Finding your dream wedding dress… at the right price

Every bride wants to find the dress of their dreams and the best service. And it doesn’t matter if your budget is £1,000 or £100,000 your criteria will be the same. Before starting what could become a lengthy search, it is a good idea to decide your priorities as this could save time and help to ensure you find the right dress.

Elizabeth Bessant bridal couture at The National Wedding Show

The National Wedding Show at London Olympia next month is a good place to start as there is so much choice under one roof. Things to be thinking about as you go round are:

• What style of dress are you looking for? Bohemian, Vintage, Traditional, Sexy? And what time of year is your wedding. Will it be hot or cold, on a beach, in a church or a barn…?

• Will you find it at a wedding show, in a magazine or online? Before you hit the road you should really get an idea of who stocks or makes the style of dress you are looking for.

• Do you want to have your dress specially designed and made for you? If so a recommendation is always a good idea. Or wedding shows feature designers collections and sometimes you will meet the designer. As a designer myself, I always attend the shows because I believe it is important to meet brides so I can get an idea of the dress you are dreaming of – and you can find out what it means to have your wedding gown specially made. You will need to have the confidence to speak out – the right designer will listen to your ideas.

Lucy Kane, editor Time and Leisure magazine, wearing Elizabeth Bessant bridal couture

Make sure you understand what is included in the price – last minute alterations are often required as brides tend to lose weight close to their wedding day- check these are included in the price.

• Nearly new/Vintage – although most brides don’t want a second time around dress you will get a lot more for your money.

Once a dress is over twenty years old it can take on the title of Vintage – and it will then become very desirable and a talking point – age is Kudos!

• My advice would be to go directly to a designer. Most bridal boutiques add 300% mark up.

A custom-made dress is always a better option than a dress that has been altered, and, in almost every case, will have been made to ethical standards in the UK.

Rio wearing Elizabeth Bessant bridal couture

• Proximity of the boutique or designer – a lengthy journey for fittings could add to your costs especially if you are having your dress made because you could need as many as six or more fittings depending on the intricacy of the design. And although that sounds like pampering the travel bill could bust your budget.

I will be at the National Wedding Show next month – Friday 17th to Sunday 19th February 2017, London Olympia, and am happy to answer all your queries. I look forward to seeing you there…