Wedding Gowns & Bridal Fashion

Maybe you can’t afford a castle extravaganza, like Eva Longoria’s wedding. But you can look like a princess without blowing your bridal budget on a gown — after all, you only wear your dress once. “We’re seeing very nice quality dresses at very affordable prices,” says Millie Martini Bratten, the editor in chief of Brides magazine.

Saying “I do” to cheap chic is easier since Isaac Mizrahi introduced eight gowns at Target.com in May, including an homage to Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s cowl-neck silk charmeuse column ($129.99), as well as a silk faille trapunto gown ($159.99). Other bridal bargains are JCPenney’s triple-bustle strapless gown ($200), J.Crew’s halter-neck Caroline dress in ivory silk tricotine ($295) and Ann Taylor’s Elizabeth strapless silk duchesse satin gown with 36 back buttons ($600).

Admittedly, you forsake handmade lace, imported Italian faille and custom beading — sometimes for polyester. But these frugal yet fabulous dress options are even more valued now that today’s average wedding costs $27,852, and the average honeymoon is $5,111, according to Conde Nast Bridal Group.

“As long as it looks good and fits well, why not pay less?” says John Mincarelli, a fashion merchandising professor at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology. “You can spend the money on your honeymoon.” After all, happily ever after can’t be built on tulle — or debt.

Source: USAweekend.com