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Jessica
Savvy October 2023

Let's hear it for the discount and secondhand dresses!

Jessica, on September 17, 2022 at 2:13 PM

Posted in Wedding Attire 64

If you're like me, you grew up watching Say Yes to the Dress and expecting you'd be able to afford a $3,000 wedding dress. And if you're like me, you'll have quickly realized post-engagement that a $3,000 wedding dress isn't really feasible. Oops. I started my wedding dress journey by putting a max...
If you're like me, you grew up watching Say Yes to the Dress and expecting you'd be able to afford a $3,000 wedding dress.


And if you're like me, you'll have quickly realized post-engagement that a $3,000 wedding dress isn't really feasible. Oops.
I started my wedding dress journey by putting a max cap of $500 on whatever I bought. My fiance and I are paying for our entire wedding by ourselves, I'm still paying off student loans, and I'm currently paying for a master's program. Affordability is the key here.
I looked at so many secondhand dress sites, Etsy shops, and affordable dress sites like Azazie. I finally found the dress of my dreams through Cocomelody. It was a final sale, sample dress that they were no longer carrying. With a promo code and a prayer that the site was legitimate, I scooped the dress up for about $364.00.
So, let's hear it for those discount dresses, those secondhand dresses, and all the other affordable dresses out there that make us feel like queens, regardless of the price tag.
Did you put affordability as your priority when it came to dress shopping? If so, what did you get? Drop those pictures below!
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64 Comments

  • N
    Expert August 2019
    N ·
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    Got my reception dress one day when I saw David’s Bridal having a sale. I was not seeing anyone at the time and just felt like I should get it anyway since it was $120. Five months later I met my husband. We were engaged about a year later and maybe four months before the wedding I found this originally $800 also David’s Bridal dress in my size a woman was trying to get rid of since they were downsizing. Got it for $50.
    Let's hear it for the discount and secondhand dresses! 1Let's hear it for the discount and secondhand dresses! 2




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  • Bird
    Super June 2021
    Bird ·
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    I got my dress at David’s bridal. It was an earlier season dress so it was on sale. Original price: $950, sale price $850.



    Then after I ordered it online, I saw a new sale, it was now $550. I was able to return my original and buy it again at the new price. (I also got a different size as alteration opinions were hard with the size I had originally gotten)

    Another few weeks, it went on sale again, I asked for a price adjustment! Final price: $400!!!

    All of these returns and price adjustments were in the accepted time frame for returns and price adjustments. Except for the last one which was in March 2020 I think, they made an exception for me because of the pandemic.

    I always joke about how I loved my dress so much I bought it 4 times!
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  • Thomas
    Dedicated May 2023
    Thomas ·
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    My fiancé flung hers for $420. Let's hear it for the discount and secondhand dresses! 3

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  • A
    Expert September 2022
    Allie ·
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    Yes! I found my dress at a consignment shop. It was a sample dress that a bridal shop had consigned because it was from the prior season. I don't know how much it originally retailed for, but with dress, alterations, shoes, and jewelry, I was under $1,000!

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  • Shirleena
    Beginner September 2022
    Shirleena ·
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    Let's hear it for the discount and secondhand dresses! 4

    Let's hear it for the discount and secondhand dresses! 5

    Let's hear it for the discount and secondhand dresses! 6
    Maid of honor(online) 75.00, flower girl( local store 40.00 and bride(online) 190.00 with measurements sent. Food is our biggest expense so far
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  • Paige
    VIP October 2022
    Paige ·
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    Lol I love Say Yes To The Dress, but some of those are just ridiculous! Like, I get that a dress covered in Swarovski crystal is going to cost a lot, but I don't think I have anyone who's a gemologist coming to my wedding, much less one who would put my dress under a microscope??

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  • Mimimushrooms
    Savvy February 2023
    Mimimushrooms ·
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    I’m hiding from some family on here but that’s what photoediting apps are for Smiley winking I got this on sale and with the custom sizing included so I don’t anticipate alternations being too necessary or out of my skill set (I do a lot of sewing). My mother is going to throw a massive fit over this dress but it was too perfect for me.


    Let's hear it for the discount and secondhand dresses! 7
    Let's hear it for the discount and secondhand dresses! 8


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  • Michael
    Rockstar October 2023
    Michael Online ·
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    Sure. you loved the dress more each time.

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  • Mrs.evans
    VIP October 2022
    Mrs.evans ·
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    Hi yes I did have a budget for my dress from $600- $1500 max. So I tried on dress with those 3 different styles types and budget. So I had went with a $600 dress and its a mermaid style dress and flares at the bottom. And it was about to be discontinued so with all of the accessories like veil and petticoat and jewelry it all came to $1,275 and came within budget.
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  • Sarah
    Super September 2022
    Sarah ·
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    Let's hear it for the discount and secondhand dresses! 9
    Let's hear it for the discount and secondhand dresses! 10
    We just got married Saturday so they aren’t good pictures since it will take a little for our photographer to get them back but I got this dress at a boutique off the rack in PERFECT condition for 1200 I think ? If I were to have ordered a brand new one it would have been over 1900!

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  • Jessica
    Savvy October 2023
    Jessica ·
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    God, what a beautiful photo. Looks like you guys had an amazing day!

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  • Jessica
    Savvy October 2023
    Jessica ·
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    Stunning! And an amazing find, gosh darn. I hope your day was just as beautiful as this dress Smiley heart

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  • Jessica
    Savvy October 2023
    Jessica ·
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    Ahhhhh black wedding dresses are a mood! Beautiful dress Smiley heart

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  • Michael
    Rockstar October 2023
    Michael Online ·
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    Those dresses for the MOH, flower girl and bride all look wonderful.

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  • Taniesha
    Savvy July 2023
    Taniesha ·
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    I am still currently looking but I’m almost certain I will be getting mine off Amazon for under $200. I have read so many good reviews and found so many beautiful dresses on there and many sellers let you customize your gown. Also there are wedding dresses or wedding acceptable dresses everywhere these days for reasonable prices. This is my second marriage and I haven’t touched my first dress in 20 years. It’s in a bag in the closet… Too each it’s own but my gown will likely be the cheapest purchase of the night.
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  • Shirleena
    Beginner September 2022
    Shirleena ·
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    Dress from hebeos website. 180.00 with measurements. My theme was princess for day. Between myself and my granddaughters dress ,( 50.00) for her dress at Fashion usa.
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  • Jessica
    Savvy October 2023
    Jessica ·
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    That's amazing. I saw Hebeos and wondered about them; I'm so glad you had a good experience!
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  • M
    Expert July 2023
    Michele ·
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    Very pretty! I'm gonna check out their site.
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  • M
    Expert July 2023
    Michele ·
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    Oh my goodness!!! Simply amazing! Congratulations!
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  • Angel
    Just Said Yes October 2022
    Angel ·
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    Let's hear it for the discount and secondhand dresses! 11
    So I get married in 13days so I don’t have A photo of me in on my wedding day yet but I got it off the rack lower than $500 and fell in love with it I reminds me of the cartoon Cinderellas wedding dress and we’re going to Disney world for our honeymoon so I love it!!!!
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