding Suppliers, Budget Wedding Dress Ideas, Guest Post, Supplier Spotlight /by laura

I’m delighted to welcome the gorgeous weddingdresssamplesale.com to the Budget Bride Company. Specialising in beautiful wedding dresses that are available either as part of boutique sample sales or pre-loved by brides who would like to sell their gowns on, weddingdresssamplesale.com is a fantastic one stop shop for finding the perfect wedding dress on the budget that you have available.
You can find weddingdresssamplesale.com listed in our directory in all UK regions here. I’m now going to hand you over to the site’s founder, Sarah, who is going to let us in on some tips for buying a budget wedding dress.

Champagne tastes on a lemonade budget? The average UK wedding dress costs a whopping £1,746, so it’s not surprising that savvy brides are looking for affordable options.
Wedding Dress Sample Sale has helped hundreds of brides find their perfect designer dress without breaking the budget.Here are my 5 top tips for budget dress success.

1. Know your samples from your counterfeit
Sample, preowned and high street gowns are all better options than counterfeit.
Sample gowns are dresses that have been tried on in bridal shops. They are often in good condition and will not have been previously altered. Expect 50% or more off of retail price. You can track down sample sales at Wedding Dress Sample Sale.
Preowned dresses are dresses that have been worn once by brides on their wedding day. Be sure to check if the dress has been altered or needs a clean and factor that into your budget.
The high street offer some lovely budget options, usually relaxed column or vintage styles. BHS and Monsoon are always worth a look.
Counterfeit dresses are ‘made to measure’ dresses that come directly from a factory, often in China.
Be careful if you are looking on eBay. The dress you see in the picture may not be the one you end up with.
There are loads of horror stories out there, and very few brides get their money back. You don’t want to end up buying twice.

2. Don’t just look online
Online can point you in the right direction, but there are plenty of bargains that never get listed.
Bridal boutiques hold regular on premises sales, so if you see something in the window of your local boutique that’s a bit out of your price range, ask them when they’re having their next sample sale.
Wedding fairs are another great place to find discount gowns. Boutiques and designers will often bring their samples to shows to sell them quickly.
Some of the best UK fairs include Budget Bride Live, Chosen Wedding Fair, Vintage Wedding Fayre and the National Wedding Show.

3. Try before you buy
There is no substitute for trying on a wedding dress.
We don’t wear long dresses every day (well, apart from the odd summer maxi) so it’s hard to imagine what your dress will look like until you’re wearing it.
To make it even more confusing, bridal sizes usually come up smaller than the high street, and vary between designers so a size 14 in one designer might be a high street size 12.
Bridal boutiques are happy for you to come and try sample dresses. They may even offer a returns policy, allowing you to buy online, try the dress at home and return it if it doesn’t fit. Speak to your boutique to find out more.

4. Check for faults before you hand over the cash.
Sample and preowned dresses will come in the sizes they are listed in and once they’re gone, they’re gone!
It’s natural to want to move fast, but do take the time to check the dress over.
Sample gowns are ‘sold as seen’ so if you discover a fault once you’ve taken it home you won’t be able to return it.
I’ve sold hundreds of sample dresses and the majority are in excellent condition. Dust on the hem or small make up marks inside the bodice are to be expected, and can be easily cleaned.
If you are unlucky enough to run into fake tan, faded sequins or large tears then it’s not a bargain after all.

5. Don’t be afraid to negotiate
It never hurts to ask ‘is that your best price?’ The seller can always say no after all.
If a seller can’t take money off of the price of the dress, they may be able to throw in free delivery.
Remember to pay safely, using PayPal for online purchases and cash or debit / credit card for in person payments. Avoid cheques and bank transfers.

I hope you found this blog post helpful. We’ve got lots more advice in our free eBook ‘How to buy your Wedding Dress’ - download it today.

Thank you so much for your advice Sarah! Head to weddingdresssamplesale.com to browse through the options for you today.

Laura xx

Introducing House of Ollichon

14/10/2015/in Budget Beautiful Wedding Suppliers, Budget Wedding Dress Ideas, Wedding Style, Wish Lists /by laura

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I’m so excited to introduce you to my lovely friend Hannah Ollichon’s amazing new online boutique – House of Ollichon who make an incredible line of beautiful alternatives to the classic wedding dress. The focus from House of Ollichon is on beautifully made bridal jumpsuits and combos including culottes and pretty feminine tops. I have been bowled over by the originality of the designs and I must say it feels like a breath of fresh air to see some beautiful alternatives if you just don’t fancy doing the whole white wedding dress thing.

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All of the pieces for House of Ollichon are handmade here in the UK and the prices are very enticing – especially when you compare with the prices of a handmade wedding dress. I personally adore the ‘Lockwood’ (named after Hannah’s maiden surname) – it’s so pretty and elegant and allows you to feel feminine without having to wear a dress. The Lockwood is priced at £580.

The House of Ollichon 'Lockwood'

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The Jeffrey

I am also blushing a lot as one of the lovely pieces was named after yours truly! When John and I get married, my surname will be Jeffery – and you can check out the piece with this name here. I asked Hannah why she named this particular House of Ollichon piece after me, and she said it was because all of the sparkles in the beautiful feature on the front reminded her of the crazy sparkle nail varnish I used to wear when we worked together in our early 20s! The Jeffrey is priced at £475.

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So if you’re interested in finding a gorgeous alternative to the classic wedding dress, then look no further – House of Ollichon has your back! You can browse the full collection here.
Happy Dress-Less Shopping!

Laura xx

Five Beautiful Wedding Dresses under £500

18/02/2015/in Budget Beautiful Wedding Suppliers, Budget Wedding Dress Ideas, Wedding Style /by laura

As a bride on a budget, no doubt you will have already thought about what you want in a wedding dress and wondered about whether you will be able to achieve the look you are after with the money you have available. The brilliant news is, that there are tonnes of options available for you. Today I have done the hard work for you and found you five beautiful wedding dresses under £500.

I've gone for floaty, classic full length femine wedding dresses under £500 today just because I’m feeling romantic! But the stores that I have chosen from also have some beautiful knee length flirty numbers to check out too.

Ivory Lace Bella Wedding Dress from BHS: £150

This dress features all over lace and a beautiful v shaped neckline.

Ivory Abigail Wedding Dress from BHS: £200

My favourite feature on this dress is the satin sweetheart neckline. There is also a tulle underskirt for added volume.

Adrianna Papell Beaded Mesh Mermaid Gown from John Lewis: £330

Would you dare to wear gold for your wedding day? I think this is stunning.

Ghost Grace Wedding Dress from John Lewis: £225

I think this cowl neck dress is drop dead glamour. It can also be dyed to order so you can get an exact match on your colour theme.

Josefina Wedding Dress from Phase Eight: £495

I love how this dress hugs your silhouette and the embroidered and beaded lace detail is so pretty.

I hope you like this selection of gorgeous wedding dresses under £500 – proof you can have glamour on a budget!

Laura x

Five beautiful wedding dresses under £750

25/11/2014/in Budget Bride Boutique, Budget Wedding Dress Ideas, Wedding Style /by laura

So, you’ve sorted your wedding venue and confirmed your date – the next thing on your list will probably be looking for wedding dresses, right?! This part of your wedding prep is so much fun, because as soon as you have the perfect wedding dress, you can start to visualise your day! I always find that I look forward to any event or party so much more, when I know that my outfit is sorted, and your wedding day is probably the best example of this that I can think of!

So, to help you start your perfect wedding dress search, I have found you five of my favourites from the Budget Bride Boutique. These are all dreamy, and all wedding dresses under £750!

Elodie Wedding Dress, Phase 8: £750

What they say: “A gorgeous satin wedding dress with a luxurious beaded lace overlay and hand beaded motifs at the bust. With a dramatic fishtail silhouette and a long train that can be looped up this romantic wedding dress is styled with sheer tulle straps and a separate inner boned corset which is attached to the neckline to keep the dress tight to the body. Finished beautifully with a pretty lace scalloped hem this wedding dress closes with a concealed zip at the back."

Sofia Bridal Dress, BHS: £150

What they say: £Our stunning Sofia bridal dress features beautiful scalloped lace that falls into a flattering V neckline and an elegant full skirt that gives you a feminine silhouette. With a satin champagne lining and grosgrain belt, this standout dress is both elegant and timeless."

Esme Wedding Dress, Phase 8: £350

What they say: “A fairy-tale wedding dress with a striking fishtail silhouette featuring a fitted crossover sweetheart neckline and a luxurious floor-length lace skirt. A full tulle skirt overlay adds gorgeous volume for an enchanting ethereal accent. This romantic strapless wedding dress features a corset constructed inner bodice to cinch in the waist. Clear tape around the neckline edge ensures the bodice stays in place. This wedding dress comes with detachable straps and closes with a concealed zip at the side. Train loops up for the evening."

Ella Wedding Dress, BHS: £110

What they say: "Elegant and timeless our Ella bridal dress features a demure sweetheart neckline and stunning diamante trim. With a pleated waistband that is tailored to accentuate your waistline whilst skimming over the hips to give a silhouette that fits and flatters the body whilst adding grace. The full skirt sits beautifully on the body and adds graceful movement whilst you walk down the aisle."

Isadora Wedding Dress, Phase Eight at John Lewis: £350

What they say: “The epitome of romance, this short floral embroidered organza wedding dress has a flattering sweetheart neckline and a pretty scalloped hem. A tulle underlay creates a full skirt, while a detachable organza waist tie with a pretty oversized back bow cinches in the waist to create a feminine fifties inspired fit and flare silhouette."

I hope these have got your imagination going and will help you with your search for your perfect wedding dress! Which one is your favourite? Let us know over on the Facebook page 🙂

Love and tulle,

Laura x

Budget Bride Live Wedding Fair

07/10/2014/in Budget Beautiful Wedding Suppliers, Budget Bride Live Wedding Events, Budget Wedding Dress Ideas, The Budget Bride Company, Wedding Venues /by laura

On Sunday 7^th September, we ran our Budget Bride Live Wedding Fair at The Ruby Lounge at Diana’s in Wellingborough. We had a great day with lots of happy couples coming to browse through the offers, meet with the suppliers and watch the fashion shows.

We had goody bags with glossy magazines from The Wedding Planner and Wedding Scene, and some delicious shortbread favour samples from Betty Bakes.

The weather was amazing and I was so pleased to see Gerry’s Split Screen VW Camper Van getting lots of attention parked outside the Venue!

We had two fashion shows with Jewkes Bridal whose dresses are all priced under £600.

I was very lucky to have help on the day from my sister Becky and from Zoe, who were on hand at reception to run the registration and to help exhibitors finding their spots!

As for me, at 34 weeks pregnant and looking fit to pop, I must say that I took the opportunity to sit down at this Wedding Fair whenever I could!

Thanks to all of the Brides to Be for attending and to all of the exhibitors for making it a great Fair! And once again, thanks to the Ruby Lounge for being a great host 🙂

See you at the next Budget Bride Live Wedding Fair!

Laura x

Coast Autumn Winter Collection Press Day

30/09/2014/in Budget Wedding Dress Ideas, Budget Wedding Inspiration, Wedding Style /by laura

You can imagine my excitement when I was invited to view the new Coast Autumn Winter Collection down in London. I jumped on the train and made the journey down to Kings Cross in time for a leisurely walk down to the venue for the press day.

Coast wanted to show off their beautiful new Autumn Winter designs and I was delighted to see the new wedding dresses and occasional wear outfits for wedding guests.

The press day was themed to show the different times of day that you can wear Coast designs and I think that they put this across perfectly with a walking the dog scene, a flower stall at a market scene and then a room purely showing off evening wear.

The feel to the day was fun and lighthearted and I loved how the Coast Autumn Winter Collection was show off in such an accessible light.

As you are aware, I’m a big fan of the Coast Wedding Dress range, as the materials are pretty and flattering and the prices are very reasonable. As always, there are a good range of bridesmaid dresses in this collection, with a sophisticated look and a good variety of colours.

Here’s the official line from Coast on their A/W Collection…

“This season, Coast is the first choice for clothes to dress up. Autumn/Winter 14 is about being modern and confident with a focus on colour, print and detail. With Limited Edition pieces and red-carpet worthy occasionwear this season is all about all-out glamour. Winter florals, eyelash lace, graphic monochrome, ombre sequins and feather trims all highlight the luxe feel of the collection which is always beautiful, desirable and contemporary.”

Make sure you head to your nearest Coast to check out the new collection, or shop online to check out their lovely wedding dress range and occasional wear designs.

Happy Shopping!

Laura x

Sumptuous on Saturday with BHS Wedding

22/03/2014/in Budget Beautiful Wedding Suppliers, Budget Wedding Dress Ideas, Sumptuous on Saturday, Supplier Spotlight /by laura

The BHS Wedding Department has long been a favourite of ours at The Budget Bride Company. With gorgeous wedding dresses, lovely bridesmaid and pageboy outfits and an amazing array of accessories to choose from, it makes a wonderful one stop shop for your wedding when you’re keeping to a tight budget.

When I was a Bridesmaid for my BFF Kim last year, I wore a BHS bridesmaid dress (similar to this one) in a gorgeous purple shade which fitted with her wedding theme perfectly. It was floor length and the cut felt incredibly luxurious – fitted enough to make a flattering silhouette, but not so pinched in that I couldn’t relax and just enjoy the day.
From experience, I know that you guys – our gorgeous readers – are big fans of the range at BHS, so I thought today would be a nice opportunity to showcase some of my favourites from their wedding collection – happy browsing!

I know that Cadbury Purple is such a huge colour theme choice for you guys at the moment – and I can understand why! It gives a lovely depth of colour to your day and has such a luxiouious feel. I couldn’t resist adding in this Waistcoat which would be a lovely way to pull the colour theme into your Groomsmen's outfits. An absoloute snip at £25.

Here’s one for your Mums! I love that this pretty hat is £25 – it would make a gorgeous elegant finishing touch to the wedding outfit for maybe yours or your Beau’s Mum!

This Cathedral Veil is beautiful, flowing, and priced at £40. It is a real statement piece, elegantly trailing down to the floor behind you – love the drama!

I love these ivory satin court shoes as they are just the right height to give you the feel of a heel, but not so scarily high that you know you are going to be tottering around with painful feet all day - nothing worse, right?! There are added cushioned insoles with memory foam padding, which I think sounds like the most blissful idea ever! Great value at £30.

This ivory organza bridesmaid dress is just too cute. The bow and diamante details will make your little bridesmaids or flower girl feel like a princess guaranteed. Currently on sale for £25 reduced from £50, snap it up whilst it’s still available! 

This elegant ‘Hope’ wedding dress features a lovely fully boned bodice and lace back detail. The sweetheart neckline is glamorous and highly flattering whilst retaining a poised look due to the floor length silhouette. And the best bit? This ivory gown is priced at £395 - hooray! 

You can have a good old browse to check out all of the other gorgeous wedding options available from BHS on our Budget Bride Boutique – just pop ‘BHS Wedding’ into the Search Box within our Wedding Dress, Bridesmaid and Wedding Accessory Categories.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and see you next week!
Laura xx

Five Gorgeous Budget Wedding Dresses under £700

20/03/2014/in Budget Advice, Budget Beautiful Wedding Suppliers, Budget Wedding Dress Ideas, Wedding Style /by laura

One of the most common things I hear when ladies start planning their weddings, is the panic about how much they are going to have to spend on their wedding dress. As a dedicated lover of bargains and beauty (always at the same time!) I have made it my mission to keep on budget for my own wedding whilst still having what I want. I know that if I see a stunning Vera Wang dress for £5k, that I will be able to track down an affordable version – or have one made for me - to ensure that I can have the look that I want on the money I have available.

Here are five lovely budget wedding dresses that you will be able to pick up for under £700.

Esme from Phase 8 - £495

I love this dress for the oversized flowers on the waist and the full flowing tulle skirt which adds sophisticated volume and a flowing romantic look. Pair with a cute little shrug – like this one for £50 for a demure look.

Gemolyn Maxi from Coast - £695

This dress is pure drama! With a beautiful full skirt balanced by a fitted and flattering bodice, this will create a stunning bridal look for your wedding day. Gorgeous enough to wear alone, or pair with some bling to add sparkle with a belt or necklace.

Ivy Wedding Dress from BHS - £125

This dress was inspired by the crisp lines of origami paper art and has beautiful pleating around the bodice which layers into the pearl and bead encrusted waistband. With a rich satin fabric finish and an inner netting layer, this dress also comes with detachable straps should you need them.

Debut Ivory Embelished dress - £250

This is a beautiful take on a classic design – plenty of soft chiffon and eye catching embellishment makes this a glamourous budget friendly wedding dress choice.

Iris Champagne Wedding Dress - £110

I love this dress for the price and the individual look. Although classed as a bridesmaid dress, I think it makes a really different looking Wedding Dress choice and the champagne colour is super flattering.

With so much variety around and at such great prices for Brides on a budget, you really don’t have to compromise to get the wedding dress you really want with the money you have available.

Laura x

Budget Bride Boutique: Your one stop budget wedding shop!

20/02/2014/in Budget Bride Boutique, Budget Wedding Dress Ideas, Decoration, Wedding DIY, Wedding Style /by laura

I’m absolutely over the moon today to introduce you to our latest offering to make your life as a Bride to Be that little bit easier – The Budget Bride Boutique! Those of you with super keen eyes will have noticed the new menu option at the top of the site and icon on the right of this page stating that The Budget Bride Boutique is now open!

We have scoured the internet high and low to bring you some of the best priced, most gorgeously detailed and bang on trend products and outfits for your Wedding. We have split the Wedding Shop into six categories for super easy browsing. We have Wedding Accessories, Budget Wedding Dresses , a Bridesmaid Department, Favours, Gifts and Decorations, Personalised Wedding Items and we’ve even got a department just for The Boys!

We have also added a handy search bar at the top of each department, so if you’re looking for a Purple Bridesmaids Dress or a Personalised Wedding Sign, just type it into the search bar to see the results sorted to your exact requirements 😀

All of the products and garments which we have in the Boutique have been specially picked for Brides who are watching their Budget, but who still want great quality and a brilliant array of products to choose from all in one place. Whatever your colour or style theme, we will have something to suit you and your bank account. From personalised rubber stamps and wedding invitations to high fiving cake toppers, we’ve got pretty much every wedding base covered!

Every product is super clearly priced and you can easily find out more information and place your order with just a couple of clicks. We’ve even arranged for a little array of similar items that you might like, to appear under each product you choose to help inspire you with other wedding items that could compliment or be another great option for you.

I hope that you love our new Budget Bride Boutique and that you are able to find everything that you are looking for for your wedding day! Any suggestions or comments? Just let us know in the Comments Box below, or over on our Facebook page.

Here’s to getting your wedding sorted on budget!

Laura xo

Photographer Credit for image at top of page: Photography by Danielle Mobbs

Weekly Wedding Roundup – Easy Like Sunday Morning

09/02/2014/in Budget Wedding Dress Ideas, Deals and Offers, Easy Like Sunday Morning, Voucher Codes and Special Offers, Wedding Style /by laura

Howdy all! Hope you are having a lovely relaxing weekend. This has been a really busy week for us at Budget Bride Co HQ, we had the Eden Centre Fair a week ago today and we are now full steam ahead with preparing for our next Budget Bride Live event in Wellingborough which is taking place a week today. It will be great meeting some of you there!

So when I have occasionally resurfaced from my crazy inbox, these have been my favourite bits of weddingy and loved up merriment from internet land this week...Here's your weekly wedding roundup 🙂

♥ These incredibly cute Valentines Day Cards from John Lewis. Do you send any cards out on Valentines? I'm a sucker for them (and have been sending my Grandad one every year since I was five years old!!)

♥ And I've got my eye on these cool Valentines Day gifts…

♥ This. Cake. 

♥ Loving these Wedding Dresses all £750 and under. This one from Phase 8 is £250.

♥ This Alice dress from Coast to wear as a Wedding Guest - I just love the little bow at the waist 🙂

♥ Gorgeous bright colours at this wedding held in a conservatory

♥ I love you like XO

♥ Are you or your other half into your motor sports? Brilliant offer here for a stag or hen do – take a super car for a spin for £39!

♥ And maybe if you’re after something a little more sedate… A deluxe pamper day for two people for £89 – snap it up here!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and see you next week for lots more weddingy goodness 🙂 
Laura xo

So if you’re interested in finding a gorgeous alternative to the classic wedding dress, then look no further – House of Ollichon has your back! You can browse the full collection here. Happy Dress-Less Shopping!

Laura xx

I've gone for floaty, classic full length femine wedding dresses under £500 today just because I’m feeling romantic! But the stores that I have chosen from also have some beautiful knee length flirty numbers to check out too.

This dress features all over lace and a beautiful v shaped neckline.

My favourite feature on this dress is the satin sweetheart neckline. There is also a tulle underskirt for added volume.

Would you dare to wear gold for your wedding day? I think this is stunning.

I think this cowl neck dress is drop dead glamour. It can also be dyed to order so you can get an exact match on your colour theme.

I love how this dress hugs your silhouette and the embroidered and beaded lace detail is so pretty.

I hope you like this selection of gorgeous wedding dresses under £500 – proof you can have glamour on a budget!

Laura x

So, to help you start your perfect wedding dress search, I have found you five of my favourites from the Budget Bride Boutique. These are all dreamy, and all wedding dresses under £750!

What they say: £Our stunning Sofia bridal dress features beautiful scalloped lace that falls into a flattering V neckline and an elegant full skirt that gives you a feminine silhouette. With a satin champagne lining and grosgrain belt, this standout dress is both elegant and timeless."

I hope these have got your imagination going and will help you with your search for your perfect wedding dress! Which one is your favourite? Let us know over on the Facebook page 🙂

Love and tulle,

Laura x

On Sunday 7th September, we ran our Budget Bride Live Wedding Fair at The Ruby Lounge at Diana’s in Wellingborough. We had a great day with lots of happy couples coming to browse through the offers, meet with the suppliers and watch the fashion shows.

We had goody bags with glossy magazines from The Wedding Planner and Wedding Scene, and some delicious shortbread favour samples from Betty Bakes.

The weather was amazing and I was so pleased to see Gerry’s Split Screen VW Camper Van getting lots of attention parked outside the Venue!

We had two fashion shows with Jewkes Bridal whose dresses are all priced under £600.

I was very lucky to have help on the day from my sister Becky and from Zoe, who were on hand at reception to run the registration and to help exhibitors finding their spots!

As for me, at 34 weeks pregnant and looking fit to pop, I must say that I took the opportunity to sit down at this Wedding Fair whenever I could!

Thanks to all of the Brides to Be for attending and to all of the exhibitors for making it a great Fair! And once again, thanks to the Ruby Lounge for being a great host 🙂

See you at the next Budget Bride Live Wedding Fair!

Laura x

You can imagine my excitement when I was invited to view the new Coast Autumn Winter Collection down in London. I jumped on the train and made the journey down to Kings Cross in time for a leisurely walk down to the venue for the press day.

Coast wanted to show off their beautiful new Autumn Winter designs and I was delighted to see the new wedding dresses and occasional wear outfits for wedding guests.

The press day was themed to show the different times of day that you can wear Coast designs and I think that they put this across perfectly with a walking the dog scene, a flower stall at a market scene and then a room purely showing off evening wear.

The feel to the day was fun and lighthearted and I loved how the Coast Autumn Winter Collection was show off in such an accessible light.

As you are aware, I’m a big fan of the Coast Wedding Dress range, as the materials are pretty and flattering and the prices are very reasonable. As always, there are a good range of bridesmaid dresses in this collection, with a sophisticated look and a good variety of colours.

Here’s the official line from Coast on their A/W Collection…

Make sure you head to your nearest Coast to check out the new collection, or shop online to check out their lovely wedding dress range and occasional wear designs.

Happy Shopping!

Laura x

So if you’re interested in finding a gorgeous alternative to the classic wedding dress, then look no further – House of Ollichon has your back! You can browse the full collection here.
Happy Dress-Less Shopping!

On Sunday 7^th September, we ran our Budget Bride Live Wedding Fair at The Ruby Lounge at Diana’s in Wellingborough. We had a great day with lots of happy couples coming to browse through the offers, meet with the suppliers and watch the fashion shows.