You can have a fabulous wedding dress on a budget. Shop early and do some thinking and planning before you go shopping. Be realistic, shop in your budget and be open to possibilities. Since I've spent years in a bridal salon, I have some insider tips to share.

Your wedding dress sets the tone of the wedding. If you are having a formal wedding, then you need to wear a formal gown with a train. For a beach wedding, you'll wear something more informal, no train and lighter weight.

Close you eyes and envision yourself walking down the aisle. What are you wearing? That's your first clue. Now its time to start shopping.

Shop within your budget. Don't try on a dress that costs thousands because you won't be able to rationalize the cost and it could be "the one". Be honest when shopping. Tell the bridal consultant I have X amount of dollars to spend. I want strapless, cream colored formal and my wedding is in 7 months. How can you help me? Do you have a sale rack? Are you having any specials? Are you having a sale in the near future? Ask her nicely and you'll get farther than if you are demanding.

Every bridal salon has a sale rack with prices slashed below wholesale cost. These are sample dresses that have been tried on, but they haven't been worn or altered. These are dresses discontinued by the manufacturer. Once the dress is discontinued and the shop can't take orders on the sample, the price is reduced. The shop has to make way for new merchandise that they are obligated to buy due to continue to sell the line. The store is anxious to clear them out. Its OK to ask them if they will go lower on the price on a sale dress. All they can say is no. They just may say yes.

Another question to ask is : "I have cash and I am prepared to buy today. If I buy this dress right now, can you give me a break on the price?" All they can say is no. Some shops may throw in a free veil and shoes in place of a discount. Subtract the retail price of your freebies from the price of a dress and you may come in under budget. After all, you need shoes!

You can also find bargains based on the time of year. Dress manufacturers discontinue dresses in the early summer and in December. Since most new merchandise starts to arrive in the winter months, the stores are overstocked on dresses and there are great sales. Also during November and December, bridal salons are slow, so they are willing to bargain with you for a sale.

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