Must-Know Tips to Find Affordable Wedding Dresses in NZ

The wedding dress is one of the biggest expenses that you need to account for when planning and budgeting for a wedding. However, brides-to-be should realise that there is no need to spend a ridiculous amount of money on a wedding dress as there are plenty of ways to find affordable wedding dresses in NZ. Use this guide to help you save money on your wedding dress but still feel like a million bucks on your big day.

How to Find Affordable Wedding Dresses in NZ

First and foremost, you have to let go of the idea that the more expensive a dress is, the more beautiful or special it is. Any wedding dress, as long as it looks good on you and fits your idea of the perfect dress, can make you look your best regardless of the price tag.

It is all about finding a dress that reflects your personal style and knowing how to wear it to make a big impression when you walk down the aisle. 

If you want to find the perfect wedding dress without breaking the bank, take note of the following tips when shopping around.

1. Wear a dress that has been in the family.

If you’re the romantic type, then you would not mind wearing a wedding dress that has been with the family for generations. There are a lot of women out there who wear wedding dresses from their mother or grandmother! 

This is an excellent idea because not only is it cheap (since you will only be covering the cost of altering the dress to get the perfect fit), but it also adds sentimental value to your wedding ceremony. It is unique, sentimental, and affordable – what is not to like?

2. Buy second hand.

Another option to find affordable wedding dresses in NZ is to buy a pre-owned wedding dress. You can get anywhere from 25 to 35 percent in savings off the retail price of a dress if you opt for the pre-loved ones. 

There are bridal shops that specialise in second hand wedding dresses. If you are lucky enough, you might even be able to get your hands on a designer gown that costs only a fraction of the original price.

3. Rent a wedding dress.

If you do not mind not being able to keep your wedding dress as a memento after the ceremony, then this is a great option to save a lot of money. The cost of renting a dress versus buying it is considerably less. 

A lot of budget-conscious brides are opting to rent instead of buying, especially as there are shops that enable you to rent dresses for your entourage. Budget-savvy brides can save up to 80 percent in comparison to buying a new dress.

4. Buy a dress that isn’t a wedding dress.

If you’re a non-traditional bride, this is a good option to make big savings. The reason why you have the potential to save big is that wedding dress sellers tend to up the price tag on their dresses knowing that most brides are willing to pay big bucks for their dream dress.

5. Shop locally.

Locally owned bridal shops and boutiques are in a better position to offer you cheaper prices due to the lower cost of production and logistics involved. The next time you are looking for affordable wedding dresses in NZ, you can turn to local bridal shops or online shops that are based in NZ. This will give you the opportunity to find your dream wedding dress for a fraction of the cost of when buying them from big bridal stores overseas.