Your wedding dress budget: what to set aside beyond the gown
The gown is only part of your wedding dress budget. Here's what else to plan for, from alterations and a veil to cleaning, and a simple method for setting a figure you can stick to.
In this guide 9 sections
- How much should I spend on a wedding dress?
- What should a wedding dress budget include?
- Why should you budget for alterations separately?
- What about the veil, headpiece and accessories?
- What else should you plan for before the day?
- How do you set a wedding dress budget and stick to it?
- How can you get more from a smaller wedding dress budget?
- Plan your budget, then try on with confidence
- Frequently asked questions
A realistic wedding dress budget covers the whole bridal look, not just the gown: alterations, a veil or headpiece, the right underwear, shoes, and cleaning and storage afterwards. The simplest way to set it is to decide your all-in figure first, keep a buffer for alterations, and only try on gowns that fit within what’s left. That way you fall in love with a gown you can actually say yes to.
How much should I spend on a wedding dress?
There’s no right number. The right amount is the figure that fits your overall wedding budget and still leaves room for everything else you’ll wear on the day.
Start with what you’re comfortable spending on the complete bridal look, then work backwards. Two gowns at the same price can lead to very different totals once alterations and accessories are added, so the all-in figure is the one that matters.
For context, gowns with listed prices on our site currently range from under $1,500 to under $5,000, and many of our gowns are price on appointment.
What should a wedding dress budget include?
A complete wedding dress budget includes the gown plus every item and service that makes it wearable and finished on the day.
| Category | What it covers | Why it’s easy to forget |
|---|---|---|
| The gown | The dress itself, whether off the rack, ordered in your size or made to measure | It’s the headline, so the rest gets overlooked |
| Alterations | Hemming, taking in, strap or cup adjustments, sleeve changes | Even a gown in your size may need fitting to your body and shoes |
| Bustle | Hooks, buttons or ribbon ties to lift the train for the reception | It’s often decided late, at the final fittings |
| Veil | Length, edge finish and fabric | Easy to treat as an afterthought |
| Headpiece | Comb, clip, headband, pins or hairvine | Often chosen once the gown is settled |
| Sleeves and extras | Detachable sleeves, a belt or a cover-up | Seen as optional until you see them on |
| Shapewear and underwear | Strapless or backless bra, bodysuit, slip | The gown can’t be fitted properly without it |
| Shoes | Ceremony shoes and, if you like, a comfortable second pair | Heel height has to be decided before the hem |
| Steaming before the day | Removing creases from transport and storage | It’s a last-week job, so it’s easy to miss |
| Cleaning and storage | Professional cleaning after the wedding and acid-free storage | It happens after the wedding, so it’s easy to leave out |
You won’t need every line, but listing each category, even to cross it out, is what stops small costs from surprising you later.
Why should you budget for alterations separately?
Alterations deserve their own line because their cost depends on the gown, the fabric and how much needs to change, and you won’t know the full picture until your fittings.
A few things push alteration work up:
- Fabric: crepe, chiffon and heavily beaded or appliquéd lace take more time and skill than tulle or firmer satin.
- Lace at the seams and hem: when lace motifs cross a seam, they often have to be lifted and re-applied by hand.
- Size changes: taking a gown in is usually more straightforward than letting it out, and letting out depends on how much seam allowance the gown has.
- Design changes: adding sleeves, changing a neckline or reshaping a train are bigger jobs than a hem.
When you’re comparing gowns, ask what fitting each one is likely to need, and ask whether any alterations are included in the price. If you’d like a detailed alterations quote, our sister studio Laleh Atelier specialises in wedding dress alterations, including bustles.
What about the veil, headpiece and accessories?
Accessories are where budgets quietly creep, so give them a firm figure of their own from the start.
Choose the gown first, then the veil and headpiece, because the gown’s neckline, back and lace should guide them. A cathedral-length veil with a lace edge is a very different purchase from a short, plain-edged veil, and both can be right. Our guides to choosing the veil and choosing the headpiece explain the options.
What else should you plan for before the day?
Buy your underwear and shoes before your first fitting, because the gown is hemmed to your shoe height and fitted over your actual underwear.
- Underwear: a strapless or low-back gown may need a specific bra or bodysuit. Bring the exact pieces to every fitting.
- Shoes: a change in heel height of even 2 to 3 cm can change how the hem sits on the floor, so settle on your shoes early.
- Steaming and small marks: plan for steaming close to the day, and know what’s safe to try on a small mark before you need it. Our guide to spot cleaning a wedding dress covers the basics.
After the wedding, professional cleaning and storage in acid-free tissue protect the gown if you’d like to keep it, so add a line for that too.
How do you set a wedding dress budget and stick to it?
Set the all-in figure, divide it into categories, protect a buffer, and only shop within the gown portion.
- Decide your all-in figure. Agree on the total for the complete bridal look with anyone contributing, before you visit a boutique.
- List every category. Use the table above and cross out anything you won’t need.
- Keep a buffer for alterations. Set aside a portion of your total specifically for fitting, rather than spending it all on the gown.
- Give accessories their own figure. Decide what you’ll spend on the veil, headpiece, shoes and underwear together.
- What’s left is your gown budget. Tell your consultant at the start of your appointment, so they bring you gowns within it.
- Don’t try on above your limit. It’s hard to love a gown less once you’ve worn it, and every gown after it is judged against one you can’t buy.
- Ask what’s included. Check whether the price covers any alterations or accessories.
How can you get more from a smaller wedding dress budget?
Look at sample gowns, browse within your range, and choose a gown that needs little changing.
- Look at sample gowns. A sample gown is one that’s been in the boutique for try-ons, and it can be a way to wear a designer style for less. Allow for cleaning and fitting in your total. See what’s currently in our sample sale.
- Browse gowns within your range. Our affordable wedding dresses bring together gowns at more accessible price points.
- Choose a design that fits closely from the start. The less a gown needs to change, the smaller your alterations bill.
Plan your budget, then try on with confidence
Walking into an appointment with a clear figure makes it easier to relax and enjoy it. Book a free bridal appointment at our Rockdale boutique, tell us your budget at the start, and we’ll show you gowns that fit it.
Frequently asked questions
Does the wedding dress budget include alterations?
It should. Alterations are part of what makes a gown wearable on the day, so include them in your all-in figure rather than treating them as an extra. Ask whether any alterations are included in the gown’s price.
How do I set a wedding dress budget in Australia?
Decide your all-in figure for the whole bridal look first, list the categories in this guide, keep a buffer for alterations, then shop for a gown within what’s left. Ask what each price includes.
Should I tell the consultant my budget?
Yes. Telling your consultant your budget at the start means they can bring you gowns within it, so you spend your appointment choosing between gowns you can actually buy.
Are sample gowns a good way to save?
They can be. A sample gown has been used for try-ons, so check its condition, ask what alterations it needs, and add cleaning to your plan if it needs it.
