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One Night Affair gives the bride-to-be a large selection of glamorous gowns, which she can return after the special occasion. (One Night Affair)
This past summer I watched my sister get married in the south of France. As the maid of honor, I had the pleasure of helping her pick out the wedding dress.
When we chose the bridal atelier, I watched my sister’s beautiful gown go from within budget to completely overblown by the additional prices of alterations—a bow here, an embellishment there, a mid-length veil, and not to mention, the international shipping.
Weddings are an event of a lifetime. And vendors charge brides accordingly so. I feel it unfair that on the most special day of a woman’s life, she is overcharged from the smallest detail, like a monogram on a napkin, to the big decisions, such as the dress.
As a personal shopper and stylist who believes you buy it cheap and make it chic, I apply my methods to weddings as well.
David’s Bridal satin pick-up gown shown with a ribbon waist accent (sold separately), in white (as shown) or ivory, $399. (Courtesy of David’s Bridal)
Dresses are the pièce de résistance for every blushing bride, but a $5,000 price tag may not be in her budget.
Mass-market bridal stores like David’s Bridal offer many options, inspired by designer finds, for a great gown. J.Crew Bridal is also a perfect place to take a peek.
But if you are a risk taker, and trust the tailors on the other side of the line, a quick search online can find you what you want for a percentage of what a store gown costs. Many sites, like Bridal Super, offer customized gowns for as little as $199.
If you’re not comfortable with leaving a dress up to chance, you can have one made. Rip out some magazine photos of your dream dress from a favorite bridal magazine and bring them to the local dry cleaner or tailor. They will recommend where to buy fabric, and you’re on your way to a custom-made bridal gown.
And finally, you can have that designer dress, with the name and all, if only for a day.
Yes, renting a $20,000 gown for $600 at One Night Affair is a very real, albeit temporary, option for fulfilling your dream of wearing a Vera Wang or Monique Lhuillier gown. You cannot alter and cannot keep it, but you can be the bride you always wanted to be on your fabulously chic (and cheap) walk down the aisle.
Jess Zaino is one of 18 most influential style bloggers on the Web as part of the Glamour Magazine Blogger Network. She is host of the style Web series The Glam List and co-host of the Style Network’s “Modern Girl’s Guide to Life.” As a Stylist, she has dressed many celebrities including Kelly Osbourne and Marla Maples for the Oscars.
She created and hosts Cheap Chic Shopping Tours in New York City, which promises Personal Shopper and Celebrity Stylist service, plus a new wardrobe for $100 (www.cheapchicshoppingtours.com).
