My dress is a lace top ballgown with tulle skirt. The top layer of the skirt is tulle with some lace which I am going to have removed in alterations. I want to replace it with layer of plain tulle and I need 14 yards. To order the matching tulle from the same designer is $60 a yard which means I'll end up paying 1/3 of the original price of the dress to add 1 layer of tulle. That seems ridiculous to me. The bridal shop also suggested an alternative designer's tulle at $16 a yard. I'm going to go into the store to compare the two before deciding.
Has anyone out there purchased additional fabric from someone other than their dress designer? How did that work out for you? Should I suck it up and spend the $800 (its not gonna break the bank, but it goes against my sense of practicality as its a dress I'll wear once)? Any other suggestions?