How Much Does the Average Wedding Dress Cost?

In the U.S., the average wedding dress cost between $1,500 and $2,500 this season. That’s quite a range, but such a large range is rather advantageous for the typical bride since it means there’s a lot of variety for different bridal budgets. Whether you find yourself hoping for a wedding dress cost that falls within that range, below it, or even above it, it’s good to know what you can commonly expect to find as you shop for your dream gown so you can plan accordingly. What makes a wedding dress more or less expensive? Let’s take a look at a few things that can make the cost of wedding dresses increase or decrease.

What Affects the Cost of Wedding Dresses?

The cost of wedding dresses can vary drastically based on where you’re shopping, who designed the gown, and how it was made. Here’s a breakdown on how those things can affect the average wedding dress cost.

  • Location: Big cities (think NYC and LA) often feature couture salons with runway-worthy gowns and prices to match. You’re more likely to pay top tier prices in big cities for most things, wedding dresses included. On the other hand, Midwest and Southern states often feature prices within or below the average range. Something else to keep in mind is that physical bridal stores in general are more expensive than exclusively online bridal shops due to lower overhead costs. The truth is, online businesses don’t have the same expenses as physical stores do so they don’t have to raise the cost of wedding dresses in order to cover those costs. That’s why online wedding dress stores like Avery Austin are able to offer you high-quality wedding dresses at a lower cost.
  • Designer: Who designed your chosen wedding dress can have a huge impact on the affordability of the style. World-renowned designers like Oscar de la Renta or Yumi Katsura, for example, offer highly sought-after designs that are usually priced well above the average wedding dress cost. Even if you’re not planning on a couture wedding dress though, it’s good to keep in mind that most bridal gown designers set the price that bridal shops pay for their styles, then the shops are allowed to charge a certain amount more. This allows both the designer and the bridal shop to be paid for their services (creating the dress and promoting/selling it). Of course, if the bridal store you’re shopping at creates its own designs (like Avery Austin does!), then you’re lucky to be shopping directly from the designer without that extra charge.
  • Fabric Quality: From charmeuse and satin to lace and tulle, bridal fabrics vary by weight, texture, and weave pattern, and each fabric type can be more or less expensive depending upon how difficult it is to make and use. (You can learn more about the most common types of bridal fabrics in Avery Austin’s guide.)
  • Style Intricacy: Generally classic silhouettes with minimal, if any, adornments can create simple wedding dresses that are less expensive, while heavily embellished bridal gowns with ambitious lines and features require the utmost care and delicacy to create, which often means a higher price tag.
  • Customizations: Whether you’re looking for a dress to be designed from the ground up to your specifications (bespoke wedding dresses) or an already existing gown with a few style tweaks, going the custom route means an added expense. Usually it’s most expensive to have a dress made your way from scratch, but that will ultimately depend upon who is making it and what materials are being used. For a better idea of what it could cost to have an Avery Austin dress customized, explore the options and average fees in this blog about customizing wedding dresses.
  • Rush Orders: A common mistake many brides make is waiting until the last minute to buy a wedding dress, as not everyone is aware of just how long it can take to find, receive, and alter a bridal gown. If your wedding is right around the corner and you need your dress like yesterday so you have time for alterations, then you’ll likely be paying a pretty penny for a rush order on your chosen wedding dress. It’s best to prepare and shop in advance to avoid this additional wedding dress cost, so be sure to explore Avery Austin’s wedding dress shopping timeline to help you pace and plan ahead. If a quick turn around on your wedding dress purchase can’t be avoided, there are still ways to avoid that rush fee (more on that below).

Are there exceptions to these guidelines? Absolutely! You might find a great deal on a designer wedding dress in a big city just as easily as you might find a simple bridal gown by a popular designer that’s priced above the average cost. But generally, the list above covers the most common elements that can affect the cost of your chosen wedding dress.

Tips on Planning for Wedding Dress Costs

Knowing all the ways that wedding dress costs can vary is half the battle; now it’s time to plan for those costs! From considering all the “extras” you’ll need to complete your bridal ensemble to finding ways to save, there are a lot of things to keep in mind when planning for the cost of your wedding dress. Here are a few tips to help you with your planning:

  • The price of your wedding dress is just the beginning. Remember that while your gown is certainly the central piece of your wedding day look, it’s not the only thing you’ll need. You will also want to prepare yourself to budget for the other parts of your outfit, like a veil, shoes, jewelry, and undergarments. Yes, undergarments! So many brides forget to consider this very important detail that will contribute to their comfort on the big day (Get the 411 on what to wear under your wedding dress here.). And of course, let’s not forget that in order for your dress to fit perfectly, you’ll most likely need alterations! For more on what you need to know about alterations and what they can cost, check out Avery Austin’s wedding dress alterations guide.
  • Be prepared for fees you might not have considered. Although the most costly surprise for most brides comes with alterations, there are several other fees that you might not have considered in your shopping excitement. Taxes, shipping, and other fees can come into play depending on where you shop in person or online. Taxes, for example, can be a real sticker shock moment for some brides, especially those from states with little to no sales tax (we’re looking at you, Delaware!) who might be shopping out of state for their dream gowns. Be sure to check ahead of time to familiarize yourself with the sales tax for the location where you’ll be dress shopping. If you’re having your bridal salon purchase shipped to you or you’re shopping online, you might be responsible for shipping (and return shipping too if things don’t work out). It’s best to research and/or ask up front about what you can expect regarding tax, shipping, or other fees.
  • If you want to wear two wedding dresses, prepare for the cost of two looks. Many brides love to include a wardrobe change between the ceremony and the reception, some for comfort, others for the excitement of another grand entrance. Hopping on the two wedding dress trend does mean a little extra planning when it comes to wedding dress costs. If the gown styles are vastly different, you’ll likely need a whole second set of accessories and undergarments. If the styles are similar, you might not need a complete swap out of the rest of your outfit. Either way, it’s something to keep in mind when considering the expense. For more advice on rocking this trend, check out Avery Austin’s blog on wearing two wedding dresses.
  • Avoid rush order fees by confirming estimated ship dates or shopping for in-stock wedding dresses. If shopping early is not an option, it’s still possible to get yourself a gorgeous wedding gown without the rush order fees. Wherever you shop, confirm the estimated ship date for their products in advance, as most bridal stores have a 4 to 6 month time frame for wedding dress orders. You can save a lot of time shopping at Avery Austin though, as most special order gowns are available within 10 weeks! Need something even sooner than that? Then you’ll need to get a dress that’s considered “in stock.” At a bridal shop, this means purchasing a dress that you can take right home off the rack or is already made and can be shipped directly to you from their warehouse. For an online bridal store, this means only buying wedding dresses marked as “in stock” or “ready to ship,” which really just means that they are already made and ready to be carefully packed up and shipped to you within days of placing your order. See for yourself just how easy and fast it is to get a gown this way by shopping Avery Austin’s collection of ready-to-ship wedding dresses and in-stock plus-size wedding dresses.
  • Think through ways to get the dress you love for less. It’s hard because once you’ve found “the one,” you don’t want to settle for a different gown that better suits your budget. Before you decide to keep looking around or compromise, let’s consider a few ways you can go about getting your dream style for the best price.
    • Try on the dress design you love near you, even if you know prices are usually higher in your area. This will allow you to figure out if you truly love it on you and determine the right size. Then you can shop for that style at other trusted retailers to find the best price.
    • Consider sample sales. Keep a close eye on the bridal salons that feature styles by your favorite designer, then shop their sample sales to see if your dream gown is included.

These tips are all great ways to help you plan ahead for the average wedding dress costs. If you know right from the start that you want to keep your costs for your wedding dress below the average, then read on for more advice on shopping affordably.

How to Get a Wedding Dress for Less Than the Average Cost

Many brides prefer to score a solid deal on their wedding dresses. The cost might be a super important consideration for a very strict budget, or the simple act of saving money might be the true joy. Either way, it’s totally possible to spend less than the average wedding dress cost range of $1,500 to $2,500. Here are a few ways to get a wedding dress under $1,000:

  • Shop Sales: This might mean going to a bridal store during a big sale event or shopping the sale or clearance section of an online bridal shop. Oftentimes, these discounted wedding gowns are simply styles from last season that need to be cleared to make room for the next round of designs that are being released. Other times, these sale bridal gowns might actually be sample sizes too (meaning they had been tried on by other brides). Which brings us to the next point…
  • Buy the Sample: Yes, sample wedding dresses have been tried on before, but that’s not to say you should shy away from them as a good way to save money or stay within your budget. Samples offer brides a great chance to score a steal of a deal for a high-quality style that comfortably fits them just right, as long as they know what to expect and look for when shopping. In fact, Avery Austin has a whole blog covering everything you need to know before purchasing a sample wedding dress, so you can be well informed and decide what’s best for you. And when you’re ready to shop for sale dresses or sample dresses, be sure to check out Avery Austin’s collection of wedding dresses on sale!
  • Shop Within Your Budget Range: If you know that you can’t spend more than $500 on a wedding dress so you still have enough left in your budget for everything else you’ll need for your wedding day, then there’s no reason to tempt yourself into a higher spending bracket. In fact, do yourself a favor and ONLY shop for wedding dresses under your budget price point. In a bridal salon, this means asking your stylist to only offer suggestions within your budget or to show you to a specific section or designer with styles in your price range. Keeping to your budget is even easier when you shop online, thanks to filters or specially curated price collection! At Avery Austin, for example, you can easily shop a collection of wedding dresses under $500, wedding dresses under $800, or wedding dresses under $1000. And just like that, you can zero in on gorgeous, high-quality wedding dresses for less than the average cost!

Once you’ve taken the time to figure out your wedding budget and you know what you can spend personally (whether you’re within the average wedding dress cost or not), wedding dress shopping is a whole lot easier for you AND your wallet. And with the tips above, you’ll be well prepared to cover the cost of your dream wedding dress, and maybe even save a little money along the way!

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