It's True: These 33 Affordable Wedding Dresses Look Just as Good as Designer Ones
I know from my own experience that planning a wedding can take months. You spend endless hours deciding what your guests are going to eat, what booze they're going to drink and even which napkins they'll wipe their mouths on. While this is all important stuff, it doesn't really compare to deciding on which outfit you're going to wear.
The high street is full of beautiful wedding dresses at the moment.
Of course, the last couple of years had different plans for those who had their weddings coming up, and plenty of nuptials had to be cancelled as a result of the pandemic. But there's one silver lining I hope I can provide for you. If you're planning on getting married at some point, then you have more time to decide what you're going to wear. And if budgets are smaller than you had previously hoped for, then I have good news: High-street wedding dresses look as good as designer ones.
With a rise in the market for well-priced bridal gowns and jumpsuits, there's zero shame attached to spending less on your gown. In fact, affordable can be incredibly chic. Brands like Reformation and Rixo offer chic but inexpensive bridalwear, and the Who What Wear team includes huge fans of their interesting and fun takes.
There are other brands that also stock affordable dresses. Whistles' wedding dress collection continues to be one of my favourites, with all pieces under £700, and one of my affordable red carpet go-to's, Self-Portrait, also offers a drop-dead-gorgeous wedding range. If you still want to invest in something a bit more high-end, Net-A-Porter has a tempting selection of white and ivory gowns and dresses that are in the hundreds, rather than thousands, with a wide mix of styles to suit a city town hall wedding or a dramatic countryside event.
If you want some inspiration for shopping affordable wedding outfits, just take a look at my pick of the expensive-looking options that will cost you a fraction of the price of a traditional frock. I've picked out a selection of dresses from some of our favourite stores that can totally be worn for your big day. While what one person deems as "affordable” can differ greatly for another, considering many wedding dresses cost in the thousands, I’ve kept my edit below the £1,000 threshold. If that still seems expensive to you (it is a considerable amount of money, after all), rest assured there are plenty of dresses that come in way under this. Keep scrolling to shop the specialised wedding dress collections from Reformation, Whistles and so many more.
Shop the Best High-Street Wedding Dresses:
1. Whistles
The silhouette of this dress makes it look so much more expensive.
This would be perfect for a city wedding—add a faux fur coat for a cold weather affair.
2. Rixo
A silky top and skirt set is such a sleek option, especially for a town hall wedding.
3. ASOS Design
A dancefloor-ready wedding dress, if ever I've seen one.
Bring the drama in this beaded, Gatsby-esque number.
Thanks to the intricate beading, no one would believe this is a high-street number.
4. Reformation
5. Galvan
Galvan dresses are the perfect balance between classic and contemporary.
A slinky number that's perfect for a city wedding or the after party.
You can't go wrong with a classic halter, and I love the idea of swapping the traditional gown for a sleek jumpsuit.
6. Self-Portrait
Shop Other Affordable Wedding Dresses:
Ghost dresses are just reliably good, whether for bridesmaids or brides.
This has just the right amount of sparkle—and at a great price, thanks to The Outnet's discounts.
Who knew Nobody's Child made gorgeous wedding dresses?
Going for a high-street dress doesn't mean you have to miss out on all the special details.
This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
Hannah Almassi is the Editor in Chief of Who What Wear UK. She joined in 2015 when she launched the UK sister site following a seven-year tenure at Grazia magazine as fashion news and features editor. With experience in print and digital across fashion and beauty, Hannah has over 18 years of experience as a journalist, editor and content strategist. Her opinion has been sought by the likes of CNBC, BBC, The Sunday Times Style, The Times, The Telegraph and MatchesFashion.com and she is often called upon for her take on trends, becoming known as a person with their finger of the pulse of what’s happening in the fashion space for stylish Brits.
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